2002 – The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
With a huge variety in different friendly and aggressive NPCs, Morrowind needed a versatile AI script. It really adapted well to the player, and helped immerse the player even more in the expansive world of Morrowind.
2003 – Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem, with its “once a unit dies it’s gone forever gameplay” was challenging enough. Throw in some devilish AI that is perfectly able to capitalise on your every mistake, and you have a game that is strictly for the hardcore.
2004 – Hitman: Contracts
The Hitman games always required a sense of subtlety, and the realistic AI reaction of enemies as they hunted for 47 in Contracts made this all the more necessary. It was a game that always kept you on your toes as a result of this astonishingly good enemy AI.
2005 – F.E.A.R
Modern shooters now all have good squad AI, but F.E.A.R was one of the first games to really nail it. With enemies flanking, covering and ambushing the player at regular points, F.E.A.R was a real challenge.
2006 – Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas
With teammates actually capitalising on your commands, and enemies also collaborating to wipe you out, Vegas made a challenge out of every encounter.
