Ooga Booga		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Sega (2001) Reviewed: 2002/1/11 Rating: Everyone

Several years back a Playstation game called Poy Poy was released to little fanfare, and it turned out to be one of the greatest multiplayer video games ever made. Four characters ran around a single screen, hurling boxes and bombs at each other, and my friends and I played the hell out of it. Ooga Booga tries to do the same thing, but the gameplay is deeper and played on a split screen. The characters are goofy witchdoctors on exotic islands, and there are four types to choose from: the speedy "Twitchy", the obese "Fatty", the ghost-like "Hoodoo", and the curvaceous "Hottie". You can smack each other around, throw "shunken heads", and cast spells like fireballs, lighting, and tornados. Wild animals like boars and birds add to the fun, allowing you to ram the other players or bomb them from the air. The "tribal trial" mode allows one person to open up all of the islands, spells, and game types. Although it's a great intro to the game, it feels like work after a while, since ALL the game elements are locked initially (I hate that!). But Oogle Booga was really designed for multi-player action. Up to four players can compete via split screen, or you can battle online. Some of my friends complained about the limited split screen view, but we still had a blast, sometimes laughing hysterically. It's true that the small screen makes it difficult to locate enemies and aim weapons, but I've heard that the online mode is much better. Other game variations include a "Boar Polo" sports variation, but it's surprisingly bad. Ooga Booga has simple graphics but loads of personality. It's not a classic, but if you enjoy multiplayer mayhem, give it a shot. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Outtrigger		Grade: C
	Publisher: Sega (2001) Reviewed: 2002/3/15 Rating: Teen

Do you like first-person shooters, but get tired of long, drawn-out missions? Outtrigger provides the same kind of thrills, but the missions are shorter and more arcade-like. Although some require you to collect items or guard a hostage, most missions simply require you to kill a certain number of terrorists within a minute or two. You view the action from behind your character, which gives you a good sense of your surroundings and lets you easily dodge incoming missiles. The action is fast and chaotic, but the framerate is able to keep up just fine. The controls are awkward, mainly due to the layout of the Dreamcast controller. The digital control is used to move your character, and the analog stick is used to rotate sideways or up and down. Right away you'll notice a problem - since the Dreamcast controller puts both directional controls on the left side of the controller, you often have to switch back and forth between the two. This game would have been far better suited to dual analog sticks. I could never really get used to aiming up and down. Other buttons let you fire, jump, and switch weapons. Weapons include machine guns, rocket launchers, flamethrowers, grenades, guided missiles, and bouncing photon torpedoes. Just be sure not to use the rocket launcher in close quarters. The multi-tiered stages are fairly small, and power-ups are all over the place. The single player mode challenges you to an increasingly difficult series of short missions. I don't know about the network mode, but my friends hated the split-screen mode. It's played from the first person perspective, and it's very hard to tell what's happening. Trigger-happy arcade fans might appreciate Outtrigger, but overall it's just average. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

POD Speedzone		Grade: D
	Publisher: Ubi Soft (2000) Reviewed: 2002/2/2 Rating: Everyone

This futuristic racing game has sub-par graphics and sound, and the lackluster gameplay can't make up for it. The tracks dip and wind through barren canyons, but there's not much to see. There are alternate routes and short cuts, but you often find yourself going the wrong way, wondering where you went wrong. The vehicles and tracks are rather plain and dull. The racing action is pretty weak too, and power-ups fail to inject a lot excitement. In an effort to defend the lousy physics, my friend Scott pointed out that we were "racing on another planet like Mars or something." Whatever! The only thing POD has going for it is its Internet racing option. Other than that, this one is completely forgettable. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Plasma Sword		Grade: B
	Publisher: Capcom (2000) Reviewed: 2003/6/4 Rating: Teen (animated violence)

This easy-to-play, offensive-minded 3D fighter didn't get much attention when it came out, but Plasma Sword is a quality game. It reminds me more than a little bit of Battle Arena Toshinden (Playstation), but it's actually the sequel to the unpopular Playstation game Star Gladiator. Set in the future, Plasma Sword provides twenty-two diverse creatures that wouldn't look out of place in a Star Wars cantina. There are several laser-equipped robots, a hairy wookie-like creature, a conehead freak with yo-yo weapons, a catlike creature with Wolverine claws, and assorted aliens of every type. The character models are somewhat chunky by today's standards, but cleanly rendered and smoothly animated. The gorgeous backgrounds depict fantastic cities of the future, magnificent ruins, and desolate planet surfaces. At times I had to pause play just to get a better look at the scenery. Plasma Sword plays similar to other Capcom fighters, with plenty of combos, juggles, and Street-Fighter-style special moves. Some fighters are armed with glowing weapons including swords, rings, and even a chainsaw! When a character's "plasma power gauge" becomes full, he can perform some devastating assaults. I like how you can wipe out a huge chunk of your opponent's life with a single special move or well-timed combo. On defense, there's a useful sidestep move that lets you avoid projectile attacks. Besides the run-of-the-mill gameplay, the only real flaw I could find was the weak endings in the single player mode. The main villain is pretty cool looking, but what kind of name is "Bilstein"? Couldn't they come up with something more intimidating than that? Oh well, Plasma Sword is definitely a keeper if fighting games are your thing. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Power Stone		Grade: A
	Publisher: Capcom (1999) Reviewed: 2004/9/17 Rating: Teen (animated violence)

Games like this exemplify why hardcore gamers love the Dreamcast so much. Power Stone is a breath of fresh air in a tired 3D fighting genre, brimming with innovative ideas and wild arcade action. It's difficult to believe this was an early Dreamcast game, because few fighting games have surpassed it in terms of graphics and gameplay. Power Stone pits two warriors in close-quartered environments like a factory, courtyard, or pirate ship. The attractive battlegrounds are the ideal size so the characters can move around freely but not wander too far apart. The fights are hyper and chaotic, and the torrid pace admittedly takes some getting used to. In addition to hand-to-hand combat, the simple control scheme makes it easy to bombard your opponent with boxes, barrels, and whatever else you find lying around. Weapons range from huge hammers to machine guns to rocket launchers. Collecting three "power stones" temporarily transforms your fighter into a "super being", making your opponent wise to flee until the effect wears off. Power Stone's characters are nicely rendered in Japanese anime style, and they are a likeable bunch. The one obligatory oddball is the bizarre "Mad Clown", who looks like a cross between Beetlejuice and the Mummy. Power Stone is a blast to play, and the one-player mode is as addicting as it is relentless. Any respectable Dreamcast fan should have this gem in their collection. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Power Stone 2		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Capcom (2000) Reviewed: 2004/9/30 Rating: Teen (animated violence)

A logical extension of the first Power Stone, this impressive sequel features more characters, four-player simultaneous action, and multi-level stages. Like the first game, this is a 3D brawler with arenas that are loaded with weapons and interactive objects. But Power Stone 2 ups the ante with four-player simultaneous mayhem, and it is crazy. The twelve anime-style fighters are colorful and distinct, and a few are quite comical. But what really sticks out about Power Stone 2 is its incredible, dynamic stages. From high-flying airships to submerging submarines to Indiana-Jones inspired temple ruins, these stages are perfect for gamers with short attention spans. They change on the fly, and fighters often get tossed into multiple rooms or scrolling areas in the course of a single battle. Some areas allow you to man huge turrets and shoot a barrage of missiles at your opponents. But while the stages are quite a spectacle, once their novelty value wears off, you'll start to tire of them. Some would say they actually tend to detract from the fighting action, and the changing camera angles can also be a problem. The two-player matches are hectic enough, so as you can imagine, the four-player mode is lively but VERY confusing. I prefer the excellent one-player Adventure mode that lets you collect items in a series of branching battles. Dreamcast collectors will want Power Stone 2 in their collection, but it's not an easy game to track down. It's definitely one of a kind, but I prefer the simpler brand of melee of its predecessor. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Project Justice		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Capcom (2000) Reviewed: 2004/1/15

Project Justice is the Dreamcast version of the Playstation game Rival Schools, where high school kids try to untangle a convoluted mystery by kicking the living [expletive] out of each other. It took me a long time to track down a copy of Project Justice, so I was disappointed when it turned out to be a rather average 3D fighter. Actually, the gameplay is mainly 2D (with the exception of the side step move), but the characters are rendered in 3D. Personally, I think this would have been better with 2D graphics. Since the characters are students, you can expect to see plenty of jocks, punks, and revealing schoolgirl outfits. There's plenty of variation between the 20 characters, including some geek professors, a sexy nurse name Kyoko, and an annoying tennis-racket swatting girl named Momo. Probably the most effective character is Shomo, who pounds his opponent with baseballs from a distance, and smacks them with his huge red bat when they get close. Project Justice's high production values are reflected in its clean graphics and crisp animation. The dialogue is in Japanese, but that's probably for the best. The game has a distinct Japanese flavor, with outrageous special moves that are sometimes funny and often bizarre. The controls in Project Justice are standard Capcom fare, but at least the "Team up" techniques add some originality. In addition to your main character, you choose two "partners", which you can call to your aid during the fight. While this usually amounts to a free beat-down, these call-ins are sometimes preceded by short, one-hit matches between partners from both sides. These short bouts can be strangely disconcerting, especially to the novice player. When your "Burning Vigor" gauge is completely full, you can bum-rush your opponent with all three characters at once, which unleashes a series of devastating blows. Other unique features include the ability to dodge and roll out of harm's way when you're down. The fighting engine is solid, as long as you don't mind projectile attacks and a lot of "juggling" combos. Personally, I didn't find the game particularly appealing, although I do respect the tight control and polished presentation that Capcom is known for. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Quake III Arena		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Id (2000) Reviewed: 2004/1/15 Rating: Mature (Animated violence, blood and gore)

I'm not a PC gamer and don't do that "online thing", so it's surprising how much I enjoyed Quake III Arena. Arena was designed for Quake experts who don't give a crap about the single player scenarios, but instead want to demonstrate their skills against the best players in the world. My first impression of Quake III Arena was not good. I tried to play the single-player mode with the Dreamcast controller, and got completely obliterated over and over by relentless cpu opponents. Finally, I remembered the wise words of my friend Scott Z, who once proclaimed that first person shooters HAD to be played with a keyboard and mouse (with Halo being the one possible exception). So I hooked up my little-used Dreamcast keyboard and mouse, and sure enough, it made all the difference in the world. The mouse provides incredibly sensitive and precise control, and with a little practice, I started doing better. The one-on-one matches aren't so hot, but the multiplayer mode (even with 3 CPU opponents) is a blast! There's no shortage of firepower, and your opponents get blasted into nice bloody chunks. I love how you get constant updates about who's recently bit the dust and how you're currently doing. The warriors include a wide variety of humans, undead creeps, and alien freaks. There's even a skeleton and walking eyeball thrown in for good measure. The arenas range from medieval to futuristic, and the level of detail is quite impressive. They tend to be just spacious enough, and every wall and doorway is ornately decorated. The game looks terrific, although my friends steadfastly maintain that the PC version looks far better (whatever!). The only stages I didn't care for were the platform-laden outer space ones. The music consists of some grinding, high-octane guitar stuff - not great by any means, but appropriate enough. If you like first-person shooters and you have a Dreamcast keyboard and mouse, you can't go wrong with this. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Rayman 2: The Great Escape		Grade: A
	Publisher: Ubisoft (2000) Reviewed: 2006/5/17 Rating: Everyone

The Dreamcast system never ceases to amaze. Just when I thought I had played all of its best games, I discover this hidden treasure. Rayman 2: The Great Escape is a near-perfect 3D platformer - one of the most engaging I've played in years. The first Rayman enjoyed modest success on systems like the Playstation and Jaguar, and this sequel seamlessly transitions the colorful franchise into the third dimension. Rayman is a comical character whose hands and feet float around his body. An arsenal of moves let him glide, shoot balls of energy, climb walls, swing, and move hand-over-hand across ceilings. The controls are responsive and extremely forgiving. The glide lets you navigate platforms precisely, and Rayman will automatically grab ledges to avoid "near misses". Fast-paced sections let you careen down waterslides or water ski through a marsh. Great Escape's graphics are undeniably gorgeous, and time has not diminished their beauty one iota. The lush, fairy-tale worlds are so colorful and detailed that you'll easily overlook the flat, angular surfaces. The waterfalls look amazing. In addition to magical forests, you'll traverse some terrific "pirate" stages with robotic swashbucklers. Many of the comical characters you encounter are genuinely funny as they mumble gibberish over subtitles. The game's frame-rate remains silky smooth at all times, although you'll occasionally struggle for the best camera angle. Great Escape's audio is also outstanding, with understated but appealing guitar and drum rhythms. Rayman 2 offers addictive, wholesome fun that will appeal to any age or gender. There's even an unlockable multi-player mini-game. If you own a Dreamcast, this belongs in your collection. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Re-Volt		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Acclaim (2000) Reviewed: 2002/11/29 Rating: Everyone

Re-Volt is a thrilling racer at first, but repeated plays reveal its many flaws. It has a great premise - letting every guy live out their childhood fantasy of racing a remote controlled car through a museum, supermarket, and other places usually off-limits to remote-controlled toys. The touchy steering even reminded me of the remote control car I had as a kid. You get a nice selection of vehicles to choose from, from a stock car to a monster truck. The environments (which also include a neighborhood street and ghost town) look impressive and are loaded with cool little details. For example, the neighborhood has sprinklers and bouncing balls. At its best, Re-Volt is pure arcade fun. Your view is somewhat distant, but it provides a decent vantage point of the road ahead, which can get pretty narrow. Don't bother attempting to change your view, because the other angles are unplayable. The highlight of the game has to be the multi-player mode, which allows up to four players to race or play a well-designed "tag" game. These cars really move! The frame rate is smooth most of the time, although I did notice some choppiness on occasion. Although Revolt has mad potential for fun, there are some serious annoyances that weigh it down. First of all, the single player mode is entirely too hard. One minor fender-bender can turn you the wrong way, and by the time you get straight you're out of the race. Also, on more than one occasion my car actually got "stuck" somewhere, and I was helpless for the remainder of the race. I know this happens to real-life remote controlled cars, but that's one bit of realism I could have done without. Sometimes it can be tough to tell where you're supposed to turn, especially on tracks that double back on themselves. The whimsical Japanese music got on my nerves, although my friend Scott thought it was great. Finally, in the multiplayer mode, you always have to exit to the main menu between races, which is a major hassle. I think Re-Volt could have used some fine-tuning. But if you're looking for some simple multi-player racing action, Re-Volt will do the trick. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Ready 2 Rumble Boxing		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Sega (1999) Reviewed: 1999/12/5 Rating: Teen (Animated Violence)

Ready 2 Rumble is a fast-action, arcade-style boxing game that anybody can have fun with, and it's good for a few laughs as well. The boxers move so fluidly and look so lifelike that it's almost freaky. From the skinny Chris Rock look-alike Afro-Thunder, to the Mike Tyson-inspired Butcher Brown, to the shapely Lulu Valentine, there are a wide variety of fighters to choose from (18 in all). The variable-sized digitized crowds look and react realistically. The soundtrack is catchy, and the voice samples are clear and comical. The front four buttons serving as punches, and the shoulder buttons act as your blocks. Besides the arcade mode, there's a championship mode which allows you develop your boxer's skills through a series of mini-games and work your way up the ranks. A robust option menu allows you to customize all aspects of the game. No question about it, Ready 2 Rumble is a winner. It's one major flaw is that the big, slow boxers are at a disadvantage against the quicker opponents. But only purists looking for a shred of realism will be disappointed with this. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1-2 players

Record of the Lodoss War		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Crave (2000) Reviewed: 2001/9/9 Rating: Mature

In essence, Record of the Lodoss War is the Dreamcast version of Diablo, the ultra-popular RPG/action game for the PC. While not a huge RPG fan, I have played Diablo before. The first thing that struck me about Record of the Lodoss War was its incredible graphics. I've seen plenty of Dreamcast games, but none with this much attention to detail. The dark, meticulously rendered dungeons and ominous background music set the stage perfectly for an epic adventure. The adventure begins with a helpful training level to get the basics down. Once you embark on your journey you'll encounter a large variety of creatures of all shapes and sizes. The first time I saw that huge ogre I was amazed! You'll also meet a series of characters as the compelling storyline unfolds. The game is fairly easy to play, and doesn't get too complicated until you meet the blacksmith. At that point a set of new options become available, allowing you to duplicate, transform, and refine items. In order to fully utilize magic, you must inscribe your equipment with ancient inscriptions. I found this stuff to be a bit overwhelming, but RPG types will eat it up. Just be sure to avoid those "iron boots of annoyance +5" (some of you know what I'm talking about). It would be nice if you could save your place at any time, but the game only has predefined save points. The camera doesn't always give you the best angle, but you can adjust it to your heart's content. Record of Lodoss is an extremely well-crafted game, and I would highly recommend it to adventure fans. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Red Dog		Grade: C
	Publisher: Argonaut Games (2000) Reviewed: 2005/9/12 Rating: Teen (animated violence)

Since the dawn of recorded history, man's basic instincts have changed little: Seek shelter, gather food, and blow up robots. That said, there's a lot to like about this mission-based, futuristic shooter. Red Dog puts you in a moon-buggy style vehicle with large, rubber all-terrain tires. As you bounce over planet surfaces and zoom through subterranean tunnels, you'll blast cannons, tanks, robot soldiers, and mechanical spiders while forging your way towards the obligatory end-of-stage boss. Red Dog gives a poor first impression, as I struggled just to enter my initials required to start a new game. But once the action was underway, it didn't take me long to appreciate this cool shooter. Your vehicle is sharply detailed and the frame rate is very smooth. There's a lot of bouncing over the uneven terrain, and I have to admit, it made me sick to my stomach at times (avoid the first-person perspective at all costs). Blowing things up is clearly the most satisfying aspect of Red Dog. A touchy aiming cursor is compensated by the ability to fire rapidly and unleash lock-on missiles. The weapon power-up system is confusing at first but ultimately very satisfying. Once your cannon is fully charged, you can literally spray shots across the screen. Add in a secondary weapon (which floats alongside your vehicle) and you'll be loving life. You view the action from behind your vehicle, but can switch to a first-person view when your sight becomes obstructed (which does happen from time to time). In addition to the awesome firepower, you're equipped with a turbo-boost and a great-looking shield that can deflect incoming fire. Red Dog's levels feature branching paths, which are really cool until you get lost in them. The background music is a high quality electronic soundtrack that fits the science fiction theme perfectly. Red Dog is a good time until it tries to be more than a shooter. For example, in the Arctic stage you must navigate ice floes to cross a river. It plays like a first-person Frogger, and it's terribly aggravating. Red Dog is a very challenging game with no difficulty options, and just surviving the first stage can require several attempts. A multi-player split-screen mode is included, best described by my friend Scott as "just like Twisted Metal, only without the fun". Red Dog is not a grade "A" Dreamcast title by any stretch, but if you're in the mood to inflict some damage, it serves its purpose. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Reel Fishing / Wild		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Natsume (2001) Reviewed: 2002/7/31 Rating: Everyone

This one is a pleasant surprise, considering it came from the bargain bin! Reel Fishing is actually one of the best fishing games I've ever played. Unlike the boring locations of most fishing games, Reel Fishing has no less than 14 incredibly scenic fishing areas. In fact, the scenery is real video footage with shimmering water and amazing mountain backdrops. No, you can't move or adjust the view, but it's a small price to pay for the view. Reel Fishing begins slow, but gradually draws you in. Initially, only a small stream is available and your tackle supplies are minimal, but as you start catching fish you earn new supplies and new areas open up. It's a real treat to see what you've "won" after catching each fish. The controls are identical to Sega Bass Fishing. You cast the line, hook the fish, fight with him until he tires, and finally bring him in. The fish are easy to hook, but challenging to bring in. The fights are great, and the Sega fishing controller works like a charm. Here's some advice: When the controller vibrates violently, do NOT reel! One thing that sets Reel Fishing apart is the complete absence of information or meters on the screen. All you see is water and fish, which is probably the way it should be. The underwater view isn't very detailed, but the bubble sound effects are uncanny. You can save your place at any time, and the game records an impressive array of statistics. I did find it odd that it only records the length of each fish, and not the weight! If you own the Sega fishing controller, don't be afraid to pick this game up. Just be sure to turn the vibration on and the easy-listening background music off. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Resident Evil: Code Veronica		Grade: A
	Publisher: Capcom (2000) Reviewed: 2000/9/25 Rating: Mature

This two-disk game puts you right smack in the middle of a horror film, and the tension will have keep on the edge of your seat. Anyone who's played a Resident Evil game knows exactly what I'm talking about. This episode takes place in a prison in a remote island, where you control the beautiful Claire Redfield, who's searching for her brother Chris. As the game progresses, Claire has several run-ins with a Leonardo Dicaprio look-alike named Steve. Code Veronica delivers classic Resident Evil action with dramatically improved graphics over the Playstation versions - and these graphic improvements really do make a difference. Extremely realistic cinematic videos blend in smoothly with the gameplay, and these unsettling sequences look so real that at times I thought I was watching actual video footage. Nice graphical touches include scurrying cockroaches and moths buzzing around lampposts. After you get over the incredible graphics, you soon settle into an experience that is classic Resident Evil. That's mostly a good thing, but there are a few annoyances. As usual, you can only drop or exchange items in chests, which is a real hassle. The control could be better, although there is a turn-around move and a useful auto-aiming mechanism. Although the aiming system works great with eye-level creatures like zombies, aiming at high or low creatures (dogs or bats) can be frustratingly difficult, and sometimes it's better to just run. The camera angles are fixed, so you can't look around freely. The sound and music are easily the best in the series. Zombie groans will send chills down your spine, and the ominous music really adds to the creepy atmosphere. I liked how your health is displayed on the VMU, so there are no meters cluttering up the screen. The rumble pack is also used to good effect. Horror fans, it doesn't get much better than this. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Rippin' Riders		Grade: C+
	Publisher: UEP (1999) Reviewed: 2002/2/2 Rating: Everyone

Here's a decent snowboarding game for your Dreamcast. It's no SSX, but it will do. The tracks are beautiful winter wonderlands, with alternate routes and many surprises. Unfortunately, although the action is smooth, I never felt like I was going particularly fast, and I often found myself pushing up on the control pad in an attempt to speed up. Obstacles often appear in your way, but you can smash through them if you're going fast enough. In fact, I even smashed a huge boulder with my face! Kids, don't try this at home. Guiding your boarder is pretty easy, but performing tricks takes a lot of practice. There's an innovative two-player split-screen mode where one player's half of the screen begins to shrink as the other pulls off stunts. Rippin' Riders isn't a great game, but if you're looking for a snowboarding title, you could do worse. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players