15 Best Months To Be A Gamer (Since 2000)

14. November 2001 €“ Microsoft, Aliens And Sons...

The following month would prove to be just as exciting for gamers though. Microsoft made their debut into the console market with the launch of the original Xbox in North America, bringing with it a brand new franchise by the name of Halo: Combat Evolved; by far the standout title from the Xbox's launch and the series continues to thrive to this day.

Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid made its debut on the next generation too with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty arriving on PlayStation 2. The series made a dramatic u-turn by replacing protagonist Solid Snake with a new character, Raiden. Initial fan-reaction was not good but the storyline and stealth mechanics of the game made it a winner.

Nintendo's Game Boy Advance received a classic title this month too with the launch of Golden Sun. The 2D RPG might not have been to everybody's tastes but it was the perfect game to showcase the portable advantages of Nintendo's new handheld, and it's still heralded as one of the best examples of the genre. SSX Tricky was released across all major consoles and proved amazingly popular whilst Super Smash Bros. Melee first arrived in Japan, making it a good month for gamers across the globe.

Metacritic Roundup: Halo: Combat Evolved, 97. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty, 96. Golden Sun, 91. Average: 94.67.