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Now that 2001 is in the books, what better time to pick up all the best video games the year had to offer? With both the GameCube and Xbox launching and the PlayStation 2 finally hitting its stride, it wasn't easy to choose the 10 best games of the year. But after all our toiling and arguing, we managed to produce the list of ten you will find below. Rest assured that if you buy any of the following games, you will be happy with your purchase decision.
Super Smash Bros. Melee - GameCube (2001)
Street Price: $44.26
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Super Smash Bros. Melee may quite possibly be the best party game to be released this year. The GameCube has brought us fast and furious, four-player fighting in the same addictive style as the N64 version, but with the addition of a number of classic Nintendo characters, and absolutely stunning graphics. In fact, when you consider the sheer amount of play modes, secrets, and extras packed into Melee, you may not have enough time to witness everything.
Twisted Metal: Black - PlayStation 2 (2001)
Street Price: $29.99
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Twisted Metal: Black gets the series back on track, as development has been given to a team partially composed of the group that worked on the first two games. The resulting game is not only the best in the series, but it also manages to be the best car combat game ever created and one of the best PlayStation 2 games currently available. While the single-player mode is a real hoot, squaring off against friends in deathmatch is where the game's true staying power lies.
Phantasy Star Online - Sega Dreamcast (2001)
Street Price: $33.00
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No matter how you look at it, Phantasy Star Online is a remarkable achievement in both software development and gaming. No game shows off Sega's strengths as a software developer or the power of the Dreamcast better. Reviving the respected Phantasy Star series with beautifully detailed graphics showcasing familiar characters and new environments, PSO features some of the best graphics seen on the DC. PSO breaks new ground by taking console RPGs where they have never gone before: online.
Final Fantasy X - PlayStation 2 (2001)
Street Price: $46.38
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Though originally slated for an early 2002 release, Square ended up putting the finishing touches on the English version of the massive tenth installment of its epic role-playing series just in time for the end of this year. And though the game has only been available in the United States in limited supply and not for very long, it's such a remarkable achievement in virtually every respect that it certainly deserves mention as one of the top ten games of 2001.
Max Payne - Xbox (2001)
Street Price: $44.50
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After more than three years in development, the world was pleasantly surprised with this original shooter that surpassed expectations with its innovative gameplay mechanics and cohesive style. The game's use of bullet-time, an effect that momentarily puts the action in slow motion, serves as both form and function. Using bullet-time, any of the games innumerable firefights feel as though they were pulled straight for a John Woo action movie, and adds an interesting twist to what would have otherwise been a pretty straightforward shooter.
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec - PlayStation 2 (2001)
Street Price: $34.99
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GT3 doesn't have nearly as many car models as its PlayStation predecessor, but that is because it has prudently kept the key manufacturers and ditched most of the derivative cars types. However, several tracks are new, and the returning ones have been completely overhauled to more closely match their real-life counterparts. The improvements aren't in visual terms alone, as the game has better physics, more realistic handling characteristics, and some of the best sound ever for the racing genre.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - PlayStation 2 (2001)
Street Price: $43.20
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Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was easily the most anticipated game all year. It also turned out to be the most surprising. Regardless of how you feel about Raiden--Snake's stand-in, throughout most of MGS2--his role in the game was a bit of a shocker. But the game carried on nonetheless, and what Kojima and his team have managed to deliver is one of the most engaging, detail-driven games in the history of game development.
Halo - Xbox (2001)
Street Price: $41.75
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After lukewarm receptions at a number of game shows, the gaming world was surprised at the quality of the final version of Halo. Its graphics are superb, with excellent textures and huge draw distances. Its film score-like soundtrack is a tour de force, with sound effects that put you on the battlefield and enemies and allies that have much to say about the war being waged around them, for better or worse. But most importantly, Halo's team-based gameplay is a refreshing change from the norm.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 - PlayStation 2 (2001)
Street Price: $44.26
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While some may turn up their noses and claim that Tony Hawk 3 is "only" a skateboarding game, its fast gameplay and goal structure make it feel like more of a freestyle platform game. It definitely reaches beyond the typical sports game crowd and is perhaps the finest example ever of how to make a strong sequel to an already solid series. The game's speed increase, terrific level design, and additional moves make it a pleasure to play.
Grand Theft Auto III - PlayStation 2 (2001)
Street Price: $44.99
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Grand Theft Auto III is a delicate balancing act of innovation, gameplay, and story. When all of the game's elements come together, the result is nothing short of breathtaking. Grand Theft Auto III innovates in such a way that it changes the way we think about games, but it does so without sacrificing in the gameplay department or delivering a weak, sloppy narrative. If you're looking for the future of games, look no further.
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