[AniHawk]

(bold) = position is higher than in 2004
(normal) = no change
(red) = position is lower than in 2004

Original Results from 2004:
2004’s GOTY Awards

Previous retro threads:

2008 (2012 edition) GOTY Awards

And so Doctor Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap... will be the leap home.

Out of 122 games...

Game of the Year (1): Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Playstation 2)

When this game came out, I completely avoided it. Metal Gear Solid 2 left such a bad taste in my mouth that I completely swore off the series. Then, around 4 months before MGS4 came out I decided I needed to play this game. In retrospect, that was a horrible decision, because this game is so damn good it tainted my opinion of MGS4. Aside from it taking way to long to get used to the camera (I played an original copy) I loved every single minute of it. It is tied with MGS1 as my favorite in the series (and may just beat it out.... stupid nostalgia glasses!)

I only sort of like the other Metal Gear Solid games, but this one stands out in the series as being fantastic. The jungle was a drastic improvement for sneaking over bland concrete and metallic corridors, and although the story is long and slightly melodramatic, it manages to, unlike the other metal gear games, to find a sweet spot in between ridiculous plot developments and interesting, genuine emotional moments between characters. Get it Kojima? Don't throw an incredible amount of crazy shit into your games. Just make them slightly longer, more mystical/surreal bond movies. High point in the game (and I'm barely kidding): that ladder.

it's an awkward jankfest like all MGS games, but it has so much chutzpah and charm, it's sheer goofy genius and bursting with creativity. Kojima and crew just make such damn interesting games... I spent countless hours just listening to the weird radio conversations, and there's an easter egg/secrets FAQ as lengthy as any standard FAQ for an action/adventure game.

2. (3) Half-Life 2 (PC)

City17 was a superbly-realised dystopian Eastern Europe setting, Ravenholm was fantastic for its palpable brooding atmosphere and offering saw blades with which to slice zombies in half, and using the gravity gun to play fetch with Dog never got old. My most vivid memory of the game, though? The nightmare-inducing sound and subsequent pouncing of those bloody toxic headcrabs..

3. (4) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Playstation 2)

The best open world game of all time (non RPGs at least). A ridiculous amount of fun things to do and it had the best mission design of any GTA game by far. Breaking into Area 51 and escaping via jetpack, planning a casino heist that spanned several missions including a helicopter with a magnet on it, chasing some fake-ass rapper in a hoverboat and many more. Rockstar will probably never make a game as good as this again judging from their output this generation.

4. (9) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Gamecube)

What else needs to be said?

5. (6) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Gamecube)

It’s funny seeing the different directions Prime’s sequels would take, while MP3 would be more of a Metroid aimed to ensnare the non Metroid fan offering more guidance, adding dialogue and segmenting the maps MP2 was basically a special delivery for the fans with greater difficulty, more getting lost and I love the game for it. MP2 pulls no punches, progress halting bosses, environments that start killing you for simply walking through them and far more complex map layouts that span two planes. As such people can easily be deterred, I know a few people who loved Prime 1 but couldn’t even breach the halfway point of this game, for those of us who carried on you were rewarded with quite possibly Retro’s most detailed creation yet and one of the best games on the Cube. Now let us not speak of that multiplayer mode.

6. (10) Burnout 3: Takedown (Playstation 2, Xbox)

Fun and challenging. It had the type of gameplay that made you come back to it again and again. Crash, mess up in a race, restart, try again. You can play this game for a few minutes or a few hours but you can always feel you got something done. It had the perfect difficulty, hard but it always left you with confidence that if you make a sharper turn, or crash into one more truch that you could succeed.

7. (15) Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance)

Another remake that radically changes the original, Crateria now looks awe-inspiring, Brinstar looks more alien and Norfair suddenly looks like hell. Who knows if the sprites can be any better on the Game Boy Advance, unlike the original it’s certain that this game won’t age. Kraid is now a giant which says all you need to know about how the GBA took the design of the original NES game and magnified it, with influence from the SNES game too. What’s great about this remake is not just that it’s faithful but that it offers surprises even after you think it’s over with the defeat of Mother Brain.

8. (5) Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)

Part of my Holy Trinity of actions games along with DMC3 and Bayonetta. Extremely challenging but extremely rewarding combat and amazing visuals that still stand up well today.

9. (7) Katamari Damacy (PlayStation 2)

Iconic; a masterpiece of game design. Absolutely fresh, heartwarming, upbeat and fun, something games still struggle with.

10. (2) Halo 2 (Xbox)

There's a reason there are so few games on this list. Halo 2 stole an incredible amount of time from me, and it's not an experience that I'd trade for anything in the world at this point. Even though fewer of them play Halo with each subsequent title, I still regularly talk to several people I met and bonded with through this game. It, along with its predecessor, was the catalyst for my love of thinking critically about game design. The added elements to the universe, the exquisite map design and multiplayer action, and a forward thinking online setup that some games to this day cannot match in form or function all contribute to this being at the top of my list.

RPG of the Year (1): Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door


2. (2) Tales of Symphonia (Gamecube)
3. (5) Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (Playstation 2)
4. (3) World of Warcraft (PC)
5. (13) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (PC)

(2) FPS of the Year: Half-Life 2 (PC)


2. (3) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Gamecube)
3. (1) Halo 2 (Xbox)
4. (4) Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)
5. (5) Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC)

Racing Game of the Year: (1) Burnout 3: Takedown (Playstation 2, Xbox)


2. (3) Outrun 2 (Xbox)
3. (4) Need for Speed: Underground 2 (Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox)
4. (2) Rallisport Challenge 2 (Xbox)
5. (did not list) Trackmania (PC)

Sports Game of the Year: (3) ESPN NFL 2K5 (Playstation 2, Xbox)


2. (4) Madden NFL 2005

Fighting Game of the Year: TIE (5) Def Jam: Fight for NY (Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox) AND (did not list) Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (Playstation 2)


2. (2) Guilty Gear X2 #Reload (Arcade)
5. (1) Dead or Alive Ultimate (Xbox)
4. (1) Street Fighter Anniversary Edition (Playstation 2)

Platforming Game of the Year: (1) Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (Playstation 2)


2. (2) Jak 3 (Playstation 2)
3. (3) Sly 2: Band of Thieves (Playstation 2)
4. (4) Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS)
5. (5) Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (Game Boy Advance)

Stealth Game of the Year: (1) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Playstation 2)


2. (2) -TIE- Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (Gamecube)
3. (4) -TIE- Thief: Deadly Shadows (PC, Xbox)
4. (3 Hitman: Contracts (Playstation 2, Xbox)
5. (3) Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (Playstation 2, Xbox)

Strategy Game of the Year: (1) Pikmin 2 (Gamecube)


2. (2) Rome: Total War (PC)
3. (5) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War (PC)
4. (7) Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth (PC)
5. (did not list) Rise of Nations: Throne & Patriots (PC)

Action-Adventure Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Playstation 2)


2. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance)
3. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure (Gamecube)
4. Beyond Good & Evil -Europe- (PC, Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox)
5. Cave Story (PC)

Action Game of the Year: Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance)


2. Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)
3. Astro Boy: Omega Factor (Game Boy Advance)
4. Alien Hominid (Gamecube, Playstation 2)
5. Maximo vs. the Army of Zin (Playstation 2)

Music/Rhythm Game of the Year: (4) Pop'n Music 10 (Playstation 2)


2. (1) Donkey Konga (Gamecube)

[AniHawk]

Console/PC Game of the Year: (1) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Playstation 2)

2. (3) Half-Life 2 (PC)
3. (4) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Playstation 2)
4. (9) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Gamecube)
5. (6) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Gamecube)
6. (10) Burnout 3: Takedown (Playstation 2, Xbox)
7. (5) Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)
8. (7) Katamari Damacy (Playstation 2)
9. (2) Halo 2 (Xbox)
10. (12) Tales of Symphonia (Gamecube)

Multiplatform Game of the Year: (1) Burnout 3: Takedown (Playstation 2, Xbox)

2. (3) Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (PC, Xbox)
3. (2) Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)
4. (6) Thief: Deadly Shadows (PC, Xbox)
5. (3) Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC, Xbox)
6. (25) Spider-Man 2 (Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox)
7. (15) Beyond Good & Evil -Europe- (Gamecube, PC, Playstation, Xbox)
8. (15) Star Wars: Battlefront (PC, Playstation 2, Xbox)
9. (11) Final Fantasy XI Online (PC, Playstation 2)
10. (5) The Sims 2 (Gamecube, PC, Playstation 2, Xbox)

Gamecube Game of the Year: (1) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

2. (2) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
3. (3) Tales of Symphonia
4. (5) The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure
5. (4) Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
6. (did not list) Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution
7. (7) Mario Power Tennis
8. (8) Mario Party 6
9. (did not list) Animal Crossing -Europe-
9. (6) Donkey Konga

PC Game of the Year: (1) Half-Life 2

2. (2) World of Warcraft
3. (7) Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
4. (3) Rome: Total War
5. (12) Counter-Strike: Source
6. (6) Doom 3
7. (12) Battlefield Vietnam
8. (4) Far Cry
9. (did not list) The Moment of Silence
10. (11) Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth

Playstation 2 Game of the Year: (1) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

2. (2) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
3. (3) Katamari Damacy
4. (5) Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
5. (4) Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
6. (13) Jak 3
7. (12 Sly 2: Band of Thieves
8. (7) Shadow Hearts: Covenant
9. (10) Phantom Brave
10. (4) Gradius V

Xbox Game of the Year: (2) Ninja Gaiden

2. (1) Halo 2
3. (3) Fable
4. (5) Outrun 2
5. (7) Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
6. (did not list) Steel Battalion
7. (4) Rallisport Challenge 2
8. (5) Dead or Alive Ultimate

Console RPG of the Year: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door 3 (Gamecube)

Console Platformer of the Year: Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (Playstation 2)

Console Action Game of the Year: Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)

Console Action-Adventure Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Playstation 2)

Console FPS of the Year: Half-Life 2 (PC)

Console Racing Game of the Year: Burnout 3: Takedown (Playstation 2, Xbox)

Console Music Game of the Year: Pop'n Music 10 (Playstation 2)

Console Fighting Games of the Year: Def Jam: Fight for New York (Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox)

Console Strategy Game of the Year: Pikmin 2 (Gamecube)

Console Sports Game of the Year: ESPN NFL 2K5 (Playstation 2, Xbox)

[AniHawk]

Handheld Game of the Year: (1) Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance)

2. (2) The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance)
3. (6) Pokemon LeafGreen/FireRed (Game Boy Advance)
4. (3) Astro Boy: Omega Factor (Game Boy Advance)
5. (4) Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS)
6. (5) WarioWare Twisted! (Game Boy Advance)
7. (14) Fire Emblem (Game Boy Advance)
8. (11) Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (Game Boy Advance)
9. (19) Final Fantasy: Dawn of Souls (Game Boy Advance)
10. (7) Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Game Boy Advance)

Game Boy Advance of the Year: (1) Metroid: Zero Mission

2. (2) The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
3. (5) Pokemon LeafGreen/FireRed
4. (3) Astro Boy: Omega Factor
5. (9) WarioWare Twisted!
6. (24) Fire Emblem
7. (10) Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
9. (18) Final Fantasy: Dawn of Souls
9. (6) Mario vs. Donkey Kong
10. (did not list) Sonic Battle

Nintendo DS Game of the Year: (1) Super Mario 64 DS

2. (2) WarioWare: Touch!

Handheld RPG of the Year: Pokemon LeafGreen/FireRed (Game Boy Advance)

Handheld Platformer of the Year: Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS)

Handheld Action Game of the Year: Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance)

Handheld Action-Adventure Game of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance)

Handheld Fighting Game of the Year: Sonic Battle (Game Boy Advance)

[AniHawk]

1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - 503
2. Half-Life 2 - 476
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - 292
4. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door - 275
5. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - 238
6. Burnout 3: Takedown - 159
7. Metroid: Zero Mission - 150
8. Ninja Gaiden - 147
9. Katamari Damacy - 140
10. Halo 2 - 139
11. Tales of Symphonia - 127
12. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne - 117
13. World of Warcraft - 113
14. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal - 108
15. Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines - 96
16. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords - 88
16. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - 88
18. Pikmin 2 - 84
19. Jak 3 - 82
20. Sly 2: Band of Thieves - 68
21. Pokemon LeafGreen/FireRed - 67
22. Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay - 62
23. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure - 51
24. Shadow Hearts: Covenant - 45
25. Thief: Deadly Shadows - 44
25. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes - 44
26. Rome: Total War - 43
27. Unreal Tournament 2004 - 42
28. Fable - 39
29. Outrun 2 - 35
30. Astro Boy: Omega Factor - 33
30. Spider-Man 2 - 33
31. Phantom Brave - 31
31. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - 31
34. Beyond Good & Evil - 29
35. Gradius V - 27
36. Counter-Strike: Source - 25
36. Star Wars: Battlefront - 25
38. Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter - 24
38. Final Fantasy XI - 24
40. Super Mario 64 DS - 20
41. The Sims 2 - 19
42. Killzone - 19
43. Cave Story - 18
43. Doom 3 - 18
43. Silent Hill 4: The Room - 18
45. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within - 17
46. Shadow Hearts: Covenant - 16
46. Star Ocean: Till the End of Time - 16
48. WarioWare Twisted! - 15
49. Battlefield Vietnam - 14
49. Painkiller - 14
51. Evil Genius - 13
51. R Type Final - 13
51. Far Cry - 13
51. La Pucelle: Tactics - 13
55. Syberia II - 12
55. Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 - 12
55. Def Jam: Fight for New York - 12
55. ESPN NFL 2K5 - 12
59. Viewtiful Joe 2 - 11
59. Fire Emblem - 11
61. Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution - 10
61. The Moment of Silence - 10
61. Echo Night: Beyond - 10
61. Hitman: Contracts - 10
61. Kirby & the Amazing Mirror - 10
61. Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth - 10
67. Growlanser Generations - 9
67. Alien Hominid - 9
67. Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors - 9
67. Final Fantasy X-2 - 9
67. Maximo vs. the Army of Zin - 9
67. Breakdown - 9
73. Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow - 8
73. Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean - 8
73. Need for Speed Underground 2 - 8
73. Smackdown vs. RAW - 8
73. Tony Hawk's Underground 2 - 8
73. Drakengard - 8
79. Everquest II - 7
79. The Suffering - 7
79. Final Fantasy: Dawn of Souls - 7
79. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King - 7
79. Trackmania - 7
79. Steel Battalion - 7
79. Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon - 7
79. Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection - 7
79. Mario Power Tennis - 7
88. Mario vs. Donkey Kong - 6
88. Guilty Gear X2 #Reload - 6
88. Summon Night Swordcraft Story 2 - 6
88. hack//Quarantine - 6
88. Metal Slug 3 - 6
88. Madden NFL 2005 - 6
88. Sonic Heroes - 6
88. Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots - 6
88. Atari Anthology - 6
97. Rallisport Challenge 2 - 5
97. Pop'n Music 10 - 5
97. Sonic Battle - 5
97. Second Sight - 5
101. Front Mission 4 - 4
101. Crash Twinsanity - 4
101. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness - 4
101. Dead or Alive: Ultimate - 4
101. Mario Party 6 - 4
101. Sid Meier's Pirates! - 4
101. Transformers - 4
108. King of Colosseum II - 3
108. Port Royale 2 - 3
108. City of Heroes - 3
108. WRC 4: FIA World Rally Championship - 3
112. Hyper Street Fighter II: Anniversary Edition - 2
112. Animal Crossing - 2
112. Donkey Konga - 2
112. Obscure - 2
112. WarioWare Touch! - 2
112. Sonic Advance 3 - 2
112. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories - 2
119. Flipnic - 1
119. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - 1
119. Onimusha 3 - 1
119. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II - 1
119. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War - 1

[AniHawk]

one thing that was extremely surprising from the get-go was just how many console exclusives there were. it was pretty amazing to look at the results from 2008 and struggle to find console exclusives, when four years prior it was much harder to compare standings of multiplatform games.

oh, and thanks to everyone who participated!

[toddhunter]

[KevinCow]

Action Game of the Year: 4. (3) Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (Xbox 360) 5. (5) Saints Row 2 (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)

Uh.

[AniHawk]

Uh.

you've never traveled through time?

[Doffen]

Console FPS of the Year: Half-Life 2 (PC)

?

[AniHawk]

?

the console section really means non-handheld.

[WhyMe6]

Great job! Good ol' Snake takes top spot again, definitely a deserving winner!

Half-Life 2 on the other hand <_<

I can't wait to vote in the others! Especially '02, '03 & '06!

[Doffen]

the console section really means non-handheld.

ah, that makes more sanse.

[AniHawk]

Half-Life 2 on the other hand <_<

an even more deserving winner?

[WhyMe6]

an even more deserving winner?

Hah! C4Lukins said of the game in the voting thread, "Half amazing and half frustrating or boring". I'd say a more accurate analysis of the game would be "Wholly boring."

Nothing against Valve or anything - I love the Portal series and I enjoyed what little I've played of Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike - but I've never enjoyed the Half-Life series. The pacing just feels completely off.

I'm also incredibly pleased to see Paper Mario & Zero Mission have been given so much love!

[Blablurn]

MGS3 swag. good choice, gaf.

[AniHawk]

Hah! C4Lukins said of the game in the voting thread, "Half amazing and half frustrating or boring". I'd say a more accurate analysis of the game would be "Wholly boring." Nothing against Valve or anything - I love the Portal series and I enjoyed what little I've played of Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike - but I've never enjoyed the Half-Life series. The pacing just feels completely off. I'm also incredibly pleased to see Paper Mario & Zero Mission have been given so much love!

gamecube stuff was a lot higher this time around, and i think the people who would traditionally have talked about some xbox games didn't participate. i was surprised at the total lack of phantom dust (although it's a 2005 game for most people).

with tales of symphonia and even the twin snakes getting a boost, i think there were more nintendo fans in general posting, or maybe people who started playing the gamecube after the system wars of that gen had finished.

half-life 2 is definitely not a straight-up shooting game. i think that's why i like it. the general design is more reminiscent of a platformer than other shooters i've played. and then the presentation in the game is absolutely top-notch, and integrated extremely well with the gameplay. it's pretty crazy that valve improved on it with episode two.

[bigboss370]

didn't vote this time but MGS3 is also be what I would've chosen for number 1 :D i would have chosen San Andreas for number 2 though.

[Endo Punk]

MGS4 won 2008, MGS3 2004, and I bet MGS2 will win 2001 votes. It's good know Gaf has so many MGS fanboys :)

[AniHawk]

MGS4 won 2008, MGS3 2004, and I bet MGS2 will win 2001 votes. It's good know Gaf has so many MGS fanboys :)

2001 was another great year. shenmue ii, gta iii, ssbm, halo: combat evolved, etc.

i think enthusiasm for mgs2 is the weakest in the series outside the portable games and the twin snakes. i personally enjoyed it, but wouldn't name it my game of the year for 2001.

[WhyMe6]

MGS4 won 2008, MGS3 2004, and I bet MGS2 will win 2001 votes. It's good know Gaf has so many MGS fanboys :)

We'll just have to hold a vote to settle this, but there's no way it'll win. It's up against Smash Bros. Melee, Final Fantasy X and, the ultimate heavy-hitter, Runescape.

[Apo]

Console/PC Game of the Year: (1) Metal Gear Solid 3: Guns of the Patriots (Playstation 2) 2. (3) Half-Life 2 (PC) 3. (4) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Playstation 2) ...

I think you mixed MGS3 with MGS4.

[AniHawk]

I think you mixed MGS3 with MGS4.

IT CAN BE TWO THINGS

[Alastor]

I was hoping Nocturne or Bloodlines would win something, but it's still better than original voting.

[Tookay]

We'll just have to hold a vote to settle this, but there's no way it'll win. It's up against Smash Bros. Melee, Final Fantasy X and, the ultimate heavy-hitter, Runescape.

Yeah, this is realistically what it would boil down to.

Awesome year.

[AniHawk]

I was hoping Nocturne or Bloodlines would win something, but it's still better than original voting.

bloodlines got the biggest boost out of everything. it jumped 50 spots. nocturne moved up seven.

rpgs were more popular in the recent 2008 voting than they were when they were originally held. i think the extra time (years) helps them, as stuff like persona 4, nocturne, kotor ii, and others came out at the end of their respective years.

[Spieler Eins]

Yes, Paper Mario 2 is one of the best RPGs ever made indeed.

[Nocturnowl]

Guess I really do need to get around to Snake Eater, I remember borrowing it from my friend a few years after it came out only to discover my PS2 had been given away without my permission, my PS3 wasn't backwards compatible! why would someone do this?!
Well i'm sure the HD collection or 3DS version will price drop eventually.

As for Half Life 2, well i've got it, I don't dislike it but that boat section put me off carrying on, that and i'm not a shooter guy either. I don't click that well with Valve's games, they're certainly good but I just don't get sucked in. That said i'm going to have to push onward.

Anyway I look forward to the next bout, shame more people don't participate, it's interesting seeing these take place now that each years games have had time to be properly assessed and if they still hold up as well.

[IrishNinja]

it's a great list. id move some stuff around but again, was really surprised how much quality we were blessed with, looking back. and MGS3 almost makes up for 4 winning again in the other one, heh.

for real though, thanks Ani, i love these things.

[Endo Punk]

i think enthusiasm for mgs2 is the weakest in the series outside the portable games and the twin snakes. i personally enjoyed it, but wouldn't name it my game of the year for 2001.

MGS2 tank hanger is the single most recognisable and memorable sequences in the franchise. I don't see it winning GOTY 2001 but that's because it was a landmark year of gaming with so many quality titles. Fuck I feel old, feels only yesterday I went with my dad to purchase DMC and SSX tricky on my B-day :(

[King of the Potato People]

Ratchet and Clank 3 is a good game but there are only a few platform parts in it, it concentrates much more on action than the first 2, but it is a little hard to narrow games down to genres sometimes.

Good list, I’m glad MGS3 is still in number 1 even though HL 2 was the more important game.

[Relaxed Muscle]

Echoes got robbed again.

And after playing Half-life 2 this year I realized that is probably one of the most overrated games ever.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

It's good to see Paper Mario move up so many spots on the list. It's still 3 spots too low, but it warms my heart to see such great recognition of the game.

[Foliorum Viridum]

HL2 should have won.

[Pranay_]

HL2 should have won.

MGS 3 is as deserving as hl2. I am glad mgs 3 won. !

[Foliorum Viridum]

MGS3 would be number 2. A great game.

But it can't touch HL2. Nothing from 2004 can. Hell, hardly anything SINCE can.

[JaseC]

Interesting results, and thanks for taking the time to do a re-do! I had expected Half-Life 2 to edge ahead, but it's nice to see the most deserving of the MGS games laying claim to the proverbial crown yet again.

Edit: Blah, grammar.

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

Pikmin 2 over Rome: Total War? Hmmm...

[jj984jj]

Nocturne couldn't even beat ToS. :(

[Firebrand]

Forgot to vote again, but nice to see Paper Mario 2 and Metroid Prime 2 on the top 10, those are my favorites from that year along with OutRun 2.

Speaking of which, why is OR2 not listed in the "Racing" category?

[Derrick01]

I'm re-playing through MGS3 now in the collection and I had forgotten how hardcore it was after playing so many current games. It's kind of like a hardcore mode in a wrpg but not quite as intense. Managing food, injuries, camouflage. It's pretty good.

[SykoTech]

Nice to see Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, and Metroid Prime 2 all get some recognition.

Yet another Metal Gear Solid victory at the end of the day though. I really need to step up my progress with that franchise.

[GeoramA]

MGS3, HL2, and GTA:SA were by far the best 3 games of that year. Good job GAF.

[A Link to the Snitch]

I was happy to see Cave Story get more love than from me, and funny to see two Metroids in the top 10.

I do wish I remembered to update my list; I completely forgot about Minish Cap.

[SatelliteOfLove]

11th, 12th, 13th. Odd luck.

Thanks for the work on this, and look forward to the next year of GotY retrospect voting!

[bigboss370]

OP you should do 2007 next, that year was amazing for games.

[Thores]

Nice! Paper Mario 2 broke into the Top 5, so I'm satisfied.

A possible error I noticed: Either Sonic Battle has too many points (I'm the only person I saw in the thread that voted for it) or it should be the 4th best fighting game of the year over DoA Ultimate (5 pts versus 4). That's pretty dang minor though, if I'm even right.

But thanks for putting this together, Hawk! Looking forward to the next one.

[AniHawk]

Interesting results, and thanks for taking the time to do a re-do! I had expected Half-Life 2 to edge ahead, but it's nice to see the most deserving of the MGS games laying claim to the proverbial crown yet again. Edit: Blah, grammar.

half-life 2 would have edged out mgs3 if the 'limit of three games' was in effect. i think there were three cases of mgs3 being the only vote in a post.

[impact]

FFXI was robbed

[jett]

A top 3 for the ages.

[Franchuzas87]

Not a big fan of the winner, but good list.

Half-Life 2 and San Andreas were the highlights of the year for me. I even would choose The Thousand-Year Door before MGS3.