2000-2005: The New Challengers Prevail
Nintendo saw itself fade almost into complete obscurity during this generation, nearly going the way of Sega before some clever marketing moves and dropping the price of the GameCube.
Likewise, Microsoft launched its first gaming console, the XBox. Though slow going, it gradually gained noteriaty in gaming circles. This time also saw the PS2, which might be one of the best, if not THE best (vs the SNES it’s a toss up, really), console of all time.
Sony PlayStation 2 (2000)
Notable titles:
- Year One (01-02): DOA 2: Hardcore, Ridge Racer V, SSX, Tekken Tag Tournament, Timesplitters, Rayman 2, Zone of the Enders, Dark Cloud, Twisted Metal: Black, Gran Turismo 3, Silent Hill 2, Grand Theft Auto III
- Year Two (02-03): Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex, Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid 2, Jak and Daxter, Final Fantasy X, Grandia II, Virtua Fighter 4, Onimusha 2, Tekken 4, Contra: Shattered Soldier, Suikoden III, Kingdom Hearts
Grade:
A+
Synopsis:
Once again, the PlayStation 2 debuted with a set of titles that marked it as its own console. While the first year was fairly rough, it went out with a bang that changed gaming forever- GTA III. After that, Year Two was stacked with games, some of them notable classics. That second year may have been one of gaming’s best, but was topped just a few years later with an epic run…
Still to Come:
GTA III: San Andreas, Final Fantasy XII, Metal Gear Solid 3, Ratchet and Clank, Jak II, Prince of Persia, Beyond Good and Evil, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Kingdom Hearts 2, Okami, RE 4, DMC 3, DQ VIII, GT 4, God of War (1 and 2)… wow. What a great console.
Nintendo GameCube (2001)
Notable titles:
- Year One (01-02): Super Monkey Ball, Pikmin, Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II, Super Smash Bros. Melee, SSX Tricky, Eternal Darkness, Super Mario Sunshine
- Year Two (02-03): Star Fox Adventures, Metroid Prime, F-Zero GX, Mario Golf, Legend of Zelda, Wind Waker
Grade:
B-
Synopsis:
As with Nintendo’s previous console, the GameCube was front loaded with tons of great games that any fanboy would clamor for. However, the selection and quality was still noticeably thinner than the N64’s, and the drop off after year two was just as bad. Though some great games early on proved to be classics such as Wind Waker, Metroid Prime and Smash Bros. Melee. However, compared to some of the blockbusters of PS2, the GC just seemed to be missing something.
Still to Come:
Prince of Persia, Beyond Good and Evil, RE 4, MGS: Twin Snakes, Baten Kaitos, Battalion Wars, Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door, SC II, Metroid Prime 2, Pikmin 2
Microsoft XBox (2001)
Notable titles:
- Year One (01-02): Project Gotham Racing, DOA 3, Halo, Oddworld, Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Shenmue II, MGS 2: Substance
- Year Two (02-03): Splinter Cell, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Star Wars: KOTOR, Soul Calibur II, Crimson Skies, Beyond Good and Evil, Prince of Persia, Sands of Time
Grade:
C
Synopsis:
Only a few games kept this from dropping to a C- or a D, even: KOTOR and Halo. The rest, while many of them are fine games, were almost all released on other consoles. Microsoft had some trouble early on really making a dent in terms of its exclusives, much to the laughter of devoted Sony/Nintendo fanboys all across the country. The XBox was known as the frat boy console, the console for non-gamers, etc. However, over the rest of its run, MS slowly started to build (read: buy) itself a pool of developers and publishers, and made itself a legitimate contender by the console’s end.
Still to Come:
KOTOR 2, Halo 2, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Forza, Psychonauts, Chronicles of Riddick, GTA: San Andreas, Fable, Ninja Gaiden, Jade Empire
Awesome post, Eddy. I think you were very fair with all the consoles.
Haha, thanks dude. I had a really hard time with the N64, the 360 and the PS3, actually. It’s tough trying to put some of these games into perspective. And in reality, it’s all just my opinions anyway.
Really good dissection of the past few generations, Eddy. I don’t think I disagreed with you on any of the grades you assigned to each console. I was surprised with your “C” grade for the X-Box, but looking back on it, it makes a lot of sense. I think you should have taken Live into account, however.(unless I missed that)
Anyways, here’s what I think:
We’re barely three years into the current generation, and there’s already a buzz about the next wave of consoles. It’s going to get to a point where we’re going to be over-saturated with “the next big thing”. The industry really needs to break it’s dependency on the generation cycles. You don’t need to introduce a new console every five years(or six, or seven in my opinion) to generate new ad revenue.
I mean, gaming is just starting to become more “mainstream”. If parents purchase an X-Box or a PS3 or even a Wii for their kids, are they really going to want to drop another half-grand in two years? Your average consumer doesn’t care about advanced bit-mapping, or higher resolutions. Heck, your average gaming enthusiast will give up a bit of graphical polish to play something innovative.
Games this generation can hardly be described as lacking in the graphics department, anyways. Take Gears of War, for example. It introduced the cover system in a big way, but it still managed to look great. The second one looks like it’ll top the original in looks, and they’re still trying to innovate.
The problem with changing consoles so quickly is that it never allows the industry to mature. If you have to re-learn how to make a good looking game every five years, you’re never going to get down to the nitty gritty.
So no, I don’t think I’m ready for a new generation of consoles. Give me some innovation with this generation. Let me squeeze a few more years out of my $500 before you make me do it all over again.
Your grade for the Xbox is why I never got one. Fantastic job on being fair.
Epic indeed.
You pretty much nailed everything. And yes, I believe it is too early for people to discuss the next gen. We’re just starting this one!
I loved my GAMECUBE. It really made me a gamer.
Yeah, it really did have some good games. When I was making this list, I remembered the GC being crappy to me, but looking back at all the games I played, it was at least better than the 64, which afters its first 1.5 years, did nothing as a system until Perfect Dark.
No good games for the game cube,
i think someone is forgetting pokemon snap and pokemon staduim!!! jeez :).
That was one epic analytical piece about consoles. I still remember the PS2 as being loaded with games. With the talk of future consoles ALREADY, I doubt that the current consoles will manage to have such a plethora of awesome games. 🙁
The only question that should be asked is “How do Nintendo innovate more?”. Better graphics with slightly improved controls? Is that even innovation? But hey, that’s what we said BEFORE the Wii!
the only way any of this could get any better is if the graphics and gameplay get better, and better, and pretty soon games will be controllable movies!
Don’t you guys know anything. It’s a well known fact that every three to five years a new game system has to come out. I’m Not saying that it needs to come out, but it comes out none the less.
BTW KotOR is the best rpg of all time with Morrowind coming at a close second.