Top Down View Games: 1999 (Shenmue, Everquest, Planescape: Torment, Rayman 2, System Shock 2, Soul Reaver, Silver and Silent Hill are released)
1990|1991|1992|1993|1994|1995|1996|1997|1998|1999|2000
Legend of Mana (PS1, 1999)
Subgenre: 2D ARPG, Open World?, Crafting, Pet Raising
Perspective: Tilted view/Bird's Eye view hybrid
Other: Hub map, CPU allies
Key gating only?
Few or no dungeon puzzles?
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Monkey Hero (PS1, 1999)?
Subgenre: ARPG?, 2.5D (pre-rendered models, static camera angle? can zoom)
Perspective: TD view
Some tool/ability gating (fire crackers for blowing up certain walls, grapple, candle for destroying some obstacles and lighting torches+lighting the way and killing ghosts, )
Wasted Dreams (AMI, 1999)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/ARPG?
Perspective: TD view
Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999 (NGPC, 1999)
Subgenre: 2D ARPG, Crafting (combine items with monster souls to upgrade your weapons)
Perspective: TD view
No tool/ability gating
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Survival Kids (GBC, 1999)
Subgenre: 2D ARPG/Survival Sim, Crafting (tree bark+stick to start a fire for cooking, stick+iron=hammer)
Perspective: TD view
Other: Crafting, Dice roll-based combat
-Non-linear structure, Multiple endings
-Hunger, thirst and fatigue mechanics
-Food goes bad
-Day/night cycle (time only passes while moving)
-Save feature
-No jumping
-Some tool gating (knife - cut down grass, axe - cut down trees, big stick - move rocks and make bridges with sunken rocks (ivy is also used for the latter), hammer for breaking some walls)
-Some useless items
Elemental Gimmick Gear (DC, 1999)
Subgenre: Zelda-like/ARPG-ish (level up three different stats via found capsules (most are hidden and some require beating mini-games))
Perspective: Top Down view/TP View hybrid (mostly TD view)
Some tool/ability gating (wire arm for crossing gaps and grabbing some items, freeze beam to cross water, geo stone for cracked floors and nova stone for certain traps, protective shield, )
Checkpoints at the entrance to each room however you respawn with 25% health
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Spooky Castle: The Adventures of Kid Mystic (PC, 1999)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Maze Action
Perspective: TD View
No ability gating?
Vampire: Kyuuketsuki Densetsu (PS1, 1999)
Subgenre: 2.5D ARPG (2D sprites), Horror?
Perspective: Bird's Eye view
Other: Hub map
Tabaluga (GBC)?
Subgenre: ARPG
Perspective: TD view
Gain flight - any other ability gating?
Outliers:
Grand Theft Auto 2/GTA 2 (PC/PS1, 1999/DC, 2000)
Subgenre: 2D Sandbox Action Adventure-ish/Crime Sim, Level-based, See GTA 1
Perspective: Top Down view
Other: Three separate gangs to work for (respect/diplomacy system, three in each level and focusing on one gang unlocks jobs for them while it locks out jobs for the rival gang), No flight-based vehicles and no boats, Jumping but not much platforming, Unlockable bonus levels
-Arrows pointing you in the right direction (still no in-game map)
-Save at churches (costs some points/money) and in-between levels
-NPC gang members engage in fights with police
-NPC muggers
-Garages that can modify vehicles with special improvements (mine, oil slick, machine gun)
-Some vehicles with pre-mounted weapons
-Day/night cycle
-Can move backwards but not strafe
-Healthbar
-Satirical radio stations
-Smoother scrolling
-No permanent character upgrades (respect lasts until the end of the level)
-No ability/tool gating besides the vehicles? (there is an invisibility power up for example)
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Grand Theft Auto: London, 1969 (PC/PS1, 1999)?
Subgenre: Sandbox Action Adventure-ish/Crime Sim, Level-based, See GTA 1
Perspective: TD view
-Thirty new vehicles
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Legend of Mana (PS1, 1999)
Subgenre: 2D ARPG, Open World?, Crafting, Pet Raising
Perspective: Tilted view/Bird's Eye view hybrid
Other: Hub map, CPU allies
Key gating only?
Few or no dungeon puzzles?
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Monkey Hero (PS1, 1999)?
Subgenre: ARPG?, 2.5D (pre-rendered models, static camera angle? can zoom)
Perspective: TD view
Some tool/ability gating (fire crackers for blowing up certain walls, grapple, candle for destroying some obstacles and lighting torches+lighting the way and killing ghosts, )
Wasted Dreams (AMI, 1999)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/ARPG?
Perspective: TD view
Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999 (NGPC, 1999)
Subgenre: 2D ARPG, Crafting (combine items with monster souls to upgrade your weapons)
Perspective: TD view
No tool/ability gating
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Survival Kids (GBC, 1999)
Subgenre: 2D ARPG/Survival Sim, Crafting (tree bark+stick to start a fire for cooking, stick+iron=hammer)
Perspective: TD view
Other: Crafting, Dice roll-based combat
-Non-linear structure, Multiple endings
-Hunger, thirst and fatigue mechanics
-Food goes bad
-Day/night cycle (time only passes while moving)
-Save feature
-No jumping
-Some tool gating (knife - cut down grass, axe - cut down trees, big stick - move rocks and make bridges with sunken rocks (ivy is also used for the latter), hammer for breaking some walls)
-Some useless items
Elemental Gimmick Gear (DC, 1999)
Subgenre: Zelda-like/ARPG-ish (level up three different stats via found capsules (most are hidden and some require beating mini-games))
Perspective: Top Down view/TP View hybrid (mostly TD view)
Some tool/ability gating (wire arm for crossing gaps and grabbing some items, freeze beam to cross water, geo stone for cracked floors and nova stone for certain traps, protective shield, )
Checkpoints at the entrance to each room however you respawn with 25% health
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Spooky Castle: The Adventures of Kid Mystic (PC, 1999)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Maze Action
Perspective: TD View
No ability gating?
Vampire: Kyuuketsuki Densetsu (PS1, 1999)
Subgenre: 2.5D ARPG (2D sprites), Horror?
Perspective: Bird's Eye view
Other: Hub map
Tabaluga (GBC)?
Subgenre: ARPG
Perspective: TD view
Gain flight - any other ability gating?
Outliers:
Grand Theft Auto 2/GTA 2 (PC/PS1, 1999/DC, 2000)
Subgenre: 2D Sandbox Action Adventure-ish/Crime Sim, Level-based, See GTA 1
Perspective: Top Down view
Other: Three separate gangs to work for (respect/diplomacy system, three in each level and focusing on one gang unlocks jobs for them while it locks out jobs for the rival gang), No flight-based vehicles and no boats, Jumping but not much platforming, Unlockable bonus levels
-Arrows pointing you in the right direction (still no in-game map)
-Save at churches (costs some points/money) and in-between levels
-NPC gang members engage in fights with police
-NPC muggers
-Garages that can modify vehicles with special improvements (mine, oil slick, machine gun)
-Some vehicles with pre-mounted weapons
-Day/night cycle
-Can move backwards but not strafe
-Healthbar
-Satirical radio stations
-Smoother scrolling
-No permanent character upgrades (respect lasts until the end of the level)
-No ability/tool gating besides the vehicles? (there is an invisibility power up for example)
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review
Grand Theft Auto: London, 1969 (PC/PS1, 1999)?
Subgenre: Sandbox Action Adventure-ish/Crime Sim, Level-based, See GTA 1
Perspective: TD view
-Thirty new vehicles
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review