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Written by: BoneStormer

Now that 2000 has come and gone, I felt it was my duty to give out my
awards to the games I thought were the best. (Please note that if I didn't
play a particular game at all, it is not eligible for these awards.)

Best Graphics: Shenmue and Jet Grind Radio

I took the cheap way out since I couldn't decide. The environments in
Shenmue looked amazing, were very detailed, and drew you into the game;
but the characters and other objects looked a little flat up close. The
cartoon, cell-shaded effect looked so sweet in JGR, and fit the game perfectly.
They need to make a Simpsons game like this;)

Best Music: Jet Grind Radio

This choice was easy for me. The combination of well known acts (Rob
Zombie, Jurassic-5, Cold) together with its collection of hip-hop, techno,
J-Pop, dance mix fit perfectly with the atmosphere of this game. This
is the game that should have come with a bonus music CD. "Who are
you? What's your name? SUPER BROTHER!"

Best Multi-Player Game: Perfect Dark

While the console online revolution is starting, the multiplayer game
I played the most (and still play) is PD. It's simply the best 4-player
split-screen game there is. So many modes. So many weapons. The addition
of bots. I could go on. Quake 3 Arena came in second, but games like Unreal
Tournament should show how an online FPS really should be done. I also
have to mention Mario Tennis here which is a blast.

Best Sports Game: NFL2K1

Another easy choice. Probably the best football game ever (Madden 2001
comes close though). Add in online play, and it's the clear winner. They
just need to tweak the franchise mode, and a Simulation Mode (i.e. you
are given a situation and you try and see if you can do it; like it's
4th and inches, 4th and Goal, or you're the Titans and you try and stretch
that last yard into the endzone) would be nice.

Best RPG: Chrono Cross

Not as well rounded as Chrono Trigger, but still an excellent game. Once
again showing why PSX is still the current champ of RPGs even in the face
of the more powerful DC. Also, Final Fantasy 9 was a nice surprise. It's
no FF3 on SNES (aka FF6), but much better than the other PSX FF games
(7, 8).

Best Adventure Game: Majora's Mask

No, Zelda is NOT a RPG. MM was an excellent follow-up to one of the best
games ever. At times it was too similar to Ocarina, but the time element
along with all of the side quests looking for masks and such, gave this
game its own identity. A MUST own for all N64 owners. Resident Evil: CODE
Veronica is the best one on DC, but almost by default even though it's
the best RE yet.

Best Fighting Game: Dead or Alive 2

Before you scream, "What about those kick ass Capcom fighters?",
let me just say I'm not a big 2D fighting fan anymore... There wasn't
a Soul Calibur this year, but DoA2 was a cool fighting game with excellent
graphics that you couldn't take your eyes off of;)

Best Sequel: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

I felt this deserved a category since many times sequels are crap compared
to the original. THPS2 was one of those exceptions. It took the unique,
fun gameplay of the first one and added onto it. Easily one of the best
games of the year, if not ever. If you haven't played Tony Hawk yet, what
are you waiting for?

Best Arcade Conversion: Crazy Taxi

Crazy Taxi can be a lot of fun to play, and the home version is no different.
The home version lacks the style of the arcade machine with its steering
wheel, but the addition of a whole new track is nice. Still like most
arcade games, Crazy Taxi wears thin fast. Especially its soundtrack. (Hey,
I like Bad Religion and Offspring, but hearing the same 2 songs over and
over tires as fast as the game.)

Best VideoGame Commercial: Evil Dead

Hail to the King! You gotta love seeing Bruce Campbell look at his neighbor
with a hedgesere attached to his arm and ask, "Shouldn't that be
a chainsaw?" I still hate the Daring Dragoon;) (And too bad the game
itself sucks.)

Best N64 Game: Perfect Dark

This one was tough since the award easily could have gone to Majora's
Mask instead. In the end though, PD just had way more going for it with
its solid 1-player mode and its excellent 4-player mode. In fact, this
game has so many modes, so many things to do, that it might have the highest
replay of any game I've seen, and it's not that repetitive replay ala
DK64. Plus Majora's Mask wasn't different enough from Ocarina to win this
anyways.

Best DC Game: Jet Grind Radio

Another tricky choice. Runner-ups were NFL2K1 (but I really didn't want
to give it to a sports game) and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 (but since it's
a PSX port I didn't want this to win either), and JGR is an excellent
game. The 'hip' atmosphere of the game gotten from a combination of its
great graphics and music, with the addition of a different but fun gameplay,
overcame its sub-par control to win this award. In other words, it's a
good game that becomes a great game due to its fabulous music and graphics
(so no more of this "It's not about the graphics" BS). I was
VERY disappointed to learn that so few DC'ers actually bought this game:(

Best PS2 Game: SSX

This is what we call in the business a "no-brainer". Easily
the best snowboarding game ever (sorry 1080 fans), and similar to THPS2,
it can be enjoyed by snowboarders and non-snowboaders alike. Plus this
is another game with excellent graphics and sound that really add to the
experience. Be sure to pick this up for GCN next fall if you don't have
a PS2.

System of the Year: Dreamcast

Maybe the easiest choice yet... Even though it really didn't have any
must-own blockbuster games IMHO, it had an excellent lineup of games with
a wide selection to choose from. Plus the start of online gaming on a
console is a nice bonus, but so far hasn't quite lived up to my expectations
(sure NFL2K1 and Q3A are cool, but right now those are the only ones worth
playing). Even with games like PSO and Bomberman Online (YAY!) it will
be hard for it to win again next year against a year old PS2 and the release
of Gamecube and XBox. Still, 2000 was a great year for the Dreamcast,
even if it has to be its only year in the spotlight.

So all in all 2000 was a pretty good year for videogaming. The DC came
into its own, and showed why it's a system worth having. The PS2 launched
with more hype in the general media than anything ever before in the world
of videogames, and should be a real force in 2001. Ah, 2001... 2001 could
be one of the best years ever for videogaming. With the launch of two
consoles (GCN and XBox), at the very least, things will be interesting.