Landmark 3D Shift and Celebrated Multiplayer: 8 Amazing 2000s Games From Start to Finish
Twilight Princess Finds Its Atmosphere
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess earned strong reviews and several Game of the Year awards after its release. Following the divisive style of The Wind Waker, its look drew fans back toward the aesthetic of Ocarina of Time.
Its darker mood and gritty art create an engaging atmosphere, while carefully designed dungeons and strong writing help the adventure endure. Midna, praised as one of the series’ standout companions, is another reason the game remains a favorite for many fans.
Halo 3 Raises the Bar
Halo: Combat Evolved helped establish Microsoft as a major player in console gaming, and its sequel also succeeded. Many players, however, remember Halo 3 as the series’ high point and one of the strongest first-person shooters of its era.
The game paired a widely praised campaign with multiplayer regarded as a standard for seventh-generation gaming. Its music, sound and voice work have aged well, while its gameplay remains complex nearly two decades after release.
GTA IV Enters the HD Era
Released in 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV moved the franchise into HD gaming and helped redefine open-world crime games. It also broke sales records and further increased the series’ influence.
Niko Bellic’s story was noted for its emotional weight and grounded writing, showing the potential of cinematic storytelling in games. Its lively map, physics and gameplay mechanics also helped create memorable action sequences.
Metroid Prime Makes the Leap
Metroid had remained a 2D series since its beginning in 1986, until Metroid Prime brought it into 3D on GameCube. Some fans feared the shift would turn the game into a generic first-person shooter and abandon the series’ established approach.
Instead, the game was received as a strong adaptation of Metroid’s core qualities. Its isolating atmosphere and continuing sense of discovery helped make it a standout in the Metroidvania genre.
Key points
- Twilight Princess won several Game of the Year awards and remains a favorite for many Zelda fans.
- Halo 3 combined an acclaimed campaign with multiplayer regarded as a seventh-generation benchmark.
- Grand Theft Auto IV brought the series into HD gaming and helped reshape open-world crime games.
- Metroid Prime moved the 2D franchise into 3D while retaining its atmosphere and sense of discovery.