My personal list:
Jak II - I just picked up Jak and Daxter, and have fallen in love with it quickly. The sequel is due out in September, and it'll have a darker, more adult feel. It'll utilize weapons in a unique way, such as being able to use them in combos with unarmed combat. Add on top of that a city easily rivaling one the size of GTA and this game should be one to get.
Tony Hawk Underground - I've spent many hours on THPS2, but never felt obligated to get another TH game until now. This one completely redoes the whole game. You don't control a pro skater; you ARE the pro skater. You can literally (on the PS2) send a picture of your face in to Neversoft, they convert it into a file format the game can understand, and bingo, your face is right there on your skater. This game has create-a-everything. Create-a-skater, create-a-park, create-a-trick, create-a-board, create-a-goal... Despite my Gamecube biases, I'll be getting the PS2 version of this one for its online capabilities (which even Xbox doesn't get!).
Spider-Man 2 - Instead of just building another game off of the old engine like so many sequels do, Neversoft is building this one from the ground up. Everything is swingable, and on top of that, used web strands STAY in the game environment after you've used them (kind of like ex-girlfriends...) Plus, the game environment consists of a life-like, populated Manhattan, complete with (they're planning, they have to get the rights yet) famous landmarks.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - 'Nuff said. You don't like the green? What's yer problem, man?
Soul Calibur 2 - Again, 'nuff said. I can't wait to use Link to kick some serious ass. (Get it? Cuz it wasn't serious in Wind Waker... it was a cartoon, get it? Yeah...)
PN03 - Rhythm-based combat? Hell yeah! Hook me up! Besides, what's better than controlling a hot chick in spandex and shooting lots of things. Think Devil May Cry meets Space Channel 5.
Masters of the Universe - I don't know if it's gonna be any good or not, but I'm a sucker for the 80s (I write this as I'm listening to a megamix of 80s dance music... Oooo, heaven is a place on earth...). Also take into consideration that the only He-Man video game was back in the Atari/Intellivision days, and it wasn't that great. This game can only be better than that.
WWE Wrestlemania XIX - Did ya do a double take? A wrestling game?? THQ always makes great wrestling games, and this time around they're adding a few things, like a realistic story mode, Fire Pro-style gameplay, and blood! I'm definitely going to have to start watching Smackdown again to catch up to the storyline with this one.
Spy vs. Spy - The spies from Mad Magazine are getting their own multiplayer shooter on the PS2. I know, it doesn't sound like it'll probably turn out well, despite the awesome license, but I have my hopes up.
Phantasy Star Online Episode III - An online CCG where you don't pay per pack? Where do I sign up?! It's actually due out in 2004, but the beta should be available this year, so it goes on the list.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - It's been pushed back as many times as Star Wars Galaxies, and it's not Final Fantasy as we know it, but if Gabe from PA says it rules, I'll buy into it.
American Idol - HA! Fooled you! Actually this goes on the list of "Games I'm Hoping Will Dive Bomb Big Time in 2003".
Wario World - What can I say, I've been waiting for the big guy to be playable on the big screen since I played the original Wario Land on my Super Game Boy. Add the fact that Treasure is developing it, and you've got a sure-fire winner.
Half-Life 2 - The hype about this one has almost entirely been "graphics graphics graphics!" Well, I'm not excited about this one for the graphics. I'm excited for the sound! For one, the original Half-Life had a sweet soundtrack. For another, they've developed a new technology for this game that automatically makes the characters lips move according to the sound being played. The mouth movements aren't pre-programmed; they're run on the fly according to the sound file. So theoretically it's possible to change the sound files to, oh say, "Watch these cheese squirrels fly out of my butt!" and they'll say it, complete with accurate mouth movement. Isn't technology grand?
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence - I cringed when they announced the new PS2 Castlevania would be 3D. After all, how could we forget the travesty that was 3D Castlevania on the N64? This one's on my list simply because I hope it doesn't suck. At least Michiru Yamane's doing the soundtrack.
Starfox 2 - Hmmm. It kind of looks like Halo with Arwings. I watched the trailer, and actually wasn't too impressed. But if Nintendo can pull off a great multiplayer shooter that can give Halo a run for its money, I'm all for it.
Starfox Armada - And let us not deny the arcade. Namco's Starfox arcade game will rule, there's no denying.
Beatmania IIDX 9th Style - Speaking of arcade games, the latest Beatmania game is due out in a few months. What's Beatmania, you ask? Well it's made by the Dance Dance Revolution people, but with 7 buttons, a turntable, and no feet involved. Kansas City is getting an 8th Style machine very soon, so theoretically it'll be upgradable to 9th Style... Here's to hoping.
DDRMAX2 - Konami is putting out their second american PS2 DDR release in Q3, and while I'm not a big fan of home releases, I have to support my DDR.
There's my list. "But RT," you might ask, "where's Halo 2?" Well for one, that's coming out in 2004, not 2003, right, Break?
And if you're asking that, you don't know me well enough to know my anti-Xbox bias. So it's got great graphics, whoop de doo. So does HL2. If the gameplay is good, I'll play it at Break's house, but I'm not losing sleep over waiting for it.
