Powering on we approach the mid-point of the 2003 offerings, what will you make of the latest round?
Which of the above games are among the best of 2003 and why?
Which of the above games are among the best of 2003 and why?
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32Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death0%0The Jungle Book Groove Party0%0Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis0%0Justice League: Chronicles0%0Kao the Kangaroo: Round 20%0Karaoke Revolution0%0Kasparov Chessmate0%0Kenshin Dragon Quest: Yomigaerishi Densetsu no Ken0%1Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi0%5Kill Switch0%0The King of Fighters 20030%3Kingdom of Loathing0%0Kino's Journey0%0Kirby Air Ride0%1Kollon0%0Korea: Forgotten Conflict0%0Kung Fu Chaos0%1Kya: Dark Lineage0%0Laden vs USA0%0Law and Order: Double or Nothing0%0Legacy of Kain: Defiance0%1The Legend of Sword and Fairy 20%0Lifeline0%0Lightning's Shadow0%0Line of Sight: Vietnam0%0Lineage II0%0Links 20040%0The Lion King 1.50%0Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader0%0Lock On: Modern Air Combat0%0Looney Tunes: Back in Action0%0The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King0%0The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring0%0Lords of EverQuest0%0Lost Kingdoms II0%1Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter0%0Madden NFL 20040%0Magic the Gathering: Battlegrounds0%0Magnetic0%0Manhunt0%4Maple Colors0%0MapleStory0%0Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer0%0Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga0%2Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour0%2Mario Kart: Double Dash0%7Mario Party 50%0Mark Davis Pro Bass Challenge0%0Martial Kingdoms0%0Massive Assault0%0Master of Orion III0%0Matrimelee0%0Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne0%2Maximo vs the Army of Zin0%1Medabots Infinity0%0Medal of Honor: Infitrator0%0Medal of Honor: Rising Sun0%0Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge0%0Mega Man Battle Network 40%1Mega Man Network Transmission0%0 -
There are a few in that list that I probably should have played like Maximo and Max Payne 2, but didn't at the time.
I got MP2 in a Steam sale, so plan to play that soonish.
My choice, though, is Manhunt.
Side-stepping the controversy around it for a minute, I thought the game was really well made.
It had a really grimy feel, capturing a mashup of a video nasty (with VHS grain effects), a "Most Dangerous Game" theme and some genuinely tense MGS-style stealth action.
It's hard for the game to exist without thinking of all the controversy around it, though.
I can see why. It's a really brutal game with some sadistic murders in it, encouraging you to find new and gruesome ways to dispatch your hunters.
The initial level was the most memorable, with a bit of repetition creeping in later on, but the guy in the pig mask with a chainsaw definitely made it sweaty-palm time again!
It's always going to be listed alongside other games in the "videogames are the reason for violence debates" because it was banned in so many places (as was its sequel) and was initially linked to the murder of Stefan Pakeerah when it was claimed by the media that the game was found in the bedroom of his murdered, Warren Leblanc.
It was later revealed that it was in the bedroom of the victim, not the murderer and the related lawsuit was dropped after the police said the game was unrelated and was a drug-related robbery.
Rockstar themselves said it nearly caused a mutiny because they felt like it was stepping over a line from GTA's freedom to not kill, to basically making a murder simulator.
It's definitely one that won't be forgotten, for the right and wrong reasons.
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Another vote for Manhunt. Amazing game. Gets everything right. Initially I wasn't that interested in it and I played a bit round a mate's house (the level in the zoo ... getting spotted, the music kicking in and then hiding in the shadows while they looked and talked between themselves). That's all it took. Love how the game changes up and evolves too. And how many games give you the heads up there's a bigot on guard? Never played the sequel ... the first was enough and all that was needed.Comment
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I’ve never played it. I might Digitally Remaster it for the PS2 at some point as I’ve got two thirds of the drive left to fill.Comment
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Sorry but if we're linking videos about Manhunt, it's got to be this one
I remember a guy in halls playing it through and him being chased through a dilapidated house buy an otherwise naked guy with a pig mask and a chainsaw. All good and well, but I play these games for escapism, ho ho ho.
In terms of actual votes for me I've picked three this time: think a lot of fans have no time for KoF 2003 but I like it, aided in no small part by the appearance of Tizoc. Legacy of Kain Defiance was the last glimpse of a series that really deserves better; we weren't quite at a series high here, but the story was still up there. Then lastly, and the one I would be choosing if it were just one vote, is Ketsui. One of Cave's best IMO, and due to all of the circumstances around it, one that I didn't get to play till much later. Arika having to drop the PS2 port because they couldn't get it to do the reverse-scroll section of Stage 5 properly, and it remaining otherwise unported meant that most of my time playing it was actually in the arcade while Casino had a loaner board in. I've still never cracked that bastard stage 4.Comment
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Just Max Payne 2 for meComment
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More love for the original Manhunt. The headset feature and performance by Brian Cox added to this and I’m thinking of replaying it soon as soon as I can get a headset for it.Comment
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Ketsui. ‘Nuff said.Comment
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Undoubtedly a brilliant shmup ... but I could never quite break through the difficulty to fully enjoy/appreciate it.Originally posted by CMcK View PostComment
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