When one takes a look back at some of the greatest years in video game history, 2001 is a year that stands out as one of the best. 2001 saw the launch of both the Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft's Xbox, with both consoles boasting impressive launch lineups that firmly established them as must-have consoles for hardcore gamers. The PlayStation 2, meanwhile, really hit its stride in 2001 after a fall 2000 launch, landing some of its most-defining titles that year.
It's hard to believe, but it's now been 20 years since 2001, so some of the industry's greatest games are celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2021. Considering this, it would be great to see some of these games honored and for their anniversaries to be celebrated in some way. Regardless of whether or not that happens, though, fans may want to bust out their old consoles and revisit some of these classics that defined 2001.
Here are the 10 biggest video games celebrating their 20th anniversaries in 2021.
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Conker's Bad Fur Day was one of the last major Nintendo 64 games ever released, coming out at the very end of the console's lifespan. Due to this and its strict M for Mature rating, it didn't quite generate the interest at launch that it may have otherwise. However, Conker's Bad Fur Day has since become a cult classic, hailed as one of the best video games ever released for the Nintendo 64.
Conker's Bad Fur Day earned a great deal of critical acclaim in 2001 for a number of reasons. Many found its twisted take on the 3D platforming genre to be hilarious, as it took potshots at some of the genre's biggest games while also lampooning movies and all other kinds of pop culture as well. Conker's Bad Fur Day's over-the-top story mode was the main reason for many to check it out, but its local multiplayer options were also fantastic, offering a wide variety of experiences for Nintendo 64 gamers.
A few years after Conker's Bad Fur Day launched, a remake was attempted for the original Xbox that included a new kind of multiplayer experience and vastly improved the graphics. However, the Conker franchise has been mostly dormant since then, besides a misguided crossover with the ill-fated Project Spark game on the Xbox One. Microsoft owns developer Rare and the rights to the Conker's Bad Fur Day IP, so many still hold out hope that the foul-mouthed squirrel will one day get the comeback he deserves.
Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry originally started out as a Resident Evil game until Capcom pivoted to turning it into an original IP instead. It essentially developed a brand new kind of action game in the form of the "extreme action" genre thanks to its focus on stylish, physics-defying action, inspiring games like Prince of Persia and God of War. Widely considered one of the most innovative games to ever grace the PlayStation 2, Devil May Cry has stood the test of time, spawning a hugely successful new franchise for Capcom in the process.
Devil May Cry has branched outside the world of games, but its most notable projects have continued to be the new entries in the main series. Devil May Cry 2 wasn't well-received by fans or critics, but Devil May Cry 3 was a smash hit, and Devil May Cry 4 earned a great deal of praise as well. 2019's Devil May Cry 5 was even more acclaimed, standing as one of the most critically-acclaimed games of its release year.
The Devil May Cry series remains strong to this day, with a revamped Special Edition of Devil May Cry 5 launching alongside the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles. Considering Devil May Cry 5's success, one has to imagine that a new game in the series is just a matter of time. Meanwhile, those who want to revisit the original game have multiple options to do so, as it has been re-released for modern platforms both by itself and in a trilogy pack with the other two PS2-era DMC games.
Grand Theft Auto 3
Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto franchise was fairly popular before GTA 3, but GTA 3 took the franchise to dizzying new heights. Developed by DMA Design, which would later become Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto 3 has been hailed as one of the most innovative and important video game releases ever, serving as one of the first truly well-made 3D open world games and paving the way for hugely popular future titles in the series.
A truly landmark video game release, Grand Theft Auto 3 and its open world Liberty City have become iconic in the industry, and luckily, there are ways for fans to play it without digging their PS2 out of the closet. Rockstar Games has released Grand Theft Auto 3 ports for modern platforms, including a PS4 port so fans can play it on both that console as well as the newer PlayStation 5 if they so desire.
Final Fantasy 10
Square Enix's Final Fantasy series is one of the most successful JRPG series of all time, if not the most successful. While the games were plenty popular during the 8- and 16-bit eras, Final Fantasy titles reached new heights with Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9 on the PS1. The popularity of those games generated significant hype for Final Fantasy 10, which was the franchise's debut on the PlayStation 2 console.0
Final Fantasy 10 features traditional turn-based combat, but vastly improved visuals when compared to its PS1 counterparts. The game's graphics, story, and gameplay were all well-received by fans and critics alike back in 2001, continuing the Final Fantasy franchise's impressive momentum. It's also the first main series Final Fantasy game to feature voice acting, and while some of the English voice acting has since been criticized, there's no denying what it did for the game's production value.
Halo: Combat Evolved
In 2001, Nintendo and PlayStation were the most established video game brands with consoles on the market, and Microsoft had a serious challenge ahead of itself if it wanted to be part of the industry. Microsoft's Xbox console was more powerful than the other consoles of its generation, but power doesn't mean much without the games to back it up. Striking a deal with Bungie, Microsoft launched Halo: Combat Evolved alongside the original Xbox and the rest is history.
Halo: Combat Evolved was a massive hit and quickly became the original Xbox console's killer app. Spawning a blockbuster multimedia franchise, Halo: Combat Evolved was also hugely innovative when it came to playing first-person shooter games on consoles. Since Halo: Combat Evolved's launch in 2001, the Halo franchise has remained Microsoft's flagship franchise, with the upcoming Halo Infinite expected to be one of the biggest titles for the Xbox Series X.
Halo's anniversaries have been celebrated in the past, like with the Halo: Combat Evolved - Anniversary Edition game that remade the original with new graphics and other features. That version of the game, as well as the original, are both playable in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It remains to be seen how Microsoft will celebrate Halo: Combat Evolved's anniversary in 2021, but maybe it will do so through special events in The Master Chief Collection or Halo Infinite.
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Before Naughty Dog was known for its photo-realistic games like Uncharted and The Last of Us, it was known for making cartoony platformers, oftentimes some of the most popular platformers on the market. Following the Crash Bandicoot trilogy on the PS1, Naughty Dog created a new IP on the PS2 in the form of Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. A classic 3D platformer that stood out thanks to its endearing characters and funny cut-scenes, Jak and Daxter would become one of the most popular franchises on the PS2.
The franchise went in some very different directions with the sequels, though they were also well-received. All of the Jak PS2-era games are playable on PS4 and PS5, so anyone that wants to revisit the series for the 20th anniversary can do so on newer consoles.
Max Payne
Remedy Entertainment released Death Rally in 1996, but 2001's Max Payne is what really put the studio on the map as one to watch. An award-winning game that sold millions of copies, the original Max Payne used bullet-time to great effect with its third-person shooter gameplay, and combined that exciting action with a dark detective noir story. Remedy then released Max Payne 2 before moving on to other franchises, but the series has lived on thanks to Max Payne 3 from Rockstar Games.
Remedy continues to allude to Max Payne in its work, with references to the game found in its supernatural action game Control. However, it seems as though the Remedy video game universe will mostly be looking to connect Alan Wake, Control, and Quantum Break, so those who want their Max Payne fix will need to seek out the original games.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid was a landmark release for the original PlayStation, and was hugely innovative for both the stealth genre and storytelling in video games. Metal Gear Solid was such a massive hit that it seemed like an insurmountable task for Kojima to deliver a sequel that could meet fan expectations, but by many accounts, the legendary game developer did just that with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty continues the story from the first Metal Gear Solid game, adding a slew of new gameplay features and improved graphics that take advantage of the PlayStation 2's extra power when compared to the PS1. It also makes some daring, divisive choices, like having players spend most of the game playing as a new character named Raiden instead of the fan favorite Solid Snake.
While it certainly has its fair share of controversial elements, Metal Gear Solid 2 still managed to grab the baton handed by MGS on PS1 and continue the franchise's legacy as one of the best video gaming has to offer.
Silent Hill 2
Often found on lists naming the best horror games, Silent Hill 2 is arguably the best game in the classic survival-horror franchise. It saw the debut of the franchise's iconic Pyramid Head villain and boasts some of the scariest moments in all of gaming history. Silent Hill 2 is one of the horror genre's premiere video gaming experiences, and while it specifically may not have a comeback in 2021, the Silent Hill franchise in general very well might.
According to various rumors, a Silent Hill reboot is in the works as a PS5 exclusive. This has yet to be confirmed in an official capacity, but where there's smoke, there's fire, and so maybe horror fans will be in for a treat this year.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
The original Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64 was praised for the unique concept of having a bunch of Nintendo characters battle it out in a fighting game, but Super Smash Bros. Melee dialed everything up to 11. With an even more expansive and varied roster of fighters available, tons of secrets, addicting multiplayer, and a variety of fun game modes, Super Smash Bros. Melee is one of the best fighting games ever made. It made Super Smash Bros. a must-have franchise for fans of the genre, and is a big reason why there's always a great deal of hype whenever a new Super Smash Bros. game is announced.