Best Game of the Noughties (2000-09) (Round One)

[This Old Neon]

Round One of the "Best Game of the Noughties (2000-09)" side-event includes 7 polls of 10 games each.

• You can vote for UP TO THREE (3) games per poll, or skip a poll entirely.
• The top 3 games in each poll will advance to Round Three.
• You can't change your votes once they've been submitted, so click carefully. Voting closes on Saturday at midnight ADT.

VOTE HERE

Poll 1 of 7
Bully / Canis Canem Edit (2006, Multiplatform)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002, PC)
F-Zero GX (2003, GCN)
Fire Emblem (2003, GBA)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2010, DS)
Half-Life 2 (2004, PC)
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009, DS)
Phantasy Star Online (2000, DC)
RuneScape (2001, PC)
Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001, GCN)

Poll 2 of 7
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003, GBA)
Deus Ex (2000, PC)
Final Fantasy XII (2006, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4 (2004, PS2)
Left 4 Dead (2008, PC)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007, DS)
Max Payne (2001, Multiplatform)
New Super Mario Bros Wii (2009, Wii)
Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004, Multiplatform)
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis (2001, GBA)

Poll 3 of 7
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000, PC)
Fable: The Lost Chapters (2005, PC)
Final Fantasy IX (2000, PS1)
God of War II (2007, PS2)
Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007, PC)
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003, GCN)
Mother 3 (2006, GBA)
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations (2007, DS)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008, Wii)
Team Fortress 2 (2007, PC)

Poll 4 of 7
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (2003, GBA)
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (2003, XB)
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007, Wii)
Grandia 2 (2000, DC)
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001, PC/XB)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty / Substance (2001, PS2)
Persona 4 (2008, PS2)
Punch-Out!! (2009, Wii)
Tales of Symphonia (2003, GCN)
Viewtiful Joe (2003, GCN)

Poll 5 of 7
Advance Wars: Dual Strike (2005, DS)
Dead Space (2008, Multiplatform)
Final Fantasy X (2001, PS2)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004, Multiplatform)
Halo 3 (2007, X360)
Metroid Fusion (2002, GBA)
Mirror's Edge (2008, Multiplatform)
Resident Evil 4 (2005, GCN)
Skate 2 (2009, PS3/X360)
Wizardry 8 (2001, PC)

Poll 6 of 7
BioShock (2008, Multiplatform)
Dead Rising (2006, Multiplatform)
Garry's Mod (2006, PC)
Guilty Gear XX: The Midnight Carnival (2002, PS2)
Kingdom Hearts (2002, PS2)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006, GCN/Wii)
Mega Man 9 (2008, Multiplatform)
OutRun 2 (2003, PC/XB)
Phantom Dust (2004, XB)
Spelunky (2008, PC)

Poll 7 of 7
Animal Crossing (2001, GCN)
Demon's Souls (2009, PS3)
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (2005, X360)
Gotcha Force (2003, GC)
Kingdom Hearts II (2005, PS2)
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000, Arcade)
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (2005, DS)
Shadow Hearts: Covenant (2004, PS2)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003, PC/XB)
Tales of Vesperia (2008, X360)

[Sharecrow]

Poll 1 of 7
Bully / Canis Canem Edit (2006, Multiplatform)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002, PC)
F-Zero GX (2003, GCN)
Fire Emblem (2003, GBA)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2010, DS)
Half-Life 2 (2004, PC)
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009, DS)
Phantasy Star Online (2000, DC)
RuneScape (2001, PC)
Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001, GCN)

Bully will get my sole vote here. I haven’t played it much but have watched it some as well. Good game. I just have trouble with school environments in games, but I do recognize this is a fun game despite that.

Poll 2 of 7
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003, GBA)
Deus Ex (2000, PC)
Final Fantasy XII (2006, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4 (2004, PS2)
Left 4 Dead (2008, PC)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007, DS)
Max Payne (2001, Multiplatform)
New Super Mario Bros Wii (2009, Wii)
Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004, Multiplatform)
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis (2001, GBA)

Two games get votes here. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow - one of the better metroidvania games on the castlevania side. I like it more than Symphony of Night really... Silent Hill 4: The Room is one of the creepiest games I’ve ever played. I never did beat it. I tried a few times but it just started bugging me too much. Good stuff.

Final Fantasy XII is absolutely awesome but I never had the desire to scrub it. I think the story bores me a little. That’s a tough spot to be in for a JRPG.

Poll 3 of 7
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000, PC)
Fable: The Lost Chapters (2005, PC)
Final Fantasy IX (2000, PS1)
God of War II (2007, PS2)
Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007, PC)
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003, GCN)
Mother 3 (2006, GBA)
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations (2007, DS)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008, Wii)
Team Fortress 2 (2007, PC)

God of War II is one of the best PS2 games I never played (I played the PS3 HD remake). Quite visceral when I got platinum in it. Outstanding game that improved on the outstanding first game in the series.

Poll 4 of 7
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (2003, GBA)
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (2003, XB)
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007, Wii)
Grandia 2 (2000, DC)
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001, PC/XB)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty / Substance (2001, PS2)
Persona 4 (2008, PS2)
Punch-Out!! (2009, Wii)
Tales of Symphonia (2003, GCN)
Viewtiful Joe (2003, GCN)

MGS 2: Sons of Liberty is one of my favorite games of all time. It’s so deep and engaging and the gameplay is spot on. I love that they had the nerve to let someone besides Snake have a pivotal role. Also Tales of Symphonia is getting a vote for being one of the best Tales games I’ve played. So damn fun.

Poll 5 of 7
Advance Wars: Dual Strike (2005, DS)
Dead Space (2008, Multiplatform)
Final Fantasy X (2001, PS2)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004, Multiplatform)
Halo 3 (2007, X360)
Metroid Fusion (2002, GBA)
Mirror's Edge (2008, Multiplatform)
Resident Evil 4 (2005, GCN)
Skate 2 (2009, PS3/X360)
Wizardry 8 (2001, PC)

Dead Space and Final Fantasy X get my votes here. I love Metroid Fusion but it’s not as good as the games getting my votes. I’m playing favorites.

Poll 6 of 7
BioShock (2008, Multiplatform)
Dead Rising (2006, Multiplatform)
Garry's Mod (2006, PC)
Guilty Gear XX: The Midnight Carnival (2002, PS2)
Kingdom Hearts (2002, PS2)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006, GCN/Wii)
Mega Man 9 (2008, Multiplatform)
OutRun 2 (2003, PC/XB)
Phantom Dust (2004, XB)
Spelunky (2008, PC)

Abstain.

Poll 7 of 7
Animal Crossing (2001, GCN)
Demon's Souls (2009, PS3)
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (2005, X360)
Gotcha Force (2003, GC)
Kingdom Hearts II (2005, PS2)
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000, Arcade)
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (2005, DS)
Shadow Hearts: Covenant (2004, PS2)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003, PC/XB)
Tales of Vesperia (2008, X360)

Animal Crossing and, of course, Shadow Hearts: Covenant. Animal Crossing has a way of becoming part of your daily routine like few games can. My best friend bought a GameCube because I showed him this game. He’d seen wind waker and Metroid Prime also but this sold it. Covenant I’ve already raced about. It’s one of my favorite favorites of all time. Not much has come close.

[SkyPikachu]

Is this everything that got nominated or are there other titles to come?

[Kong Wen]

Is this everything that got nominated or are there other titles to come?

Still eleven more games to be revealed!

[The Shoemaker]

Really hilarious boiling games down to decades like this. Such an in between phase, end of n64/PS1, all gamecube/ps2, first two thirds of ps3/Wii.

[Kong Wen]

Poll 1 of 7
Bully / Canis Canem Edit (2006, Multiplatform)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002, PC)
F-Zero GX (2003, GCN)
Fire Emblem (2003, GBA)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2010, DS)
Half-Life 2 (2004, PC)
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009, DS)
Phantasy Star Online (2000, DC)
RuneScape (2001, PC)
Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001, GCN)

Bully for being Rockstar's most creative use of the GTA sandbox formula, Half-Life 2, and Fire Emblem for bringing Fire Emblem to the west.

Poll 2 of 7
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003, GBA)
Deus Ex (2000, PC)
Final Fantasy XII (2006, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4 (2004, PS2)
Left 4 Dead (2008, PC)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007, DS)
Max Payne (2001, Multiplatform)
New Super Mario Bros Wii (2009, Wii)
Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004, Multiplatform)
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis (2001, GBA)

Aria of Sorrow for being one of the best exploraction/platforpg entries in the series, Final Fantasy XII for being the best post-SNES FF game, and Tactics Ogre for keeping the Tactical Ogres alive, however briefly.

Poll 3 of 7
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000, PC)
Fable: The Lost Chapters (2005, PC)
Final Fantasy IX (2000, PS1)
God of War II (2007, PS2)
Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007, PC)
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003, GCN)
Mother 3 (2006, GBA)
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations (2007, DS)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008, Wii)
Team Fortress 2 (2007, PC)

TF2 for being the best cartoony squad-based shooter and for being unable to be surpassed by Overwatch.

Poll 4 of 7
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (2003, GBA)
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (2003, XB)
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007, Wii)
Grandia 2 (2000, DC)
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001, PC/XB)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty / Substance (2001, PS2)
Persona 4 (2008, PS2)
Punch-Out!! (2009, Wii)
Tales of Symphonia (2003, GCN)
Viewtiful Joe (2003, GCN)

Radiant Dawn for being one of the most refined tactical RPGs in recent memory, with a great character arc for Ike to boot.

Poll 5 of 7
Advance Wars: Dual Strike (2005, DS)
Dead Space (2008, Multiplatform)
Final Fantasy X (2001, PS2)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004, Multiplatform)
Halo 3 (2007, X360)
Metroid Fusion (2002, GBA)
Mirror's Edge (2008, Multiplatform)
Resident Evil 4 (2005, GCN)
Skate 2 (2009, PS3/X360)
Wizardry 8 (2001, PC)

Metroid Fusion for being the only 16-bit game capable of making me scared.

Poll 6 of 7
BioShock (2008, Multiplatform)
Dead Rising (2006, Multiplatform)
Garry's Mod (2006, PC)
Guilty Gear XX: The Midnight Carnival (2002, PS2)
Kingdom Hearts (2002, PS2)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006, GCN/Wii)
Mega Man 9 (2008, Multiplatform)
OutRun 2 (2003, PC/XB)
Phantom Dust (2004, XB)
Spelunky (2008, PC)

Mega Man 9 for being a completely surprising and successful revival of the classic NES-style platforming, honed to perfection. Passing on Spelunky in this bracket simply because it's the free PC version and not the refined XBLA follow-up, so I don't know as much about it. Don't want to let my love of the newer game taint my vote.

Poll 7 of 7
Animal Crossing (2001, GCN)
Demon's Souls (2009, PS3)
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (2005, X360)
Gotcha Force (2003, GC)
Kingdom Hearts II (2005, PS2)
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000, Arcade)
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (2005, DS)
Shadow Hearts: Covenant (2004, PS2)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003, PC/XB)
Tales of Vesperia (2008, X360)

Demon's Souls invented a new action subgenre and had a massive ripple effect on action-RPGs as a whole, even on the ones it didn't directly influence. It's also a good game. Geometry Wars Retro Evolved is a marvelous game, and the subsequent attempts to match it haven't quite lived up.

[This Old Neon]

Here are the winners of the opening round of the Best Game of the Noughties event! Games that will have to participate in tie-breakers to advance are indicated in red.

Poll 1 of 7
Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001, GCN)
Half-Life 2 (2004, PC)

One of these will advance:
Bully / Canis Canem Edit (2006, Multiplatform)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002, PC)
F-Zero GX (2003, GCN)
Fire Emblem (2003, GBA)
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009, DS)

Poll 2 of 7
Left 4 Dead (2008, PC)
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003, GBA)

One of these will advance:
Deus Ex (2000, PC)
Final Fantasy XII (2006, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4 (2004, PS2)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007, DS)

Poll 3 of 7
Team Fortress 2 (2007, PC)

Two of these will advance:
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000, PC)
God of War II (2007, PS2)
Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007, PC)

Poll 4 of 7
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001, PC/XB)

Two of these will advance:
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007, Wii)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty / Substance (2001, PS2)
Persona 4 (2008, PS2)

Poll 5 of 7
Three of these will advance:
Final Fantasy X (2001, PS2)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004, Multiplatform)
Halo 3 (2007, X360)
Resident Evil 4 (2005, GCN)

Poll 6 of 7
Mega Man 9 (2008, Multiplatform)
BioShock (2008, Multiplatform)
Spelunky (2008, PC)

Poll 7 of 7
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (2005, DS)
Animal Crossing (2001, GCN)
Demon's Souls (2009, PS3)