OK, so the addiction is back. You tried to kick it the first time around, getting ousted from the house by your parents, dumped by your tall, dark and handsome boyfriend (who models for Playgirl), and now you live in a cardboard box under the Bay Bridge with a 1000-foot extension cord connected to the Taco Bell down the street just so you can keep your computer on to deal with this damn addiction. What the hell? But that’s not the question, is it? The question is what’s new that’s going to make you want to suffer through all that again? They better get cracking on inventing a head jack for us to plug ourselves into the game, so at least our hands are free to feed ourselves, and we can attempt to workout while playing video games on the screen in front of the treadmill. Soon, the entire gaming nation will drop dead from fatigue and muscle asphyxiation (if they haven’t yet).
1. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Developer: Ubi Soft
Publisher: Ubi Soft
Platform: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Gameboy Advanced
Release Date: Winter 2003
Developers from Ubi Soft have spoiled gamers with the reincarnation of Prince of Persia, immersing the gamer in a luxurious rendition of this popular title from the late 1980s. Think fine velvet and plush champagne bubbles melting deliciously in front of your eyes. Your prince interacts seamlessly with his environment, running sideways along a wall, hanging on a ledge, dashing across the courtyard, grabbing for a pole and looping 360 degrees around it before effortlessly vaulting off and hitting the ground gently with a perfect 10 landing. The game is brilliantly redone, basing the story line on Jordan Mechner’s original Prince of Persia. The environment and character appearances are fully interactive and the gameplay is smooth as silk with solid character movement and complete control over character actions.
2. Gran Tourismo 4
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Publisher: SCEA
Platform: PS2
Release Date: Winter 2003
Gran Turismo, the most popular racing lifestyle game in the world, has, to date, sold over 30 million units worldwide. So by coming out with number four in the series, haven’t they already maxed out the game’s potential? Never. Well, at least for the PS2, this will be the last GT until PS3 comes out. What’s new here? For starters, you can now race with up to six people online using the network adaptor. In addition, the A.I. (artificial intelligence) is upgraded for the first time in the series, making competition against the computer a little less palatable. GT 4 will also have over 500 cars to race with from all over the world, ranging from vintage to modern, it’s no wonder GT is the No. 1 racing game.
3. The Sims 2
Developer: Maxis Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PC
Release Date: Spring 2004
Finally, not another expansion pack! The Sims 2 is unbelievably more realistic and complex than the original The Sims. No, you cannot import your old sim family into The Sims 2, and here’s why: the new DNA element. Yes, we are happy scientists playing with the genetic code of life … hahahaha! Not only can you choose hair color, eye color and face texture, but now a new customization feature allows you to adjust even more details. Using a slider scale, you, God, can select portions of the face to adjust closeness between the eyes, a stronger jawline, higher cheekbones, etc. The DNA will even be passed on to your children — their look, their personalities, will all be a combination of both parents. Thus every sim child and character is unique, and all sims will age and eventually die. And don’t think just because you’re a child you can get away with doing nasty deeds. Childhood decisions will now affect your life as an adult! Can you believe, the nerve! Because you can grow old, Sims 2 is now a goal-based game on how you live your life, (gauged by the life meter that is newly added).
4. XIII
Developer: Ubi Soft
Publisher: Ubi Soft
Platform: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC
Release Date: Oct. 9, 2003
The visual inspiration for XIII is derived from the famous graphic novel from Europe. Waking up on a deserted shoreline, you find yourself stricken with amnesia and a bullet graze on your head. Soon you discover that the president of the United States has been assassinated and you are the prime suspect. Your mission plays out as you try to discover the truth. XIII is animated with a graphic novel feel and is beautifully illustrated in the game, leaving nothing less than perfection in detail, gameplay and graphics. The increasing trend of moving away from 3D into a more analog cel-shading- and comic-style presentation has struck gold with XIII.
5. Soul Calibur 2
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Platform: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
Release Date: Aug. 27, 2003
With over 15 warriors to choose from, 200-plus weapons and items to collect and more than 10 game modes, Soul Calibur II’s long-anticipated release is a wonderful relief. The graphics are even more refined with added particle and lighting elements, colorful clothing and improved realism with added dynamic shadowing. In addition, special guests appear exclusively for each console version: Link, from Legend of Zelda is available on the GameCube, Heihachi, from Tekken is on the PS2, and Spawn, the comic character by Todd McFarlane is on the Xbox. Be on the lookout for SC II in August and watch this fighter game transcend history and the world.
6. World of Warcraft
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platform: PC
Release Date: Spring 2004
The long-anticipated World of Warcraft proves to be a well-worth wait. The quest-based online RPG is built for massive multiplayer gaming experience, with terrain that spans for what seems to be hundreds of miles. With hundreds of quests to choose from, thousands of items to customize each character’s appearance and abilities and new monsters and characters to fight, you can bet this will be the next-gen MMPORG (massive multiplayer online role playing game). You also go on flying tours over 3D terrain, duke it out with your best friend in a gladiator stadium or just hang out and watch the honeys. The guild system is in place for teaming up online, and when you die, instead of losing all the experience and items you’ve just spent an hour acquiring, you get weaker for a certain amount of time.
7. Final Fantasy X-2
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PS2
Release Date: Nov. 3, 2003
Yuna returns after two years since having defeated Sin, and embarks on a journey to search for Tidus. X-2 is the first sequel in any of the Final Fantasy games. Even more magnificent than its predecessors, FF X-2 focuses on the female characters from the previous FFX.
8. Socom 2: U.S. Navy Seals
Developer: Zipper Interactive
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Platform: PC
Release Date: Nov. 2003
Move over Counterstrike, we’ve got something meatier. The multiplayer first/third-person shooter game, Socom II, proved to be one of the most popular attractions at the Sony booth at E3. This time Socom II goes beyond a mere modification of graphics and controls, they’ve added more countries and more urban and realistic battlegrounds, including locations in Albania, Russia, Algeria and Brazil. One of the new developments is in the A.I. (artificial intelligence) handling. Enemies now have a new depth added to their characters, including more interaction between their own teams, voiceovers and greater unpredictability.
9. Lineage II
Developer: NC Soft
Publisher: NC Soft
Platform: PC (sorry Mac users, they said it ain’t happenin’)
Release date: Winter 2003
Lineage II is even lovelier (and more addictive) than the first time around. Lineage II utilizes a simple interface design philosophy similar to the first Lineage, allowing novices to get into the game quickly. Beginners will love searching for rewards, but as they gain experience, will be more in tuned with the complex war, political and economic system. New race and class skills, as well as magic, are added.
10. The Hulk
Developer: Vivendi Universal
Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Platform: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC
Release Date: May 27, 2003
Get ready for a green summer as The Hulk returns on the screen – both in theaters and in your home. Only, this time, it’s bigger, badder and greener than ever graphically (with a combination of the original comic and the soon-to-be released digitally-extravagant movie directed by Ang Lee) and in gameplay, by mastering the unique powers and skills of Bruce Banner (utilizing logic and stealth while struggling to contain the Hulk inside to accomplish missions) and the Hulk (penetrate through 25 missions with sheer force). The Hulk is directly inspired by the movie, with added detailed environments exclusive to the game. The coolest thing about this game? Destruction – melee mashing of up to 10 enemies at one time, while destroying virtually any object (cars, broken pipes, etc.) in the game or even using them as weapons.