Best Games of the 3D Era

In due time, I'll post a "Best Games of 2004" list, but for now I'll just give you a recap of my lists (sans PC games) from the past eight years dating back to 1996, the year that 3D design truly came into its own:

Best Games of 2003
01. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
02. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
03. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
04. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
05. Jak II
06. Viewtiful Joe
07. Soul Calibur II
08. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
09. Beyond Good & Evil
10. WarioWare Inc.: Mega MicroGame$

Best Games of 2002
01. Metroid Prime
02. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
03. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
04. Ratchet & Clank
05. Kingdom Hearts
06. Metroid Fusion
07. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
08. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
09. Suikoden III
10. Splinter Cell

Best Games of 2001
01. Grand Theft Auto III
02. Halo
03. ICO
04. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
05. Paper Mario
06. Final Fantasy X
07. Super Smash Bros. Melee
08. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
09. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
10. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons

Best Games of 2000
01. Chrono Cross
02. Vagrant Story
03. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
04. Perfect Dark
05. Jet Grind Radio
06. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
07. Skies of Arcadia
08. Crazy Taxi
09. SSX
10. Shenmue

Best Games of 1999
01. Soul Calibur
02. Ape Escape
03. Silent Hill
04. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
05. Grandia
06. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
07. Street Fighter Alpha 3
08. Sonic Adventure
09. Syphon Filter
10. Suikoden II

Best Games of 1998
01. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
02. Metal Gear Solid
03. Panzer Dragoon Saga
04. Xenogears
05. Gran Turismo
06. Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit
07. Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
08. Tekken 3
09. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
10. Kagero: Deception II

Best Games of 1997
01. Final Fantasy VII
02. Goldeneye 007
03. Resident Evil 2
04. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
05. Parappa the Rapper
06. Final Fantasy Tactics
07. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
08. Alundra
09. Wild Arms
10. Fighters Megamix

Best Games of 1996
01. Super Mario 64
02. Tomb Raider
03. Resident Evil
04. Tekken 2
05. Dragon Force
06. Suikoden
07. Mario Kart 64
08. Wave Race 64
09. Wipeout XL
10. Street Fighter Alpha 2

You may notice the presence of a few 2D games on these lists even in the most recent years. In fact, my 2003 list even includes two completely sprite-based games! It's good to know that even as 3D design and polygon usage continue to take over video gaming, 2D traditions remain a viable part of the experience.