The year 2000 was a remarkable period in gaming history, introducing titles that have since become timeless classics. Here’s a curated list of some of the standout games released that year:
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 – Building upon the success of its predecessor, this skateboarding game offered enhanced graphics, new tricks, and a park editor, solidifying its place as a genre-defining title.
- Perfect Dark – Developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64, this first-person shooter introduced players to Joanna Dark, an agent navigating a web of corporate espionage and alien conspiracies.
- NFL 2K1 – Sega’s football simulation for the Dreamcast was lauded for its realistic gameplay and online multiplayer capabilities, setting a new standard for sports games.
- Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn – This PC role-playing game continued the epic saga with deep storytelling, complex characters, and expansive quests, captivating fans of the genre.
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask – Departing from traditional Zelda narratives, this installment presented a darker tone, with Link navigating a repeating three-day cycle to prevent a looming catastrophe.
- Final Fantasy IX – Returning to its fantasy roots, this PlayStation RPG delivered a heartfelt story, memorable characters, and a rich world, resonating with longtime fans.
- Chrono Cross – As a spiritual successor to Chrono Trigger, this game offered a complex narrative with multiple dimensions and endings, accompanied by a unique battle system.
- Resident Evil – Code: Veronica – Continuing the survival horror saga, players followed Claire Redfield’s journey to find her brother, facing new threats in a haunting atmosphere.
- SSX – This snowboarding game for the PlayStation 2 combined high-speed racing with trick-based gameplay, offering an exhilarating experience on the slopes.
- Quake III Arena – Focusing on multiplayer combat, this first-person shooter provided fast-paced action with a variety of arenas and weapons, becoming a staple in competitive gaming.
- NBA 2K1 – Building upon its predecessor, this basketball simulation improved graphics and gameplay mechanics, offering an immersive experience for fans.
- The Sims – Introducing players to virtual life simulation, this game allowed for the creation and management of households, becoming a cultural phenomenon.
- Vagrant Story – This action RPG featured a deep weapon customization system and a mature narrative, standing out for its artistic design and storytelling.
- Virtua Tennis – Sega’s tennis game offered accessible yet challenging gameplay, with a roster of real-life players and various modes, appealing to both casual and hardcore fans.
- Madden NFL 2001 – EA Sports’ football franchise continued its dominance with improved graphics, gameplay, and the introduction of the Madden Cards system.
- Mario Tennis – Bringing Mario and friends to the tennis court, this game combined accessible mechanics with the charm of the Mushroom Kingdom, offering fun for all ages.
- Spyro: Year of the Dragon – The third installment in the Spyro series introduced new playable characters and expansive worlds, providing a delightful platforming experience.
- Dead or Alive 2 – This fighting game was praised for its fluid combat system and impressive graphics, featuring a diverse roster of fighters and dynamic stages.
- The Longest Journey – An adventure game that took players on a narrative-driven journey across parallel worlds, celebrated for its storytelling and character development.
- The Operative: No One Lives Forever – Set in the 1960s, this first-person shooter combined espionage with humor, featuring a female protagonist and a variety of gadgets.
- Deus Ex – This cyberpunk-themed action RPG offered players freedom of choice in gameplay, blending shooting, stealth, and role-playing elements in a richly detailed world.
- Skies of Arcadia – An RPG that took players to the skies in airships, featuring turn-based combat, exploration, and a captivating story.
- Paper Mario – Combining traditional RPG elements with a unique paper aesthetic, this game offered a charming and humorous adventure in the Mario universe.
- Diablo II – Building upon its predecessor, this action RPG provided addictive loot-driven gameplay, with multiple classes and cooperative multiplayer.
- Banjo-Tooie – The sequel to Banjo-Kazooie expanded upon the original with larger worlds, new abilities, and a more interconnected game world.
- Jet Set Radio – Known for its cel-shaded graphics and vibrant style, this game had players inline skating through futuristic cities, tagging graffiti and evading authorities.
- Rayman 2: The Great Escape – This platformer took Rayman on a 3D adventure, rescuing friends and thwarting enemies in a whimsical world.
- Grandia II – An RPG that featured a compelling story, memorable characters, and a dynamic battle system, earning praise for its presentation and gameplay.
- Phantasy Star Online – Pioneering online console gaming, this action RPG allowed players to team up over the internet, exploring dungeons and battling foes together.
- Resident Evil 3: Nemesis – Continuing the survival horror series, players navigated Raccoon City while being pursued by the relentless Nemesis creature.
- Driver 2 – Expanding upon the original, this driving game introduced on-foot segments, allowing players to explore cities more freely.
- Medal of Honor: Underground – A first-person shooter set during World War II, focusing on resistance movements and offering varied missions.
- TimeSplitters – A fast-paced first-person shooter with a focus on multiplayer, featuring a variety of unique characters, weapons, and time-traveling missions. It became a favorite among FPS fans.
- Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
This arcade-style fighting game brought together a massive roster of Marvel superheroes and Capcom characters for fast-paced, combo-heavy battles. - Twisted Metal: Black
A dark and gritty entry in the vehicular combat series, featuring twisted characters, destructive arenas, and chaotic action. - Harvest Moon: Back to Nature
A relaxing farming simulation game where players manage crops, raise animals, and build relationships with villagers. - Crash Bash
A multiplayer-focused party game featuring Crash Bandicoot characters competing in mini-games and challenges. - Metal Slug 3
This side-scrolling shooter maintained the series’ signature hand-drawn animations and intense action while adding new branching paths and vehicles. - Dino Crisis 2
A sequel that shifted from survival horror to fast-paced action, featuring more dinosaurs, bigger weapons, and an explosive storyline. - Ridge Racer V
A high-speed arcade racing game that launched with the PlayStation 2, showcasing smooth graphics and tight controls. - Tekken Tag Tournament
The first Tekken game on PS2, introducing tag-team mechanics and a massive roster of fighters from previous games. - Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
A ninja stealth game where players used swords, grappling hooks, and stealth kills to complete missions undetected. - Dragon Quest VII
A massive RPG that provided hundreds of hours of gameplay, featuring turn-based battles, job systems, and a deep story. - Gauntlet: Dark Legacy
A hack-and-slash dungeon crawler where players chose different classes and battled through hordes of enemies with friends. - Unreal Tournament
A fast-paced arena shooter that emphasized multiplayer combat with various game modes, weapons, and futuristic battle arenas. - South Park Rally
A comedic kart racing game featuring characters and locations from the South Park TV show, packed with humor and absurd power-ups. - Mega Man Legends 2
The sequel to the beloved action-adventure Mega Man spin-off, featuring more dungeons, weapons, and a deeper story. - Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo
A flight combat game set in the Star Wars universe, allowing players to pilot various vehicles across multiple missions. - Icewind Dale
A Dungeons & Dragons-based RPG that focused on dungeon-crawling, party-based combat, and strategic gameplay. - Power Stone 2
A four-player arena fighting game that expanded upon the first game, introducing interactive stages and chaotic multiplayer battles.
Conclusion
The year 2000 was a defining period for gaming, bringing innovations across multiple genres. Whether it was RPGs, shooters, sports games, or fighting titles, players had no shortage of incredible experiences to enjoy. Many of these games remain influential today, and some have even received remakes or spiritual successors.
Which of these classic games was your favorite? Let us know!