Legends of RenderWare

Despite being the inventors of the Crash Mode, the most impactful thing Criterion Games ever did was likely the engineering and extensive licensing of the RenderWare engine. Prior to the popularity of Unreal and Unity, developers would often dedicate extensive portions of a game's production creating bespoke engines for the project. Depending on the developers' intentions, the production of widely adaptable game engines made this an optional part of the process. RenderWare was one of the biggest early successes in this shift, and was utilised in over 200 games. These ranged from widely-beloved system selling hits, to obscure fan favourites, to some of the most slapped-together shit you've ever heard of. With this list, I'd like to shine a light on this variety.

Jackass: The Game
Jackass: The Game
Bomberman Land 2
Bomberman Land 2
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III
Connie Talbot: Over the Rainbow
Connie Talbot: Over the Rainbow
Frogger: Ancient Shadow
Frogger: Ancient Shadow
SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow
SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow
Smarties: Meltdown
Smarties: Meltdown
Killer7
Killer7
Inuyasha: Feudal Combat
Inuyasha: Feudal Combat
The Simpsons Skateboarding
The Simpsons Skateboarding
Bloody Roar 4
Bloody Roar 4
Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing
Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing
Puyo Pop Fever
Puyo Pop Fever
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Strike Force Bowling
Strike Force Bowling
The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact
The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
Xyanide
Xyanide
Bratz: Rock Angelz
Bratz: Rock Angelz
Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes
Headhunter: Redemption
Headhunter: Redemption
Rolling
Rolling
Aqua Aqua
Aqua Aqua
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
The Movies
The Movies
Burnout 3: Takedown
Burnout 3: Takedown
Yourself!Fitness
Yourself!Fitness
Manhunt
Manhunt
DreamMix TV World Fighters
DreamMix TV World Fighters
Ninjabread Man
Ninjabread Man
Starsky & Hutch
Starsky & Hutch
Disney's Winnie the Pooh's Rumbly Tumbly Adventure
Disney's Winnie the Pooh's Rumbly Tumbly Adventure
Outlaw Golf
Outlaw Golf
Dragon Ball Online
Dragon Ball Online
Classified: The Sentinel Crisis
Classified: The Sentinel Crisis
Garfield
Garfield
The Settlers: Heritage of Kings
The Settlers: Heritage of Kings
Suikoden III
Suikoden III
Legend of Kay
Legend of Kay
Mashed: Drive to Survive
Mashed: Drive to Survive
Fullmetal Alchemist: Dream Carnival
Fullmetal Alchemist: Dream Carnival
Rugby League
Rugby League
Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis
Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007
Run Like Hell
Run Like Hell
WWE Crush Hour
WWE Crush Hour
Frank Herbert's Dune
Frank Herbert's Dune
Friends: The One With All The Trivia
Friends: The One With All The Trivia
Atari: 80 Classic Games in One!
Atari: 80 Classic Games in One!
ZanZarah: The Hidden Portal
ZanZarah: The Hidden Portal
Madagascar
Madagascar
Black
Black
ObsCure
ObsCure
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX
High Rollers Casino
High Rollers Casino
The Warriors
The Warriors
Antz Extreme Racing
Antz Extreme Racing

3 Comments


3 months ago

The Movies! What!

3 months ago

Didn't know RenderWare was the work of Criterion. Those guys were ahead of the curve, shame on EA for turning them into a minor studio to help with bigger releases.

3 months ago

A truly magical time. W for Killer 7 and Obscure.


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