October 28, 2002 - Japan's Computer Entertainment Software Association, the trade organization representing the videogame industry, today announced the winners of the sixth annual CESA Game Awards, intended to honor the finest software products of the year 2001 (and then some). 10 games released from January 2001 to March 2002 received awards in three grades, and in a new twist, CESA also introduced the Game Awards Future, recognizing 15 upcoming titles based on their showing at the 2002 Tokyo Game Show.


Walking away with the highest award, the Saiyuushuushou ("most valuable award") was Square's epic RPG Final Fantasy X. The following six games tagged along behind it, receiving the Yuushuushou ("excellence award"):

  • Onimusha 2 -- Capcom -- PS2
  • Kingdom Hearts -- Square -- PS2
  • Shin Sangoku Musou 2 -- Koei
  • Animal Forest Plus -- Nintendo -- GCN
  • Pikmin -- Nintendo -- GCN
  • Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty -- Konami -- PS2


    In third, the three recipients of the Tokubetsushou ("special award"):

  • ICO -- SCE -- PS2
  • Gyakuten Saiban -- Capcom -- GBA
  • Lineage -- NCSoft -- PC


    Finally, the following 15 games were all recognized as part of the Game Awards Future, predicting that they would be among the best games of 2003:



  • Anubis: Zone of the Enders -- Konami -- PS2
  • Unlimited: SaGa -- Square -- PS2
  • SD Gundam G Generation Neo -- Bandai -- PS2
  • Sakura Taisen ~Atsuki Chishio Ni~ -- Sega -- PS2
  • Star Ocean: Till the End of Time -- Enix -- PS2
  • Taiko no Tatsujin -- Namco -- PS2
  • Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball -- Tecmo -- Xbox
  • Devil May Cry 2 -- Capcom -- PS2
  • Bio Hazard 0 -- Capcom -- GCN
  • Final Fantasy Tactics Advance -- Square -- GBA
  • Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 -- Sega -- Xbox
  • Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance -- Konami -- PS2
  • Momotaro Dentetsu 11 -- Hudson -- PS2
  • Rockman EXE 3 -- Capcom -- GBA


    Congratulations to all the various winners, although if Pikmin and Dynasty Warriors 3 are better games than ICO, we'll eat our proverbial hats. Of course, coverage on all those future titles will be forthcoming soon.