Critics Club IV: Game of the Year 2001 - The Final

[Neon Ignition]

Time for the final as eleven rounds of voting close and the top tier titles of each round get mixed together for the culminating face off.

Peer through the veil of 2001 gaming greatness!






Which of the above games are the truly greatest of 2001 and why?

[jonathan_ingram]

ICO, Ikaruga and Halo are all great games, especially when they came out.

But to me, Rez is pretty much a perfect game and the one I've revisited the most since I first played it on DC

[Cepp]

Rez for sure with Shenmue 2 in second.

[QualityChimp]

Rez is unique, but it's MGS2 on this list.

[wakka]

Tricky one...for me it's 'battle of the inferior sequels to my favourite games of all time' for me, between Shenmue 2 and MGS2.

In the end I plumped for MGS. It was pretty huge for me back in 2001, and it still plays brilliantly today.

[Cassius_Smoke]

I remember going to a friends who had an Xbox and playing Halo. The controller was absolutely massive. Had a blast. Seeing Shenmue 2 on it was pretty cool.
Still I voted for SNK2 and MGS2. Just because of the shear hours I put into them.

[dataDave]

Where’s VF4?

[Neon Ignition]

Massive controversy... Grand Theft Auto III didn't make the cut

[CMcK]

Rez, Ikaruga and Halo are all classics but Rez is the only one I've bought across multiple generations and platforms so it gets my vote.

[Neon Ignition]

Because third place is looking like such a spread of titles I'll give this 24 more hours before calling it. So depressing seeing Halo out front though

[fuse]

Not surprised at Halo being popular, but I am surprised to see Rez sticking its neck out as the challenger!

[wheelaa]

Another one for Halo then.

[Atticus]

Rez is my fave but Halo is probably a more deserving winner

[CMcK]

So depressing seeing Halo out front though

Why do you think that? Halo was genuinely great. It also started a franchise and really boosted the profile of the OG Xbox. I remember sitting down to play Halo one evening around 2100. I got up for a pee and noticed it was dark outside so went to close the blinds. It was after 0200! I don't think any other game has drawn me in like that.

[teddymeow]

MGS2 and not just because it references my (and [MENTION=10111]QualityChimp[/MENTION]) birthday a couple of times.