This decade some decade old series have made there mark once again, some even providing some of the best titles in the series. Others fell flat on there face.
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend is strong, and when the Legend of the Zelda started its long path this decade after releasing some amazing titles in the previous decade, many thought it might fall flat on its face from the bat go. But the series has kept its wings, and provided some amazing titles and experiences this decade.
Link has had so many different personalities this decade, some contraversal and others instant classics. What is known is this decade saw many titles across many generations as well as paving the way the series will be next decade.
The legend started right off the bat this decade with Majora’s Mask, the direct sequel to Ocarina of Time. It introduced a new “3 day” system which gave the game a scene of urgency, as well as giving players one of the darkest child link games. The game also featured many sidequests and detailed NPC’s for the time, and for the series.
After the mask collecting, we found ourselves looking at a Space World demo like no other, a mature link running on next generation graphics, the hype train started saying this was to be the next Zelda.
The next console Zelda was to be forgotten for awhile, with the Game Boy Color getting the Oracle series, Ages and Seasons. With Oracle of Ages been the best of the two, the Game boy Advance had just arrived as well only just after.
What appeared on the Game Boy Advance was a port of Link to the Past, a classic game from the previous decade. Along with it inside the same cart, was a sign of things to come- a look at a mulitplayer Zelda- Four Swords was born.
Falling into place around the same time, was the shock and aww at the new console Zelda, Wind Waker was revealed and released in 2002, to keep players who where disappointed at the graphic style as fans, Nintendo played a card like no other, Ocarina of Time was ported to the Game Cube and bundled with Wind Waker as a preorder item, to make things better the disk also contained Master Quest (a much more harder bolder OoT).
Wind Waker featured sailing as the form of transport and some crazy story about a great flood, what was known is after it was released it was lapped up by everyone and enjoyed.
Four Swords saw a rebirth a few years later on the Game Cube, one of the best Zelda adventures was 2D, multiplayer and used a new feature which connected the GC to the GBA, allowing more players to come in and play with the GBA. Which sadly was the only way to play multiplayer.
Around the same time was another gem, The Minish Cap, the last Flag Ship Zelda title and one of the most impressive handheld games to date.
Near the end of the decade and on current generation consoles, Zelda was released as a lunch title for the Nintendo Wii, Twilight Princess while good fans complained and moaned that it wasn’t “Ocarina of Time”, leaving the consoles for awhile the Nintendo DS gave birth to two Zelda titles, sequels to Wind Waker, Phantom Hour Glass and Spirit Tracks.
This decade also saw a few other spin off titles in the series (besides “Four Swords”), Link’s Crossbow training taught Wii gamers world wide that plastic attachments are fun, and Tringle got his own series.
Unreal Tournament
Shooting has never been this fun, okay it probably hasn’t. Late last decade the Unreal series spun off a baby of its own, Unreal Tournament became a series and a game which molded multiplayer FPS for the rest of the decade.
The series contained itself to the original for awhile, but in 2003 came the rebirth of the series into the decade. The 2003 installment was pretty basic, and as well as the 2004 installment was pretty much an upgraded version of the original.
A few years later came Unreal Tournament 3, which keeps the FPS flavor going with more detailed graphics and explosions. While other games have taken over the crown of multiplayer FPS action, Unreal Tournament continues to be a viable enjoyable option even in this decade.
Grand Theft Auto
This decade brought the 3rd and 4th “seasons” of Grand Theft Auto. From the aclamined Grand Theft Auto III to Grand Theft Auto IV and Chinatown Wars. With in the middle PSP versions of the Third season, with new stories.
It’s a funny series, but at the same time its a boring series. What happens to be one of the game highest points is something fowend upon by society, but in the end its all good! Or is it?
The series has taken a relistic turn in its 4th season, GTA:IV and its download content has to be the most evil game ever when it comes to pain. As for the cops, they are tightened up but you can still drive down the block, hide in an ally and wait for everything to be A’ Ok.
Chinatown Wars has appeared on the DS (a limited exclusive) and then the PSP, and then the iPhone. While the ports where needed, no one knows, as the DS version was solid, unique and desirable (and still the highest seller).
This is a series your going to be seeing more of next decade and where they can lead it to, its anyones guess.