LinksOcarina
Rookie
With 2010 in full swing, I figure it's high time to look back at the past ten years of gaming. We have come a LONG way from the cartridge systems of yesteryear and have began to move forward into new territory thanks to the Nintendo Wii, the Sony PS3, and the X-box 360. Old stalwarts like the DS, PSP and PS2 are still kicking (for now) and in a few years time, the next big console systems will grace our presences and join the growing ranks of games in our libraries.
But what is the point of this sudden post. Well, how about a periodic series where I list the good, the bad, the ugly, the obscure, the famous and infamous at the same time in video games. That is right, gentlemen and ladies, it is time to showcase some of the best games of the decade.
I am going to post three games here, with a little blurb about each every time I can think of doing it. If it came out in 2000-2009, it fits the bill. Let's get started with some early releases back in 2000.
Jet Grind Radio
Released June, 2000 for the Sega Dreamcast
One of the first real experiences in cel-shading graphics, a new phenomenon at the time, Jet Grind Radio was a reason to own a Sega Dreamcast. It was quirky fun with a lot of promise and style, mixed with the right amount of substance to keep you coming back. Starring as a kid on roller blades, your job is to paint the town in various colors in an oppressive, totalitarian Japanese city by tagging random spots with custom or professional made graffiti signs. It featured tight controls reminiscent of Tony Hawk, awesome techno be-bop music from a renegade DJ, and really cool animations that many a reviewer praised back in 2000. By today's standards it may look a little blocky and unrealistic, but frankly, the cel-shading works in a game like Jet Grind Radio, it just augments the fun factor of it all. In fact, there is a rumor that the game may get a revival on the Wii, if only the publishers were wise enough to see a ample opportunity for some really rad.
Perfect Dark
Released May 2000 on the Nintendo 64
While cartridge games were beginning to lose their steam, thanks to the Nintendo 64, some of these games surpassed even the expectations of the reviewers and players at the time. Perfect Dark was a Sci-Fi FPS starring Joanna Dark, a British secret service agent that pretty much just kicks major ass. Thanks to a really developed storyline dealing with government conspiracies and aliens attacking earth, Perfect Dark was a fantastic game that reminded people why the N64 was still going strong, even into 2002. Also, it helped that the development team, Rare, has had great success on the system, delivering what I consider to be their best work ever produced in games like Goldeneye 007 and Banjo-Kazooie. Plus, the multi-player was fantastic for the time, offering a slew of unlockables to everyone to enjoy, including some call backs from Goldeneye. Overall, Perfect Dark was a perfect game to be released at the turn of the century, even if it required that damn expansion pack to run it.
Daikatana
Released in May 2000 for the Nintendo 64 and the PC
Remember when John Romero, the developer of previous games like Doom and Quake, said he would make you his bitch? Well, the tables turned with Daikatana, a game so broken that it pretty much ruined Romero's company Ion Storm and is now considered one of the worst financial flops ever in video game history, and THAT is saying something. Daikatana was ambitious at best, but poorly executed thanks to a number of factors that would take a blog entry in it's own to explore. team problems, a ridiculous time schedule, a controversial ad campaign, and being outpaced by other technological advances at the time, Daikatana was lucky it saw the light of day; it was originally supposed to be released in 1997, and it shows by looking at it now. As it stands, it's nothing more than a curious piece of gaming history, one that won't be forgotten for all the wrong reasons.
So there you have it for now. Next time, 3 more games from the past decade that were memorable, be it good or bad.
But what is the point of this sudden post. Well, how about a periodic series where I list the good, the bad, the ugly, the obscure, the famous and infamous at the same time in video games. That is right, gentlemen and ladies, it is time to showcase some of the best games of the decade.
I am going to post three games here, with a little blurb about each every time I can think of doing it. If it came out in 2000-2009, it fits the bill. Let's get started with some early releases back in 2000.
Jet Grind Radio
Released June, 2000 for the Sega Dreamcast
One of the first real experiences in cel-shading graphics, a new phenomenon at the time, Jet Grind Radio was a reason to own a Sega Dreamcast. It was quirky fun with a lot of promise and style, mixed with the right amount of substance to keep you coming back. Starring as a kid on roller blades, your job is to paint the town in various colors in an oppressive, totalitarian Japanese city by tagging random spots with custom or professional made graffiti signs. It featured tight controls reminiscent of Tony Hawk, awesome techno be-bop music from a renegade DJ, and really cool animations that many a reviewer praised back in 2000. By today's standards it may look a little blocky and unrealistic, but frankly, the cel-shading works in a game like Jet Grind Radio, it just augments the fun factor of it all. In fact, there is a rumor that the game may get a revival on the Wii, if only the publishers were wise enough to see a ample opportunity for some really rad.
Perfect Dark
Released May 2000 on the Nintendo 64
While cartridge games were beginning to lose their steam, thanks to the Nintendo 64, some of these games surpassed even the expectations of the reviewers and players at the time. Perfect Dark was a Sci-Fi FPS starring Joanna Dark, a British secret service agent that pretty much just kicks major ass. Thanks to a really developed storyline dealing with government conspiracies and aliens attacking earth, Perfect Dark was a fantastic game that reminded people why the N64 was still going strong, even into 2002. Also, it helped that the development team, Rare, has had great success on the system, delivering what I consider to be their best work ever produced in games like Goldeneye 007 and Banjo-Kazooie. Plus, the multi-player was fantastic for the time, offering a slew of unlockables to everyone to enjoy, including some call backs from Goldeneye. Overall, Perfect Dark was a perfect game to be released at the turn of the century, even if it required that damn expansion pack to run it.
Daikatana
Released in May 2000 for the Nintendo 64 and the PC
Remember when John Romero, the developer of previous games like Doom and Quake, said he would make you his bitch? Well, the tables turned with Daikatana, a game so broken that it pretty much ruined Romero's company Ion Storm and is now considered one of the worst financial flops ever in video game history, and THAT is saying something. Daikatana was ambitious at best, but poorly executed thanks to a number of factors that would take a blog entry in it's own to explore. team problems, a ridiculous time schedule, a controversial ad campaign, and being outpaced by other technological advances at the time, Daikatana was lucky it saw the light of day; it was originally supposed to be released in 1997, and it shows by looking at it now. As it stands, it's nothing more than a curious piece of gaming history, one that won't be forgotten for all the wrong reasons.
So there you have it for now. Next time, 3 more games from the past decade that were memorable, be it good or bad.
, but this game is definately one of the happiest games I've ever played. It would cheer up a legless sprinter! And it always puts a smile on my face, even 7 years later from its release. It's even sparked up a whole new series for Toon Link, with 2 DS games under his belt already, and a spot in Super Smash Bros. Brawl!
