5 Early 2000s Video Games That Aged Better Than Anyone Expected

As wild as it may seem, the PlayStation 2, the original Xbox, and the GameCube are all over 20 years old now. Video games underwent some great advances in their technological innovations and standards during this seminal generation of consoles. The types of games being developed kept pushing the envelope on what was possible for gaming in terms of both storytelling and the gameplay experience, and many made a lasting impact on pop culture.

Whether it’s action-packed first-person shooters or engrossing RPGs, quite a few of these celebrated games from the early 2000s have stood the test of time and are still a blast to play today. For the purposes of this article and its scope, we’re keeping this list to games that were released between 2000 and 2002. Here are five early 2000s video games that aged better than anyone expected and are well worth revisiting over two decades later.

The final years of the Nintendo 64 yielded some of the console’s best titles, even as the industry was already looking ahead to the next gaming generation. Rare, who previously developed the beloved “GoldenEye 007,” created a spiritual successor to the first-person shooter with an original property titled “Perfect Dark.” The game is set in a near-future with secret agent Joanna Dark uncovering a conspiracy involving the presence of two warring alien races on Earth. The game also boasts several multiplayer modes, including the four-player free-for-all that “GoldenEye” was known for.

Before Nintendo lost Rare to Microsoft, “Perfect Dark” was one of the best games the British development studio ever made. The 2000 title pushed the N64 hardware as far as it could go while refining and expanding upon the gameplay foundation laid by “GoldenEye.” The game still looks great, the first-person controls are a huge step-up compared to other genre titles of its era, and the amount of gameplay modes available is impressive. When “Perfect Dark” was remastered in 2010, it wisely retained much of the 2000 game, subtly modernizing the visuals and control layouts while adding online multiplayer and changing little else.

The first “Final Fantasy” game released for the PlayStation 2, 2001’s “Final Fantasy X” followed a new protagonist called Tidus, a star of the fictional sport blitzball. Tidus arrives in the fantasy world of Spira after his home is destroyed by the villainous Sin. Teaming up with a group of quirky adventurers, Tidus and his new friends set out to destroy Sin and save Spira. Along the way, Tidus strikes up a romance with a summoner named Yuna as they prepare to confront Sin together.

“Final Fantasy X” provides its own revamp of the RPG mechanics from prior “Final Fantasy” games, leaning into a more solidly turn-based system while allowing party members to be swapped. Visually, the game is among the most breathtakingly stunning on the PS2. “Final Fantasy X” marked another big jump forward for the venerable franchise into the 21st century, modernizing its gameplay with an epic story. One of the best PS2 games of all time, “Final Fantasy X” is among the greatest entries in Square Enix’s iconic franchise.

The first “Rogue Squadron” was the best “Star Wars” game on the Nintendo 64 and the franchise continued to have a prolific presence on the GameCube. The game’s first sequel, “Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader,” was a North American launch title for the console when it debuted in November 2001. The game takes place across the original film trilogy, bookending its campaign with the destruction of the Galactic Empire’s two Death Stars. The game features seven different spacecraft available to pilot, while bonus vehicles and levels can be unlocked to expand the experience.

“Rogue Leader” is a stunning achievement in technical presentation, with its visuals still holding up over 20 years later. The vehicle handling was enhanced and expanded upon compared to the prior game, letting players switch between various ship systems on the fly while making the combat mechanics smoother. The game received a 2003 sequel, “Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike,” which included the campaign missions from “Rogue Leader,” now available for cooperative multiplayer. All three of these “Rogue Squadron” titles are among the best movie tie-in games of all time.

The original “Super Smash Bros.” almost didn’t happen but it ended up becoming one of the most beloved games on the Nintendo 64. The game’s 2001 sequel on the GameCube, “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” upped the ante considerably, really showcasing what the console was capable of. In addition to improving the overall technical presentation, “Melee” brings 13 more playable characters to the roster to join the 12 returning ones. The game also features a wealth of additional game modes, while the single-player mode has been completely revamped.

There are some who argue that the “Super Smash Bros.” franchise has yet to surpass “Melee,” and it’s easy to see why so many people hold the game in such high regard. It still looks gorgeous and the speed and handling of the fights themselves have been optimized significantly. While it was the 1999 “Super Smash Bros.” that got the crossover fighting game series going, it feels like subsequent entries have taken their cues from “Melee.” A frenetic and fun fighting game perfectly suited for parties and hardcore players alike, “Super Smash Bros. Melee” took the series to new heights and is still the pinnacle for many.

Gaming technology had leapt ahead so significantly in the six years after the original “Resident Evil” that series creator Shinji Mikami decided to completely remake it for the GameCube. Released in 2002, the game retells the story of an elite police team being trapped in a remote mansion by ravenous monsters. With players given the option to control either Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield, they witness differing dimensions to the story as they investigate the sinister mystery behind the mansion. The 2002 remake received a high-definition remaster in 2015, upconverting the presentation while optimizing the controls.

It’s remarkable how much of an improvement the 2002 remake is over the original 1996 game, retaining the story while leaning towards a more atmospheric and scary tone. The remake marked a stunning transformation for “Resident Evil,” offering more realistic character designs matched by genuinely frightening monsters and environments. It’s a testament to how great this version of the game is that its own remaster only subtly refined certain elements of it for modern audiences despite 13 years having passed. Ranked among the best “Resident Evil” games, the 2002 remake set a winning tradition of solid reimaginings for the Capcom series.