10 Retro 2000s Games That Look Terribly Outdated Now

Peaked during the 2000s, surpassing their extended experimental phase in the 1990s and earlier, video game graphics underwent significant enhancements, while the narrative structure evolved to create more immersive gaming environments compared to previous titles. Numerous enduring franchises debuted in the 2000s, and throughout the decade, numerous classic games were introduced.

To put it simply, just because games from the 2000s have progressed, it doesn’t automatically mean all of them are timeless. Many critically acclaimed games from back then don’t hold up as well today.

Release Date – Feb. 4, 2000

Developer and Publisher: Maxis and Electronic Arts

The Sims is a social simulation video game created by Maxis and Electronic Arts, being the initial installment of the Sims series. Essentially, it’s a spin-off from Maxis’ city-building game franchise, SimCity, where you control and manage the lives of virtual characters instead. In essence, players have to carefully oversee every detail that occurs within the game.

As a gamer, let me tell you, the original Sims game was truly groundbreaking and has cemented its place among the greatest video game franchises ever made. However, there’s one aspect that makes it a bit challenging to revisit, and that’s its striking similarity to SimCity. It feels like stepping back into a more restrictive gaming environment, with camera angles that seem less intuitive compared to the expansive freedom offered by later games in the series.

Release Date – Aug. 22, 2005

Developer and Publisher: Nintendo

Nintendogs represents a simulation game for raising virtual pets, which was created and distributed by Nintendo on their Nintendo DS console as a leisurely game option. This game, designed for portable use, shares similarities with earlier pet-like devices for handheld consoles such as the popular Tamagotchi. In this game, players are tasked with nurturing puppies into fully grown dogs and assisting them in competing successfully.

Just like other virtual pet games, playing Nintendogs can become repetitive and dull over time. With the passage of two decades, this issue seems even more pronounced as players anticipate a variety of activities with their digital dogs, but are disappointed to find limited options due to the Nintendo DS’s constraints as a portable console. Today’s simulation games have come a long way, and Nintendogs appears outdated in comparison.

Release Date – Oct. 7, 2003

Developer and Publisher: Capcom

The game titled Viewtiful Joe was developed by Hideki Kamiya, who’s famous for games like Ōkami and Bayonetta, and it was published by Capcom. This platforming and beat ’em up game tells the story of Joe and his girlfriend Silvia getting trapped in a movie world. After Silvia gets abducted, Joe partners with superhero Captain Blue to save her from the clutches of villains.

Two decades on, the reputation of Viewtiful Joe for being a challenging game still stands strong in my gaming experience. However, some parts have definitely started to show their age, such as the hurried boss battles and basic level layouts. Despite this, Viewtiful Joe doesn’t quite retain the same level of spectacle it once had.

Release Date – Oct. 31, 2000

Developer and Publisher: Smilebit and Sega

Jet Set Radio, originally inspired by hip-hop culture, seamlessly combines genres like action, sports, and platforming. This game, developed by Smilebit and published by Sega, focuses on various youth groups who graffiti the city for a noble purpose. Notably, Jet Set Radio is recognized as a pioneer in the use of cel shading technique.

Jet Set Radio is often considered a classic Dreamcast game due to its distinct Y2K-era style. However, over time, and especially when contrasted with Jet Set Radio Future, the gameplay can feel tedious, especially when it comes to tagging graffiti.

Release Date – May 22, 2000

Developer and Publisher: Rare

Perfect Dark represents a first-person shooter game that incorporates stealth elements as well; the creation of this game was handled by Rare. The main character is Joanna Dark, also known as Perfect, who works undercover for the Carrington Institute, a mysterious organization involved in corporate espionage, particularly targeting their primary competitor, dataDyne. Joanna’s mission starts with her infiltrating dataDyne and concludes with her collaborating with extraterrestrials.

As a gamer, I can’t help but reminisce about the classic Nintendo 64 title, Perfect Dark. However, it’s undeniable that after all these years, some aspects of the game have shown their age. The main issues I encounter are rooted in the game’s control scheme, which feels rather cumbersome at times. To make matters worse, the auto-aiming feature can be quite hit-or-miss.

Release Date – March 5, 2001

Developer and Publisher: Rare

Conker’s Bad Fur Day is an action-adventure and platforming video game, created and distributed by Rare. It can be characterized as the opposite of their adorable platformer games from that era. The game narrates the journey of Conker the Squirrel, who is attempting to return home, encountering a variety of dark characters along the way, such as inebriated scarecrows and singing feces.

Often considered a timeless cult favorite due to its absurd plotline and quirky setting, the game may not have held up as gracefully as expected. Personally speaking, the humor no longer resonates as it once did, which can make parts of Conker’s Bad Fur Day seem excessively challenging where difficulty might not be required.

Release Date – Nov. 19, 2006

Developer and Publisher: Ubisoft

Rayman Raving Rabbids is a lively party game produced and distributed by Ubisoft, serving as a spin-off within the predominantly platform-focused Rayman series. In this game, Rayman finds himself in captivity at the hands of the mischievous Rabbids, who are both rude and vicious. The Rabbids make Rayman participate in various tasks that either amuse them or, on a rare occasion, allow him to outsmart them.

It’s frustrating that Rayman Raving Rabbids functions more like an early introduction to the Rabbids series, with Rayman receiving minimal focus beyond serving as the playable character. Disregarding this aspect, several of the mini-games in Rayman Raving Rabbids have not held up well over time, and were almost outdated when they first appeared around two decades ago.

Release Date – Oct. 9, 2002

Developer and Publisher: Krome Studios and Electronic Arts

Ty the Tasmanian Tiger” is the initial installment in a series of Aussie-themed platform games, created by Krome Studios and published by Electronic Arts. The story revolves around Ty, as he embarks on a mission to save his fellow Tasmanian Tigers, utilizing an assortment of boomerangs throughout his journey.

As a fan, I can say that Ty the Tasmanian Tiger excels in one area: it’s like playing a video game version of Crocodile Dundee. But beyond the novelty of its Australian theme, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger hasn’t held up well over time, especially when compared to other 3D platformers that aren’t Mario. Many of its mechanics, including those related to boomerangs, feel outdated now, and the mini-games could use some improvement too.

Release Date – Sept. 17, 2002

Developer and Publisher: Square

Kingdom Hearts, created and distributed by Square, is an action Role-Playing Game (RPG) that incorporates aspects from the hack-and-slash genre. This game marks the beginning of the Kingdom Hearts series, a collection of Disney-themed action RPGs. The narrative centers around the protagonist Sora, who teams up with and battles an array of Disney characters such as Donald Duck and Goofy.

In essence, the unique blend of “Final Fantasy” and Disney elements has kept Kingdom Hearts from being dismissed as a typical Square RPG. However, one significant issue lies with the game’s camera controls, which often make it unclear what the player is focused on, and the battle mechanics further complicate matters by introducing additional aggravation.

Release Date – Oct. 8, 2002

Developer and Publisher: Artoon and Microsoft

Blinx: The Time Sweeper is a platformer created by Artoon and published by Microsoft, initially planned as the kickoff title for a major game series on the Xbox console. The story centers around Blinx the cat who journeys to save a world from impending doom, utilizing his handy vacuum cleaner to eliminate any mess or grime in its path.

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I once held high hopes for Blinx, envisioned as Microsoft’s iconic character similar to Nintendo’s Mario or Sony’s Crash Bandicoot. However, fate had other plans, and the character has since slipped into obscurity. Reflecting on it now, Blinx: The Time Sweeper feels contrived, with its time-traveling aspect showing signs of aging particularly noticeably. Regrettably, the game’s platform mechanics also leave much to be desired.

2025-05-28 04:30