Top 5 3rd Party Games of 6th Generation Consoles

 

We all know that each of the games consoles had faired shares with many libraries of 3rd party games, so unlike the 1st party games that are made for full console exclusivity which was published and developed by the development team of the console manufacturers like Nintendo, Microsoft, and SONY, while the 2nd party games are referred as one of the semi-development team are also making games for a first-party company, the 3rd party games are made for all PCs and Console platforms which can be all published and developed by the big company like EA, Activision, Capcom, and others without being tied to any single platform.

We know the company like SEGA are no longer manufacturing the console after the unsuccessful of SEGA Dreamcast been declined in 2001, which leads the company went on focusing with the software titles for all PCs and Consoles platforms instead.     

The 6th generation era shares the best libraries of 3rd party games on Xbox, PS2, Gamecube, and Dreamcast, hell even on PCs starting from Open-World sandbox mayhem to wreckless driving action or addicting local multiplayer to epic single-player campaign.

We are taking look at my 5 favourite titles, created by 3rd party developers themselves, that defines my gaming nostalgia of early 2000s, so I love my old days of playing over an hours fun on Gamecube and Xbox with old-fashioned CRT-TV, yeah good times.

I want to pick out the games that brings my childhood moments showing how amazing these titles back then in all thanks to gameplay innovation, story campaign, visuals design, and fun multiplayer with tons of replayabilities. 

So here is the Top 5 3rd Party Games of 6th Generation Consoles.

5 - TimeSplitters 2 

    

   

I remember my old days of mid-90s when Rare bought Goldeneye 007 was released for N64 which is highly regarded as one of the greatest N64 game and also most influential FPS game ever created thanks to atmospheric single-player action, innovative gameplay design and elements, and addictive 4-player split-screen matches had pushed the FPS genres forward, and they bought the follow-up title for N64 such as Perfect Dark adds the additional features in the game such as high-res graphics, A.I bots for Multiplayer, challenge mode, and co-op, while it requires expansion pak to play the whole single-player campaign.

The team behind these game had left the company in 1999 to form their own company called Free Radical Design, as well as creating the spiritual successor to previous two FPS title called TimeSplitters for PS2 which was released in same year as Perfect Dark for N64 in 2000. 

Then it was followed up by TimeSplitters 2 in 2 years later making the first title being released on other platforms such as Xbox and GC. 

While it retains the same multiplayer modes and features from the first game, it's one of the first game to feature a dynamic story mode has divided into 10 mission levels where you take control of one of two space marines as they attempt to stop the alien race of TimeSplitters from ruining history by collecting the time crystals in various time periods, ranging from the Wild West to the 25th century.

The story mode can be played alone or cooperatively with another player which they must complete curtain of the objectives from deactivating communication dish to burning filing cabinets in Serbia, following hacker to research area to uploading to server in Neo Tokyo, and activating reactor to defusing bomb in China. 

What makes TimeSplitters 2 so addicting is the various of multiplayer modes and challenge modes. You have 4-player local split-screen for all console versions, as well as system link capability up to 16 players for PS2 and Xbox (via system links cable on 8 PS2s or 4 Xboxs) which sadly was not included with the GC version unfortunately. The game also has up to 10 computer A.I bots in multiplayer.

There are 16 game modes in total such as free-for-all, team deathmatch, capture the bag, bagtag, virus, flame tag, zones, elimination, and many more to play. 

The challenge modes gives you a scenario where you must complete it within certain requirements from collecting bananas to shooting heads off zombies and there are a league mode in which one player is placed in an arcade match with pre-set bots and weapons.

A biggest highlight of the game is the MapMaker that let you create and design your own playable maps for custom gameplay featuring tile settings, story-related object, lighting effects, enemy set, weapon items, and briefing which adds the new kinds of ways of playing the game. 

The game itself is a stepping forward from the original game thanks to dynamic single-player action filled with many amazing objectives, level design, and co-op play. It has the best FPS multiplayer for 6th generation era with over-the-top matches including deathmatches, capture the bag, and elimination which adds the replayability of the game.  The game plays flawlessly for its smooth gameplay design runs on full 60 FPS, great weapon system, and fully customisable controls feels more responsive and accurate to play.      

The graphics is fully well designed with nicely made textures and detailed environmental design did hold up to its today standards in terms of graphics design, and it has the coolest soundtrack for any FPS games to date from old-gothic medieval style to more futuristic styled sounding or from old-jazzy sounds to more atmospheric jungle-themed style which fits the game's personality.

TimeSplitters 2 is one of the better FPS title for 6th generation era that has aged remarkably well over the decade which outperforms N64's FPS games in terms of design and performance, so I was hoping for the game should deserve a full remaster release with adding online play and some content would be nicer for newcomers to get a hands on with the game in near future.

There are a fun easter egg being featured in Homefront: The Revolution created by Deep Sliver Dambuster which lets you play 2 playable levels from TimeSplitters 2 via an arcade cabinet located in one of the main game's locations, so does that mean it will eventually gonna release the classic FPS title in near future? we will shall wait and see how it goes. 

4 - Soul Calibur 2 

            

Back in my childhood days of 2000s, My cousin and I had a blast of playing a first Soul Calibur on SEGA Dreamcast which was heavily regarded as being one of the Namco's biggest masterpiece for 3D fighting game genres for innovation, as well as being an massive improvement over the arcade counterpart featuring additional new features and improved graphics overhaul making it one of the most acclaimed fighting games ever created with numerous of game of the year awards.

The success of the game had spawned with the follow-up sequel such as Soul Calibur 2 was released for the arcade in 2002, while the console port was later in 2003 such as PS2, Xbox, and GC.

Like the first game, it retains the same modes as the original such as Arcade, Versus Battle, Team Battle, Versus Team Battle, Time Attack, Survival and Practice, as well as weapon master mode. 

There are also extra versions of these modes which intended to allow the use of extra weapons and unlockable stages.

While the game retains all the original base characters from the first game, it also introduces some of the new playable roster such as Cassandra, Raphael, Talim, Yunsung, Charade, and Necrid. 

Each of the console platforms has one of their own exclusive characters such as Heihachi Mishima from Tekken series on PS2, Spawn from the comic book series of the same name by Todd McFarlane on Xbox and of course Link from The Legend of Zelda series on GC.

What makes the sequel so great is that you have weapon master mode, a extended version of arcade's conquest mode which introduces a story set in an alternate world. The player moves in a map divided into regions and fights enemies to gain experience points which raises the ranking system of the character and money which can be used to buy weapons, art, costumes and videos. The mode has 10 normal chapters, 4 sub-chapters and 2 extra-chapters, as well as extra-missions.

This benefits the overall fun of the game thanks to numerous of chapters, missions, and challenges which makes the single-player mode an finest experience of Soul Calibur series. 

Aside with the weapon master mode, the arcade is just as good as the first game and versus mode is spectacularly fun for any of fighting game fans could get a hands on with stuff like 1 on 1 solo and team battle up to 3 on 3. There are time attack mode and survival mode put you on the test to get best new records as possible, and train with your fighting moves through practice mode to become an experienced fighter.

The fighting system controls perfectly to pull off many fighting techniques and moves resulting a smooth and responsive combo attacks that makes the whole game played really well with no signs of delays. 

The graphics is looking fantastic for its crispy animation, in-depth environments, rich lighting effects, being able to ran on 60 FPS, and has widescreen support especially Xbox version has boosted up to 720p resulting improved textures and overall resolution compared with PS2 and GC has 480p support delivering the most impressive visuals in any fighting games.

The sound design in the game is very well done was first to include dolby digital 5.1 surround for all console version delivering more cleaner sound quality and dynamic sound effects making it sounds more cinematic, and it clearly has the epic soundtrack that fits the action of weapon-based fighting game.

The best version of Soul Calibur 2 has to go for the Gamecube version for the inclusion of Link from The Legend of Zelda series as the playable roster is the main reason for me to own the Gamecube copy of the game.               

Soul Calibur 2 is a most refreshing 3D fighting game on the system which also received a HD port titled as Soul Calibur II HD Online for the PS3 and X360 in 2013 adding support for online-only gameplay via PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, but it's a shame that there are no release for Wii U which could have been nice if Bandai Namco Entertainment did just a same as like they did with the PS3 and X360 releases, so maybe the Switch port will eventually get a chance in the future.

3 - Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time

     

First of all, I've enjoyed playing the original 1989 Prince of Persia which is a very first 2D cinematic platformer title created by Jordan Mechner. It was released for various of platforms such as Apple II, Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, GB, TG-16, SEGA Genesis/MD, SEGA CD, SNES, NES, and others.

It was highly praised for its innovative gameplay controls, challenging design choices of levels, and cinematic presentation to make use of rotoscoping for fluid and realistic animation has influenced some later games in this subgenre such as Another World and Flashbacks: Quest for Identity, as well as the 3D action-adventure games such as Tomb Raider.

The success led to release of final two sequels of the original such as Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow of the Flame and Prince of Persia 3D.

After Ubisoft has acquired the rights of the franchise in around 2001, they began to work on the reboot called Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time which is action-adventure title was released for GBA, PS2, Xbox, GC, and PC in 2003. 

The story focuses on nameless prince who obtains an artefact called the dagger of time while his father's army captures an hourglass containing the mysterious sands of time, as he took it to his father Vizier at the palace of the Sultan of Azad, he was being tricked into releasing the sands which transforming people into sand monsters under his father's control.

While partnering with the young princess Farah, the prince finds the way of correcting his mistake and stopping his father's evil plans.

You take control of the prince in Tomb Raider style 3D approach which makes a huge departure of original's 2D cinematic platformer, so it's involves platforming, combat, and ability to use rewind time mechanics.

Then you have companion Farah will help you throughout the combat where she welds bow and arrow to shoot enemies as assisting attack, as well as working together as team in the puzzle-solving areas. 

The prince has ability to perform his contextual moves such as wall-running, climbing across the ledges, walking along beams, swinging on and jumping from poles, jumping onto pillars, and swinging on ropes which is used for platforming actions.

He equips two different weapons such as sword for basic attacking while the dagger are used for defeating sand enemies, and he can also pull off his special moves such as somersault attack and bouncing off walls into enemies.

He can collect sands from the enemies and the environment are tied to his magical abilities connected to his dagger which allows him to use rewind time mechanics by up to 10 seconds if he makes a mistake in platforming or dies. He can also slow time around him, freezes single enemy, and freeze time to increase his attacking speed.

The game also involves puzzle-solving where he needs to complete the certain of large puzzles to open up the new area, as well as evading the areas filled with traps include spike pits, arrow traps, wall-mounted blades and saws, and spinning spiked stakes.

                  

Like I've enjoyed the original 1989's game, I kinda liked the new changes of the whole game because it's so much different from the original.

The story is well-written that are easy to get into with strong storyline and cool protagonist that keeps you more interested with the franchise's reboot, and I also liked the presentation filled with ancient and old-medieval style of Persia with bunch of empires of army fighting a war in a foreign land.

I liked the style of the rich-looking palace mixed with caves, fountains, and towers that kept the environmental design of levels looks much appealing.

The graphics is stunning for all console platforms thanks to realistic character's animation, rich-looking visuals effects, and large-detailed open areas.

The combat and puzzles are well executed throughout the game that plays absolutely amazing for the use of exploration, battle segment, and of course the time mechanics are the main highlight of the  whole game makes Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time being a great 2D to 3D transitions of the franchise.

It is also available for PS3 as part of the HD trilogy collection which also includes other two like Warrior Within and The Two Thrones, while this game is also backward compatible for Xbox platforms as well (via Xbox original version can be played on X360, XBONE, and possibly XSX).      

I was hoping for Ubisoft to do well on the remake which was in the development, so lets just wait and see how it goes at the end in terms of faithfulness to the original source material.                 

2 - Max Payne 

In my old days of early 2000s at the time when my brother had Xbox original, there's one of the game that one of my classmate from my school had recommend me to play a crime-shooting action that got really interested me, so that is Max Payne created by Remedy Entertainment. 

It is a neo-noir third-person shooter was released for PC, PS2, Xbox, and GBA in between 2001 and 2003.

Before the game's actual release, there were plans for a Dreamcast version, but sadly they were cancelled due to discontinuation of the console in 2001 had led the developer team focused onto other console platforms such as PS2 and Xbox instead.

The game borrows the influence from the Hong Kong action cinema film such as John Woo's Hard Boiled, and was one of the first game to feature bullet-time effect popularised by The Matrix.

The story focuses on former NYPD police detective Max Payne went on his attempt to solve the murder of his wife and daughter in connection to a drug trafficking case involving a mysterious new designer drug under Valkyr.

You take control of Max Payne in third-person perspective, as your mission is to take down bunch of mafia's mobsters, as well as uncovering the truth of drug trafficking case.

He armed with a 9mm pistol as a basic weapon, but as the game progresses, other weapons including shotgun, sub-machine gun, baseball bat, grenade, and rocket launcher become accessible with some weapons such as twin sub-machine guns and two dual-pistol able to be dual-welded for an increase firepower.

The bullet-time mechanic will allow to slowed down the time that the speed of the bullets and other projectiles moves very slowly while Max is being able to move and react in real-time during the shootout.

I was blown away when I first played the game on my brother's Xbox original. The game filled with crime-drama storyline with the element of neo-noir styled graphic novel panels of cutscenes used as narration starting off an deep despair opening scenes of former detective had the worst event of losing his family that led him becoming badass undercover operative in 3 years later adding a significant revenge storyline throughout the game, and it has the best voice work for the narration as well as the cast of characters.

What makes the game special is that the game is jammed packed with shooting sprees showered enemies with the bullets, set them on fire with molotov cocktails, wacked them to death with baseball bat, and tons of explosion with grenades and rockets making the game feel destructible and over-the-top shootout action.

The bullet-time mechanics is absolutely fantastic that adds the innovation of the genres giving the title a huge game changer at the time.

The Xbox version is clearly one of the best version of all console platforms thanks to smooth framerate, quality graphics design, and it plays better, while PS2 had suffered with less detailed graphics and occasional slowdowns that won't fit into PS2's 32MB of RAM forcing the levels were broken up into smaller parts. GBA is differs from the PCs and Consoles, so instead of 3D perspective it uses the isometric perspective and sprite graphics while still remained the same story and novel presentation.      

Max Payne is a outstanding third-person shooter that I highly recommend you all playing this action-packed awesomeness. 

You can get inferior PS2 version digitally for PS3 and PS4 (via PS Store) or if any of you wanted to pick the best version of the game then go for PC and Xbox as an default especially it's also backward compatibility on X360 as well, so I was hoping for the game's compatibility will soon able to fully functioned for XBONE and XSX in later future if the Rockstar Games has a chance to do it someday.

1 - Resident Evil 4

As a big fan of Capcom's horror franchise, one of the game that caught my eye was Resident Evil 4 for GC and PS2 in 2005, which is a third-person horror game as a sequel to the previous installiment of the franchise.

Before the actual release, the early development began in 1999 when the director Hideki Kamiya wanted to create more stylish action game with the mix of gothic and action, but it was disapproved by the producer Shinji Mikami felt that the idea would not fit into the series concept for lacking horror elements of the game convincing the development team to make an independent game which became a new Capcom franchise called Devil May Cry was released in 2001.

This leads into restarting the whole development of Resident Evil 4 build up from the scratch with Shinji Mikami as a main director to take over the game's development had finally finished the final version in 2005.

After the game's release, it received universally acclaim by gaming press calling it the best video game of all time winning many game of the year awards 2005 and being ranked as number 1 in a top 10s list. It is also becoming a most influential games of 2000s that redefining the third-person shooter genre which was credited for introducing over-the-shoulder viewpoint and standard precision aim was later became main standard of the third-person shooter games such as Gears of War, Dead Space, and Uncharted.

Going back to this game, it sets in rural village in Spain where U.S agent Leon S Kennedy was sent by government on his mission is to rescue president's daughter Ashley Graham who has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult members Los iluminados was also responsible for infecting many villagers with mind-controlling parasite known as Las Plagas.

You take control of Leon in third-person perspective which focuses on action and shootouts with fewer survival horror elements.

The biggest changes in Resident Evil 4 are the camera is placed behind the player and zooms in for an over-the-shoulder view when aiming weapon which is a huge departure of fixed camera angles from the previous installiment making it easier to control and navigating stuff like being able to aim freely with laser pointer as crosshair, picking up items what's front of you, and interacting objects. 

You have the selection of weapons such as starting out with pistol as a main basic weapon while the combat knife uses as close melee attacks or breaking objects. 

The shotgun works as a close range with powerful shot, the sub-machine guns and assault rifles used as long range with moderate shot, the magnum pistols are much stronger to kill off enemies, and snipers has deadly one shot kill in long range attack.

Leon also has ability to shot enemy's projectiles down like thrown axes or scythes, kicking down ladder, jumping out of window, dodging an attack, and executing a finishing move on weakened enemies.

It also involves the QTE in which the player must correctly hitting the buttons which indicated on-screen to execute actions such as evading from boulder and wrestling an enemy to stay alive.

The inventory system gives you an option to use, examine, and combine items, and then you have merchant that appears in various locations which sells first aid spray to heal health, upgradable weapons to improve weapon accuracy, and buys various treasures that Leon finds.

I got to say this game is definitely one of my favourite title in whole franchise which I did not regret playing on my GC because I like how the game went with the new direction of the franchise's horror elements.

The presentation is dark and terrifying of abandoned villages with bunch of infected villagers welds with gardening tools suddenly came after you especially a big bulky dude with bag on the head tries to decapitate you with the chainsaw in gruesome ways and you see these creepy cult members performing their demonic rituals which adds a ambitious scare factor of the game.

The story is outstanding that keeps the game more interesting, and the characters such as Leon S Kennedy is one badass protagonist that kicks every villagers assess, and the most surprising part in the game made the return is Ada Wong, who first appeared from Resident Evil 2, went undercover on her mission in scenarios such as Separate Ways and Assignment Ada.

Don't let that obnoxious blond girl ruin your good time with the game, yes I'm looking at you Ashley Graham because I can't stand with your DAMN VOICE OF YOURS!!!! ("LEON HELPPPP!!!!" in every part in the game).

The game does have the insane boss villain are big-tall bearded Bitores Mendez (A.K.A Big Cheese) tries to crush your skull with his big palm of hand, a sick-minded henchmen Ramon Salazar challenged you with his deadly traps, a badass former comrade Jack Krauser has armed himself with superhuman arm-blade, and the cult leader Osmund Saddler is indeed powerful cultist uses his mind-controls power are clearly the best part in the game that made Resident Evil 4 quite entertaining to play. 

The design of the gameplay and graphics did hold up to today standards in all thanks to re-release variants such as Wii edition in 2007 that utillzes the pointing and motion-sensing abilities of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller allowing to aim and shoot anywhere on the screen, and the HD re-releases of PC in 2014, and PS4 and XBONE in 2016 features improved graphics and updated controls which is a great addition for the newcomer can able to get a hands on with the game well. 

Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece that I consider not just being the best in the whole series, but as one of the Shinji Mikami's best work he ever created that brings the survival horror genre into next-gen level of gaming industries.

This is must play for all horror fans which you can get it on every PCs and Consoles including PC, GC, PS2, Wii, X360, PS3, PS4, XBONE, and Switch available to both physical and digital platform. 

Honorable Mention: 

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3

Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike 

Viewtiful Joe 

The Simpsons: Hit and Run

GTA: Vice City 

Burnout 3: Takedowns

Quake 3 Arena 

Unreal Tournament

MDK 2

Metal Slug 3

WWE Day of Reckoning 

Red Faction 2

NHL Hitz 2002

SEGA Soccer Slam

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Dead or Alive 2

Ikaruga 

Grandia II

Tomb Raider: Legends

Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb

Beyond Good and Evil

Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader

Tales of Symphonia

Super Monkey Ball

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