Game of the Year 2004 Awards: Best Console RPG
Myrthos, 2005-02-24

The last couple of weeks you could vote for the best RPGs and MMORPGs that have been released in 2004. Not us but you the player decide who receives the RPGDot 2004 Awards in the various categories. We thank all those who entered their votes and helped us in making it possible to select the best games of 2004.

Best Console RPG
More and more RPGs are being released on consoles. From these games a few stick out and get awarded as one of the best console games of last year.

The winner: Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
Its predecessor was one of the most highly acclaimed games of 2003, but really, no one expected a sequel so quickly. However, Bioware decided to strike while the iron was hot, handing off development to Obsidian (a Black Isle splinter group), who used the same technology and same graphics engine to make what is, at least from a gameplay perspective, nearly a carbon copy of the first game. Luckily for us, however, it also features a memorable story, great characters, impeccable voice acting, and various modifications to the gameplay that make Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords an excellent game in its own right. Its similarities to the source material are impossible to forget, and the graphics, if anything, have gotten worse, but the quality of the game is such that you really don't care.

(Limesix)

Runner Up: Fable
You know it's a slow year for RPGs (console or otherwise) when the second best offering is a game that everyone pretty much agrees is a failure. However, failure is relative - though Peter Molyneux may have failed to provide the game he touted all those years ago, Fable is still an enjoyable action-RPG, and developers would be wise to heed some of its more innovative features. The ability to punt chickens, modify your avatar to an extreme extent, get married, use expressions (like flipping the bird, flexing your muscles, or apologizing), and generally make an impression on the world around you are things that RPGs could use more of. It's worth mentioning that the game is breathtakingly beautiful, taking full advantage of the Xbox's hardware. You may be done playing in 10 hours or so, but you should enjoy what's there.

(Limesix)

Second Runner Up: Arx Fatalis
One of 2003's best RPGs came to the Xbox in 2004, and owners of that console had another reason to celebrate. The underground world of Arx is immersive and carefully designed, the plot is interesting and well written, and the tangential freedom of the game is nearly unmatched, and a little overwhelming. This is a game where you can take flour, water, a fire, and some apples, and make an apple pie. You cast spells by drawing runes on the screen, and you can mix runes to create spells the game doesn't even tell you about. You can catch a fish, fry it up, and eat it - and you'll have to, because your character gets hungry. It's a safe bet that many RPG fans weren't sure what to make of Arx Fatalis , but if you haven't played it, you're missing out.

(Limesix)

The Numbers
To make it complete we now give you the top 10 as voted by our visitors:

With 34% of our voters not knowing what to answer here.

The team votes on this one are very different, especially as far as percentages are concerned:

List of the awards
Awards on RPGDot:
Best graphics
Best Sound and Music
Biggest Surprise
Biggest Disappointment
Most Anticipated
Dream Game
Best Console RPG
Best Non-RPG
Best RPG

Awards on MMORPGDot:
Best graphics
Best Sound and Music
Biggest Surprise
Biggest Disappointment
Most Anticipated
Dream Game
Best Expansion MMORPG
Best MMORPG

Note that percentages are rounded to the nearest number.