RPGDot 2003 Awards: Best Graphics in an RPG
RPGDot Team, 2004-01-08

The last couple of weeks you could vote for the best RPGs and MMORPGs that have been released in 2003. Not us but you the player decide who receives the RPGDot 2003 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 2003.

Best Graphics in an RPG
Graphics, some need the best looking game out there and some couldn't care less. But this is not about how good the game is, this is about how great it looks and how stunning it is at times.

The winner: Star Wars - Knights of the Old Republic
KotOR features some excellent graphics that create an authentic Star Wars environment. Players will visit a wide variety of beautifully rendered locations from desert Tatooine to the heavily forested Wookie world of Kashyyyk, each with their unique traits. Character models are generally good and the combat animation with its choreographed lightsaber swordplay is undoubtedly a highlight for many players. The facial animation isn't perfect, the face models re-used a little too often and the lighting system lacks some features but particularly on the PC with resolutions up to 1600 x 1200, KotOR was one of the best looking RPGs last year.

(Dhruin)

Runner Up: Gothic 2
Even though the graphics of Piranha Bytes' second Gothic game are, by modern standards, a bit dated - especially the blocky characters - , the baroque and detailed textures of lush forests with particles dancing in the last rays of sunlight, medieval houses, flower-dotted meadows, ponds overgrown with water lilies and cobwebbed caves created a convincing image of another world. Our readers rewarded the opulent visuals with a well-deserved 2nd place in the 'Best Graphics' category.

(Jaz)

Second Runner Up: Morrowind - Bloodmoon
By all means, Morrowind's graphics should be outdated by now. Maybe they are, but they are still great, in my opinion. Most of all, each expansion has added some new splendor to the game. Morrowind: Bloodmoon brought snow and blizzards, ice and new creatures. Being at home in a growing world is a nice thing, especially when this world is as pretty as it is

(Rendelius)

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

And 8,7 % of those who participated were unable to select one of the games.

We, the RPGDot team also voted to create our own top 5:

The team members preferred Gothic 2 again. The remarkable part is that KotOR is not listed (it was 7th in our list) and that Freelancer is.

Note that percentages are rounded to the nearest number.

Overview of all awards on RPGDot
 Best Sound
 Best Graphics
 Best Atmosphere
 Biggest Surprise
 Biggest Disappointment
 Most Anticipated
 Dream Game
 Best RPG/RPG-Strategy Expansion
 Best Non-RPG
 Best RPG-Strategy
 Best RPG

Overview of all awards on MMORPGDot
 Best Sound
 Best Graphics
 Best Atmosphere
 Biggest Surprise
 Biggest Disappointment
 Most Anticipated
 Best Expansion
 Best MMORPG