TNN Motorsports Hardcore Heat		Grade: C+
	Publisher: American Softworks (1999) Reviewed: 2006/4/11 Rating: Everyone

TNN Hardcore Heat has an easy-to-play, arcade style that struck me as an off-road Daytona USA. The races tend to be short and competitive, with plenty of bright, attractive scenery. You'll cruise down US beaches, speed past a castle in France, and careen off sand dunes in Egypt. My personal favorite is the Russian track with its banked turns and snow-covered trees. Hardcore Heat isn't hard to play, but I was initially perplexed by the fact that the driving controls are not explained in the instruction booklet (although the replay controls are). I actually had to bring up the game's option screen just to view the control scheme. It's amazing how often I've seen this oversight with other Dreamcast games! Hardcore Heat's racing action is entertaining enough, but since you're mainly off-road, it's hard to build up a head of steam, and you can expect a lot of spinning wheels in the mud. The uneven controls tend to give you either "too much" or "too little", especially in the split-screen mode. An unbalanced vehicle selection screen offers everything from dune buggies to powerful pick-ups, with the trucks holding a huge advantage. Hardcore Heat's races are ideal in length, with a handy track indicator that makes it easy to gauge your opponent's positions. There are certainly better racers on the Dreamcast, but off-road fans shouldn't be disappointed with this one. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 2 players

Tee Off Golf		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Acclaim (1999) Reviewed: 2007/8/4 Rating: Everyone

Following in the footsteps of Hot Shots Golf (Playstation, 1998), Tee Off provides a light-hearted golfing experience with anime-style characters. The game didn't win me over immediately but grew on me over time. The visuals feature smooth textures, fluid animations, and realistic physics. Unfortunately, the courses appear very rather flat and dull. You'll want to crank up the difficulty level if you want any slopes at all. The swing mechanism is a curved version of the classic three-press meter (start, power, accuracy), and it works like a charm. Unfortunately, aiming your shot is difficult due to the fact that there's no overhead view. Once you learn to deal with the limited camera angles however, Tee Off is a pleasure to play. I especially enjoyed the soundtrack, composed of catchy synthesized tunes worthy of a Sonic Adventure game. The pacing is pretty good, but it still took about an hour to go 18 holes against the CPU. The game prompts you to save your progress after every three holes, which is a great feature. A fun bonus game called G-Ball is also included, which plays a lot like croquet. It's not flashy or original, but Tee Off Golf is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

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

This follow-up to the spectacular Virtua Tennis offers new features like female players, more realistic graphics, a new camera angle, and a World Tour mode. Of the sixteen pro players, I only recognized Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Lindsay Davenport, but I did see male celebrities like Matt Damon, Marky Mark, and Sylvester Stallone (see for yourself!). The female players definitely have a unique feel, and tend to be more challenging. The graphics are definitely a step up this time around, which players that are muscular and life-like. At times you can even see the emotion on their faces. Sega took a real risk by slightly altering the excellent control scheme and adding a extra button for slice shots. While this doesn't hurt, it completely unnecessary, considering you could slice in Virtua Tennis with the single button. There's a second camera angle you can use in the one-player mode that really puts you close to the action, and although it's not as playable, it's still fun to try out. The new World Tour mode is very cool. It lets you create players, train them, and enter them in tournaments. The training mode is actually a series of addictive mini-games. Tennis 2K2 is an outstanding game that retains the solid gameplay of Virtua Tennis while adding some fun new features. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Test Drive 6		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Accolade (1999) Reviewed: 2001/5/3 Rating: Everyone

I liked this one right from the beginning, when I saw that kick-ass "Cars" video introduction. I remember that was my favorite song back in 1980! This version is a remix, but Gary Neuman (the original artist) does make an appearance. The complete Fear Factory video is included, but enough about that! Test Drive 6 is a good arcade racer with real cars and impressively long tracks. The cars include Jags, Audis, Fords, and Lotuses. There are roughly a dozen tracks, which take you through the streets of New York, Paris, Egypt, Maui, and London (among others). Like Gran Turismo, you earn money by winning races, and buy cars for your garage. The gameplay is shallow and unrealistic, but fun. Running into other cars sends them flying in the air. Cops try to run you off the road, but vehicles don't sustain any kind of damage. The city graphics are a mixed bag. Most of the buildings look fairly real, but "natural" scenery like rock formations look less convincing, and the lack of traffic and pedestrians makes the cities look artificial. Still, I have to give Test Drive credit for the sheer length of these tracks. When you race through the city, it's one long trip, and there are no laps. Unfortunately, some poorly placed directional signs will direct you into walls if you're not careful. There's some minor slowdown and pop-up, but the action is fairly smooth for the most part. The two-player split screen mode forces you to race on a vertically split screen, which is hard to get used to. Besides the normal and versus modes, there's also an amusing "cops and robbers" mode, and a less-than-challenging "challenge" mode. Test Drive 6 worked well with my steering wheel controller. It won't blow you away, but if you can get this for under $10 (like I did), it's a steal. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 2 players

Test Drive Le Mans		Grade: B
	Publisher: Infogrames (2000) Reviewed: 2001/10/7 Rating: Everyone

I didn't know it when I bought this game, but the Le Mans is a 24 HOUR race! That's right, and this game will let you recreate that long torturous ordeal, if you're masochistic enough to inflict it upon yourself! I can't imagine that anyone that would actually do that. There's probably a bug that makes the game crash after 23 hours and 57 minutes. Thank God you can compress the time, or even better, stick with the "quick start" or championship modes. These graphics are terrific - nearly Gran Turismo quality. You can even see the reflections of the scenery on your shiny car. The tracks are realistic, which usually means boring, but in this case the scenery is beautiful and there are some incredible lighting effects. You'll have to use your imagination during pit stops though, because your crew is completely invisible. The tracks tend to be narrow and curvy, and you'll need to lean on the brakes quite a bit. Moderation is the key, and arcade vets will have a hard time adjusting to the realistic handling. There are ten tracks and twenty-four cars in all. Up to four people can play in a split screen contest, which maintains a smooth framerate. The steering wheel controller also works very well with this. The background music is relaxing, and the menu music has a Pulp Fiction flavor. I only have a few minor complaints. This game doesn't convey the illusion of tremendous speed, and this is even more apparent in the multi-player modes. In the split-screen mode, the lap times are often displayed right in your line of sight, which is really annoying. Finally, the loading is frequent and long. Arcade fans may not go for Test Drive Le Mans, but Dreamcast owners looking for a realistic racer will love it. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Test Drive V-Rally		Grade: C
	Publisher: Infogrames (2000) Reviewed: 2005/9/12 Rating: Everyone

In many ways this off-road racer is superior to Sega Rally 2, with its easy controls, forgiving gameplay, wide selection of tracks, and four-player split-screen mode. Heck, there's even a sophisticated track editor! While competing for trophies in V-Rally's single player mode, you'll enjoy a nice variety of landscapes and weather conditions. You'll cruise scenic seaside villages during the day and navigate treacherous snowy mountain roads at night. The visuals are crisp and colorful - a big step up from Sega Rally 2. Although Test Drive doesn't suffer from the "fog" that plagued Sega Rally 2, there is a good deal of "pop-up". Fortunately, this is only distracting on the Italy track, with its narrow, rocky gorges. The split-screen modes are surprisingly smooth and playable. Like most rally racers, the game provides both visual and audio cues for upcoming turns and hazards. I especially like how it keeps you posted on your time in relation to the other cars - you can actually see yourself making up fractions of a second. Racing against the "ghost car" of your best time is also fun. The track editor is easy to use, and I constructed a simple course in about three minutes. But despite all of its nifty features, Test Drive V-Rally is still hard to get excited about. One reason is the lack of opponents. There are only four cars (max) racing at a time, and after the first few seconds of the race, you rarely see another vehicle. The races tend to be long and often boring, and you really need to advance far into the single-player mode before the challenge kicks in. V-Rally's gameplay actually tends to be too forgiving, as cars recover from collisions and rolls almost immediately! In addition, the collision detection is so bad that when you swing around a turn, it's not uncommon for half of your car to disappear into the rocky mountainside - that's just sloppy programming. On the whole, Test Drive V-Rally is just an average racer, but its tight controls and nifty split-screen modes make it worth a look. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

The Ring: Terror's Realm		Grade: D-
	Publisher: Infogrames (2000) Reviewed: 2006/1/18 Rating: Mature (animated violence, animated blood and gore)

After being freaked out by the movie "The Ring", I was psyched to play this video game adaptation. Terror's Realm has never received much media attention in the past, and after playing it, I can see why. If you thought the movie was far-fetched, it's downright plausible compared to this game's incomprehensible storyline. The Ring gets off to a decent start, holding my interest for the first hour or so. You play Meg Rainman, a shapely businesswoman (nice polygons!) investigating her co-worker's mysterious death. Meg finds herself quarantined inside of an office building with only a few other people. As she begins snooping around and gathering clues, she's constantly harassed by her boss and a security guard, who are obviously trying to cover something up. Like the movie, part of the story involves a disturbed girl who projects her thoughts onto a videotape. Unfortunately, that takes a back seat to a bizarre subplot about a virtual-reality computer program that sucks its users into a hellish alternate world. Even if you manage to buy into that nonsense, you'll still need to contend with some truly abysmal gameplay. Once you enter the ill-conceived "virtual reality" sequences, you're forced to aimlessly wander dark basements while shooting at creatures that resemble lizards and apes. The Ring's stiff controls are clearly modeled after the first Resident Evil (Playstation 1996), and the game even includes RE-style "chests" to store items in. Clunky and slow, the controls would be absolutely unbearable without that handy "run" button. Making matter worse are horrendous camera angles and atrocious aiming controls. The laughable creature encounters usually unfold as follows: You shoot the thing in the head, it slaps you in the face, you shoot it again, it slaps you again, you shoot it again, it slaps you again, you shoot it again, it falls over. It's unintentionally comical. There are obvious flaws in the stage designs as well. Sometimes you'll attempt to climb a ladder, only to have you Meg say something like, "I can't go here". Why the [expletive] not, [expletive]!? In terms of graphics and sound, the Ring isn't so bad. The people models are smoothly animated, and the excellent music gets pretty intense at times. The dialogue is conveyed almost entirely through scrolling text, but I didn't mind because it was so easy to read. Hardcore Ring fans can bump up the grade by a letter (at their own discretion), but everyone else should pass up this survival horror debacle. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Tokyo Xtreme Racer		Grade: C
	Publisher: Crave (1999) Reviewed: 2007/5/19 Rating: Everyone

It's nothing spectacular, but this good-looking racer has amassed a cult following over the years. In the early days of 3D racing games, most titles tried to offer a lot of environments and features at the expense of a smooth ride (Need for Speed comes to mind). But this game takes a simple concept and runs with it for all it's worth. Tokyo Xtreme limits the action to night racing on a circular Toyko highway. I remember playing a demo of this "back in the day" and being seriously impressed with its smooth framerate. Actually, the game still looks exceptionally good today. As you weave through the sparse traffic under a moonlit sky, the controls are tight and responsive. Realistic lighting illuminates the roadways and buildings add a bit of color. The game's main quest mode involves driving around the loop challenging rivals who appear every few minutes. The actual racing format is quite original. Both you and your rival have a meter, and the further one of you is ahead, the faster the other guy's meter will drain. It's a cool concept, and things can get pretty intense when your meter starts getting low. Jostling for position is fun, but should you and a rival take different routes at a fork, the race is declared a draw, which is really lame. Winnings can be used to upgrade your car or purchase a new one, and there numerous ways to tweak you current ride. I enjoyed the night racing aspect of the game, but I do have a few issues with Tokyo Xtreme. First off, the scenery is awfully repetitive, with precious few landmarks to catch your eye. I'm not crazy about the idea of "finding" your next rival, because it feels like a waste of time. You car tends to "bounce" off the guardrails, but that's probably fair considering this highway has some ridiculous sharp turns. Although most stretches of open road are straight, the sense of speed is modest at best. A split-screen mode is included, but it's not as fun as the single-player mode. The techno soundtrack is a mixed bag, and I found most of the tracks to be lousy. Finally, could the text in the manual be any smaller?! Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a worthwhile title for Dreamcast fanatics, but it never quite reaches the level of greatness. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 player

Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Crave (2000) Reviewed: 2007/5/19 Rating: Everyone

The first Tokyo Xtreme Racer showed potential, and I was hoping this sequel would push it over the top. Tokyo Xtreme 2 is a slight improvement, but a good number of missteps prevent it from being an upper-tier Dreamcast title. Like the first game, you're limited to night racing on Toyko highways, but instead of one loop, you have a whole network of highways to drive between. The scenery is more varied as well, with more distinctive landmarks, wild-looking tunnels, and expansive suspension bridges. If you thought the first game was too easy, you'll be happy to know that the rivals in this game are far more aggressive, trying to bang you into the guardrail at every opportunity. The user interface is better organized, and the sense of speed is improved as well. And instead of having your race end in a "draw" when you take a wrong fork, the game warns you of splits in the road and tells you which direction to take. One new feature that I found a bit superfluous was the ability to customize your license plate - does anybody really care? Some of the other changes are actually a bit detrimental. I found it a bit harder to follow the road ahead, and I'm not sure if that's due to the increased speed or lower camera angle (maybe both). The brake lights of the cars ahead of you emit this big fuzzy red glow that looks awful. Finally, the split-screen mode has been axed altogether, so this is strictly a solo affair. Fans of the first game may find it worth the upgrade, but Tokyo Xtreme 2 didn't hold my attention for very long. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater		Grade: A
	Publisher: Activision (2000) Reviewed: 2001/8/16 Rating: Teen

Originally released for the Playstation in 1999, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater set a new standard for extreme sports games thanks to its innovative controls and stylish presentation. This version improves upon the original slightly, with sharper graphics and smoother edges. It takes a while get used to playing Tony Hawk with the Dreamcast controller since the analog stick isn't supported and there are only two shoulder buttons instead of four. It's not a major problem however, because once you get the hang of it you'll be pulling off spectacular stunts with ease. It's fun to unlock new environments in the addictive one-player career mode, and the two-player split screen provides terrific head-to-head competition. This edition of Tony Hawk is only a modest improvement over the Playstation version, but Dreamcast owners will be happy just to play this classic on their console. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 player

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2		Grade: A
	Publisher: Activision (2001) Reviewed: 2001/8/16 Rating: Teen

This fine sequel builds on the strengths of the original Tony Hawk Pro Skater game. The intro video is jaw-dropping, with professional boarders that seem to defy gravity. The game itself is just as fun as the original, but there's more of everything, including additional options, tricks, techniques, courses, skaters, and playing modes. You can even choose a female character this time. Pro Skater 2 is more challenging than the original, but the scores tend to run much higher. The graphics haven't changed too much, and I'm surprised there's no blood when you take a nasty spill. Locations include New York, Venice Beach, Philadelphia, and Mexico, and each contains its share of hidden areas and surprises. Not only is a create-a-player option included, but also a nifty create-a-skate-park feature as well (wow!). The new soundtrack is awesome, with tunes by Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy, and Papa Roach. With award-winning gameplay and ample replay value, Tony Hawk 2 proves itself a worthy sequel. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Toy Commander		Grade: C
	Publisher: Sega (1999) Reviewed: 2006/5/17 Rating: Everyone

Toy Commander that it's become a "cult classic" of sorts. Its imaginative premise lets you to control miniature toy vehicles on diverse missions around the rooms of a typical house. With planes, cars, and tanks, this game is designed to appeal to the little kid in us all. You'll switch on appliances, race other toys, or embark on various "search and destroy" missions. Each room is a miniature world in of itself, and you'll spot some subtle humor if you pay attention (was that a Sega Saturn in the attic?!). Toy Commander's tranquil soundtrack is a good fit for the surreal action, but as good as it looks on paper, I didn't find the game especially fun or compelling. Missions that pit you against little green army men are a challenge and searching for hidden items is fun, but stages that require the transport of objects and interaction with appliances border on tedious. In the racing stages, it's so hard to follow the tracks that you're better off following another vehicle instead. Toy Commander's control is generally good, but navigating tight areas is often problematic. There's a nice split screen mode that accommodates up to four players, but it can be hard to locate opponents because they are so small! This is not really my cup of tea, but if you find the premise behind Toy Commander intriguing, then by all means give it a try. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Trickstyle		Grade: C-
	Publisher: Acclaim (1999) Reviewed: 2001/7/12 Rating: Everyone

This was an impressive title when it was released at the Dreamcast launch in 1999. Although the futuristic graphics are still attractive today, Trickstyle shows its age with erratic controls and uneven gameplay. The game is set in 2099, when kids race around town on floating skateboards. The nine blocky characters wear some of the most ugly, tacky-looking outfits I've ever seen. You compete in a series of racing and challenge (trick) stages, but first you'll want to try the training exercises to get familiar with the tricks you'll need to master. Jumps and spins allow you to reach high places, "drills" let you smash through windows, and the speed luge lets you glide along rails. The courses themselves feature some wonderful scenery, providing ample opportunity to show off your stuff. Locations include London, Manhattan, and Tokyo, and they all look attractive and occasionally amazing. The smooth sensation of surfing on a cushion air is fun and sometimes even exhilarating. The courses are fairly well designed, although you'll often need to memorize them to take first place. The difficulty of the courses is very uneven. While some of the early courses required many retries, I was able to win some of the advanced runs on the first try. The control is average at best. Taking tight turns to be problematic, and it's hard to ride the rails. These problems are amplified in the challenge stages, where you're expected to pull off a series of tricks with precision. The futuristic music is appropriate, but somewhat unpleasant. Trickstyle is entertaining enough, but it's not a standout title. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Triggerheart Exelica (Import)		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Warashi (2007) Reviewed: 2007/8/4

I like my shooters like my women: Fast, vertical, and Japanese. I don't know what that means, but Triggerheart Exelica is definitely my type. On the surface, this looks like any other 2D shooter as you unleash torrents of missiles to sweep the screen of tanks and airships. Controlling a flying anime chick, you soar over sparsely detailed landscapes that you'll forget about as soon as you turn off the game. Still, the visuals have that smooth, arcade quality Dreamcast games are known for, and the soft, purple-tinged color schemes are easy on the eyes. Exelica's graphics may be forgettable, but its unorthodox gameplay is not. In addition to rapid-fire guns and bombs, you can send off a special beam that locks onto small enemy ships, giving you "control" of them. Once you "reel" them in, you can use them as a shield or whip them around and hurl them into groups of on-coming enemies! It's a tricky maneuver to master, but quite satisfying when done correctly. For bosses and ground-based enemies, this same mechanism acts as a "lock on" so you can zero in on weak spots. Destroyed foes release yellow corn kernels that you suck in for bonus points. You'll be faced with waves of enemy projectiles, but while they appear insurmountable at times, Triggerheart has the kindest collision detection I've ever seen, so don't give up and keep moving. Exelica's background music is simple but pleasant and unobtrusive. The menus are in English, and include a number of extra modes and configuration options. High scores are saved automatically, and rankings can be viewed from the main menu. Triggerheart Exelica is a nice twist on a classic genre, and when my posse tested it out, it was the highlight of the night. Upon outscoring a friend my trash-talking included "Don't worry Jonathan, you're still good at English games", causing him to hang his head in shame. If you're a shooter fan, you'll find it worth your time and money to track down this gem. Note: You'll need a special loader or mod chip to play Triggerheart Exelica on a North American Dreamcast system. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Typing of the Dead		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Sega (2000) Reviewed: 2001/2/18 Rating: Mature

Being a game collector, I HAD to have this game if only for the bizarre premise, but it turned out to be remarkably good! It's just like the House of the Dead 2 light gun game, except you type words and phrases to shoot the monsters. It sounds like a really bad idea, until you try it yourself! Not only is it surprisingly enjoyable, but you get the additional benefit of improving your typing skills. But don't get the wrong idea - this is no Mavis Beacon program. Words or phrases appear on top of each approaching monster, and each correct keystroke results in a hit, often blasting off an appendage. The last letter effectively kills the beast. The game provides plenty of instant gratification, briefly flashing a grade for each monster you kill. The words and phrases you have to type are entertaining in of themselves, and many are completely off-the-wall. Bosses spice up the action by adding additional challenges, like requiring you to answer questions. At the end of the game, you get a comprehensive evaluation of your typing skills, including letters per second, accuracy, special keys, reflexes, etc. The two-player mode is fun, and with keyboards going for $19, it's affordable too. Is the underlying game really much different from House of the Dead 2? Well the violence is a bit turned down; the zombies carry plungers instead of axes. The heroes run around with keyboards and Dreamcasts strapped to them, which looks hilarious. But the level designs look the same to me, so don't expect many surprises if you've already played through House of the Dead 2. I should also mention that this game seems to appeal to women - even my wife likes it. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Under Defeat (Import)		Grade: A-
	Publisher: G-Rev (2005) Reviewed: 2006/7/14

Okay, what's with the silly name? Was "Ass Kicked" or "Beaten Senseless" already taken? If that's supposed to be a translation, then I don't get it. Nevertheless, Dreamcast shooter fans owe it to themselves to track down this quality import. If you think you've seen everything the system can do graphically, you need to play Under Defeat. Visually, this blows away anything I've seen on the Playstation 2, much less the Dreamcast. It's a vertical helicopter shooter that lets you unleash mass destruction on military bases, bombers, and battleships. The objects and scenery are so meticulously rendered that many areas appear to be photo-realistic. It's the extraordinary explosions however that really steal the show. We've all seen particle effects in video games, but rarely used this effectively. From the brilliant initial blast to the streaming smoke left from flying debris, the eye candy is amazing. As my friend Scott observed, "Hey, look at that smoke - it looks like... smoke!" The underlying game is also impressive. Your rapid-fire cannon can be angled slightly left or right, allowing you to strafe enemies not directly in your path. You're also equipped with bombs, and can summon an "option" mechanism to fire by your side. Under Defeat is tough, but you're provided three continues and high scores are saved automatically. If the game has a fault, it's probably the emphasis on huge bosses with their long life meters. Still, this is an absolutely stunning shooter that's truly a "must have" for collectors. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Unreal Tournament		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Infogrames (2001) Reviewed: 2004/1/15 Rating: Mature (animated blood and gore)

After playing Quake III Arena, Unreal Tournament seemed like almost the same game. Both are on-line compatible, multi-player first-person shooters, and both provide a satisfying level of bloody violence. Unreal Tournament looks slightly more polished and high-tech than Quake III Arena, but both play nearly the same. I really like how in the space stages you can look out the windows and see spaceships and stars zooming by. I also enjoy the witty comments characters make as they blow each into oblivion. And if you thought the flying body parts of Quake were cool, you'll really appreciate how chunks of flesh actually bounce around in this game. Besides the standard weapons, you get a chainsaw and my favorite, a shrapnel-spraying Flak Cannon. Additional moves include a "taunt" and "wave", but I'm not sure how practical these are in battle. As with Quake III Arena, I'd strongly advise you to play this game with the Dreamcast keyboard and mouse, or else you'll be in for a world of hurt, my friend. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Urban Chaos		Grade: D+
	Publisher: Eidos (2000) Reviewed: 2004/9/17 Rating: Mature (animated violence, animated blood, strong language)

I hated this game initially, but after a while it began to grow on me. Urban Chaos is a 3D, free-roaming police adventure set in a dark, rainy, present-day city. You can play as a black woman or a white guy, and each has a unique storyline. The urban landscape effectively conveys a glum atmosphere with its trashy streets, boarded up windows, and graffiti-covered brick walls. The game's profanity-laced dialogue, along with the ability to drive a car around, gives the game a Grand Theft Auto vibe. In addition, the short missions often have minor side-quests which reminded me of Spiderman 2. The missions themselves are short and not particularly difficult. Initially there's a lot of hand-to-hand combat involved, but advanced missions feature weapons like machine guns and shotguns. I like how you don't necessary have to "kill" each enemy, but have the option of "arresting" them by disarming them down and applying handcuffs. This makes the battles far less repetitious than they may have been otherwise. In addition to wandering the streets, you'll be required to scale buildings and perform some death-defying leaps. A helpful radar display directs you to all relevant targets, but it never zeros in on exact locations. While this isn't necessarily a bad idea it terms of game design, it may confuse novice players. My main beef with Urban Chaos is its awkward control scheme, which borrows heavily from Eidos' flagship franchise, Tomb Raider. Pushing up causes you to move forward, no matter where the camera is situated. It's difficult enough to navigate around the city using this scheme, but aiming your kicks is especially problematic. The car driving aspect is equally stiff, and the car's movement tends to be erratic. Fortunately, aiming weapons is a breeze thanks to an easy auto-aiming mechanism. The graphics is Urban Chaos are a little rough, but since the game takes place under the cover of night, its visual flaws are not glaring. The dramatic music is quite intense, and the sound effects are also effective. There are always tin cans rolling around in the streets, and cats and sirens can often be heard in the distance. Unfortunately the clips of voice dialogue, which often border on silly, don't sound as clean as they should be. You can actually hear annoying "tick" sounds between the sound bites. Urban Chaos still manages to be mildly entertaining despite its shortcomings. If you can get a handle on the control scheme, you may find its dark world a worthwhile place to visit. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Vampire Chronicles For Matching Service (Import)		Grade: A
	Publisher: Capcom (2000) Reviewed: 2006/5/17 Rating: Teen

Can someone please tell me why, in God's name, was this not released in America? This terrific package combines all three Vampire Chronicle games (known as Darkstalkers in America) into one of wildest and most distinctive 2D fighters you'll ever lay eyes on. It's an occult-themed one-on-one brawler with a penchant for the absurd. The wide range of stylish, supernatural characters include traditional monsters like the vampire Dimitri, the Frankenstein clone Gollum (Japanese name), and the werewolf Gallon. The insect-like Q-Bee, the robot Phobos, and hopping corpse Lei-Lie represent some of the more bizarre participants. Most male gamers, however, seem to favor the ultra-sexy succubus Morrigan and her younger sister Lilith. Upon starting a new game, you can select from three modes (Vampire, Hunter, and Savior), each of which offer a slightly different experience. The action is exciting, frantic, and completely faithful to the arcade. There are no "juggle" moves, but I like how you can attack opponents on the ground. You'll thumb may become sore after a while, but it's well worth it. Chronicle's graphics are a work of art. The backgrounds are imaginative and atmospheric, depicting a host of weird and spooky locations. The fighters themselves employ some truly outrageous attacks that will cause your opponent to gasp, "What the [expletive] was that?!" Some of the "out of nowhere" attacks from shape-changers like Pyron and Anakaris are admittedly cheap. An options screen lets you adjust the difficulty, and you'll definitely want to crank it up from the two-star default. Even the game's jazzy background music is outstanding. In case you're wondering what the "for matching service" part of the title means, it indicates the game originally had on-line capability in Japan. You may have missed Vampire Chronicles the first time around, but you can still enjoy it with the help of software (like DC-X), which allows you play imports on your North American console. If you crave 2D fighters, you'll want to track this one down. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Vanishing Point		Grade: F
	Publisher: Acclaim (2000) Reviewed: 2002/2/2

Vanishing Point is another really pathetic racer for the Dreamcast. The vehicles look realistic, but only two are available from the start: A sports car and an SUV. The handling is absolutely deplorable - these cars can't keep their tires on the road! You slide and fishtail all over the place from start to finish, and this isn't even a rally game! There are forty cars and nice variety of tracks that you WON'T want to open up. There's an Internet option, but if you don't like the single player game, I don't hold much hope for the online action. The music is also terrible. This is one to avoid. NOTE: I have been advised by readers that if you can persevere the putrid early stages, Vanishing Point does improve substantially. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Vigilante 8 - 2nd Offense		Grade: F
	Publisher: Activision (1999) Reviewed: 2000/9/25 Rating: Teen

What the heck happened here? I really enjoyed the first Vigilante 8 (Playstation), and this edition has some excellent graphics and original battle locations. So why can't I control my freakin' car?!? Neither the digital nor analog controls can prevent you from severely over-steering your vehicle, and that really stinks. And what's up with the collision detection? You can pass through some of the fences and buildings like a ghost! The futuristic "hover" power-up is an unwelcome feature, as it makes targeting enemies even more difficult. And those attack-from-above, unavoidable weapons are really a bad idea. On the positive side, the vehicles look great, and realistically take damage. Some of the battlefields, like the haunted Louisiana Bayou, are extremely unique. Too bad the pathetic control takes away the fun. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Virtua Athlete		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Sega (1999) Reviewed: 2001/7/12 Rating: Everyone

Virtua Athlete is similar to Konami's Track and Field for the Playstation, and it makes an awesome four-player party game. There are only seven events, and they include shot put, javelin, long jump, high jump, hurdles, and two running events. The stadium backgrounds are nicely detailed, and the athletes are smoothly animated, but boy do these guys look silly. First off, it looks like they're all wearing thongs! Next, they run like a bunch of pansies! My friend Johnathan looked on in disbelief as he said "That looks SO GAY." It's hard not to laugh at this game. Before each event, there are some quick instructions flashed on the screen. The controls are simple, usually involving tapping two buttons and pressing a third at the correct time. The trajectory meters are numeric only (opposed to graphical), making it difficult to judge them very well. There's not much lag time between events, and you can breeze through the game in just a few minutes. While I enjoyed the first six events, the final event is pure torture. It's the 1500-meter sprint, but it feels like 15 miles. You really need to pace yourself. If you sprint ahead, you'll find soon find yourself languishing in last place. Virtua Athlete has a unique feature that let you build your own athlete and storing him to VMU, which is pretty neat. Overall this game is mediocre in many ways, but it's an absolute riot if you have four players. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Virtua Fighter 3tb		Grade: C
	Publisher: Sega (1999) Reviewed: 2002/7/31 Rating: Teen

I don't like the title of this game. One reader informed me that the "tb" in Virtua Fighter 3tb stands for "team battle". How in the heck was I supposed to figure that out? Virtua Fighter 3tb isn't bad, but it suffers in comparison to other flashy DC fighters like Soul Calibur or Dead or Alive 2. In fact, VF3tb has long been regarded as the redheaded stepchild of DC fighting games. The graphics alone will probably scare a lot of people off. The angular haircuts and stiff movements make this look more like a Playstation Tekken game. And let's not forget the real test of graphic quality in a game like this: How good-looking are the babes? Well I'm sorry to report that the obligatory blonde femme fatale is a real dog. She looks like she fell off the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. The stages are more impressive, featuring platforms you can get knocked off of. We're talking about rooftops, subway platforms, floating rafts, and other uneven raised surfaces. The scenery looks terrific, and the "ring out" possibilities keep the tension high. In terms of pure gameplay, VF3tb is no slouch. The buttons are punch, kick, guard, and evade. The emphasis on defense is sure to appeal to the strategy-minded gamer. The action is a bit sluggish compared to other fighters, but the fighter movements are smooth. One interesting new feature is the "first person" camera angle, but as it turns out, it's pretty worthless. And who did the announcing in this game, Marv Albert? Virtua Fighter fans will force themselves to like this game, but in truth, this is not a standout Dreamcast fighter. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Virtua Tennis		Grade: A+
	Publisher: Sega (2000) Reviewed: 2000/8/16 Rating: Everyone

Just when you though Sega Sports was running out of steam, they release the first great Tennis game in AGES. And when I say ages, I'm not exaggerating! You can go all the way back to Activision's 1982 Tennis game for the last truly fun Tennis title. What's even more surprising is how simple Virtua Tennis is to play; there are only two buttons: shot and lob! The key to this game is positioning, and it's amazing how much control you have over your hits. You control the aim, strength, and can even apply spin! As you would expect from the Dreamcast, the graphics are smooth and life-like. You can choose between eight actual tennis players (all men). From a distance they look great, but close ups reveal faces that resemble Frankenstein with Chewbacca teeth. The background graphics and sound are fine but you won't notice them because they take a backseat to the outstanding gameplay. There are several modes, including 4-player doubles matches and a tournament mode which is full of fun mini-games. Here's something you might not notice: when you're playing the game, check out your VMU screen. You can watch the game on the VMU also!! It may not be practical, but it looks amazing! No question about it: Virtua Tennis IS the best tennis video game EVER, and easily one of the most thrilling multi-player games of all time. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

WWF Attitude		Grade: D
	Publisher: Acclaim (1999) Reviewed: 2001/6/27 Rating: Teen

This clunky wrestling game is pretty mediocre by Dreamcast standards. Over 40 of your favorites are here, including The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kain, and the Undertaker. Each wrestler has a dramatic introduction, but most tend to run too long. The graphics are a disappointment. The polygon count of the wrestlers is pretty low, making them look plastic and artificial. Their movements are fairly smooth, but poor collision detection mars the action as body parts pass through each other on a regular basis. The instruction book does a poor job of explaining the moves and various meters, and matches often turn into punching and kicking contests. Soundwise, the shouts from the crowd are almost as idiotic as the two-man commentary. There are a tremendous number of options which all you to create you own wrestlers, customize the arenas, and even create your own Pay Per View event. WWF Attitude is not a very good game, and only wrestling fans should take a look. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

World Series Baseball 2K1		Grade: F
	Publisher: Sega (2000) Reviewed: 2001/4/14 Rating: Everyone

This is one gorgeous baseball game with extremely limited gameplay. The graphics are excellent and occasionally stunning, with players that move fluidly and mimic their major league counterparts. Close-ups reveal actual faces that move and even chew bubble gum. The stadiums look just like the real thing, and even the crowd looks impressive. On the downside, the players have a robotic look to them, and the creases in their uniforms are accentuated too much, which looks odd. There are some neat animations including players blowing bubbles, players congratulating each other, pitchers using the rosenbag, and catchers that visit the mound. The pitcher/batter duel is streamlined so there's no pauses between pitches. The pitching and batting controls are completely different from the traditional style, but it's a welcome change once you get the hang of it. World Series 2K1 is fast and easy to play, but lacks the control of ALL other baseball games. Fielding is automatic - that's right - you only control the throws, and even those are unresponsive at times. Not being able to control the fielders will devastate most baseball fans, who will really miss not being able to dive for balls. Other indications that this is a first-generation game include fielders that get a late jump on the ball and don't always make sound decisions. There are too many slow grounders and short pop-ups, and pitchers field way far too many batted balls. Automatic replays rarely capture the best angle, and unrealistic, 529 foot homeruns are all too common. The one-man commentary is sparse. Beware of the incomplete instruction manual, which fails to mention of how to perform basic actions like bunting or aiming your pitch. This game probably should not have been released. Better luck next year! © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 2 players

World Series Baseball 2K2		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Sega (2001) Reviewed: 2001/8/26 Rating: Everyone

Last year Sega got caught with their pants down, inexplicably releasing an incomplete baseball game with no fielder control. This year I figured they'd come back strong with a robust, polished game with bells and whistles out the whazoo, but it didn't take me long to start picking this game apart. For an arcade-style baseball game, World Series 2K2 doesn't have any glaring flaws, but it does have a huge number of glitches and minor problems. First, the ball moves too quickly off the bat, making it difficult to flag down grounders or stretch a hit into a double, and outfielders can throw out runners they would never have caught in real life. Players sometimes forget to reach for balls or tag runners, and if they're running away towards the fence, they'll catch the ball with their backs! I actually saw a ball that bounced on the ground ruled a fly out! Pitchers field too many hits, and every play at the plate is a head-on collision. The single man commentary is incredibly boring, never adds anything to the gameplay, and often lags behind the action. Sometimes he's just plain wrong, like the time he said we were at the "half way point of the game" - in the ninth inning! And there's absolutely no drama for home runs. Graphically, the player bodies are modeled well, but their faces don't resemble their real-life counterparts at all. The crowd looks like cardboard cutouts, and the dugouts are completely empty. I think this game came out of the oven a little early. But despite all of these problems, a funny thing happened to me: I couldn't stop playing this game! I was won over by the easy-to-play, fast paced arcade action. The animation is smooth, and the stadiums look great. Thanks to the simple controls and user-friendly menu interface, I found this game strangely addicting despite its numerous flaws. In fact, I prefer this over any of the PS2 baseball games out there. And what other baseball game offers online play? © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Worms Armageddon		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Microprose (1999) Reviewed: 2003/6/4 Rating: Everyone

I originally trashed Worms Armageddon for its steep learning curve, awful one player mode, and the fact that you had to pass around one controller to play the multiplayer variations (for reasons unknown). While all are valid complaints, there is much more to Worms than meets the eye, and you really can't question the tried-and-true multiplayer gameplay. Versions of this popular game have been available for most platforms over the past few years, where it's built a reputation as a wacky party game. It's all about two or more teams of worms trying to wipe each other out using a wide variety of weapons. It's a turn-based strategy game, but it has an arcade look with colorful 2D battlefields. The worms are humorously animated, but they're all the same color, which is confusing at first. I love the imaginative names like "Rattler", "Boneman", and "Dr. Spangler". The variety of weapons is what makes the game so compelling, ranging from the conventional (bazooka, grenades, uzis), to unusual (dragon punch, blow torch), to the truly bizarre (exploding sheep, old woman). A cute little animation accompanies each type of attack, and these range from amusing to hilarious. Unfortunately, the 46-page instruction book is worthless as far as explaining the controls, so figuring out how to use each weapon requires a lot of experimentation. The sound is probably the best aspect of the game, with high-pitched worm voices and comical lines like "run for it!" and "I'm dead meat!" The background music is also first-rate, ranging from tranquil mood music to dramatic action themes. There are three basic modes of play: training, one-player, and multi-player. The training mode will teach you how to use each weapon, but it's overly difficult and there's far too much loading. The one-player mode provides a fair challenge, but the computer teams require you to wait forever while they "think" about their next move (about 20 seconds per move!). Finally, there's the multi-player mode, which is really the only reason to play this game, even if you do inexplicably have to pass around the same controller. I remember magazines criticizing this controller problem FIVE YEARS AGO and it's STILL not fixed!! But despite this flaw, Worms Armageddon and a few friends is always good for an evening of wacky hijinx and madcap hilarity. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Zombie Revenge		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Sega (1999) Reviewed: 2000/9/9 Rating: Mature (17+) Animated blood, gore, violence

This arcade-style game is a blast to play initially, but the linear gameplay hurts its replay value. Zombie Revenge looks and sounds like a third-person House of the Dead. The levels and monsters are extremely detailed, and the action never lets up. Disgusting zombies and spectacular bosses lurk around every corner, and some are truly scary-looking. The game plays like a 3D Streets of Rage, and you can battle hand-to-hand or use weapons. There's a ton of ammo around, so you'll be pumping slugs into anything that moves. Zombie Revenge is fun, especially with two players. The controls are simple and responsive, and there are even some secret rooms to discover. The main problem with this game is that you have to go through the same levels each time you play. This means you'll get sick and tired of the first level long before you lay your eyes on the later ones. Yes, the game claims to have branching paths, but you'll need to play for a while to reach them. There are some extra modes that give you extra firepower (or none at all), and there's even a VMU game that lets you "train" a character and use him or her in a special fight mode. Don't get too excited though, because these VMU games (a fishing game and a memory game) are too simple to keep your attention for long. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players