A trip back to 1998 in gaming history (Part 2)

Much like Mark Wahlberg's rap career, 1998 is long gone, however we can still look back on it with a humble smile on our faces. While NASA confirmed finding enough water in the Moon's craters to support a human colony - earthlings had a fair amount of gaming to be done, which is what I would like to dive into below.
Before I carry on with this I'd like to note that it'd be really cool if you reading this would share your thoughts and opinions on the games I highlighted below as I (and probably most other people) am not well familiar with all of them and might have totally missed the awesomeness of some or even generally missed to mention some cool games released that year.
Some other years I already covered, be sure to open them up in a new tab while reading this one.
A trip back to 2000 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 2000 in gaming history (Part 2)
A trip back to 1999 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 1999 in gaming history (Part 2)
A trip back to 1998 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 1997 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 1997 in gaming history (Part 2)
A trip back to 1996 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 1991 in gaming history

Having that out of the way, let's hit it!

• Pokemon Red and Blue

Probably one of the most famous Gameboy series and it totally deserves all the good feedback it received throughout the years. If you ever played it, you know exactly what I am talking about.

• Grim Fandango

Released on the same day as Fallout 2, Grim Fandango a new quest by LucasArts. The story tells us of Manuel "Manny" Calavera traveling in the Land of the Dead, this game became a living classic and one of the best things ever released by LucasArts. Along with that we got to know who Tim Schafer is.

• Test Drive 5

Released for the PS1 and PC, the fifth installment of the once popular Test Drive series. However it was no match for the third NFS.

• Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom

On the 1st of October Joymania Entertainment released an RTS with a really long name - Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom.

• MediEvil

Released for the PS1, a fun platform game, which was one of the first games to support the DualShock controller.

• Sanitarium

Released on the 21st of October, a horror point-and-click adventure game "Sanitarium". It is set to take place in the game's protagonist's mind. The game received good feedback for the scary atmosphere, yet was still criticized for it's awkward control system and being too easy at times.

• Blood 2: The Chosen

Another installment in the Blood series from the future creators of F.E.A.R.

• Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Back then Naughty Dog did not even think about Nathan Drake and were all about releasing delightful "Crash" games. This is my favorite "Crash" game actually, would be cool to know if you like any other part more and why.

• FIFA 99

Where would we be without another FIFA? This time EA added an option to create your own tournaments.

• Railroad Tycoon 2

• SiN

A mediocre FPS built on Quake 2's engine (same ah Half-Life). And to think that this was supposed to be Half-life's biggest competitor.

• Sonic R

• Half-Life

Oh yes! On the 19th of November a rookie studio called "Valve" led by Gabe Newell pulled off a "veni vidi vici". Over 50 various "Game of the year" titles of all forms and shapes, also the PC Gamer magazine annouced ths as the greatest game ever made.

• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Two days later we got a chance to play the new Zelda game. It was as much a big deal as the earlier HL release. Many gamers deem this installment to be the best one in the series.

• Heretic 2

• Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now

Another dose of vehicular fury from Stainless Software. Run over cows, while rocking Iron Maiden!

• Myth 2: Soulblighter

• Thief: The Dark Project

A really unusual project by Looking Glass Studios. You control a rofessional theif Garreth, who lives in a victorian steampunk city. The game was an awesome example of how a stealth game should work, you did not have many options than to be stealthy if you want to get anywhere. The first game in the series.

• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

• Sonic Adventure

Second Sonic game this year.

• Baldur's Gate

Released on the 30th of November, a neat RPG by BioWare, set in a fictional world called Forgotten Realms. The game received excellent feedback from gamers and was titled as the best game that year by many.

So that's it for the second part of my 1998 post! I will probably make a small break, couple of days. Would be awesome to have a discussion here in the meanwhile - as you might have seen from "Part 1" and "Part 2" 1998 is an extremely rich year when it comes to gaming and many games were nominated to be the "game of the year", looking back at it now - what is your game of the year?
Also, as usual - if I missed anything or you have anything to add, please let us all know!

A trip back to 2000 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 2000 in gaming history (Part 2)
A trip back to 1999 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 1999 in gaming history (Part 2)
A trip back to 1998 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 1997 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 1997 in gaming history (Part 2)
A trip back to 1996 in gaming history (Part 1)
A trip back to 1991 in gaming history

Thanks for your time!