Games of 1999 - ranked by preference

Release Date: August 31, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft
Genre: Sports - Extreme Sports - Skateboarding

I first played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater a year prior to its release on a demo disk. The game was extremely basic when compared to the final product, but it was still fun enough where a few friends and I lost hours playing the demo. Then, a year later Pizza Hut released a demo much more true to the original game...And I was sold. I went out of my way to purchase this game...And to this day, I can still pop it in and love every minute of my time with it. And I'm not a music guy by any stretch, but I enjoy every song on the soundtrack, which also adds a tad to the enjoyment. While the sequel might be a superior game overall, I'll always have a preference to the simplicity of the original.

Release Date: November 18, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Chrono Cross is a game that people seem to love or hate based on if they expected it to be like Chrono Trigger or not...I've actually heard quite a few people argue that Chrono Cross is terrible simply because it's nothing like Chrono Trigger. That's ridiculous. Chrono Cross is a great game that anyone who goes in with an open mind will likely enjoy. The graphics, the music, the unique battle system, trying to recruit all party members, and switching from one dimension to another...They all come together to create a beautiful and fun game to play...And one that I've happily played through over twenty times since its release.

Release Date: August 5, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Fighting

Soul Calibur turned a lot of heads when it was released. Not only was everything arcade-perfect, but in many ways it surpassed the arcade version, which in itself was already an amazing game. Namco also tossed in a few extra modes to boot, including Mission Mode, which was absolutely addicting. There are also plenty of characters, costumes, and modes to unlock, creating plenty of replay value to ensure that you keep coming back for more. I don't consider this to be the best 3D fighting game of all-time any more, but back when it was released, there weren't too many fighting games that came even close to matching the quality of this gem.

Release Date: November 21, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG

I really said what I want about Pokemon Gold and Silver in the entry below with Pokemon Gold. So, for this entry, I'm just going to list off some of the new features for these two games, so you can get an idea of some of the good additions to the already great formula established in Pokemon Red and Blue. Aside from the addition of various new Pokemon to find and collect, Gold and Silver introduced the ability to breed Pokemon, which was about as addicting as wandering around and searching for Pokemon in the wilderness is. A time system is also introduced, using real time to influence certain events and Pokemon appearances. These additions add some variety to collecting Pokemon and help the games feel fresh in comparison to the previous generation Pokemon games. If you're not a Pokemon fan yet, the Gold and Silver versions may be able to convert you into one.

Release Date: November 21, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG

Owners of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow may had thought that they caught 'em all, and then Nintendo released Pokemon Gold and Silver, with 100 new Pokemon to collect and a few new gameplay elements that improved upon an already addicting game style established in the original Pokemon games. If you loved the original Pokemon games, you'll easily love this one as well. It's worth noting that the differences between the Gold and Silver versions is minute. The only reason for Silver being above Gold in this list is my preference in the Pokemon types gracing the cover...Scientific reasoning, I know.

Release Date: July 8, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

Well, this is it, in my opinion...The absolute best Street Fighter game ever created. Sporting one of the largest cast of characters in any fighting game up to this point, and a plethora of game modes, it was not an uncommon thing to hear of people sinking hundreds of hours into this game, even without playing any multiplayer. The ability to play each character with A, X, and V-Isms basically means that the roster is multiplied by three as each character has a slightly different move set depending on the Ism that you use. The awesome, RPG-like World Tour mode alone will make most fighting game fans lose hours of their life as they try to build up the most powerful version of their favorite fighters as possible, which you can then use that super-powered character in arcade mode and absolutely dominate the competition. I really can't say enough good of this game. It's Street Fighter perfection that hadn't been achieved before and hasn't been done since. This is a must-play for fighting game fans.

Release Date: January 31, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCET
Genre: Adventure - Survival Horror

After Resident Evil was released, a ton of sub-par survival horror clones were published by various companies....Then came Silent Hill, which at first glance may look like a Resident Evil clone, but Resident Evil is like Sesame Street compared to Silent Hill. This game is dark, demented, and relies on psychology to scare the player rather than cheap tricks like a dog jumping through a window. Many people think that Silent Hill 2 is the best game in the series...Personally, I prefer the original and would gladly journey through Silent Hill in the shoes of Harry Mason again today.

Release Date: February 11, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

As time passes, and each time I play Final Fantasy VIII, I enjoy the game more and more. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it when it came out...I did, but I was never a big fan of the story. I considered this to be all about the gameplay. Having to draw spells from enemies and allocate spells to your stats was a unique system, and one that I personally enjoy. I also enjoyed how everything levels up with you. You can literally get to level 99 within a few hours of grinding in the forests once you first hit the world map since the monsters, leveling up with you and getting tougher as you do, consistently offer plenty of experience. It is worth noting that the things that I just mentioned about enjoying are the same things that some folks absolutely hate about the game...But I like 'em, so there. It's also worth noting that this game has my favorite music in the Final Fantasy series.

Release Date: November 10, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Visual Concepts
Genre: Sports - Basketball

NBA 2K, along with NFL 2K, made it perfectly clear that Sega's Dreamcast didn't need EA Sports franchises like Madden of NBA Live. In fact, in my personal opinion, both NBA 2K and NFL 2K surpassed the EA Sports titles in just about every way. NBA 2K almost seems like a perfect game of basketball when compared to rival games of the time. It looked gorgeous, and it hasn't aged too terribly, either. It still plays great and has enough customization where you can make the game play the way you want it to play. If you're a basketball nut, you can even watch the computer battle it out, which is actually pretty dang fun to watch as well. Sega's sports brand made it clear that sports fans had plenty to get excited about on the Dreamcast, and NBA 2K was leading the charge, in my humble opinion.

Release Date: April 30, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is an enhanced version of the original Super Mario Bros., in handheld form. It has various new features and the like, including a nice save feature, to keep even veteran Super Mario Bros. players coming back for more. Also new is an interesting change in camera, as the camera is zoomed in, making stuff above and below Mario out of view at times. The zoomed-in camera in itself isn't a major change, but it can feel like it is when you play. The best part of this game is that once you obtain 300,000 points, you unlock the Lost Levels, basically making this two great platformers in one portable package.

Release Date: June 24, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Game Arts
Genre: RPG

Grandia may not have the impressive graphics of the Final Fantasy series, but what it lacks in graphical prowess, it more than makes up for in everything else. Grandia is a memorable RPG that will likely hook you if you give it a chance. I enjoy the gameplay, but I'll mention the leveling up system in particular...The party doesn't just level up, the skills do as well. If you want stronger fire magic, keep using it in battle and you'll eventually get experienced enough in fire magic for a new spell to become unlocked. This leveling up requires a decent amount of strategy in battle...Not just in order to survive, but for getting new skills. If you missed out on this game in the Playstation One days, it's available on the Playstation Network for $6 USD, which is an incredible steal for a game of this quality.

Release Date: October 12, 1999 (EU)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Aki
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

WWF Wrestlemania 2000 was, at the time, the biggest WWF game ever made. It nearly included the entire roster at the time along with several modes and match types and a so-so create-a-wrestler option, allowing players to put themselves (or wrestlers from rival promotions) in the game. It was a great wrestling title that was the continued, upward evolution of the previous WCW Aki-developed games.

Release Date: December 22, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Enix
Developer: Tri-Ace
Genre: RPG

Valkyrie Profile can fetch for a pretty penny online, but it's a game that is completely worth the cost. The unique setting, story, and combat all make this a worthy title to play for even the most jaded RPG fan. If you want to play it, but are looking for a cheaper alternative, there's always the PSP version, which is basically the same game, except you can play it on the go.

Release Date: September 8, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Eurocom Entertainment Software
Genre: Racing

I'm a sucker for racing games that don't involve cars. Maybe it's because I've always enjoyed games that stray from the beaten path, or maybe it's because games like Hydro Thunder are just so dang good that it makes me want more. Hydro Thunder takes the fun racing-on-water mechanics of Wave Race 64 and adds some speed and a more arcade-y feel to deliver an awesome experience for both casual and hardcore fans of racing games. It's not an incredibly deep racing experience, but it doesn't need to be - it's just pure fun.

Release Date: July 1, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Adventure - Survival Horror

I'm usually in the minority when I say this, but what the heck, I'll say it anyway - I prefer Dino Crisis to the first three Resident Evil games. I like Resident Evil and all, but when you take the Resident Evil formula, get rid of the slow-as-dirt zombies and replace them with lightning quick dinosaurs, it just makes for a more exciting game to play in my opinion. Yeah, the story and characters are kind of corny, but maybe that's where the game charmed me. I like corn.

Release Date: February 5, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Natsume
Developer: Victor Interactive Software
Genre: Adventure

Harvest Moon 64 was the first 3D Harvest Moon game and still holds up as one of the best. If you're looking for guns and fighting, you won't find any of that here. What you will find is a nice, relaxing experience of farming, fishing, and interacting with the townsfolk. If that sounds boring, then give this game a try - you'll be surprised at how fun it all can be. If it sounds fun, then you'll definitely enjoy your time harvesting crops and partaking in the other activities that this game allows.

Release Date: December 16, 1999 (DC)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: UGA
Genre: Music

Space Channel 5 is a very unique music game that has the player controlling Ulala as she tries to rid Space Channel 5 of a swarm of aliens that have infested the area....She tries to do this through dance. It's essentially an interactive movie where you just input commands as you're prompted to, but the story is so unique and the characters so charming that you can't help but keep playing. A musical, video game version of Simon really shouldn't be this much fun...But it is.

Release Date: April 8, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Developer: Human Club
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

What do you get when the folks behind the Fire Pro games make a 3D wrestling game? Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling: Ouja no Kon, the game that pretty much laid the groundwork for the excellent King of Colosseum games that would be released a few years later. Before you even get into a match, the ring introductions are amazing with licensed music of your favorite AJPW stars, the ring announcer doing his thing, and the crowd yelling and chanting for their favorites. Once in the ring, the in-ring action is slightly different from what you may be used to with the R1 button being needed to hold down in a combination with another button for a lock-up move. There are also spheres that almost act like finishers in the modern WWE games, except they're not limited to finishing moves - you can use them to escape holds and pinfalls as well, which often results in a fantastic match with wrestlers kicking out when you think they're done or reversing out of a hold to start making a dramatic comeback. Whether you're battling the computer, a friend, or just watching the computer battle each other, the in-ring action is always a blast. Non-gameplay related, this game also sports one of my favorite cover arts for a wrestling game with the Triple Crown title gracing the cover. Overall, this is a very solid wrestling game and well worth importing both if you're into playing wrestling game and/or if you just like to watch wrestling - have the computer battle each other and you'll often be treated to an entertaining match. Regardless of your preference, this is a wonderful wrestling game for wrestling fans.

Release Date: June 17, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Adventure

Survival Kids is all about surviving on a deserted island after your boat wrecks. If the concept sounds familiar, Survival Kids is the game that came before the Lost in Blue franchise, and is similar to those titles. Survival Kids may be a little slow-paced for some, but I found it to be a relaxing experience to wander around the island, looking for supplies to stay alive. The game itself is very solid and works well on a portable. If you've got the patience for the slow pace of the game, you'll be rewarded with a very solid experience for your Game Boy Color.

Release Date: May 27, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: SNK
Developer: Ukiyotei
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Metal Slug: 1st Mission is a little different in comparison to the other Metal Slug games that came before it. In this handheld entry in the series, there is a health meter. No more one-shot kills, you can keep playing so long as you have some health left in your meter. Also worth noting are the branching paths. Branching paths weren't new to the series when this game was released, but the number of branching paths in this game really brings up the replay factor. It's not as pretty as previous entries in the series, due to the hardware it's running on, but it's just as fun. If you own a Neo-Geo Pocket Color, this is definitely a game that you should have in your collection.

Release Date: June 22, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Persona 2: Tsumi (also known as Innocent Sin), until recently via the PSP, was never released outside of Japan...Probably due to an appearance by Adolf Hitler and the option for the main character to have a homosexual relationship, which back in '99 was a bit more controversial than it would be today. As a result, anyone who enjoyed Persona 2: Eternal Punishment outside of Japan only got to see half of the story of Persona 2. Innocent Sin looks and plays just like Eternal Punishment, which is to be expected as they were made to be played together. Fans of Persona 3 and 4 may not be as enthralled with the gameplay as I am, but both games in the Persona 2 pair are personal favorites of mine.

Release Date: September 9, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Visual Concepts
Genre: Sports - Football

NFL 2K was a Dreamcast launch title that immediately made it clear to football fanatic Sega fans that Madden wasn't needed on this system. In fact, NFL 2K, in my opinion, was a Madden killer of sorts. I've never been a big football guy, but I was genuinely hooked on NFL 2K, something that I can't say about any Madden title after the series went 3D. NFL 2K let every Dreamcast owner know that while they weren't going to get any Madden games, Sega was going to do their best to make sure that they got something better instead. They definitely did with this release.

Release Date: November 30, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Genre: Racing

Gran Turismo is one of my favorite racing games that I've ever played, so when a sequel came out, naturally I was looking forward to getting it. Despite having a few tweaks and improvements, more customization options, and a lot more vehicles to choose from, I just never got into this game like I did the original. It's not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination - it's very good. But since I'm not a car nut, I felt like I already did a lot of this before, even if much of the content is new. Anyway, if you liked the first Gran Turismo, you'll probably like the second. If you're like me, you'll like and appreciate the second, but still prefer the first.

Release Date: June 30, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: GT Interactive
Developer: Reflections Interactive
Genre: Action

This style of game has evolved tremendously since Driver came out, with the ability to the the missions outside of the car, on foot, swap cars when need be, etc...But the original Driver, for its time, really was an absolutely amazing game. You couldn't just fly around at top speed, ignoring traffic laws like you can in the Grand Theft Auto games...Ignore the traffic laws, and the police will be after you. Run a red light, go faster than the speed limit, and drive on the wrong side of the road all you want...Just make sure that no police are around when you do it. That aspect of realism included in the game is really a big part of what made this game so fun.

Release Date: April 10, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Music - Dance

The original console version of Dance Dance Revolution was exclusive to Japan...and it brought the awesome fun of embarrassing yourself in the arcade (or having insane skills for some folks) to enjoy at home. The concept of Dance Dance Revolution is timeless - using a pad as a controller, step on the arrow keys as they pop up on the screen...it vaguely simulates dancing when watching, but it's quite fun and quite a workout when playing. Released 2 years before the version that folks in North America are familiar with, this contains many of the series' fan favorite songs, like Butterfly. Later games in the series added some mild improvements, but the original is still fantastic in its simplicity and well worth popping in from time to time for a little dancing fun.

Release Date: January 31, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Firaxis Games
Genre: Strategy - Turn-Based

The popularity of Sid Meier's Civilization games made it logical for a spinoff to happen....A spinoff IN SPACE!! Ooooooooooh! Anyway, Alpha Centauri is basically Civilization in space, with space-type stuff tossed in to further let you know that it's in space. That's not a bad thing at all, mind you, but if you've had your fill of the Civilization games, there really isn't enough here to keep you playing for more than an hour or two. But, if you can't get enough of the Civilization games, but want something a little different from the norm, the outer space setting may be enough to quench your thirst for turn-based strategy goodness.

Release Date: October 14, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Genre: Racing

Speed Devils is a deceptively good game. At first glance, it just looks like your average racer with a pretty coat of paint and (mostly) interesting levels. Each level is hiding shortcuts and hidden routes and you've got turbo boosts to use at your disposal and you can customize the levels prior to racing, like what the weather will be like and if it's a regular course or a mirror course....There's just so much to do and discover that any fan of arcade racing can easily lose hours upon hours here. Some folks don't like this game for some reason, but I fail to see what isn't to like here. If you get a chance to play it, give it a shot and find out for yourself.

Release Date: 1999 (EU)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Crawfish Interactive
Genre: Fighting

Street Fighter Alpha is kind of what I wanted the Game Boy version of Street Fighter II to play like. Everything is very, very smooth. While not as graphically impressive as SF2, Street Fighter Alpha more than delivers in the gameplay department, making it a great title that holds its own among the best games of any genre on the Game Boy Color.

Release Date: June 24, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Developer: S-Neo
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Fire Pro Wrestling G is a good entry in the Fire Pro Wrestling series, but it's not really a step up from Fire Pro Wrestling S on the Saturn, which was released a few years earlier, by any means, so it loses a few points with me as far as being ranked in this list. It's also not nearly as good as Fire Pro Wrestling D, which would be released on Dreamcast a few years later...So, it's a great, solid wrestling game sandwiched between two really outstanding, stand-out entries in the franchise...As a result, it kind of gets lost in the shuffle. But still, if Fire Pro G is the only game you can access from the series, it's still a great wrestling title, far deeper than any other wrestling title available on Playstation at the time.

Release Date: July 29, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Clap Hanz
Genre: Sports - Golf

Hot Shots Golf 2 adds a bit upon the enjoyable, original formula of Hot Shots Golf, but at the same time doesn't stray far from what made the original successful. Getting in on the mascot fun that a similar golf game, Mario Golf has, Hot Shots Golf 2 has three unlockable characters - Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal, Sir Daniel Fortesque from MediEvil, and Gex from...well, Gex. Also added is a much welcome "gimme" during putts - if your ball is right next to the whole, the computer just putts it in for you as a "gimme" shot. It's simple, yet a wonderful addition. Overall, if you enjoyed Hot Shots Golf, the sequel has more to love. If you didn't, some of the minor additions might make you happy, but it's the same game at its core, so it may not convert you.

Release Date: October 31, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Insomniac Games
Genre: Platformer

Man, I love the original Spyro trilogy. Ripto's Rage is my least favorite of the three, but it's still one of my favorite platformers on the Playstation. Much like the original Spyro, playing the game like normal is a blast, but going back and just exploring each beautiful level, and not really doing anything except running around, is just as fun. As much as I like this game, though, I still feel like the original is slightly superior. I know plenty of folks who disagree, though, so you may want to give it a try and form your own opinion on the matter. Better or worse, it's still a great game and one of the best platformers of its console generation.

Release Date: January 31, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: 989 Studios
Developer: Eidetic
Genre: Action

Syphon Filter takes a few elements from various successful games like Metal Gear Solid and Tomb Raider, and puts them all in one package with the result being surprisingly well done. It's odd to say, but Syphon Filter is almost like a run-and-gun stealth game, where sometimes you want to be stealthy and sometimes you just wanna drop everyone around you like flies...and with its neat lock-on system, shooting at the enemy is a breeze. It's not a perfect action game, it has its flaws, but there's way more good than bad and if you're into action games, Syphon Filter should definitely be in your collection.

Release Date: March 25, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: AM1
Genre: Shooter - First-Person - Light Gun

House of the Dead 2 starts out with a creepy, winged gargoyle-like creature taunting you...And once you hear his voice, the creepiness instantly goes away. Give a munchkin some helium and you've pretty much got that voice. Anyway, House of the Dead 2 is a solid rail shooter where you shoot up zombies and slugs and various other creatures and monsters in your way while a cheesy, B-movie story unfolds. If you can get your hands on a Dreamcast light gun, this is an awesome game to get.

Release Date: June 10, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: SquareSoft
Developer: SquareSoft
Genre: Racing

Racing Lagoon is basically SquareSoft's attempt at a racing RPG, and it's mostly successful. Knowledge of the Japanese language is necessary to fully understand the story, but from what I could piece together from the few hours I played, you're basically a street racer working your way up the ladder...It could be, and probably is deeper than that, but understanding it or not doesn't really have an effect on how well the game plays, which is well. The game isn't as solid racing-wise as Gran Turismo or Ridge Racer Type 4, but it's still very good and the RPG-like leveling up and customization options help enhance the experience further. Racing Lagoon isn't a perfect blend of racing and RPG genres, but it's still a very good one and well worth looking into if it sounds interesting at all to you.

Release Date: July 29, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Music

Years before Guitar Hero took North America by storm, Japan already had a music game where you played with a guitar peripheral - that game was Guitar Freaks. Guitar Freaks plays pretty similar to Guitar Hero, which most folks reading this are probably more familiar with, but this game pretty much laid the groundwork for the basics that made RedOctane's guitar game so addicting. If you're one of the few that didn't get burned out with the Guitar Hero game years ago and want something new, it might be worth your while to import this game and its guitar controller. I'm sure you'll like it just as much.

Release Date: March 23, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Genre: Platformer

Gex 3 took everything good about Enter the Gecko, and tweaked much of what was not so good, to make this the most polished game in the Gex franchise, in my opinion. While I generally frown at pop culture references because nobody will usually get them ten years later, Gex 3's pop culture references are mostly so well known that I think the jokes may still work today, nearly 20 years later. That said, if you've played the other games, expect more comical levels with various themes. If you haven't played a Gex game before, expect comical levels with various themes....Yeah, that was pretty much the same sentence...sue me. Just go give this game a try and leave me alone.

Release Date: August 26, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Music - Dance

Just four and a half months after Dance Dance Revolution arrived on the Playstation console, 2nd Remix hit the shelves and actually added a bit in the process. This version features more songs, and a neat option to make them more difficult, should you feel the need. This option, as simple as it sounds, adds so much replayability to the game - once you've mastered a song, you essentially have two more versions to master should you want the fun to continue. It adds enough to the original game to make this well worth the purchase if you enjoyed dancing to the first release.

Release Date: July 31, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Acclaim
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

WWF Attitude may not have aged all that well in terms of gameplay, but for its time, in North America, it was amazing. The Create-A-Wrestler from WWF Warzone returned and was much, much larger and more impressive. Several new match types were added, giving more variety to the gameplay. The roster was expanded to over 40 grapplers, and a career mode was tossed in as well, making this not only a fun game to play, but a game that had plenty of replayability. This is the best wrestling game that Acclaim has ever put out, in my opinion.

Release Date: July 29, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Enix
Developer: Treasure
Genre: Fighting

Rakugaki Showtime is a very, very rare Japanese import that can go for over $250 USD, if you can even find a copy. Apparently, very shortly after the release of the game, it was pulled off of store shelves, supposedly due to a dispute between Enix, the publisher, and Treasure, the developer. But anyway, Rakugaki Showtime has one of the more unique graphical styles I've seen as it's almost like Paper Mario-ish if Paper Mario's characters were drawn by children. It gives this Smash Bros.-like fighting game (which also has a giant hand as a final boss) a very unique and interesting look to it. The game is quite fun...But probably not worth the cost to get a copy. Thankfully, it was released on the Japanese PSN store as a PS One classic a few years ago, so if you set up a Japanese PSN account and get a card for points to use in the Japanese Playstation Store, you can enjoy the game at a very small fraction of the normal cost.

Release Date: July 1, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: ArtDink
Genre: Adventure

Aquanaut's Holiday allowed players to wander around the depths of the sea in a very relaxing, enjoyable game. This Japanese-exclusive sequel gives you plenty more, with much more varied environments and aquatic life to discover. The graphics are also significantly better, which helps you get lost in the underwater landscapes even more easily than before. If you liked the first Aquanaut's Holiday, you'll love this sequel. If you weren't a fan of the original game, you probably won't find much here to like, either. Regardless, fans of "walking simulators" will likely be in underwater heaven here.

Release Date: June 24, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Scarab
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

All Japan's game on the Saturn included a few characters from Virtua Fighter to fight alongside or against various AJPW wrestlers like Giant Baba, Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, and Kenta Kobashi. Giant Gram does that again with a larger roster and slightly improved in-ring action. The only thing that really holds this back from being a truly great wrestling game are the controls which feel like they lag at times. By no means does it break the game, but it does feel annoying at times. It's still a decent wrestling experience, and worth checking out...Especially if you're a fan of the 90's All Japan product, like I am.

Release Date: March 17, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Tecmo
Genre: Sports - Horse Racing

If you're into horse racing and own a Playstation, this should be a game that you seek out. In Gallop Racer, you pretty much do everything involving the sport - buy horses, compete in races...the only thing missing is a gambling system of some sort. That said, I like Gallop Racer because it's something completely different from what Western audiences had been used to - very slow-paced and relaxing...and while more horse racing games have come out since, I still enjoy this one for bringing the genre to North America...plus it helps that it's still fun today.

Release Date: June 11, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Camelot Software
Genre: Sports - Golf

Mario Golf on the N64 is really good...But oddly enough, it actually pales in comparison to the Game Boy Color game of the same name. Despite being inferior to its 8-bit, handheld sibling, the console version of Mario Golf is still solid and kind of like a throwback to NES classics like the NES Open, except with more characters from the Mario universe. If you happen to have the GBC version of Mario Golf as well, you can link the two games together to share and unlock characters, boosting the replay value of the game up a tad. If you want some goofy golfing goodness, Mario Golf is a decent game to play.

Release Date: October 14, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

I don't know or follow anime or manga...But I know (thanks to Google) that this game is based off of a comic book in Japan. If you're a fan, and you also happen to be a fan of fighting games, then I bet you'll love it. I know nothing about the characters or story...But I do enjoy the "bizarre" aspects of the game, like the characters. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a pretty average fighting game with some above-average graphics. The big mode that makes this different from other fighting games at the time was the story mode, which, similar to the PS3 Mortal Kombat releases, has you fighting as multiple characters as the story progresses. Again, if you're a fan of the comic books that this game was based off of, you'll likely love it. For the rest of us, it's an average (but interesting all the same) fighting game.

Release Date: March 4, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Kid
Developer: Kid
Genre: Action

In a world where cell phones have games like Pepsiman all over their online stores, it's easy to dismiss this Japanese import as being boring. However, keep in mind that years before any of those games existed, Pepsiman was doing it in style. Basically, in Pepsiman, you control Pepsiman by moving him left and right on the screen and jumping or sliding when it's necessary to do so. The character runs at all times, so you've got to react quickly - similar to the non-stop running, falling, etc. games found on iTunes of Google Play today. It's an over-saturated market now, but back in 1999, this was original and fun...And it has some nice product placement in it to boot.

Release Date: November 30, 1999 (NA)
Publisher: SNK
Developer: Sacnoth
Genre: RPG - Horror

Koudelka is a unique blend of survival horror-style gameplay with random, turn-based battles and a leveling up system found in most RPGs. The end result is a game that is simply average at both and not great at either. That said, it's got an interesting story to help push you through the game, and fans of the Shadow Hearts games should take note that they spawned from this title. In fact, Roger Bacon even plays a role in this game. But anyway, if the concept of a survival horror RPG sounds interesting to you, give it a try. I think there's a decent chance that you'll enjoy your time here.

Release Date: November 11, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Takumi Corporation
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

A lot of reviewers were hard on this game when it came out, and aside from the graphics seeming like they were a generation behind, I'm not really seeing the problems that they saw. Actually, I really enjoyed my time with Giga Wing. Is it flawless? Nope. Is it original? Not really. Is it fun? Indeed, it is. Fans of scrolling shooters will likely enjoy Giga Wing. If that genre has never really impressed you, well then you may have the same opinion as those reviewers from back when this game came out.

Release Date: April 1, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sims
Genre: Sports - Fishing

There probably aren't a lot of folks out there that think that a fishing game could be fast-paced, exciting, and fun...But Sega Bass Fishing manages to be all three. It's fishing without the long, boring periods of not catching a thing and with the stress of trying to capture enough fish within a set time limit. The end result will likely get anyone that plays it hooked, pun intended.

Release Date: October 7, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Taito
Developer: Taito
Genre: Fighting

It had been three years since the first Psychic Force game when this sequel came out - and it shows. Psychic Force 2 looks absolutely stunning, the soundtrack is fantastic, and there are plenty of game modes to play and secret characters to unlock...Even the gameplay, which is still kind of awkward, has some slight improvements to it that add to the strategy as you fight. While I still would recommend a traditional fighting game over this, it's still fun in its own right. My only real gripe being that the difficulty has decreased considerably, making most matches a breeze...I got a perfect off of the final boss without much effort. Still, this is well worth checking out if you're into fighting games and want something a little different.

Release Date: September 2, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Tomy Corporation
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Toukon Retsuden 4 was a game based on the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion in the Land of the Rising Sun. It looks great, and there are plenty of modes and such to keep players busy for a long time...The thing holding this game back is the actual gameplay. It's not terrible gameplay, but it's choppy. Wrestlers move robotically and the in-ring action doesn't often flow well. That said, it's still a decent wrestling title, but unless you're a wrestling nut (like me), you're better off importing the Giant Gram games or Fire Pro Wrestling D if you're looking for quality wrestling on the Dreamcast.