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 Daniel chooses his games of the year. Unless strapped down and fed by a drip, there's no way one person could play the hundreds of games released in the UK this year. So, inevitably, this list is subjective. It's made up of the few top quality games that have taken up the most hours of my life during 2003.
 Format: PC Sure there are problems (bugs, server merge grievances), but this is the year’s most ambitious, innovative game, providing epic multiplayer online delights for first-person shooter fans. Don exo-armour, fly aircraft, be a medic or engineer – the range of experiences is as wide as the gameplay is compelling. Hail!
 Fans were perturbed when Nintendo planned to create a 3-D game, but all worries were put aside with the release of this refined masterpiece. A first-person shooter, a platformer, a 3-D action adventure, a puzzler – it's all this and more, wrapped up in exquisite graphics.
 It's generally agreed this isn't quite as good a game as The Ocarina Of Time (there's just a little too much pootling around in the boat for starters), but the ever popular series has a worthy addition here - a deep, well-crafted, graphically appealing and typically charming adventure.
 A dubious subtitle didn't stop this latest instalment in the Console Wars series becoming a justification in itself for buying a GameBoy Advance SP, like 02’s predecessor. Featuring finely balanced turn-based combat, it’s a worthy successor to that old-fashioned activity known as chess.
 Although the PS2 version snuck out late in 02, it came out on PC in 03. The range of tasks, the pleasures of free roaming, the selection of vehicles, power-ups and secrets, the decent voice acting and, most importantly, Rockstar's distinctive humour make this a masterpiece.
 Arguably the best 3-D adventure game on PS2 in 03, largely thanks to its excellent control system which allows for enormously satisfying acrobatic moves. Another example of how a 2-D game can be reborn in 3-D, and with its renditions of a mythical Middle East it's visually splendid.
 A wonderfully comfy control system helps you navigate the dangers of the wide-ranging single-player mode, which takes in missions in a familiar Normandy, a formidable Stalingrad and a satisfying Berlin - all rendered with solid, atmospheric graphics. The year's best WWII title.
 Xbox has come into its own with the explosion of games with decent Xbox Live play. Crimson Skies pips Rainbow Six 3, Project Gotham Racing etc, because it offers a refreshing alternative with its epic aerial combat as well as excellent single player and Live multiplayer modes.
 For all your beat-em-up requirements look no further than Namco's quality follow-up to the landmark Dreamcast game. Smooth, expansive and stocked with colourful characters, each with distinct moves. Fun for a quick bash or a career-like commitment of time and effort.
 XIII - Developer/Publisher: UbiSoft / Format: Xbox, PS2, GameCube, PC Bit of a cheat for this 10th position I'm afraid, but these two both merit a mention on the basis of their striking visuals alone - cartoony in the case of intense side-scrolling beat-em-up Viewtiful Joe, comic-strip influenced in the case of first-person shooter XIII. And finally, bubbling under:
useful links
www.planetside.comwww.metroidprime.com www.zelda.com/gcn www.advancewars.com www.rockstargames.com/vicecity www.prince-of-persia.com www.callofduty.com www.microsoft.com/games/crimsonskies www.soulcalibur2.com www.capcom.com/v-joe www.xiii-thegame.com  conversations
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see also
albums of the year
ten of the best best films of 2003 this year's cinematic highlights worst films of 2003 we stuff the turkeys games of the year daniel picks his favourites gaming last week what are you playing? your current favourite see also planetside zelda: wind waker gta: vice city gta: vice city gallery soul calibur 2 viewtiful joe modern war games world war one and two games games to look out for in 2003 online gaming realism in games gameboy advance sp member reveiws metroid prime metroid fusion zelda: wind waker gta 5 news gta: vice city prince of persia xiii viewtiful joe viewtiful joe more games gaming index more culture this week also on BBCi technology games and quizzes film  film archive The best of cinema in the UK from 2002 to 2008. |
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