2001 | Grand Theft Auto III, Serious Sam: First Encounter
Note: Through the years 1998-2001, GameSpot gave Game of the Year awards for both Console and PC.
Console:
Score: 9.6 | Review Date: October 24, 2001 | Written by: Jeff Gerstmann
“Rockstar and DMA Design have obviously spent some time making sure that Grand Theft Auto III is a quality product, and that quality shows in everything, from the graphics, to the sound, to the plot points, to the gameplay itself. Unlike previous games in the series, the game is extremely fun whether you play it as it was intended to be played or eschew the game’s intended mission structure and set out on your own to wreak havoc throughout the city. While the violent nature of the game will surely turn some people off and kids simply shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near it, Grand Theft Auto III is, quite simply, an incredible experience that shouldn’t be missed by anyone mature enough to handle it.”
PC:
Score: 8.9 | Review Date: March 26, 2001 | Written by: Greg Kasavin
“Serious Sam: First Encounter may not suit those players who prefer more deliberate, more story-driven, or otherwise more serious first-person games such as Thief: The Dark Project or Deus Ex; but even these players owe it to themselves to give the game a try. Ultimately, Serious Sam is a clear lesson in what elements are necessary to make a game enjoyable. It’s an unquestionably fun game from an unquestionably talented development team.”