Games of 2001 - ranked by preference

Release Date: August 22, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: DMA Design
Genre: Action

I'll admit it - I didn't think that this game would be anything special. I had played Driver 2 and thought that it was alright, but was disappointed overall by the result. The Grand Theft Auto series wasn't as critically acclaimed as Driver, so I was expecting a similar result...Instead I got absolutely blown away. Whether you were working on the main story, working side jobs, collecting packages, or just wandering around doing nothing...It was all fun. Today, I know the streets of GTA III's Liberty City better than I know most of the streets around my neighborhood from playing this game so much. I also take great pride in the fact that I perfected flying the Dodo, often wowing my college roommates with 20-30 minute joyrides in the skies above Liberty City.

Release Date: March 21, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCEK
Genre: Action

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon was first first in a long line of Symphony of the Night-inspired Castlevania games that have now become mainstays of Nintendo handhelds, and it's probably still my favorite of that bunch as well. It's the same enjoyable formula found in Symphony of the Night, with a few minor changes, and in portable form - what's not to like about that? In the early days of the Game Boy Advance, this was one of the must-buy titles for the handheld...And even towards the end of the GBA's lifespan and beyond to today, it has maintained that title.

Release Date: November 12, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action

I remember Metal Gear Solid 2 came out shortly after I had begun college. I barely had money to eat after tuition and book fees....But I didn't care. I bought this game and gladly enjoyed my bread-and-water meals as I stayed up for over twenty-four hours to play it from beginning to end. The game itself had, quite possibly, the biggest surprise in video game history. And I'm about to spoil it here...If you haven't heard about it, skip to the next game. The introduction of Raiden, taking the place of Solid Snake for the majority of the game, was never leaked out until the date the game hit store shelves. While I never really had a problem with Raiden, most folks (aside from the Japanese folk, from what I've heard) hated him. But love him or hate him, he starred in a pretty nice game here, and one that I've played over multiple times since its release.

Release Date: March 4, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Rare
Developer: Rare
Genre: Platformer

When it comes to 3D platformers, I haven't played too many that I like more than this M-rated game starring a drunken squirrel trying to find his way back home after a long night at the bar. The characters and story are enough for me to have a special place in my heart for this game, but when you toss in all of the solid platforming that Rare had perfected with its Banjo-Kazooie franchise, you've got an absolutely fantastic game that can hold its own against the best 3D platformers ever made.

Release Date: July 19, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Now Production
Genre: Platformer

Klonoa is a franchise that I really wish would get more attention than it gets. I have yet to play a bad game from the series, and Empire of Dreams may be the best of the bunch in my opinion. In Empire of Dreams, you travel through platforming levels that have to solve little puzzles in the form of finding keys to unlock doors in your way in order to advance. The option to go back and re-play levels in order to get 100% completion helps replay value, and quite frankly, many of the levels are fun enough where you may want to go back and replay them even after you achieve the 100% completion rate. I feel like this is an overlooked gem that deserves a whole lot more attention than it actually receives.

Release Date: September 9, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Genre: Strategy - Turn-Based

Advance Wars brought turn-based strategy to the Game Boy Advance early in its life - and a quality strategy game at that. Playing very similarly to the TurboGrafx-16 classic Military Madness, Advance Wars is a strategy game revolving around taking over your enemy's home base in each battle. Even if you wipe out all of their troops, the battle is not over until you take over their main headquarters. To make things better, if you're tired of battling the computer, you can always grab a link cable and go head-to-head with a friend. Until Final Fantasy Tactics Advance appeared on our GBAs, this was, without question, the best strategy game on the handheld.

Release Date: November 21, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: HAL Laboratories
Genre: Fighting

Before I purchased my own Gamecube, a friend in college conned his parents into sending him "book money" which was then spent on a Gamecube. The first title he bought was this game, and we then proceeded to have what he would call "Smash Parties" with a group of our friends. We'd play the game for hours at a time, day after day...And we never really got sick of it, either. While a different group of friends of mine were busy with their Halo parties, I was always playing this gem, which I think is the best game in the series released thus far.

Release Date: December 14, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Simulation - Virtual Life

I remember visiting friends in Seattle that worked at Nintendo at the time...They asked me if I wanted to purchase anything from the official Nintendo store with their discount. Animal Crossing was one of the titles that I wanted. I remember them coming home that day with the game stating that some of the folks that worked there thought I was a girl and was surprised that a guy wanted to play this game. Well, feel free to call me Pauline because I wanted to play it and I'm glad I did, dang it! Animal Crossing is just a relaxing game to play here and there. There's nothing to kill, no real story to follow...Just wandering around in the game's world and enjoying a virtual life in a town full of talking animals. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely a well-made game with plenty to do for those who get into it. Plus, it's got a bunch of NES classics to discover and play in the game, and that alone was worth me playing the game for.

Release Date: May 9, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Music

Different from the game with the same name released in Japan, the North American Dance Dance Revolution game includes some of the more popular songs from the various "Mix" editions of the game in Japan. I was first exposed to the DDR series in college, where a friend of mine had imported a copy of Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix...She would set up DDR parties and we'd have a jolly ol' time. Shortly afterward, I went out and picked up this game so I could A) get some practice in and B) have a copy of DDR that I could enjoy if I had the urge to play when no party was going on. This is also one of those games where it's just as fun to watch someone else play as it is to play yourself...Especially if they're absolutely terrible at it.

Release Date: May 30, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Vicarious Visions
Genre: Sports - Extreme Sports - Skateboarding

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 really was amazing when it first came out. It successfully transferred the fun of the console versions of the game to a 16-bit handheld, and managed to squeeze in that it was 3D as well. It really is amazing how much is crammed into this cartridge and how well it captures the fun of its console siblings. The controls are slightly changed due to the lack of buttons on the GBA, but after a few minutes of playing, you'll be hitting just about all of the moves you'd expect from a Tony Hawk game. The best part? It still plays just as smoothly and is just as fun today as it was when it was released at the Game Boy Advance's North American launch.

Release Date: July 13, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

Super Street Fighter II Turbo: Revival, up until I played King of Fighters EX2, was my favorite fighting game on the Game Boy Advance. It's got a few minor additions to make it more than just a port of the 3DO Super Street Fighter II Turbo...Though, quite frankly, a port of a CD-based game on a cartridge-based handheld isn't shabby. But anyway, the lack of anything really new prevents me from having it higher on this list. It's a great, solid fighter, perfect if you want to play Street Fighter on the go, but it might leave you wanting a little more if you're looking for lots of extra content.

Release Date: May 31, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Basically this is just the Super Famicom game, but with a very mild facelift. It looks like some backgrounds are a little more detailed and some environments are smoothed over, but all of the enemies and characters basically look like they did on the Super Famicom version of the game. As far as I could tell, it also doesn't seem like there's anything extra gameplay-wise here, either - just a straight port in that regard. The downside to this version over the Super Famicom original is that there are some load times present due to this being on a disc that weren't there on the cartridge-based original. Overall, though, if you don't have a way to play through the original, but have the means to play PSOne imports, then this is well worth playing through. However, if you have access to the Super Famicom original, then I'd recommend that one over this.

Release Date: November 14, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bungie Software
Genre: Shooter - First-Person

I like Halo...But I don't think it deserved all the hooplah it got. It's a good, solid, entertaining, first-person shooter and all...But I think the fun that folks had in the multiplayer deathmatches is what skews their perception of the overall package. The game itself is definitely very good, and Halo alone sold a ton of consoles, but I just fail to see how this game is the perfect 10 that many claim it to be. That said, it's still good enough to be in the upper-tier of Xbox titles...Just not quite at the top.

Release Date: June 18, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Incognito Inc.
Genre: Action - Car Combat

The first two Twisted Metal games were great. Twisted Metal 3, 4, and Small Brawl...Not so much. So, when Twisted Metal Black was released, I expected a sub-par game...Instead we got what I consider to be the best game in the series as well as the best car combat game of all-time. Not only was the action fast and furious, but the dark, disturbing storylines for each character were absolutely awesome. This game also works well with an old pick-up line - Once you go Black, you never go back.

Release Date: July 19, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Final Fantasy X was the beginning of me no longer being a Final Fantasy fan...At least in terms of new games. Don't get me wrong, I like Final Fantasy X...But when I had just played the previous several Final Fantasy games and loved them, simply "liking" a game in the Final Fantasy series feels like the game fell short. Anyway, I enjoy the actual gameplay...monster collecting and blitzball sucked way too much time out of me. This is still a solid RPG and very good, but it falls short of being great, in my opinion. And by losing small things like an open world to explore, this was the game that started moving Final Fantasy away from what fans of the series wanted, I feel. Whether that's true or not, this is still a solid RPG and well worth playing for any RPG fan.

Release Date: December 27, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

It had been a long wait, but at the end of 2001, the wait was over - a new Ghosts 'N Goblins game had arrived in the form of Maximo: Ghosts to Glory...And it was 3D, to boot. Maximo was a very solid platformer that never really seemed to get the attention it deserved. The game was never really a big hit sales-wise, despite solid reviews, which brings a tear to my eye because it really was an enjoyable experience to play it. Solid controls, solid platforming and combat, and bits of humor tossed it make it a game well worth playing. Plus, for all the perverted lady folk, the crumbling armor returns, so you may see the protagonist prancing around in his boxers if you so desire.

Release Date: March 22, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Platformer

Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil is the sequel to the largely ignored Klonoa: Door to Phantomile on the original Playstation. It's mostly an improvement in just about every way. The game contained a few minor, new gameplay elements and some beautiful, colorful graphics for the time that really made some of the levels come alive. It also took the Super Mario Bros. 3 approach of selecting the levels you wish to play on a world map. This may be the best "2.5 D" platformer that I've ever played...Even if I can probably count on one hand the number I've played.

Release Date: July 21, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Genre: Racing

When I was in college, Mario Kart: Super Circuit came out...And I knew that I needed it. I was a huge fan of Super Mario Kart, and to have a portable game from the franchise was like a dream come true. There's nothing quite like hurling red koopa shells at the racer in front of you while you sit on the comfort of your toilet. I look back fondly at proclaiming victory while in the bathroom, only to walk out and find my roommate looking at me with a very puzzled face. Playing this fantastic portable racer was well worth making my roommate thinking I was crazy...And I guess I was crazy - crazy over this game.

Release Date: March 1, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Spike
Developer: S-Neo
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Fire Pro Wrestling D, until Fire Pro Wrestling R was made on the PS2, was the ultimate Fire Pro Wrestling game. Scratch that. It may have been the ultimate wrestling game regardless of game series. Like the previous game in the franchise on the Saturn, Fire Pro D offers the player several match types, including MMA-style shoot fights, and a plethora of wrestlers to play as. Like most games in the series, there's definitely a learning curve to overcome here, but once you overcome it, you would have been very hard pressed to find a deeper wrestling game for its time.

Release Date: January 25, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Adventure

Take the early Resident Evil games, toss 'em in a blender with Japanese folklore and you've got yourself Onimusha: Warlords, the first PS2 title to hit one million copies sold. It was one of the best early PS2 titles with beautiful scenery and interesting enemy designs mixed with fun gameplay and a nifty story. The only major gripe I've had with the game is that the Resident Evil tank-like controls work fine when the combat isn't exactly fast, like against zombies. In Onimusha, however, there's a lot of sword fighting going on, and the tank controls are very awkward to use when trying to hit-and-move some of the enemies. Overall, though, there's a reason this game sold so well - it's really good. Give it a try.

Release Date: October 26, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Strategy

This is a charming little strategy game from Nintendo involving a spaceman that landed on a strange planet, and various plant creatures called Pikmin. The spaceman, Captain Olimar, has a limited supply of air and must use the Pikmin he encounters to help him find necassary parts to repair his ship to he can leave and, well, not die. It's a charming game with some beautiful graphics that was one of a kind when it came out. If you haven't tried Pikmin before, I highly suggest doing so. It may not be as popular as games like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, or Legend of Zelda, but Pikmin is still one of Miyamoto's greatest creations.

Release Date: September 30, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Sammy Studios
Developer: Arc System Works
Genre: Fighting

Guilty Gear X was a superb fighting game on the Dreamcast, released only in Japan, so when it was announced that North America would be getting the opportunity to play it via their Playstation 2's, I was pretty happy. As a college kid, I couldn't afford to buy it, but a friend of mine whom I've since lost contact with, a male model named Ryann (the extra 'n' was so potential employers would remember him better...if you're reading this, Ryann, how've you been, amgio?) picked it up, as he was a fighting game fanatic, and we'd gather a group of friends and battle each other in this gem and in Tekken Tag Tournament. He generally destroyed everyone with me usually putting up a fairly decent fight, but often (but not always) falling prey to his superior skills in the fighting genre. With that story out of the way, Guilty Gear X is a great 2D fighter that plays wonderfully and looks just as good as it plays. It can feel chaotic at times when playing, but I find that to be part of the fun. If you missed playing this gem on the Dreamcast, and you love 2D fighting games, you should really track the PS2 version down. You won't regret it.

Release Date: September 14, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Amusement Vision
Genre: Action

Super Monkey Ball is another one of those games I'd play with a group of friends in college. When taking a break from the Smash Bros. parties, we'd often pop Super Monkey Ball in and play the various mini games like monkey bowling. It wasn't until I got out of college and bought this game for myself that I spent a lot of time in the main game, which greatly resembles Marble Madness. The main game alone is very fun, but add in the various mini games that I mentioned and you've got a game that's great for playing alone and just as fun for playing with a group of friends.

Release Date: September 27, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Agetec
Developer: SNK
Genre: Fighting

I need to get this out of the way right off the bat - there's a fighter in this game named "Butt." If that's not enough reason to praise this game, I don't know what is. With that said, Mark of the Wolves is a fantastic 2D fighter that hasn't been played by nearly enough people. This is one of the best-made SNK fighters that you can find. Beautiful 2D models brawl it out with smooth controls and fun, unique move sets for each character. It may not have an overwhelming amount of game modes, but the fighting is done so well, that it can get away with it. If you're into fighting games, hunt this game down. You'll be glad you did.

Release Date: March 21, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer

Super Mario Advance is basically a re-packaged version of the North American version of Super Mario Bros. 2. I say re-packaged because it's not simply a port of the game with 16-bit graphics like SMB2 in Super Mario All-Stars was. Instead, new features and elements to the game are added like enemies in locations that they hadn't been in before, giant enemies, giant vegetables and power-ups to pull from the ground, voices of characters, and a combo system similar to the original Super Mario Bros. that makes getting extra lives even easier in a game where it was already easy to get 'em via the slot machine at the end of the levels. In my opinion, none of these really enhance the game in any way and feel more like a fancy gimmick to sell the game rather than something needed to make things better. It's still a solid game, and the additions make it interesting, but I'm just fine enjoying the original Super Mario Bros. 2 without all the fluff found here.

Release Date: October 29, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Shiba Games
Genre: Sports - Extreme Sports - Skateboarding

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 on Playstation 2 continues on with the goodness that the first and second game started. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 on Playstation One isn't bad, but feels like a slight step back from the previous two games. That's not to say that this game isn't good...it is...but it's clear that Activision's focus was on the Playstation 2 version and not the Playstation One version. If this is the only version that you have access to, then you'll still have fun...But if you have the option, the PS2 version of the game should be your choice.

Release Date: March 15, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCET
Genre: Music - Dance

Dance Dance Revolution 4th Mix continues in the trend of adding new features to the franchise - this time the ability to play both with the dance pad and the controller at the same time...or two dance pads at once. Unfortunately, unlike added features in the previous games that anyone that plays can enjoy, these additions are mostly for the hardcore fans. The soundtrack is also one of the weakest in the series up to this point, in my opinion...That's not to say that there aren't some catchy tunes, but most aren't nearly as memorable as other songs in the series' history. Overall, if you hadn't gotten over your DDR fever yet, 4th Mix gave you more that you loved...But there isn't much reason for casual fans to give this one a go.

Release Date: September 14, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Action

I always wanted a game that starred Luigi - but this isn't what I had in mind. Thankfully, Nintendo usually knows what its doing in terms to their franchises, and the end result for Luigi's first starring role was a Ghostbusters-like survival horror game, which wasn't the greatest game ever made by any means, but was still a solid, fun experience - one that finally put the spotlight on the tall, green plumber.

Release Date: July 12, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Media Factory
Developer: Omiya Soft
Genre: Board

Culdcept II is a game that I try not to play often - not because it's bad, but because I have a hard time putting it down once I start. The most basic way I can describe Culdcept II is that it's like Monopoly with monster fights. Basically, you roll the dice, move around the board and place creatures on the empty space you land on. If you land on a space that has a creature of one of your opponents on it, you can choose to pay the fee, like in Monopoly when you land on a property, or choose a creature in your deck of cards to do battle and try to take the space over. It's probably not for everyone, but I'm a pretty big fan of the game, personally. If you're a fan of Monopoly, you might get a kick out of playing this variation of the Monopoly formula. If this sounds interesting to you, but you don't want to bother with Japanese, this game came to North America on the Playstation 2 known simply as "Culcept."

Release Date: December 20, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Genre: Platformer

I liked Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast, and this is a decent port of it over to the Gamecube...But the main game isn't what kept me hooked. The Chao raising is what got me. I'd pop the disk in and play the main game for a little bit, but go right back to raising my Chao before long. In a sense, it's the first "virtual pet" game that I ever got hooked on. That said, aside from the Chao raising, this is mostly the same Sonic Adventure 2 from the Dreamcast, complete with the "Escape From the City" song from the first level of the game (and the demo) that has burned itself into my brain...I'm humming it right now and ashamed to be doing so.

Release Date: November 17, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Z-Axis
Genre: Extreme Sports - BMX

Dave Mirra Freetsyle BMX on the Dreamcast and Playstation was a decent alternative to the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 improves on just about everything from the first game and adds in a few extra touches to make sure that fans of extreme sports that were Tony Hawked out had another game they could go to that provided almost as much fun. The ability to bail off of your bike and watch the rider go limp in mid-air before slamming into a tree or pole or whatever else you aimed him at was a fun little game in itself, and it made sure that I lost hours just wandering around the game's levels looking for places that would be amusing to bail into or off of. The Gamecube version has two extra levels in it, making it the version that I'd recommend getting.

Release Date: March 21, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nd Cube
Genre: Racing

If you liked the original F-Zero on the Super NES, then you'll feel right at home with Maximum Velocity. Some folks may need to get used to how the game controls a bit, as the vehicles do slide around a little, but once you get the hang of when to let off the gas, hit the brakes, etc. you'll be having a blast with this futuristic racer. With a few secret cars to unlock, the game also provides some replay value, to keep you coming back for more. This is a solid racing title not just for the Game Boy Advance, but it stands up well against just about any racing game from any 16-bit console as well.

Release Date: February 16, 2001 (EU)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Music

The great thing about Konami and the Dancing Stage/Dance Dance Revolution franchise is that it didn't simply re-release titles, they created separate games for each region...That said, many titles are pretty much the same, but with different song lists. Dancing Stage: Euromix features several hit songs from Universal records...The one I'm most fond of is "Radio Killed the Video Star." What can I say? I'm an 80's kid. Anyway, by the time that this was released in 2001, other games in the franchise already had a little more meat to them in terms of modes and such...so while this is good, it feels a bit behind the times. It's still worth playing if you're a DDR nut like myself.

Release Date: November 16, 2001 (EU)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

WWF Smackdown 2 is my favorite game in the franchise, so I had high hopes for Smackdown 3, and when Just Bring It came out with an updated roster, heavily improved create-a-wrestler, and the ability to have up to 8 wrestlers in the ring at once (this is the only game that ever allowed it in the series) I thought it had to be better than 2 was. It wasn't. In fact, I consider Just Bring It to be one of the worst games in the series. While not a bad game, per say, it's just a disappointment for fans of the original two Smackdowns...The big knock on it is the story mode, which is nowhere near as fun as the season modes in the previous two games. That said, it's still playable, and I still played it non-stop when it first came out, but I'm a wrestling nerd, so I enjoy any wrestling game thrown in front of me. If you're the same way, you'll enjoy yourself here. Otherwise, if you're looking for the best wrestling game ever made, this isn't it. Go look elsewhere.

Release Date: June 29, 2001 (EU)
Publisher: BAM! Entertainment
Developer: Pukka Games
Genre: Puzzle

Hot Potato! is a unique little puzzle game that's almost like an inverted, scrolling Dr. Mario. You've got colored "potatoes" in the streets and your job is to match the correct colored potatoes together to eliminate 'em. Since you're constantly moving up the street, you've got to act fast in order to avoid getting pinched between a group of 'taters and the bottom of the screen. It's a fun, unique puzzle game that deserves a little recognition, in my opinion, and it's a decent choice if you're looking for a quality puzzle game on your GBA.

Release Date: December 13, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Tecmo
Genre: Adventure - Horror

When I was younger, I used to get creeped out so much by video games that I couldn't handle playing games like Silent Hill for more than 30 minutes at a time. Those days are long gone, however, and I rarely get creeped out by anything that happens in a game these days. The Fatal Frame series is one of the very few games that can still make me feel uneasy when I play. I adore it for that fact. The original Fatal Frame isn't the best horror game that I've played, and the sequel greatly surpasses it in terms of quality, but it's not bad at all for its time. Unlike most survival horror games, you're not equipped with a gun. You're equipped with a camera, which is the only way to get rid of the evil ghosts that try to kill you. It sounds kind of lame when you think of it, but when you play it, it works pretty well. As I said, later games in the franchise improve upon this game, but the original Fatal Frame is still no slouch, especially if you base a game on how much it can give you the willies.

Release Date: November 17, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action

Crazy Taxi was simply a re-release of the original Crazy Taxi game that was released on the Dreamcast about two years prior. On the Dreamcast, Crazy Taxi was amazing. The re-release is still very fun, but by the time it came out, the second Crazy Taxi game had already been released on the Dreamcast and the third was in production for the Xbox, so it felt outdated. For those that missed it on Dreamcast, this is a good, solid game to pass a few minutes of time every now and then. If you already have it for Dreamcast, then there's not really any reason to get the re-release.

Release Date: June 21, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Altron
Developer: Altron
Genre: Puzzle

Cleopatra Fortune is an odd puzzle game that plays kind of like Tetris in that blocks fall from the sky and stack on top of each other. The catch here is that instead of matching blocks, you want to instead entomb the sarcophaguses that fall with the blocks, which gives you points and clears up the level, allowing you for more room for burying more mummy caskets. It's a decent puzzle game that might be worth checking out if you find the concept interesting.

Release Date: September 24, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Traveller's Tales
Genre: Trivia

The Weakest Link is actually very well done...It's a very enjoyable trivia game and it makes you feel like you're really part of the show. The only real downside is that there is WAY too much that you can't skip. I don't really want to sit and watch every vote to find out who got eliminated each round...being able to hit a button and see the result would be much nicer...I got the gist of everything after the first time I watched it. Due to the inability to skip parts of the game like that (thankfully, the video footage of the host you can skip - while enjoyable, her snarky remarks aren't as comical the 2nd time you hear them) one game of this feels like it can take forever...But, that said, this is still a good recreation of the popular show, and worth checking out for trivia fans.

Release Date: September 27, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Developer: Taito
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

D3 Publisher teamed up with Taito to create a Space Invaders game for their bargain bin Simple 1500 Series franchise, and it's actually pretty good. Not only does the game have the museum-like option to play Space Invaders in just about every way its been visually presented in the arcades with overlays and such, but it's got a new version of Space Invaders included in the package as well; Space Invaders 3D, where you play the game like you normally would, but on a colorful, 3D plane. This is a great tribute to one of the most influential games in video game history, and well worth checking out.

Release Date: July 30, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Visual Concepts
Genre: Adventure

This was actually the first episode of what was scheduled to be a few that followed the Floigan Bros. When it first came out it was praised at how much it felt like being an interactive cartoon, and with all of its personality, it still feels that way to a degree. Interacting with Moigle is both amusing and a necessary aspect of the game. However, the gameplay does get a little tedious after a while. It's probably a perfect game for young'uns and it's entertaining enough where many adults may find some enjoyment here, as well.

Release Date: May 14, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Shaba Games
Genre: Sports - Extreme Sports - BMX

What happens when you take the fun of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and replace the skateboards with BMX bikes? You get an inferior product to the original, but one that's still more fun than a majority of games on the system. Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX was Activision's experiment to see if the Tony Hawk formula worked in other extreme sports, and while it wasn't quite as fun or as polished as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, it was still quite the good game...Which led to Activision doing something they eventually became known for doing -- going insane and flooding the market with so many games similar to each other that people lose the desire to play them. But anyway, if you're a Tony Hawk fan, Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX is a decent alternative if you're looking for something new.

Release Date: May 21, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Z-Axis
Genre: Adventure

Maximum Remix is the same, quality game of the original, but with a few more levels added and a new soundtrack. The difficulty seems to be brought up a tad and the controls tweaked a little...But otherwise, Acclaim pumped out, basically, the same game was released just over 6 months after the original came out. A year later? I can get that. Half a year? Kinda pushing it Acclaim. Anyway, if you didn't play the original, this one is slightly superior, but due to how little was actually added, I felt the need to drop its score accordingly.

Release Date: November 14, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Genre: Racing

Project Gotham Racing is an okay beginning to the franchise. It wasn't perfect, but it was enjoyable enough to warrant a sequel...And the sequel improved on just about everything. But, if you're curious how the PGR franchise got its roots, the original game isn't something that you'll regret playing...Unless you've got Project Gotham Racing 2 right next to you as you play, in which case, you should probably switch games in your Xbox.

Release Date: November 26, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Incognito Inc.
Genre: Action - Car Combat

After 989 Studios was kicked away from the Twisted Metal franchise, and after Incognito Inc. released the amazing Twisted Metal: Black on Playstation 2, Icognito returned the series to the Playstation One with Small Brawl, but unfortunately it's a disappointment. Granted, it's much better than Twisted Metal 4 was, and the child-like take on the franchise was kind of neat to see, especially in contrast to the very dark Twisted Metal: Black, but it just fails to recapture the magic of the first two Twisted Metal games. It's still passable, you'll still probably have some fun when you play it, but ultimately the game feels rushed and unfinished. A few more months in development may have allowed this game to be one of the better entries in the series...Instead, it's lumped in with the 989 Studios Twisted Metal games as a game in the franchise that you can pass on.

Release Date: September 20, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCET
Genre: Music - Dance

I think the well had run dry in regards to ideas for Dance Dance Revolution when DDR 5th Mix came out...The only real addition this time around was the ability to unlock pictures in a gallery...Not really anything worthwhile. Likewise, the soundtrack, again, wasn't nearly as good as the soundtrack of 3rd Mix...Even if the Neverending Story was one of the songs. If you burned yourself out with Dance Dance Revolution, this won't reignite the fire...But if you're obsessed with the series, this will supply you with the familiar gameplay that you love.

Release Date: November 23, 2001 (EU)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Doki Denki
Genre: Board

I've been a pretty big fan of Winnie the Pooh since I was a wee little lad about knee high. Part of it is because I like the Winnie the Pooh character quite a bit, and part of it is because I'm basically a living version of Eeyore. But anyway, with this being a children's game, I expected this to be a repetitive, simplified mess. It's not so bad. It is a bit repetitive, but this is easily a game that parents could play with their children and not be bored by doing so. It's basically Mario Party with Pooh - a board game where you play various mini games as you land on spaces. It's not great, but it's passable, which is more than you can usually ask for in a game aimed at children around the 5-year-old mark.

Release Date: December 3, 2001 (NA)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Acclaim
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

After losing the WWF licence to THQ and after ECW went bankrupt, Acclaim was left without a wrestling promotion to make games for, so they decided to create a game with wrestling legends. They also opted to create a new style of gameplay rather than sticking with their WWF Warzone formula that had aged badly in a short period of time...Unfortunately, the new gameplay style still wasn't very good. In fact, the rest of the game (including the story mode where you travel the territories like in the old days) is well done, but it's the actual in-ring gameplay that holds this back from being a truly good game. Also baffling is how it's a game about the Legends of Wrestling, but instead of being authentic, Acclaim opted to give everyone fancy schmancy new moves - moves that weren't even invented in the heyday of most grapplers in the game. If you're a big wrestling fan, there's enough here for you to appreciate the good and overlook the bad. For everyone else, this is probably a game that you should stay away from.

Release Date: July 12, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

The first time I played Heavy Metal Geomatrix, I was a bit disappointed. As I've played it on and off over the years, I've come to appreciate it a bit more. Basically, think 3D fighting similar to (but not quite as good as) Power Stone, but throw in a lot of guns and explosions, and you've pretty much got this game. If that sounds interesting to you, you might wanna give it a try.

Release Date: November 29, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Twilight Express
Developer: Twilight Express
Genre: Fitness

Happy Jogging in Hawaii can be an interesting experience or a tedious, boring one depending on how you play the game. If you've got the walking peripheral that allows the game to read you walking/jogging/running in place, then this game is kind of neat, with branching pathways on the walking trails to help keep things from feeling too repetitive. If you don't have the peripheral, however, and are stuck using a controller, you're basically just stuck rotating an analog stick repeatedly and occasionally selecting a direction when the path branches, which is just plain boring. If you've got the peripheral, it's a passable fitness game that keeps track of stats and all that fun stuff...Without the peripheral, it'll likely be one of the most boring games that you've ever played.