Electronic Gaming Monthly's Best Reviewed Games of 2003

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

#10

If you're a fan of Metroidvania games, then you've probably wondered which franchise is better. We finally got the answer to that question in 2003, when EGM reviewed Metroid Fusion and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, both on the Game Boy Advance. So, what was the result? Castlevania just barely came out ahead with an average score of 9.3 vs. Metroid's 9.2. That tenth of a point may not sound like much, but it was just enough to boot Metroid Fusion off this top 10 list. Take that, Samus!

Shane asks what is honestly a pretty good question: "Three wonderful Castlevania GBA games in as many years ... how do they do it? Deal with the devil? A legion of undead coders slaving away at night, perhaps? All I know is that Aria of Sorrow is the best GBA title to date." Mark agreed, saying that the subtitle should have been 'Ode to Joy' and raving that he hasn't "been this glued to my GBA since Metroid Fusion." Everybody loved the new lead character and the ability to collect souls, as well as the massive bosses and incredible level designs. Their biggest complaint? The game could have been even longer. Even though they were a little greedy, the editors sharpened their teeth and gave Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow a 9.3 out of 10.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

#9

Of all the games from 2003 that we're going to talk about today, only Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has the distinct honor of being turned into a big-budget Hollywood movie. I'm not sure I would have been able to predict that back in 2003, when UbiSoft decided to reboot Jordan Mechner's brilliant 1989 computer game where an unnamed prisoner spends sixty minutes trying to save the Princess of Persia. The Sands of Time reimagined the story and setting, adding time manipulation and incredibly detailed levels to explore. It's the kind of showy game that makes a great first impression, which is probably why it only took Disney seven years to turn it into a blockbuster movie.

The EGM critics were quick to compare this Prince of Persia reboot to both Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and The Matrix, two pop culture nods that may seem odd at first glance. Shawn likened the game to an enchanted carpet ride through 1001 Arabian Nights, saying that it's "pure magic." "Soft lighting effects and elaborate, detailed architecture give the entire experience the quality of an opium-induced vision where time moves at the speed of your imagination. Even stuff as trivial as continuing your quest after an untimely catastrophe sparkles with creativity." The only complaints the three critics could cough up were a fidgety camera a couple of battles that overstayed their welcome. For a brief moment, EGM stopped time and gave Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time an average score of 9.3 out of 10.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the
Past & Four Swords

#8

If you're a long-time fan of this series, then you already know that EGM loved The Legend of Zelda. They scored Majora's Mask the best-reviewed game of 2000, Ocarina of Time the second-best game of 1999 and even those two Game Boy Color games from Capcom managed to rank in the top five of 2001. What you might not know is that one of the franchise's most beloved installments, A Link to the Past, barely made it on the list back in 1992 with a score of 8.75 out of 10. Coming in at number 7, it was topped by Sonic 2, Contra III, Turtles IV and Madden 92. Eleven years and 130 issues later, and A Link to the Past is getting a second life on the Game Boy Advance. And while it may appear to have lost some ground, coming in at number 8, in reality, it scored much higher against far more ferocious competition. I guess what I'm trying to say is that EGM finally figured out that this 16-bit installment is still one of the very best Zelda games.

Phil was quick to point out that this Game Boy Advance release was more than just a straight port, thanks to the addition of Four Swords. "It's a wicked-cool blend of Zelda and Gauntlet, and you'll have to use some clever co-operation to defeat enemies and solve puzzles." CJ said that Four Swords was "the most fun I've ever had with a four-player GBA game." He also liked replaying A Link to the Past, but Four Swords was definitely the star attraction. Adding a little something extra to the Super NES port has been Nintendo's strategy from the launch of the Game Boy Advance, and with an average of 9.5 out of 10, it seems to have paid off well for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords.

Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution

#7

We already know that the EGM editors loved Virtua Fighter 4, as it shot all the way up to the third-place position in our list of the best-reviewed games of 2002, topped only by Grand Theft Auto III and Halo. Now Sega is back with an updated version called Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution and, once again, the critics loved it. In fact, it earned the exact same score as the unevolved version, thanks in large part to the important improvements, addictive new modes and the cheap $20 asking price.

Shane liked the game so much that he gave it a perfect 10, a full point higher than the month's other big fighting game -- Soul Calibur II. "Here's a lesson in how to improve upon perfection: Take PS2's finest fighting game, add two creative new characters, program in scads of intensely challenging A.I. fighters, offer up mad unlockables, and spit-polish the already-amazing graphics. Then proceed to sell the tricked-out remake for only 20 bucks." Che agreed, noting that even if you've seen most of this before, "the real reason to plunk down 20 bucks is for Evo's superb Quest mode." It may have been more of an expansion pack than a new game, but Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution average's an impressive 9.5 out of 10.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

#6

Virtua Fighter 4 wasn't the only game to show up on EGM's best-reviewed list two years in a row. When Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was reviewed on the PlayStation 2, it earned a score of 9.5 and wound up as the fifth best-reviewed game of 2002. One year later, and now Konami's mega-popular sequel has found its way to the Xbox. Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance not only boasts slightly better graphics and sound, but also a bunch of new extras and modes, including a skateboarding minigame. This was enough to earn the Xbox port a 9.5 out of 10, the exact same score as the PlayStation 2 original. It was clear, Metal Gear Solid 2 was a must-play game, no matter which console you owned.

Mark was quick to rave that the "sharp graphics, fantastic sneaking/fighting/shooting mechanics, and attention to detail still amaze. Plus, all the added VR missions take advantage of the game's biggest strength, (gameplay) and cut out its one real weakness (silly storyline)." Milkman agreed and called it "essential gaming" and compared the main hero, Raiden, to a Backstreet Boy. It's clear that the editors were still a little sore about the Raiden twist, but at least now, a year after the PS2 version, they can speak openly about it. Those much-touted VR missions helped Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance earn a stealthy 9.5 out of 10.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

#5

One thing we don't see a lot of on EGM's best-reviewed list are games based on movie properties. Sure, there was that weird year when both Alien and Die Hard showed up on the list and GoldenEye 007 came in number two in 1997, but you can count the number of movie games we've talked about on only one hand. Well, now you need a second hand, because Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic definitely deserves a spot as one of the best games of 2003. This was not only a great role-playing game with familiar Star Wars trappings, but it was also the best-reviewed Xbox exclusive of the year. This was BioWare at the top of their game.

Bryan called Knights of the Old Republic "a total blast" that is a "must-buy." "What makes KOTOR so appealing is that from start to finish, you direct how the adventure unfolds. You shape every aspect of your hero's being -- from physical appearance and class attributes to the color and qualities of their lightsaber." Joe praised the "excellent story, likeable characters and snappy sense of humor," but did find one thing to complain about: "Knights is such an all-encompassing experience that when you're away from the game, you'll end up talking about it to everyone you know." Believe me, there are worse problems to have. With an average score of 9.5 out of 10, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic touches down at number five.

Soul Calibur II

#4

With critics growing bored with Tekken and Street Fighter going into hibernation, all eyes were on Soul Calibur II to be the fighting game champion in 2003. This was, after all, the sequel to a Dreamcast launch game so good that it completely overshadowed the return of Sonic the Hedgehog after a five-year absence. That's hard to do. If you watched our EGM and the Launch Games series, then you already know that Soul Calibur was the first launch game to ever earn a perfect 10 score, so all eyes were on Soul Calibur II to see if lightning could strike twice. Spoiler alert: This sequel didn't average a 10 out of 10, but it came damn close.

When it came to the EGM reviews, the magazine tried something a little different. Instead of each critic getting their own section, this review plays out more like a back-and-forth conversation, and I have to admit that I'm not a fan. It ends up becoming a Virtua Fighter 4 vs. Soul Calibur II debate, which isn't very quotable. Shane complains that the single-player mode sucks and how Soul Calibur II is a step back from the Dreamcast game. Shawn agrees, but argues that it's not supposed to be played solo. And the fact that it barely has any new characters isn't a big deal. They agree to disagree and everybody but Shane gives it a perfect score, which means that Soul Calibur II's soul still burns for an average score of 9.7 out of 10.

Mario Kart: Double Dash

#3

Of all the Mario Kart games released in EGM's lifetime, Double Dash is by far the most controversial. Competing magazine GamePro seemed to have a bipolar relationship with the game, giving it high marks one month and then immediately turning around to call it the number one "lowest moment" in Mario's history. Yes, lower than the Mario Bros. movie, which only came in at number five. EGM disagreed with this take. Not the one about the Mario movie, but rather that Double Dash was a low point for Mario. Two of the three critics gave the game perfect 10s, and the one hold-out came as close as he could at the time with a 9.5.

Shane puts it this way: "I don't care whether you're 12 or 42, the day you get Mario Kart: Double Dash!! will feel like Christmas morning -- pure, exhilarating glee will envelop your soul, demanding that you keep playing 'just one more game' into the wee hours of the morning. It's that good." Demian gave the lower score, but still concluded that "while none of these changes are revolutionary by any stretch, they do put a new twist on the time-tested Kart formula, making for even more frantic multiplayer action ... and even more ways for Shane to lose." The rivalry lives on, as Mario Kart: Double Dash!! finishes at number three with an average of 9.8 out of 10.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

#2

I want you to remember back to the early 2000s, a time when the most controversial thing we had to talk about was the cel-shaded look of The Wind Waker. Believe or not, from the moment Nintendo first showed off the bright, colorful and cartoony style of this GameCube game, Legend of Zelda fans were livid. They took to the internet to complain that Link and the rest of the game looked like it was made for children and not the serious next-generation Zelda they wanted. Two years later, EGM would mock this outrage by fooling their readers into believing that a new and "improved" Wind Waker would be released with brand new realistic graphics. This was an April Fool's Joke, and the fans were not amused.

You could see some of the outrage and skepticism bleed into the Wind Waker reviews. Shane addressed it right at the top, saying that he "didn't approach Wind Waker with the euphoric glee I've felt for past Zeldas. In fact, I was actually kind of wary. I couldn't help but be skeptical about the radical graphical overhaul, the oceanic overworld and even the fact that Link had to rescue his sisters. Luckily, all of my fears were, in the end, unfounded. This is a worthy inheritor of the Zelda crown -- an instant classic no gamer should miss." Mark wanted to give the game a perfect score, but argued that Wind Waker is "a bit too easy" and got tired of taking that boat everywhere. He concluded that "it's one of the most unique and enjoyable games ever -- play it." Almost two decades later, I would argue that the stylish art design holds up, while many other 3D Zelda games look woefully outdated. Even with all the controversy, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker sets sail with a 9.8 out of 10.

Metroid Prime

#1

2003 was a great year to be a GameCube owner. Between Mario Kart, Zelda and now Metroid, Nintendo managed to dominate the top three spots on this best-reviewed countdown. But while The Wind Waker and Double Dash both came close, only Metroid Prime was able to earn perfect 10 out of 10 scores from all three editors. Up until that point, this classic from Retro Studios was only the eleventh game in EGM's history to earn that score, joining the ranks of Metal Gear Solid, Majora's Mask and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. It was a first-person adventure game that was not only a sea change for the franchise, but also proof that the unique perspective could be for a lot more than just shooters.

The EGM editors couldn't get enough of Metroid Prime, and for good reason. Shane used his review to confess something big: "I've gotta go buy my friend Chris a copy of Prime. I bet him two years ago that the new Metroid wouldn't even earn a Silver Award. I'm glad I was wrong." He called it "the best GameCube game yet" and gushed about the spectacular boss fights. Miguel had a similar change of heart: "I was totally ready to hate on Metroid Prime prior to experiencing it first-hand, but the minute I set foot on Tallon IV's lush overworld, I was a believer. It is simply mind-blowing on so many different levels -- you must experience it."

While other companies were giving you standard sequels and updated ports, Retro Studios offered something completely new and unique. There was nothing else like it reviewed that year, which is why it is Electronic Gaming Monthly's best-reviewed game of 2003. Well deserved.