GameCube Games We Love and Hate 2002 Special @ Gaming Target

Written by Matt Swider on February 14, 2003

Special: Justin Bailey strikes back!

Adventure Game Award

Winner: Metroid Prime
Fans had many doubts about Samus and her transition into a first-person adventure game, but it's clear that the series is now in its prime.

The Runner-Up: Resident Evil Zero

Action Game Award

Winner: Dead to Rights
Dead to Rights initially made its impact on PS2 where Namco actually took notes and made improvements before releasing this version.

Platform Game Award

Winner: Super Mario Sunshine
Without much original competition, Mario makes a splash along with his novel mechanics.

The Runner-Up: Sonic Adventure 2: Battle

First-Person Shooter Award

Winner: TimeSplitters 2
Free Radical can't seem to shake that GoldenEye 007 connection with another fast-paced FPS that has everything except online play.

The Runner-Up: Medal of Honor: Frontline

Role-Playing Game Award

Winner: Phantasy Star Online: Episodes I & II
Sega was determined to create at least one online game for the GameCube this year and for neglected RPG fans, it pays off.

The Runner-Up: Lost Kingdoms

Sports Award

Winner: NHL Hitz 20-02
Midway marked another year on the ice where it's skate or die for this rough and tough version of hockey. It's Blitz with Blades!

The Runner-Up: Madden NFL 2003

Extreme Sports Award

Winner: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk remains extreme 'to the max' in his fourth skate session with more great music, moves, and multiplayer fun.

The Runner-Up: Aggressive Inline

Racing Award

Winner: Burnout
Crashing your car is all part of the fun in Burnout. Unlike other racing games, it's more exciting going from 60-0 rather than the other way around.

The Runner-Up: MX Superfly

Fighting Award

Winner: Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Midway has fought its way back to the top by creating a Deadly Alliance that remains undefeated on each current platform.

The Runner-Up: UFC Throwdown

Visuals GOTY

Winner: Resident Evil Zero
This Resident Evil game occurs before the original, yet Capcom tailors it as the best looking Survival-Horror game to date.

The Runner-Up: Resident Evil

Sound Effects GOTY

Winner: Resident Evil
Capcom's remake of Resident Evil boasts some significant enhancements that you not only see but can also hear the difference in.

The Runner-Up: Medal of Honor: Frontline

Music GOTY

Winner: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk remains extreme 'to the max' in his fourth skate session with more great music, moves, and multiplayer fun.

The Runner-Up: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Storyline GOTY

Winner: Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Silicon Knights took a stab at the horror genre and remains in the splotlight thanks to an engrossing plot.

The Runner-Up: Dead to Rights

Online GOTY

Winner: Phantasy Star Online: Episodes I & II
Sega was determined to create at least one online game for the GameCube this year and for neglected RPG fans, it pays off.

Surprise GOTY

Winner: Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Silicon Knights took a stab at the horror genre and remains in the splotlight thanks to an engrossing plot.

The Runner-Up: Animal Crossing

Disappointing GOTY

Winner: Super Mario Sunshine
Though it ends up being one of the best GameCube games to date, many Mario supports felt the series didn't live up the the hype.

Worst GOTY

Winner: Big Air Freestyle
It's obvious that this freestyle motor-bike game didn't score any big air with us, so be sure to avoid hitting the dirt with it as well.

The Runner-Up: Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly

BEST GOTY

Winner: Metroid Prime
Fans had many doubts about Samus and her transition into a first-person adventure game, but its clear that the series is now in its prime.

The Runner-Up: Super Mario Sunshine

Continue with the Games to Love and Hate
GameCube ╖ PS2 ╖ Xbox ╖ GBA