Best Platformer

Platformers have long been a staple of gaming, ever since Super Mario Bros. became a household name. Now the genre is dominated by 3D games involving equal parts action and exploration. Some of these still suffer from common problems, but a few standout platformers appeared this year. The following are GameSpot's finalists for Best Platformer of 2003:

Ape Escape 2 (PS2)

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: SCEI
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"The game's relative ease is offset by the sheer number of weird unlockable items, and the end result is a platform game that is, above all, great fun." -Jeff Gerstmann, from GameSpot's Full Review

Jak II (PS2)

Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Naughty Dog
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"Everything in Jak II comes together to produce one of the best-looking, best-playing games on the PS2 so far." -Brad Shoemaker, from GameSpot's Full Review

Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2)

Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Insomniac Games
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"Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando is a great game that will please both fans of the series and newcomers alike." -Jeff Gerstmann, from GameSpot's Full Review

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (PC, XBOX, GC, PS2)

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
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"Rayman 3 re-creates much of the same lighthearted whimsy that made Rayman 2 so incredibly enjoyable, while differentiating the action enough for the game to stand up on its own." -Ryan Davis, from GameSpot's Full Review

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA)

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
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"SMB3 purists may be annoyed with some of the minor tweaks that have been made to the original game, but that shouldn't stop them from experiencing this incredible platformer all over again." -Ryan Davis, from GameSpot's Full Review

And the Winner is...