The first decade of the new millennium is in the books and now we venture back into double-digit territory. The decade saw the fall of the console giant Sega and the rise of software Goliath Microsoft's debut into the industry.
As we embark on an exciting new chapter for the video game industry likely to be founded in motion control it is time to take a look back at the final decade dominated by video games people used these things called "controllers" to play.
Below is a list of the top ten most influential games released from the beginning of 2000 to the close of 2009. These games range from keys triggering major shifts in the industry to flat out great games. Enjoy the list and feel free to leave your comments below:
10.
Kingdom Hearts (2002)
When Square-Enix first announced a partnership between its "Final Fantasy" franchise and "Disney" gamers were quick to snub the idea has ludicrous. Little did they know the union of the two seemingly unrelated series would yield one of the most original and reward games of the decade. The game managed to piece together the perfect blend of epic Square-Enix story telling and presentation with Disney's magical universe. I think what made the game so special for teens and young adults was the interlaced nostalgia of classic Disney characters from when we were younger and the newly found fascination of the Final Fantasy universe. That mix of characters and environments we loved when we were younger and newly beloved characters and environments coupled with enthralling action-RPG gameplay made "Kingdom Hearts" one of the most surprising and narratively innovative games of the 2000s.
9.
Chrono Cross (2000)
The sequel to the SNES RPG title "Chrono Trigger," the Sony Playstation's "Chrono Cross" was an rpg debuting in the waning days of the console. Continually underrepresented, "Chrono Cross" blended an excellent recipe of refreshing gameplay mechanics, awe-inspiring story, and the best musical score in video game history. "Chrono Cross" wasn't so much a revolutionary game as it was a perfectly crafted package starting the decade with a gem that few played.
8.
Beyond Good and Evil (2003)
The best game in the last decade that no one played was clearly "Beyond Good and Evil." Sure nearly every video game publication has pointed out that the Ubisoft title was one of the most underrated games in video game history and you can only call something "underrated" so many times before it becomes overrated, but "Beyond Good and Evil" was a fantastic game that never quite got the attention it deserved. Coupling the whimsical charm reminiscent of Super Mario's 3D adventures with diverse and ever changing gameplay and a surprisingly deep story and you have one very well packaged game that flew just under the radar.
7.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
Anyone that has followed VGF in the past two years will know that the "Metal Gear Solid" franchise is one of my favorite in video game industry so it is no surprise that "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty" made the list. "MGS2" was perhaps the first title to showcase the full power Sony's Playstation 2, but more importantly, it was the first video game to create a cinematic experience where "cut scenes" and gameplay connected and flowed almost seamlessly. Who cares if the game is almost solely about Raiden, the story offered a wide variety of plot twists and enough unique gameplay scenarios to maintain an interesting pace to keep the action - and players - moving. Most notably were the game's villains who were not only performed well by a gift cast of voice actors, but showcased the variety and imagination of series auteur Hideo Kojima. Tactical espionage action at its finest.
6.
Portal (2007)
First packaged with Ubisoft's "The Orange Box" featuring the likes of "Half-life 2" plus two additional episodes as well as the sequel to the quirky multiplayer FPS "Team Fortress," "Portal" seemed like an obscure title tacked-on to the package. That would be a major understatement. Although the fundamentals of the first-person puzzle game seem simple and banal - get from one end to the other - it is easily one of the best games of the 2000s and one of the most unique and innovative video games ever made. The game successfully forces a paradigm shift from traditional thinking both physically and as a video game. Who knew we would same day play a video game where you would have to connect a portal from the bottom of a cliff to an adjacent wall so you could transfer your downward momentum into a propelling motion to reach across a chasm? In "Portal" you can and you do.
5.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
When Activision's "Call of Duty" series made the much-demanded move away from the tired World War II genre, it was an expected yet brilliant move. The first of the "Modern Warfare" series became an instant classic with a wonderful thematic presentation and some of the tightest-ever controls for a first-person shooter. What really made "Modern Warfare" standout, however, was its deep multiplayer experience. Gamers could spend hours reaching new ranks and satisfying new challenges via different weapons, matches, and even how far you fall to your death. That is the current standard for FPS multiplayer gaming that was expanded recently by the release of "Modern Warfare 2."
4.
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
Very few games could ever be considered a system seller and "Halo: Combat Evolved" hooked a lot of gamers to Microsoft's debut console the Xbox. "Halo" quickly evolved into one of the staples of the video game industry making Master Chief a household name - at least in gaming households. Just walk down the hallways of any college dormitory and you are almost guaranteed to stop at least one room full of gamers playing a bout of "Halo" on Xbox Live. The original FPS-multiplayer hysteria began with "Halo" and paved the way for how multiplayer action should look like via an online network. Add the two later installations of the series and you have yourself a "triple kill."
3.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
Perhaps no other video game received more media attention than "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" last decade. The game's infamous "hot coffee" modification allowing players to unlock and engage in overt sexual acts in a special gameplay sequence. Although the "mini game" was never supposed to be unlocked and played, it was stupid and unnecessary for Rockstar developers to program and design it in the first place causing a legislative rouse and government investigation, but enough on that. "San Andreas" marked the pinnacle of open-world gameplay that was not bested or matched by the more recent release of "Grand Theft Auto IV." Sure some players were a little upset about minuscule customization from haircut to body weight, and even joked if you'll have to pump gas in future iterations, but that level of commitment to the game created a more personal illusion of openness and choice. The shear size of the game's diverse landscape was a feat that still dwarfs newer titles in the series that expanded from the already large environment in the groundbreaking "Grand Theft Auto III" an early release of decade. "GTA III" laid the initial foundation for "San Andreas" which was sadly left unsatisfied by "Grand Theft Auto IV."
2.
Guitar Hero (2005)
Who knew when little known developer Red Octane created a game with a funny looking plastic guitar that they were creating one of the biggest crazes in the video game industry in the new millennium and reinventing a genre. Before "Guitar Hero" made us wonder why the living room was moving the video game music genre was monopolized by the female and Japanese prefered "Dance Dance Revolution." Those of us lacking foot-eye coordination rejoiced when "Guitar Hero" came out of nowhere and allowed us to simulate playing our favorite rock anthems. Five years later, the subsection of the industry has produced millions and expanded to include drums, microphones, and new a DJ turn table justifiably making "Guitar Hero" one of the most influential games in the last decade.
1.
World of Warcraft (2004)
Although I have thankfully never played it, "World of Warcraft" has made more of a profound cultural impact than any other video game in the last decade. Spawning countless TV references, an episode of "South Park" devoted solely to it, TV spots featuring Mr. T, and a little know adventurer known as Leroy Jenkins, "World of Warcraft" or more commonly known as "WoW" has sucked away countless hours and lives out of millions of subscribers across the globe. I don't know exactly what the appeal is - creating an elf person to traverse the world and connecting with other video game avatars in leu of an actual life? I guess it's like Facebook with 3D models instead of profiles. Nevertheless, "WoW" is unmistakably the biggest and most influential game of the new millennium.
Finally, after nearly 20 years Super Mario has returned to a new two-dimensional adventure on a Nintendo home console in "New Super Mario Bros. Wii."
Fans of classic Super Mario festivities who do not own a Nintendo DS but have a Nintendo Wii in their household will delight in the nostalgic charm of the game.
