For many it seems like yesterday – including myself – but 2000 is already quite far away. More than two decades have passed since that year in which we changed millennium with many doubts ahead in many fields, and video games were not going to be less.
With the peace of mind that comes from seeing everything with the perspective of time, the good thing for all of us is that 2000 brought us a lot of impressive titles, each one better than the last. Today we bring you 10 that we remember and that you must play.
Diablo II
Now that Diablo IV is just around the corner –in fact, during these weeks we will be able to enjoy its open beta-, there is nothing better than remembering one of its most beloved installments: Diablo II.
Blizzard’s title was released in June 2020 with a huge amount of new features compared to its first release, from ’96. However, it kept that dark fantasy, that touch where magic made an appearance with a sinister touch. How good it was (and is) and how much we are looking forward to its new release.
Vagrant Story
Now that Square Enix is taking the opportunity to release remakes and remasters of its entire catalog, there is one game that is not usually mentioned in these listings: Vagrant Story.
The extinct Squaresoft made one of those videogames that, no matter how many years go by, those of us who enjoyed it will never forget it. A script where medieval fantasy impregnated the whole atmosphere, an “adult” plot, an addictive combat system (and quite difficult, by the way) and a very nice graphics created a game that hopefully someday we can play again. The occasion deserves it.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
The first part was good, but the second part was incredible. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 was the culprit that made many of us get on a skateboard, both virtually and in real life (with fateful outcomes, all things considered).
Developed by Neversoft, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater as a saga is already part of popular culture. Its acrobatic tricks, its skaters, its impressive soundtrack that we associate with the game as soon as we get to know it, as well as many other details, make Tony Hawk’s a must-have. Besides, we have it as a remake -and a very good one- thanks to Activision.
Deus Ex
What a great game Deus Ex still is today. Warren Spector and the Ion Storm team pulled out of their sleeves an excellent action title that is still the standard bearer of the genre. First-person action role-playing where the important thing is not to shoot all at once, but to know how to measure each of the movements well.
To this was added a story in the year 2052 where superhuman powers were combined thanks to technology, political plots and many social problems that gave rise to different endings depending on what was done.
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
It is curious that this year we will have the release of Diablo IV and also Baldur’s Gate 3. In 2000, Bioware continued the story told in the first Baldur’s Gate to release Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn.
This second part is once again based on Dungeons & Dragons to take us to the Forgotten Realms. With isometric camera, the adventure of the creators of Mass Effect is full of role-playing, with the great variety of classes as one of the strong points of the work.
Perfect Dark
It’s nice to know that Microsoft is currently working on a new installment of Perfect Dark. While this one arrives -it’s still a long way off, it seems-, we can always get our hands on the first one, the one released for Nintendo 64 and then remastered for Xbox 360 in 2010.
The title puts us in the shoes of Joanna Dark, a secret agent of the Carrington Institute who is sent on a mission to rescue a scientist. From this point on, the plot follows different paths. Developed by Rare, this title is considered by many as a spiritual successor to the famous GoldenEye 007 of Nintendo 64 (also by Rare, of course).
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Sometimes it is left in the TOP, but The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is a great installment of the Zelda saga. Originally released for Nintendo 64, this title has subsequently been enjoyed thanks to the Virtual Console, a GameCube version and a Nintendo 3DS version. In fact, it is also available for Nintendo Switch Online.
Of course, Link is once again the protagonist, with the masks as the most identifiable playable element. These allow you to change the magical powers of our character to perform new actions.
TimeSplitters
It is not often mentioned, but TimeSplitters is a truly great game. Developed by the people at Free Radical Design, this first-person shooter stands out for its frenzied shooting and, above all, for its original narrative with time jumps.
The summary is simple: there is an alien race (timesplitter, precisely) that is capable of changing a planet by modifying its past. In this way, we will travel through different historical contexts killing all possible enemies so that the future (or present, depending on how you look at it) is not affected.
Resident Evil: Code: Veronica
All of us who are Resident Evil fans say it: it’s only a matter of time before Capcom decides to remake Resident Evil: Code: Veronica. It’s a marvel of a game, that although it doesn’t enjoy the fame of the numerical deliveries, it does deserve its treatment by the company (precisely to try to elevate it to that status).
The story is set three months after the events of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, that is, after Raccoon City. We take control of Claire Redfield, who infiltrates the Umbrella base in Paris to find her brother, Chris. From here, the familiar: a lot of zombies, a lot of fear, a lot of survival horror. If you are reading this text and you haven’t played it, go for the version adapted to previous generation consoles. It deserves it.
The Sims
We close this article with an almost timeless game: The Sims. Yes, the first installment of the famous Electronic Arts saga was released in 2000. Developed by Maxis with Will Wright and Rod Humbler as designers, this social simulator has captivated millions of generations of players.
Its first installment is still playing great, although it should be noted that what is being done with The Sims 4 is spectacular. It has been with us for more than a decade and is still alive and kicking. In fact, this week has received a new expansion, a milestone if we take into account that its next part still has a long way to go.
And here are 10 video games released in 2000. We have left a lot of them behind (Jet Set Radio, Hitman, Driver 2, etc.), but with these ten titles you will be able to remember the best of that year.
