15 Best Years In Video Game History

Notable Releases - Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2, Halo, Devil May Cry

In 2001, it seemed like all gaming franchises had stepped up a gear. Although Super Smash Bros. was a satisfying beat 'em up, Super Smash Bros. Melee proved Nintendo could contend with the big boys, like Tekken and Street Fighter.

Despite the fact Metal Gear Solid set a high bar, MGS2's bar went beyond the stratosphere, in terms of stealth, fighting mechanics, plot, and social commentary.

Silent Hill 2 was so astounding (and petrifying), it's among the only titles that video game journalist, Yahtzee Croshaw, couldn't fault (a feat many thought was impossible).

Final Fantasy X immediately stood out, since it was the first entry to implement skill trees, conditional turn-based battle, and voice-acting.

However, no franchise reinvented itself better than Grand Theft Auto. GTA III didn't just improve on its predecessors - it blew them out of the water. Even though the race-and-chase elements were still there, this threequel now boasted a massive plot, a plethora of missions, and a gigantic open-world to explore.

GTA III wasn't available on the Xbox for two years, but it didn't matter since Microsoft's debut console had a glorious start. The demo for Halo may not have gone well, (the console literally blew up in smoke), but the Xbox's launch title was a monstrous success, securing Microsoft's future in the gaming industry.