The influence of 2001's Devil May Cry on subsequent action games is undeniable. Capcom's "stylish hard-action" game began life as a Resident Evil clone but evolved into the first complex, frantic action game to successfully make the 3D transition. Devil May Cry's sleek hero, Dante, had an arsenal of acrobatic moves at his disposal that were so beautifully stylish it was almost laughable. The game also made admirable and functional improvements to the 3D camera and targeting system, whose problems have plagued action games since they began moving into the third dimension. Throw in a horde of weird, demonic enemies and amazingly atmospheric gothic environments, and you have one of the best action games available for the PlayStation 2, or any system.

This year came Devil May Cry 2, a complete letdown in the face of the first game's genius. The sequel transplants Dante into a barren cityscape that is devoid of both the technical details and moody ambience that marked the first game's environs. Devil May Cry 2 also falls flat in the gameplay department. Though it introduces new moves for Dante and provides a new playable character named Lucia (who is a clone of Dante with a few minor variations), no technique is required to vanquish the mindless enemies; you can simply use your basic attacks nonstop for the five or so hours it takes to complete the game with both characters. The graphics' lack of creativity and detail and the shallow gameplay combine to make Devil May Cry 2 an unfitting follow-up to one of the most well-received action games in years.