Magforce Racing		Grade: D+
	Publisher: Crave (2000) Reviewed: 2006/4/11 Rating: Everyone

Magforce attempts to mimic the futuristic hovercraft racing thrills of Wipeout (Playstation, 1995), but it's a lukewarm effort. There are a few vertigo-inducing drops and loops, but the game fails to convey that sense of breakneck speed you look for in a racer. Still, the frame-rate is smooth, and I like how the tracks are sufficiently wide. Magforce Racing's single innovation is its "magnet button", a minor gimmick that lets you defy gravity on certain sections of the track. I found it to be fairly worthless. What this game really needs is a map and a real countdown at the beginning of each race (it counts down to two!). But worst of all is the lame weapon system. Yes, there are missiles, lasers, and mines, but hitting an opponent is rare, and even scoring a direct hit only slows him down momentarily. Worse yet, you often end up plowing into the back of guy you just shot, slowing you down in the process! The clunky, oversized vehicles are uninteresting, and the background scenery mainly consists of generic buildings and barren landscapes. The sparse electronic soundtrack is appropriate but equally forgettable. On the bright side, my friends were impressed with the four-player split-screen mode, and best times are automatically saved to memory card. A single-player mode challenges you to finish first on all the tracks so you can advance to the next class, but inexplicably, the menu screens do not indicate which tracks you've already beaten! Magforce Racing is not a terrible game, but with no distinguishing characteristics, it offers little incentive to play. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Maken-X		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Atlus (2000) Reviewed: 2006/4/11 Rating: Mature (animated violence)

I recall seeing Maken X in all of the bargain bins years ago, but as it turns out, it's quite a gem in the Dreamcast library. I was expecting a total dud, but a few minutes into the game I found myself saying, "Hey, this is pretty cool!" Maken X (pronouncing "mockin X") has a unique style of play I haven't seen since Crossed Swords (Neo Geo, 1991). It's a first-person sword fighting game, where you block, dodge, and slash your way through room after room of evil freaks. Atlus kept the control scheme simple, which was probably a good idea. X is used to slash, A jumps, Y locks onto an opponent, and the right trigger is used to strafe. Simply pulling back on the analog stick initiates a block. While it sounds simplistic, there's ample technique involved, especially in the later stages. When facing multiple foes at a time, careful timing and strategic positioning is paramount. Your mask-wearing adversaries are a colorful bunch, including agile red skaters, overweight armored warriors, and brawny thugs armed with rocket launchers. It's easy to navigate the imaginative stage locations, which include the inside of a gigantic airplane, an opulent Indian palace, and the rainy streets of Hong Kong. What makes Maken-X effective is its ultra-smooth, 60 frames-per-second visuals that keep you firmly in control - even in the midst of chaos. Adding variety is your ability to "brainjack" other characters, which essentially lets you switch characters and weapons. Each playable character has a unique skill, such as the ability to vault over enemies and attack them from behind. If there's one thing bugged me about Maken X, it's the gratuitously complex storyline involving traveling through alternate dimensions, a sword with a mind of its own, and conspiracies galore. I think storylines in video games are vastly overrated, and once you sit through one of these half-hour intermissions, I think you'll agree. There's also the issue of repetitive enemies, some of whom can be tedious to dispatch. If you can look past those issues, however, Maken X offers a formidable challenge and an intriguing game playing experience. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Marine Fishing		Grade: A
	Publisher: Sega (2000) Reviewed: 2000/12/12 Rating: Everyone

Sega Bass Fishing was an excellent early Dreamcast title, and this sequel improves on it in many ways. In Bass Fishing, all you could catch was bass, but in Marine Fishing, 15 different varieties of fish are available, including blue marlin, sailfish, tuna, and Mako shark! Unlike Bass Fishing where it was easy to catch a fish, these fish battle you to the bitter end, making it more satisfying when you haul one in. The scenic fishing spots are large and wide open. You can post your catches on-line, and even save your fish in your own personal aquarium. There are mini games and over 200 bonus items to unlock. Be sure to use Sega's Fishing Rod controller for maximum fun and realism. Marine Fishing may be the best fishing game I've ever played. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Mars Matrix		Grade: B
	Publisher: Capcom (2001) Reviewed: 2007/6/22 Rating: Everyone

Appearing to be a precursor to Giga Wing (or perhaps a first cousin), Mars Matrix offers the same brand of chaotic vertical shooting action. Both games are extremely difficult due to the excessive amount of activity on the screen at any given time. Graphics-wise, Mars Matrix isn't much to look at with its cookie-cutter enemies, forgettable stages, and more pixelation than you see in most Dreamcast games. The stages tend to be industrial in nature, protected by the obligatory tanks, roving pods, and mechanical birds. It sounds pretty bland, but if you're an aficionado of 2D shooters, you can't deny that Mar Matrix's gameplay is right on point. Even on the easiest skill level, the challenge is formidable. Just keep in mind that flying over your attackers will not harm you - only their missiles pose a threat. Blasting enemies causes gold bars to rain down which you can collect for bonus points. Like Giga Wing, when the fire button is held down a rechargeable shield forms and sucks in enemy projectiles. It's quite effective, but takes a second to kick in, which is often one second too late! When totally drained, the shield unleashes a brilliant torrent of destruction. While you're waiting for it to recharge, you'll be frantically dodging waves of enemy fire. Another unique weapon is the "piercing cannon", a mid-range laser that causes major damage at close range. Assigned to the right trigger, you can take out the bosses fairly quickly if you learn to use it effectively. You always begin Mars Matrix on the same stage, but two "remixed" modes also available. I really enjoyed the "industrial" vibe of the soundtrack, particularly that "T-Rex scream" that loops throughout the first stage. A two-player simultaneous mode is also included. The scores are so long that it's comical, and without any commas, it's hard to determine how big they are (is that thing in the zillions??) High scores are automatically recorded, and a limited number of continues are provided. An interesting feature is how you accumulate credits as to play, which can be used to purchase items like extra lives, additional credits, art, and special play modes. It's a great idea, but you'll need to invest a lot of time to open up just about anything. Mars Matrix is an underrated Dreamcast shooter. The more you play, the more you appreciate it. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Marvel Vs. Capcom		Grade: C
	Publisher: Capcom (1999) Reviewed: 2001/8/16 Rating: Teen

This 2D fighter pits an odd assortment of Capcom favorites and Marvel superheroes. On the Marvel side you have Spiderman, Captain America, Venom, War Machine, Hulk, Wolverine, and Gambit. On the Capcom side, the motley crew includes Ryu, Zangief, Chun Li (Street Fighter 2), Captain Commando, Strider, Morrigan (Darkstalkers), and Mega Man. Each player chooses two fighters in this tag team game, not including the additional "guest stars" you can call upon, and this game has every guest star except Charro! The laws of gravity have been alleviated for this game, as a good deal of the fighting takes place high in the air. There seem to be a lot of cool moves, but the game is conducive to button mashing. The graphics are great, but the action is so fast that it's often hard to tell what's happening. It's still a good time though. In addition to the standard modes, there's even a "Cross Fever" mode that lets four players fight simultaneously. I'm sure that's not the least bit confusing. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2		Grade: A
	Publisher: Capcom (2000) Reviewed: 2001/9/9 Rating: Teen

The first Marvel Vs. Capcom wasn't all that great, but this one is truly spectacular. First of all, there are an incredible 56 playable characters! You get all your favorite Marvel, Street Fighter, and Darkstalker characters, plus a few surprises like Jill from Resident Evil! The quality of the gameplay is sensational, with smooth, clean animation and breathtaking graphics. Some of the amazing backgrounds even feature 3D polygon graphics this time around. Unlike the first Marvel Vs. Capcom game, the tag team matches are three on three. You can call in your partners for "assists", or switch characters at any time (although the manual doesn't tell you how). It's fun to change characters and experiment with different match-ups. The controls have wisely been streamlined. The four main buttons are used for light/heavy punches and kicks, and the shoulder buttons are used to call for assists. Switching fighters also serves as a strategic move, since "resting" fighters can regenerate their strength. This game has an incredible number of modes and options, and you can accumulate points to purchase new characters or outfits. Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is one of the best fighters I've played on the Dreamcast system. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Metropolis Street Racer		Grade: B
	Publisher: Sega (2000) Reviewed: 2002/2/2 Rating: Everyone

Now we're talking about some serious racing action! MSR was developed by the people who made Project Gotham for the XBox, and the similarities are unmistakable. Metropolis Street Racer is a very realistic racing simulator with tracks set in a variety of real cities. The graphics are noticeably brighter and more colorful than Project Gotham, featuring cities painstakingly modeled after the real things. The cars also look detailed and shiny, and handle remarkably well. The courses are fairly simple, but it still can be hard to judge the turns. The difficulty is a bit excessive, and you'll need to master the hand brake to do well. A highly original "Kudos" system rewards good driving technique with bonus points, but unlike Gotham, you can also LOSE Kudos, which really sucks! Complimenting the fine graphics is a superb soundtrack that will have you tapping your toes to a wide array of songs. My main problem with MSR is all the menus you need to trudge through. Even in the so-called "quick-start" option, it seems like you need to go through a dozen menus just to set up a two-player game. Not for the squeamish, MSR is a racer for gamers who crave a real challenge. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Mortal Kombat Gold		Grade: C
	Publisher: Midway (1999) Reviewed: 2003/6/4 Rating: Mature (animated violence, animated blood and gore)

Mortal Kombat Gold is basically a polished version of Mortal Kombat 4, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The gameplay is reasonably good, with beautiful graphics and silky smooth action. Although the characters are rendered in 3D, the gameplay is still primarily 2D. Compared to the much blockier Playstation version, Gold looks like a whole new game altogether. I especially enjoyed checking out the mysterious background scenery and violent special moves. The 20 characters include most of your original favorites like Scorpion, Sub Zero, Raiden, Mileena, and Sonya. A few of the fighters from MK3 have also survived including the yellow robot warrior Cyrax. While Gold promises some "Dreamcast only" surprises, the gameplay is largely unchanged. There are weapons that appear at random, but they rarely have much impact. And unfortunately, one of the best moves from MK4, the sidestep, doesn't work very well here. According to the instructions, you must "tap" the right trigger twice to get it to work, but it's extremely erratic, and you can't even reconfigure it on the options screen! That problem sucked a lot of the fun out of the game, and that's a shame, because otherwise this is an good-looking fighter. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness		Grade: B
	Publisher: Namco (2000) Reviewed: 2001/3/20 Rating: Everyone

With the success of last year's Pac-Man World (Playstation), it's no surprise that Ms. Pac-Man is making a comeback as well. But instead of being a typical 3D adventure, Maze Madness is more old-school. The levels are much like the 3-D mazes in Pac-Man World, but they are more elaborate and linked together to form large stages. It's a winning combination of classic Ms. Pac-Man gameplay and modern 3D graphics. There are four major theme worlds: Egyptian, Ice Caves, Harbor, and Halloween. Each stage offers several challenges such as collecting all of the dots, collecting all of the fruit, or making it through in a certain amount of time. It's hard to dislike this game! You can feel the vibration of Ms. Pac Man eating the dots, and the stages are full of surprises. There's some switched-pulling and crate-pushing action ala Crash Bandicoot, but nothing too complicated. In addition to the standard ghosts, there are other characters you'll have to deal with as well. In a nod to the classics, there's even a centipede that wonders through some of the stages! The controls are simple (no buttons!), and the music is exceptional. Maze Madness is fun to play and will appeal to all ages. In addition to the main game, there's also an arcade-perfect version of the original Ms. Pac-Man, which of course is one of the greatest video games of all time. The one bad thing about this game is the multi-player modes. There are some original ideas here, like playing as ghosts or bombs, but these games are rather unpleasant to play. You have to contend with CPU controlled players (unless you have four people), and the gameplay is utterly confusing. I would have preferred that they included a two-player simultaneous version of the classic Ms. Pac-Man - THAT would have been fun. But nevertheless, Ms. Pac-Man fans looking for some solid one-player action should pick up this disk. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NBA 2K		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Sega (1999) Reviewed: 1999/11/14 Rating: Everyone

Due to crazy amount of time and money Sega invested in NFL 2K, I didn't think the lower-priority NBA 2K would be up to the same standards. Fortunately that does not appear to be the case, as NBA 2K takes the sport to a whole new level! The game is FAST and the graphics are fantastic. Each player looks exactly like his real life counterpart, with changing facial expressions and shifting eyes. The players perform their patented moves and even react to fouls called against them. In fact, even the coach and the players on the bench react to what's going on in the game. The arenas and crowds are detailed and realistic, although the cheerleaders are glaring omissions. The audio is amazing, with two-man commentary and players who shout at each other. Control is responsive, allowing you to perform a nice variety of moves, including backing-down a defender, cross-over dribbles, and calling for a pick. You even have total control of alley-OOPS! All the new NBA rules have been incorporated into the game, and when you play in season mode, every statistic imaginable is tracked. The user interface looks just like NFL 2K, and allows you to completely customize the game as well as create new players. NBA 2K is great but not perfect. It seems as if illegal defense penalties are never called, and during the season, injuries happen far too often. Another flaw is the horrible new free-throw method, which requires you to push the analog R and L buttons at the same time in order to line up two arrows. It's really, really dumb. But overall, NBA 2K is far and away the best basketball game so far. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1-4 players

NBA 2K1		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Sega (2000) Reviewed: 2000/12/12 Rating: Everyone

This year's edition of Sega's basketball game doesn't look a whole lot different than last year, but it does play better and has an on-line mode that works fine. Other new additions include a franchise mode, historic players dating back to the 50's, street courts, a few new moves, and additional camera angles. The new moves include a much-needed juke move and new animations include players encouraging each other during foul shots. Unfortunately, the horrendous foul-shooting system from last year is back! You have to gently squeeze the analog shoulder buttons to aim arrows, which is not only unintuitive, but it's nearly impossible if you've had any caffeine. Another problem is that the computer cheats when it's losing at the end of the game! Sega missed a few opportunities to improve the presentation. The coaches and bench players are present but rarely seen during the game. And where are the cheerleaders?? I have to admit that the commentary is improved, with more varied and more intelligent color commentary. NBA 2K1 isn't a huge improvement over last year, but it's still the best basketball game out there. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NBA 2K2		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Sega (2001) Reviewed: 2001/12/22 Rating: Everyone

The world's best basketball video game has returned for another slightly improved iteration. NBA 2K2 features fluid gameplay, excellent control, and intelligent computer players. Yes, there are some new moves and animations, but only die-hard fans will be able to distinguish between this and last year's edition. I should also mention that I've detected occasional graphic flaws you wouldn't expect from a third-generation game. Shots from behind the backboard sometimes pass through the backboard, and some shots change their arc ever so slightly in mid-air. And let's not forget the goofy foul-shooting system that once again rears its ugly head. NBA 2K2 is only a miniscule step forward, and only serious basketball fans should feel obligated to trade up. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NBA Showtime		Grade: C-
	Publisher: Midway (1999) Reviewed: 2002/5/12 Rating: Everyone

Like the classic NBA Jam (SNES 1993), Showtime offers lightening-fast, high-flying basketball action for one to four players. The 3D players are rather angular in appearance, but their movements are smooth and the dunks are SWEET. This game uses the real NBA theme music, making it sound like an actual telecast, and a high-octane announcer makes insightful observations like "Boom-shaka-laka!!" Showtime could have been awesome, but there are serious issues regarding the computer-controlled players. To put it bluntly - they cheat!! These guys goal-tend on a regular basis, and automatically grab every rebound or loose ball. In addition, their three-point, end-of-half, desperation shots ALWAYS go in the basket! Even at the lowest difficulty, the computer will frustrate you to no end! What does it all mean? It means you'll have to play a two-on-two (four-player) game to truly enjoy NBA Showtime. That's where the game REALLY shines. The action is non-stop, and the in-your-face dunks are amazing. Unfortunately, if you don't have four players, this game is pretty worthless. Other problems include a severe lack of options and an excessive number of loading screens. The Matrix-like camera sweeps that happen at the end of each half are meant to look dramatic, but usually just look silly. With some tweaking (or game testing) Showtime could have been great, but instead it's just so-so. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NCAA College Football 2K2		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Sega (2001) Reviewed: 2004/9/17 Rating: Everyone

Reviewing this game after playing EA's NCAA College Football 2004 on the Playstation 2, I'm quite amazed at how well 2K2 has held up. You'd think the graphics would be a big step down, but that's not the case. As a matter of fact, the players look cleaner and the grass and crowd look even more realistic in 2K2. Some of the animations, like runners getting tripped up around the ankles and receivers leaping high into the air aren't even present in the newer college football games. Playing offense is a little tougher than I'd like it to be, but that just adds to the challenge. Using the Dreamcast VMUs, you have the option of selecting your plays from the viewport of your own controller, but that small window doesn't display much information, so you'll already need to be familiar with the plays before you try that. I do wish this game had included more option plays, which are a staple of most college team offenses. Thanks to the wide-ranging trigger buttons of the Dreamcast controller, the instant replay feature is a pleasure to use, letting you adjust the speed of each playback with precision. The stereo sound is used to good effect, as you'll hear voices yelling from multiple directions before the ball is hiked. NCAA 2K2's play-by-play features two commentators who are somewhat boring but usually accurate. Overall I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of NCAA College Football 2K2. Not only is it a terrific Dreamcast sports game, but it even stands up to more recent football titles. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NFL 2K		Grade: B
	Publisher: Sega (1999) Reviewed: 1999/9/11 Rating: Everyone

Of all the games that I first bought for my Dreamcast, this was the one that blew me away! I was expecting Madden with better graphics, but this game is light years ahead of all current football games. If you watch the computer play itself, it looks like you're watching a real game on television. The graphics are so sharp and detailed that you can see the creases in the jerseys and their breath in the cold air. The animation is so incredibly smooth and lifelike that you can see player's fingers moving. The standard view doesn't show off the graphics as much, but the gameplay also lives up to the hype. Runners react to where they are hit, and receivers wrap their hands around thrown balls. Players display elation or frustration depending on the outcome of a play, and the camera zooms in on players as they return to the huddle. The controls are easy to learn and responsive, and similar to Madden in design. A fantastic instant replay system utilizes the analog shoulder buttons to give you perfect control of the playback speed. The two commentators not only give timely and realistic play-by-play and color commentary, but banter with each other and at times even joke around. And they rarely repeat themselves. The screen often flashes TV-style graphics to indicate significant player or team statistics. If there's one problem with NFL 2K, it's that it's too difficult to run, and nearly impossible to break a long run. This is partially due to the lack of a "juke" running move. Another issues is that passes tend to 'float', and you can't adjust the velocity. Still, this is very impressive, and even those weary of the Madden series will find themselves loving this game. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1-4 players

NFL 2K1		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Sega (2000) Reviewed: 2000/9/9 Rating: Everyone

At first glance this looks like last year's NFL 2K, but upon further investigation I discovered a dramatically improved game. All the major flaws in the previous version have been fixed. First of all, you can now run much easier. Thanks to a new juke move and better blocking, you can break tackles, and occasionally run for the big gain. The kicking game, which was simplistic in last year's game, is more challenging thanks to a directional arrow that moves with the wind. The animation has also been improved quite a bit. Players catch the ball more naturally, receivers spin through the air when hit, and the defense can knock down low passes. Players show proper elation or dejection after plays, and even get into shoving matches! The penalty frequency is much more realistic, and a greater variety of penalties are called. The presentation is slick, with beautiful instant replays, statistical graphics, and a sports ticker that appears at the bottom of the screen. The commentators are the same pair from last year, and they are solid, although they've toned things down a little this year (no outrageous comments or use of the word "damn" this year). A major selling point for NFL 2K1 is on on-line play, which I hear works surprisingly well. How could this game be any better? I have two minor suggestions. First, the players should interact with each other, especially after touchdowns. Second, some cheerleaders would be nice, along with a half-time show. Finally, they should adjust the difficulty; rookie is too easy, but pro is too hard! © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NFL 2K2		Grade: A
	Publisher: Sega (2001) Reviewed: 2001/10/31 Rating: Everyone

It may not have as many features as Madden 2002, but NFL 2K2 is just as fun. Still, the graphics that looked so impressive two years ago look pretty average by today's standards. Sega gave the players detailed but generic faces this year, but this might not have been a wise decision. Some of these guys look pretty scary, especially the referees with those large, unblinking eyes! The user interface has been improved so it's much easier to select plays, and there's a much-needed "bluff" mode to hide your selection. NFL 2K2 has the edge over Madden in several areas. First of all, the running game is much more exciting. Runners break tackles and roll off defenders, creating plays that are actually worth looking at in the instant replay. Receivers leap high for the ball, setting up for some fierce hits. Sega still needs to do some work differentiating fumbles from incomplete passes though. The constant two-man commentating is MUCH better than the lame Madden commentary. The two announcers often argue with each other, and say some amusing things. Unfortunately, the referees don't announce which team a penalty is against, which can lead to confusion. NFL 2K2 can be played online with up to 7 other players. What's better, Madden or NFL 2K2? As far as I'm concerned, it's a toss-up. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NFL Blitz 2001		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Midway (2000) Reviewed: 2000/11/8 Rating: Everyone

The game that won everybody over last year (on the Playstation) is back with a four-player mode. With this new edition of NFL Blitz, you can customize players, teams, and even your playbook. Unfortunately, these additions fail to raise the fun-factor. Yes, you get the same extreme, hard-hitting football action, but Midway missed a big opportunity. What cracked people up about the original game was the zany on-liners from the commentator and the hysterical "after the whistle" late-hit animations. Unfortunately, Midway hasn't done anything new with those. So basically, all you have left is last year's NFL Blitz with a lot of extra features few people will use. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NFL QB Club 2001		Grade: D-
	Publisher: Acclaim (2000) Reviewed: 2002/9/19 Rating: Everyone

You have to wonder if Acclaim really expected this to present any kind of challenge to Sega's stellar NFL 2K games. It's no contest. At first glance, QB Club doesn't look all that bad. The players are nearly as detailed as those in NFL 2K and Mike Patrick and Randy Cross provide a respectable two-man commentary team. There are a few cool minor features like sideline team reactions and 10 yard measurements (which remarkably do not appear in ANY of the newer football games). But other than that, QB Club has little to offer. The animations are jittery and the frame rate is erratic. The controls are not what I would call responsive - there's a noticeable lag between when you push the control pad and when your player actually moves. The offense is weak. Passes are constantly dropped, and running up the middle is like hitting a brick wall. Gang tackles are a chaotic mess, making it hard to tell what's going on. The juke move causes your player to step over and back, which is pretty useless if you think about it. Worst of all, the CPU is idiotic, making inexplicable decisions like kicking field goals on first down with plenty of time on the clock. The best thing about NFL QB Club is that it's so easy to make fun of. Check out the "Play Football" banner hanging near the end zone. Some imaginative fan was probably up all night working on that one. The nets behind the goalposts appear to rise about 500 feet into the air. The players have disproportionately large asses, and the referees run like they have poles up their butts. Informative TV-style graphics more often than not display an empty picture with "photo not available" over it. I think you get the idea. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NHL 2K		Grade: D+
	Publisher: Sega (2000) Reviewed: 2000/2/26 Rating: Everyone

Like Sega's NFL 2K and NBA 2K, this is a huge step up from Playstation-quality sports games. The game features photo-realistic players, easy controls, and fast gameplay. Amazing details include ice scrapes and skate sprays. Even the fights are fun to watch. The game has an arcade sensibility to it, so it's easy to pick up and play. Unfortunately, the frame rate gets choppy at times, and it can be hard to keep track of the puck during quick one-timer plays. Passing is no problem, although it can be difficult to thread the needle because defenders can easily intercept the puck. The sound is mediocre. The crowd noise isn't noticeable, and the commentators are much less interesting than the NFL or NBA games. But the biggest flaw with NHL 2K is the difficulty in scoring. No matter what skill level you play, scoring goals is like pulling teeth. It's not unusual to have more shattered glass or shots off the posts than goals in a game. I played a 0-0 tie with over 100 shots taken combined. Needless to say, not being able to score is frustrating. Another letdown is the lack of rumble pack support. This game would have been perfect for that, especially with all the body checks and fighting. C'mon Sega, get your act together. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NHL 2K2		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Sega (2002) Reviewed: 2002/5/12 Rating: Everyone

After a two-year hiatus, Sega finally has a new hockey game, and all things considered, it's a disappointment. You really can't fault the visuals; the graphics here are as good as any other hockey game out there. The reflections of the players on the ice look good, and the only visible blemish is the pixelated 2D crowd. During the game, I like how the camera is pulled way back to emphasize gameplay over graphic detail. And unlike NHL 2K, the frame rate remains smooth even in the midst of frenzied action. The physics is impressive - it's incredible how the puck bounces and spins after deflecting off the goalie. And thanks to the wide view and crisp controls, passing the puck is a joy. While the graphics and options have been upgraded substantially, the gameplay is still lacking. It's too easy to lose control of the puck once you get it. It seems like another player just needs to brush up against you to knock it loose. But the worst aspect of the game is the body checking. Maybe it's the understated sound effects, or maybe I've been playing too much NHL Hitz, but these checks seem awfully soft! Making matters worse, the announcers play up these weak collisions by yelling stuff like "Wow!! He was hit HARD!!" And I'm thinking "Where? In the parking lot before the game?" In general, the two commentators do a poor job. Their comments are often idiotic ("Do I see little birds circling his head?") and sometimes completely wrong ("What an amazing save!"). On a positive note, the option menus are loaded, and you can now choose jerseys, adjust the game speed, or set the fighting frequency. The control scheme is well designed, with advanced controls that let you dump the puck, deflect, sidestep, or poke dive. You also have the option to control the goalie, but I don't see this improving your chances. NHL 2K2 is respectable, but it probably wasn't worth the wait. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Nightmare Creatures II		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Konami (2000) Reviewed: 2000/9/25 Rating: Mature

Halloween is my favorite holiday, so I tend to enjoy scary games even when the gameplay is a little weak. If you enjoyed the first Nightmare Creatures (Playstation), you'll be happy to know that this edition provides plenty more frantic action, weird monsters, and creepy locales. For those new to the series, Nightmare Creatures is part exploration and a whole lot of fighting. You wander around dilapidated old buildings and dark streets, picking up objects and power-ups between battles with monsters. Like the first game, the atmosphere is extremely dark and foreboding, and the Dreamcast's graphic power makes the locations look even more eerie. The buildings are nicely detailed, and each room has its own distinctive look. Bloodcurdling sound effects like crashing thunder, rain, creaking doors, and rattling chains add to the experience. The cover of the game boasts music by Rob Zombie, but thankfully that's limited to the title screen. The in-game music is sparse but effectively bone-chilling. Exploring the linear levels is fun, but the fighting system is weak. It lacks technique and gets pretty repetitive. Most of the combat is of the button-mashing variety, and you are forced to perform fatalities whether you want to or not. The rumble pack is supported, but it tends to be either off or running at full rattle. It got so annoying I turned it off. There's another problem that I've also encountered in other games: When given the choice of Continue or Quit, you can't tell which color is the "select" color. Despite its flaws, Nightmare Creatures still delivers its share of creepy arcade action. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

Check for Nightmare Creatures II on Ebay, Amazon

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