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1998 saw many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Half-Life, Metal Gear Solid, F-Zero X, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Gex: Enter the Gecko, Xenogears, Banjo-Kazooie, Spyro the Dragon, Radiant Silvergun and MediEvil.
Top rated games
Critically acclaimed titles
Metacritic (MC) and GameRankings (GR) are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.
| Game | Publisher | Release Date | Platform | MC score | GR score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Nintendo | November 21, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | 99/100 | 97.54% |
| Tekken 3 | Namco | March 26, 1998 | PlayStation | 96/100 | 95.8% |
| Half-Life | Sierra Entertainment | November 19, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 96/100 | 94.02% |
| Metal Gear Solid | Konami | September 3, 1998 | PlayStation | 94/100 | 93.24% |
| Grim Fandango | LucasArts | October 30, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 94/100 | 92.97% |
| Resident Evil 2 | Capcom | January 21, 1998 | PlayStation | 89/100 | 93.13% |
| Street Fighter Alpha 3 | Capcom | December 23, 1998 | PlayStation | 93/100[3] | 90.28%[4] |
| StarCraft | Blizzard Entertainment | March 31, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 88/100 | 92.85% |
| Panzer Dragoon Saga | Sega | January 29, 1998 | Sega Saturn | N/A | 92.46% |
| Banjo-Kazooie | Nintendo | June 29, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | 92/100 | 92.38% |
| Thief: The Dark Project | Eidos Interactive | December 1, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 92/100 | 89.41% |
| Baldur's Gate | Interplay Entertainment | December 21, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 91/100 | 91.94% |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX | Nintendo | December 12, 1998 | Game Boy Color | N/A | 91.21% |
| International Superstar Soccer 98 | Konami | June 4, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | 91/100 | 89.15% |
| Crash Bandicoot: Warped | Sony Computer Entertainment | October 31, 1998 | PlayStation | 91/100 | 89.07% |
| Xenogears | Square | February 11, 1998 | PlayStation | 84/100 | 90.99% |
| Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus | GT Interactive | November 17, 1998 | PlayStation | 88/100 | 90.42% |
| NFL Blitz | Midway Games | September 12, 1998 | PlayStation | N/A | 90.13% |
| NFL Blitz | Midway Games | September 9, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | N/A | 90.02% |
| 1080° Snowboarding | Nintendo | February 28, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | N/A | 89.60% |
| Battlezone | Activision | March 11, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | N/A | 89.03% |
| Railroad Tycoon II | Gathering of Developers | November 2, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 89/100 | 83.15% |
| Turok 2: Seeds of Evil | Acclaim Entertainment | December 10, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | 86/100 | 88.96% |
| FIFA 99 | EA Sports | October 31, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | N/A | 88.87% |
| Caesar III | Sierra Entertainment | September 30, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | N/A | 88.6% |
| Unreal | GT Interactive | May 22, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | N/A | 88.58% |
| NBA Live 99 | EA Sports | November 10, 1998 | PlayStation | N/A | 88.39% |
| R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 | Namco | December 3, 1998 | PlayStation | 88/100[3] | 88.16%[4] |
| NHL 99 | EA Sports | September 30, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | N/A | 88.11% |
| Wario Land II | Nintendo | October 21, 1998 | Game Boy Color | N/A | 88.04%[4] |
| Myth II: Soulblighter | Bungie | December 28, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 88/100 | 86.39% |
| Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit | Electronic Arts | March 25, 1998 | PlayStation | 88/100 | 85.63% |
| Starsiege: Tribes | Sierra Entertainment | December 23, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 88/100 | 84.77% |
| Shogo: Mobile Armor Division | Monolith Productions | October 15, 1998 | Microsoft Windows | 88/100 | 81.6% |
| FIFA 99 | EA Sports | October 31, 1998 | PlayStation | N/A | 87.95% |
| F-Zero X | Nintendo | July 14, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | 85/100 | 87.61% |
| Madden NFL 99 | EA Sports | November 1, 1998 | Nintendo 64 | N/A | 87.59% |
Events
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) hosts its first annual Interactive Achievement Awards. Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo is inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame.
- British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the first annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards.
- January 1 – The ESRB changes the "K-A" (Kids to Adults) rating to "E" (Everyone).
- March 14 – Sega announces the discontinuation of the Sega Saturn in North America to prepare for the launch of its successor, the Dreamcast.[5][6]
- April 14 – Nintendo's Game Boy Light handheld console is released in Japan.[7]
- May 28 – Bill Williams, designer of Alley Cat, Necromancer, and Mind Walker, dies.
- May 28–30 – The fourth annual E3 is held in Atlanta, Georgia.[8] Following the show, the inaugural Game Critics Awards was held with winners being titled Best of E3.
- July 3 – Danielle Bunten Berry, designer of M.U.L.E. and Seven Cities of Gold, dies.
- September 6 – Infogrames Entertainment, SA and Canal+ launch the Game One television channel.
- October 21 – Nintendo's Game Boy Color handheld console is released in Japan.[9]
- November 27 – Sega's Dreamcast console is released in Japan.[10]
- December – Take-Two Interactive formed the Rockstar Games publishing label.
Business
- Activision acquires CD Contact Data and Head Game Publishing.
- Eidos Interactive acquires Crystal Dynamics.
- Electronic Arts Inc. acquires Westwood Studios, and with so they also acquire the North American operations of Virgin Interactive.
- JTS Corp. (Atari Corporation) files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
- Hasbro Interactive acquires the Atari brand and property from JTS in May. They also acquire MicroProse in August.
- Square Co. and Electronic Arts form Square Electronic Arts LLC to publish a wealth of Square Co. titles in the U.S.
- Havas, a subsidiary of Vivendi, acquires Cendant Software, which includes Sierra On-Line and Blizzard Entertainment.
- Lego Media established by Lego Group
- New companies: BreakAway, Elixir, Metro3D, Rockstar, Sunrise, Troika, WildTangent, Loki
- Defunct: DWANGO
Game releases
The list of games released in 1998.
| |||||||||||||||||||||
|
January–March
April–June
| Month | Day | Title | Platform(s) | Genre(s) | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A P R I L | 4 | Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die | Sat | Tactical role-playing, dating sim, visual novel | [20] |
| 7 | Warhammer: Dark Omen | PS1 | Real-time tactics | [21] | |
| 9 | G-Darius | PS1 | Shoot 'em up | ||
| 14 | GT 64: Championship Edition | N64 | Racing | ||
| 17 | Puyo Puyo Sun | Win | Puzzle | ||
| 29 | Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers | Neo | Fighting | ||
| Shining Force III Scenario 2 – Target: Child of God | Sat | Tactical role-playing | |||
| Super Tempo | Sat | Platform | [22] | ||
| 30 | Bomberman Hero | N64 | Platform | ||
| Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven | Win | Role-playing | |||
| World Cup 98 | Win | Sports (soccer) | |||
| M A Y | 7 | Jazz Jackrabbit 2 | Win | Platform | [23] |
| 18 | World Cup 98 | N64 | Sports (soccer) | ||
| 21 | Baroque | Sat | Role-playing | ||
| 22 | Unreal | Win | First-person shooter | ||
| 28 | Radiant Silvergun | Arcade | Shoot 'em up | ||
| The King of Fighters '97 | PS1 | Fighting | |||
| J U N E | 4 | Atelier Marie Plus | PS1 | Role-playing | |
| International Superstar Soccer 98 | N64 | Sports (soccer) | |||
| Vigilante 8 | PS1 | Vehicular combat | [24] | ||
| 11 | Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix | PS1 | Fighting | ||
| 12 | Wetrix | N64 | Puzzle | [25] | |
| 24 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | Win | Real-time tactics | ||
| 25 | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night | Sat | Action-adventure | ||
| 29 | Banjo-Kazooie | N64 | Platform | [26] | |
| Street Fighter Alpha 3 | Arcade | Fighting | |||
| 30 | Deep Fear | Sat | Survival horror | ||
| N2O: Nitrous Oxide | PS1 | Shoot 'em up | [27] |
July–September
October–December
| Month | Day | Title | Platform(s) | Genre(s) | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O C T O B E R | 1 | MediEvil | PS1 | Action-adventure | [37] |
| NHL 99 | N64 | Sports (ice hockey) | [38] | ||
| 2 | NFL Blitz | Win | Sports (football) | [39] | |
| 12 | Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit | Win | Racing | ||
| 21 | Turok 2: Seeds of Evil | N64 | First-person shooter | [40] | |
| Tetris DX | GBC | Puzzle | [41] | ||
| Wario Land II | GBC | Platform | [42] | ||
| 22 | Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter | Sat | Fighting | ||
| 28 | Grim Fandango | Win | Adventure | [43] | |
| 29 | Fallout 2 | Win | Role-playing | [44] | |
| 31 | Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome | Win | Real-time strategy | ||
| Apocalypse | PS1 | Third-person shooter | |||
| Centipede | Win | Shoot 'em up | |||
| Crash Bandicoot: Warped | PS1 | Platform | [45] | ||
| FIFA 99 | Win | Sports (soccer) | |||
| Glover | N64, Win | Platform | |||
| Heretic II | Win | Action-adventure | |||
| NBA Live 99 | PS1, Win | Sports (basketball) | [46] | ||
| Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus | PS1, Win | Platform | [47] | ||
| Railroad Tycoon II | Win | Business simulation | |||
| N O V E M B E R | 1 | Red Comrades Save the Galaxy | Win | Adventure | |
| 4 | NBA Live 99 | N64 | Sports (basketball) | [48] | |
| 9 | SiN | Win | First-person shooter | [49] | |
| 10 | Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA | N64 | Racing | ||
| 11 | Sonic R | Win | Racing | ||
| 19 | Half-Life | Win | First-person shooter | [50] | |
| 20 | The Settlers III | Win | Real-time strategy, city-building | [51] | |
| Tomb Raider III | PS1, Win | Action-adventure | [52] | ||
| 21 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | N64 | Action-adventure | [53] | |
| 25 | Blood II: The Chosen | Win | First-person shooter | [54] | |
| 27 | Puyo Puyo Sun | GBC | Puzzle | ||
| D E C E M B E R | 1 | Gex: Enter the Gecko | GBC | Platform | |
| Thief: The Dark Project | Win | Stealth | [55] | ||
| 3 | Star Wars: Rogue Squadron | Win | Action | ||
| 4 | Magic and Mayhem | Win | Real-time strategy | ||
| 7 | Star Wars: Rogue Squadron | N64 | Action | ||
| 12 | Falcon 4.0 | Win | Air combat simulation | ||
| Hey You, Pikachu! | N64 | Virtual pet | [56] | ||
| The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX | GBC | Action-adventure | [57] | ||
| 17 | Suikoden II | PS1 | Role-playing | ||
| 18 | Mario Party | N64 | Party | [58] | |
| Pokémon Trading Card Game | GBC | Digital collectible card game | [59] | ||
| StarCraft: Brood War | Win | Real-time strategy | [60] | ||
| 21 | Baldur's Gate | Win | Role-playing | [61] | |
| South Park | N64 | First-person shooter | [62] | ||
| 23 | Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon 2 | PS1 | Roguelike | [63] | |
| Sonic Adventure | DC | Platform | [64] | ||
| Starsiege: Tribes | Win | First-person shooter | [65] | ||
| 28 | Myth II: Soulblighter | Win | Real-time tactics | [66] | |
| 31 | Akuji the Heartless | PS1 | Action-adventure |
References
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- ^ "Highest-Ranking Games of 1998 (with at least 5 reviews)". GameRankings. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Best Video Games for 1999". Metacritic. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Highest-Ranking Games of 1999 (with at least 10 reviews)". GameRankings. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- ^ Stephanie Strom (March 14, 1998). "Sega Enterprises Pulls Its Saturn Video Console From the U.S. Market". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ Kent, Steven L. (2001). The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World. Roseville, California: Prima Publishing. p. 558. ISBN 0-7615-3643-4.
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Release Date: September 10, 1998
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