M.U.S.H.A.		Grade: A
	Publisher: Seismic (1990) Reviewed: 2003/12/22

This old Genesis shooter is a "holy grail" of sorts, having achieved near legendary status while being extremely hard to locate. It took me forever to finally find a decent copy on Ebay for a reasonable price, but now that I've played it, I can see what all the fuss is about. M.U.S.H.A. (Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armor) is certainly one of the best shooters you can get for the Genesis, and easily the best of the vertical variety. What's so special about it? Well, the controls are surprisingly complex, the graphics are terrific, and you can amass some serious firepower. You control a giant flying mech, and your main weapon is rapid-fire shots that can be powered up to the width of your ship. Collecting icons will augment your firepower with special weapons, which include lasers, missiles, and rotating spheres. Touching an icon that matches your current special weapon will augment its power up to four levels. On top of that, you can earn "options" by catching power cells that fall from certain targets. These "options" take the form of small pods that fly alongside your ship and provide extra firepower. But wait - there's more! By using the A button, you can position these options in six different formations, including forward, 3-way, back, reverse, roll, and "free", which puts them into a "search and destroy" mode. You can fire everything at once by simply holding B and C, and can even adjust your speed via the pause menu. The graphics are terrific, with large, detailed enemies and no slow-down even when things get crazy. Unlike other shooters where you see the same enemies over and over again, MUSHA seems to have an inexhaustible supply of new targets. Many of the bosses are huge faces grafted into high-tech machinery, and they look wild. The scenery is also commendable. The first stage has traditional Japanese temples moving on a network of rails over the ocean below - very original. Another stage features a floor that drops out, revealing a gaping chasm below. Scaling is used to good effect in several parts of the game - very impressive for 1990. The music is highly regarded by some, but I thought it was about average. Overall, if you're a serious shooter fan, you owe it to yourself to track down a copy of this engrossing game. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Madden '92		Grade: B
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1991) Reviewed: 2001/1/8

When I think of classic Madden, this is the game that comes to mind. You know you're in for a treat when you hear that weird, funky electronic music kick in during the intro screen. The gameplay isn't much different from the first Madden, but the number of options has gone through the roof! Now you can select from all 28 professional teams (plus an All-Madden team) and a ton of plays. Weather conditions, including the white asphalt "snow" and rain, really affect gameplay. You can play head-to-head or with a teammate, and players can be injured or substituted. Other nice features include tipped-passes, unsportsman-like conduct calls for late hits, and an easy-to-use instant replay feature. The impressive 80-page(!) manual contains not only complete instructions for playing the game, but also descriptions of all the formations and pages of team statistics! Madden '92 was made after the season where the referee's calls could be overturned, and this feature is included. Of course, there's no way two people playing against each other are ever going to agree to overturn a call! The game has a wicked sense of humor as well. When a player is injured, a ambulance comes speeding out onto the field, running over several other players in the process! © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Madden '93		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1992) Reviewed: 2000/1/20

Madden '93 was hardly the upgrade it was made out to be. Besides a few minor improvements and a handful of new features, this is the same as Madden '92. The best new feature is the battery backup, making it easier to play a whole season. Eight all-time great teams are also included. Madden '93 was the first football game to make a big deal out of the coin-toss, and unfortunately not the last. Other additions include a QB stop clock play, a no-huddle offense, a crowd behind the goalposts, and a few new animations. The play calling screen is different but not really an improvement. The worst new feature is the low-quality digitized John Madden voice, which will make you wince. The crowd noise is also irritating. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Madden '94		Grade: B
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1993) Reviewed: 2000/1/4

Madden '94 was the first Madden game to be endorsed by the NFL, believe it or not. It also introduced some major new features, like faster gameplay, larger players, 80 teams, and support for the four-player multi-tap. Minor additions include a reverse angle replay and an expanded playbook. This game was also the first to let you "flip" your plays - a major innovation. The graphics are a mixed bag. Yes, the players are larger and look more realistic, but they are almost too big, and tend to crowd the screen. Also, they run like fruitcakes shaking their butts from side to side. The running is easier in this edition, and tackling is harder. The biggest improvement of all is the speed in which you can select your plays. The sound is better but still rough, and you still get John Madden's grainy commentary. He loves to say "boom" every now and then after a big hit. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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Save mechanism: Save option? Battery 1-4 players

Madden '95		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1994) Reviewed: 2000/1/4

This was the first Madden game to be endorsed by both the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The graphics look very realistic - the players are properly proportioned without the black outlines, and the animation is improved dramatically. But the biggest innovation is the elimination of the passing windows! Now the receivers are each assigned a button, just like the modern football video games. New moves include straight-arms and high steps. This was the first Madden which let you execute two-point conversions. The sound is crystal clear, and the game moves along at a brisk pace. My friend Eric and I actually jumped when the referee shot a gun (!?!) signaling the end of a quarter. This is truly a great football game! © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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Save mechanism: Save option? Battery 1-4 players

Madden '96		Grade: D+
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1995) Reviewed: 2000/1/4

Believe it or not, Madden '96 was step backwards for the series. Yes the fields look better than ever, with realistic-looking grass and end zone insignias. There are some cool new moves including laterals, fair catches, and over-to-top dives. But the gameplay is way too fast, making the game virtually unplayable! There are other flaws as well. This game brags that it is the first to feature left-handed quarterbacks. Yes, you can now control a left-handed Steve Young. But he's also African American, just like every other player in this game (including the kickers)! If you can overlook that, maybe you can also overlook the fact that tackled players look like squashed bugs. This may be the worst Madden game ever. How the mighty have fallen! © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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Save mechanism: Save option? Battery 1-4 players

Madden '97		Grade: A
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1995) Reviewed: 2000/1/20

After the disastrous Madden 96, I was glad to see the series return to form in 1997. The gameplay has been slowed down (thankfully) so players move at a more reasonable pace. In addition, the graphics have been enhanced with sharper-looking players and realistic animation sequences. As usual, there are more options in this game than you would ever need, but they're always nice to have. New features include player fatigue, the ability to save your greatest plays, and a five receiver passing mode. The quality of the sound effects, including Madden's commentary, is beyond reproach. I couldn't find any obvious flaws in this Madden '97. This may be the best football game ever made for the Genesis. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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Save mechanism: Save option? Battery 1-4 players

Mazin Saga		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Sega (1993) Reviewed: 2006/11/15

Like most futuristic games, Mazin Saga's intro screens convey an ominous tale. In case you missed it, the earth was thrust into a holocaust in 1999 after being attacked with biological weapons from another dimension. Have you noticed how game developers of the past always assumed something absolutely catastrophic was going to occur in 1999? Being more sophisticated in 2006, we now know that the future is almost always boring. Mazin Saga is saddled with an idiotic name and premise, but as a side-scrolling brawler, it has teeth. You control some sort of humanoid robot who bears a striking resemblance to my old "Mazinga" Shogun Warrior toy (remember those?). As you battle clawed warriors and shape-changing mutants, you'll employ the standard punches, jump-kicks, and "special" attacks. The characters are a bit small, and their black outlines look cheesy. The gameplay is effective however, thanks to tight controls, interesting stages, and gigantic bosses. The burning post-apocalyptic cities look beautiful, and scenes like India in the snow are pretty imaginative. The bosses tend to assume huge skeletal forms, and most can't even fit on the screen. With multiple animated joints, their movements are both fluid and freaky. Just don't rest after beating one of these titans, because next you're thrust into a one-on-one battle against a rival robot (Street Fighter 2 style!). Mazin Saga packs a serious punch, and I'm surprised how this has remained under the radar for so long. If side-scrolling brawlers are your thing, you'll want to hunt this one down. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Mercs		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Sega (1991) Reviewed: 2000/5/21

Now THIS is some serious arcade action! Mercs is a totally fun and addicting vertical-scrolling shooter. It's a lot like Rambo, or Front Line for you classic game veterans. You boldly advance into enemy territory, shooting and bombing the bad guys while grabbing bonuses and power-ups. This is one of those games that's instantly fun to play, with bullets and bodies flying all over the place, and there are hordes of enemies to mow down. Besides manning weapons like machine guns and flamethrowers, you can also commandeer enemy vehicles. You can level trees and villages, creating total mayhem. With bosses like planes and tanks, your mission won't be easy, but you'll have a blast. The sound effects are a bit weak, but the background music is good. I did detect some noticeable slowdown when the screen gets busy. Mercs is for one player only (too bad), but there are two unique playing modes: arcade and original. The arcade mode gives you continues, and the original mode lets you choose your character. If you like destructive arcade action, this game is for you. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player only

Midnight Resistance		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Data East (1990) Reviewed: 2002/4/14

Midnight Resistance really got my adrenaline pumping! It's one of those rapid-fire side-scrollers where you blow away wave after wave of nondescript bad guys. You control a soldier with mad firepower. Enemies literally go up in smoke when shot, but they often drops keys that you can use to buy new weapons. Before each stage, you can choose from a number of weapons and power-ups. My favorite is the three-way shot that fires large spheres - power that bad boy up and you're nearly unstoppable. There are also some useful secondary weapons like guided missiles or "rain" attacks. Unfortunately, after you use a continue, you're back to the standard gun, which means you won't last long. The enemies are mainly generic soldiers, but you'll also face some large vehicles like tanks and fighter jets. The large mechanical bosses are relatively easy to beat thank goodness. Part of what makes Midnight Resistance so fun is the controls. By holding the B button, you can fire in one direction while running in another. Another control option allows you to use B to rotate your fire, but I found that needlessly confusing. While Midnight Resistance is undeniably fun, it is less impressive technically. The graphics are varied and colorful, but slowdown occurs quite a bit. In some stages, the game pauses to draw the next screen, which is pretty lame. But those problems wouldn't keep me from recommending this intense shooter. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Mortal Kombat		Grade: B
	Publisher: Acclaim (1993) Reviewed: 2000/2/11

This may be the most controversial video game in history. Not only did it feature excessive blood that flew whenever you hit your opponent's face, but it showcased ridiculously brutal finishing moves such as decapitations and ripping out spines. Kids couldn't get enough, but parents wanted it banned. I admit the game is pretty gory, but the Genesis graphics aren't realistic enough to freak anybody out. Actually, the blood is "off" by default in this cartridge, but can be easily enabled using a code. The SNES version didn't have any blood at all, so nobody bought it. Some of the fatalities here are a lot of fun to watch, but you have to hit some pretty complicated button combinations to get them to work. Besides the blood, this game has a few other things going for it. Unlike Street Fighter, these fighters were created from digitized images, so they look more realistic. Instead of moving the joystick back to block, there's a special button for that purpose (the Start button). The boss, Goro, is a hulking, four-armed monster. Mortal Kombat is fun to play, but a bit stiff compared to Street Fighter 2. The seven fighters each have a handful of special moves, and the background graphics have a dark, medieval look that's very appealing. The voice synthesis is pretty bad (typical of the Genesis), but the music is outstanding. The SNES version looked sharper, but Mortal Kombat with no blood is like watching a slasher flick edited for TV. What's the point? © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Mortal Kombat II		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Acclaim (1994) Reviewed: 2000/2/11

The second edition of this gory fighting game is a major improvement, starting with the fact that you get twelve fighters instead of seven. The graphics and sound are noticeably better, and the backgrounds are more detailed and some are even interactive. Thankfully, you don't need a code to activate the blood in this game. The gameplay is slightly improved, with more responsive control and support for the 6-button Genesis controller. This is nearly identical the SNES version, but the graphics and sound are a step down. This was the peak of the Mortal Kombat series. Beginning with MK3, it began to go downhill. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Ms. Pac-Man		Grade: C
	Publisher: Tengen (1991) Reviewed: 2006/5/3

I remember picking this up on sale at Toys R Us in the early 90's, thinking it was going to be a big hit at my house (especially with a girlfriend and little sister around). But nobody ever played it much. Ms. Pac-Man is an early example of a publisher releasing a classic game on a far more advanced platform, yet still managing to botch it up. How many times have we seen that before? From the look of the options menu, this should have been the ultimate Ms. Pac-Man game. You get two-player simultaneous modes, four skill levels (including "crazy"), and you can enable the Pac-Man "booster", allowing you to zip around the mazes at twice the speed! There are four sets of mazes (36 total) including arcade, alternate, extra large, and mini. You can even select your starting stage! The graphics are slightly more detailed than the arcade version, and the sound effects, music, and intermissions are faithful to the original coin-op. So what's the problem? It's the control, man - the control!! Ms. Pac-Man's directional movements are extremely touchy and unforgiving to say the least. Almost every time you die, it's because the defective controls sent you off in the wrong direction. The Genesis controller is definitely no substitute for a good joystick. There's another issue regarding the two-player simultaneous play. Since all the mazes (except mini) scroll up and down, when the players spread out, one tends to scroll off and is forced to play "blind". Despite its flaws, there are some terrific variations in this cartridge that you won't find elsewhere. The new mazes are well designed, and the boost option allows you to be super aggressive and clear out each maze in a hurry. But if you ever wondered why this cartridge never made much of a splash, now you know. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Mutant League Football		Grade: C-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1993) Reviewed: 2001/1/31

The concept behind this game is wild - I wonder why there haven't there been more games like this? Mutant League Football features a league of monsters playing on battle-torn fields. Players take the form of trolls, robots, aliens, skeletons, and super-humans. Each type of mutant has strengths and weaknesses, and the 16 teams have names like "Psycho Slashers" and "Screaming Evils". The game is played like Madden, but there are only seven players on each side, which allows the characters to be larger and more detailed. The graphics are only fair, and the choppy animation makes it tough to tell what's going on. The imaginative fields provide obstacles like pits, rocks, and mines, but these are more annoying than fun. The best part about this game is the audibles. These trick plays allow you to do crazy things like put dynamite in the ball, use a rocket pack, confuse the other team, or kill the referee (literally). You have limited use of these, so you'll want to use them strategically. The gameplay itself is amusing, but definitely not up to Madden standards. The passing windows are especially confusing to use. Sometimes you think you're throwing a bomb to the receiver in the right window, only to discover he's just two yards to your left! The non-stop grinding music, coupled with each coach's indecipherable gibberish make this game sonically annoying. Still, it is a nice change of pace from the standard football action. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Mutant League Hockey		Grade: F
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1994) Reviewed: 2003/3/23

Like Mutant League Football that came before it, Mutant League Hockey has a terrific premise but comes up short in terms of gameplay. The teams are bizarre monster squads playing on rinks with scattered obstacles and traps including fire pits. In addition to the standard hockey moves, punches and weapons allow you to beat your opponents into bloody pulps. Unfortunately, there's a price to be paid for these extra gimmicks, which is evident in the choppy scrolling, poor frame rate, and awful animation. All the monsters look pretty much look the same, and when things get hectic you can't tell what's going on. The control is deplorable, and most shots on the goal aren't even close. And when the puck does end up in the goal, you'll wonder how it got there. The passing, which was tweaked to perfection in NHL 94, is completely inaccurate here. To be frank, I'm shocked at how bad this game turned out, considering EA's normal hockey games are known for their unmatched playability and control. I can appreciate the irreverent, macabre presentation of the menu screens, but it's all just window dressing for a really bad game. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Mystical Fighter		Grade: F
	Publisher: Dreamworks (1992) Reviewed: 2006/12/10

This isn't a well-known game, and there's a perfectly good reason for that. Compared to similar side-scrolling brawlers like Streets of Rage or Final Fight, Mystical Fighter is an utter embarrassment. Despite donning an ancient Japanese theme, the characters are bizarre and the scenery is as static as it is boring. You'll fight a lot of big, fat sumos dressed in traditional garb, and weird, skinny Golem-like creatures. We all know how old 2D fighters tend to recycle the same characters in different color palettes, but Mystical Fighter takes this concept to the extreme. The fighting action is as shallow as it is repetitive. In addition to standard kicks and punches, there are a few special moves, including the Blanka-inspired rolling attack, and a "spin throw" which lets you execute a silly helicopter-like spin. The controls are crisp and the animation is smooth, but the gameplay is easy and unsatisfying. The modern soundtrack sounds terribly inappropriate for a game like this. Mystical Fighter is just one of those oddball titles that probably never should have seen the light of day. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

NBA Action 95		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Sega (1994) Reviewed: 2008/3/11

The NBA really was at its height in 1994, with huge stars like Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwan, Michael Jordan, Scotty Pippen, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Shawn Kemp, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, and the list goes on. At the time, NBA Action '95 was forced to take a backseat to the stellar NBA Live 95 (Electronic Arts), but in retrospect this game isn't bad at all. If nothing else, it keeps you honest by forcing you to play defense and take good shots. You can't drive the lane at will, and garbage shots are consistently blocked with authority (as Marv Albert would say). So when you do get the rare chance to slam the ball down, it's all the more satisfying. NBA Action's graphics are average at best. The court is displayed from an isometric viewpoint, and when you cross half court it rotates briefly in a somewhat disconcerting manner. The wooden floor doesn't look so hot, the crowd is static, and your six-foot bench looks hilarious with those five guys squeezed together on it. The players on the floor don't look very distinct, and they all appear to be the same size! They're nicely animated though, especially when performing lay-ups or emphatic slam-dunks. The ball movement is far less realistic, as it moves like a bullet and tends to get lost in the crowd. The controls are responsive but there's a learning curve if you're used to the EA games. This is definitely a defensive-minded game, and three-point shots are few and far between. When playing against the CPU, keep a player under the basket to prevent him from driving the lane. NBA Action '95 has its share of quirks, like when the ball transforms into a green apple for no discernable reason (what the?). Like other 16-bit basketball games, the CPU almost always hits from "downtown" during the final seconds of the period. Barkley and Jordan are missing due to some bizarre licensing issues, but I'm really shocked that David Robinson isn't included, considering he headlined Sega's David Robinson's Supreme Court in 1992. Marv Albert provides some excellent, albeit sparse commentary with familiar lines like "he picked his pocket" and "their shooting woes continue!" Unfortunately there's little pageantry, and the half time show only consists of stats and a shot chart. It lacks the fast pacing and fluid motion of NBA Live, but NBA Action is still worthwhile for basketball fans looking for a different brand of 16-bit basketball action. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NBA Jam		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Acclaim (1994) Reviewed: 1999/11/13

This two-on-two arcade basketball game was originally released on the Super Nintendo, where it was a runaway hit. The Genesis can't quite reproduce the sharp graphics and clear voice samples of the SNES version, but it's close enough. I noticed it was easier to steal the ball in this version, which gives the defense a much-needed boost. The main problem I have with this game is the control. The Genesis controller just isn't designed for this type of game. Sure, you only need three buttons, but these need to be pressed in combination with each other. The SNES shoulder buttons were really the key. Anyway, if you can put up with the awkward control, this isn't a bad game. The action is fast and the dunks are ridiculously spectacular. But if you have an SNES, stick with that version. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1-4 players

NBA Live 95		Grade: A
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1994) Reviewed: 2006/6/17

Simply put, NBA Live 95 is one of the greatest sports titles of all time. After NBA Jam (Acclaim, 1993) raised the bar for sports games, EA wisely rebuilt their basketball engine from the ground up. The result is a quantum leap forward, with a better camera angle, lifelike graphics, frenetic gameplay, and a plethora of customization options. The new diagonal/30-degree perspective makes the court appear more expansive and alleviates the problem of players getting "bunched up". Live is not especially realistic, but it certainly is fun. Before each game, you're treated to a dramatic starting lineup introduction as digitized photos are displayed. The action is fast and fluid, with plenty of fast breaks, alley-oops, banks off the glass, razzle-dazzle slam-dunks, and spectacular missed dunks. The jump-pass is an awesome new move that lets you draw in the defense before finding an open man. On defense you can block shots and even crash the boards. Steals are meant to be performed automatically, but running into the ball carrier will usually knock the ball loose (turn down the fouls frequency first). Pushing opponents out of bounds is another cheap but effective strategy. There are some funny animations, like players shaking their head after being knocked to the floor, or pointing their fingers after a slam-dunk. Option menus let you customize every aspect of the game, and "sliders" let you fine-tune the frequency of offensive and defensive fouls. Four players can participate at once with the EA multi-tap, which is an absolute riot. NBA Live even tracks individual "user" statistics, allowing participants to compare performances after the game. NBA Live's music is memorable and funky, but the action on the court is relatively quiet. The game has are a few minor glitches like being called for a backcourt violation when a steal occurs at mid-court. Since the rebound button is also used to shot, occasionally you'll toss the ball the length of the court after pulling down a board. But if you're looking for a five-on-five basketball game that's fast and fun, NBA Live 95 is the way to go. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NBA Live 96		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1995) Reviewed: 2006/6/17

As Electronic Arts has been known to do on occasion, they've taken a perfectly good basketball game (NBA Live 95) and inadvertently made it worse. Yes, NBA Live 96 offers a few marginal improvements, but these are more than offset by its abrasive audio! The new "digitized" crowd noise that's so loaded with pops and static that it's practically unbearable! Even the soundtrack sounds coarse and unpleasant. Otherwise NBA Live 96 offers the same fast, frenetic action as its predecessor, although the framerate seems a bit less smooth. The players look slightly more refined, and new moves include a spin move for more agile players. Other minor additions include more play strategies, trivia questions between periods, and the ability to create your own player. One reader informed me that the create-a-player feature has an "easter egg" of sorts. Should you try to create an unlicensed player like Jordon or Barkley, their statistics will "magically" appear. Other than that there are the usual quirks, like the CPU's uncanny ability to toss up full-court three-pointers as the clock winds down. NBA Live 96 provides the same up-tempo style of basketball fun the series is known for, but I prefer the 95 version. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NBA Live 97		Grade: B
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1996) Reviewed: 2006/6/17

As the first order of business with NBA Live 97, EA thankfully cleaned up the cringe-worthy audio that plagued NBA Live 96. In this edition, the crowd is much easier on the ears, and the music in improved as well. The action on the court has been modified in a number of ways, but not always for the better. Selected players are now highlighted by stars or circles (not just stars), which makes it easier to differentiate the teams. Player animations are slightly more exaggerated, but their feet look too big when they're running the floor. The action seems a bit faster, but not necessarily smoother. The box claims there are new moves like behind-the-back passes, cross-over dribbles, and reverse lay-ups, but you'll rarely notice these. One significant new feature is the "manual stealing", which let's you press the A button to initiate a steal. Although it's much-needed, the execution is seriously lacking. EA should have incorporated a slider for steal frequency, because you can pretty much steal at will. Another new feature is the ability to "lock" a player so you can retain control of him for the duration of the game. NBA Live 97's graphics are noticeably more vibrant and colorful than previous editions, and I like how the score is permanently displayed in the lower corner of the screen. Informative text is sometimes displayed across the bottom like "Bulls are on a 6-0 run". But what happened to the benches on the sidelines? They're gone! Especially in sports games, details like that really do matter. NBA Live 97 is a solid entry in the Live series, but not necessarily the best. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NBA Showdown '94		Grade: C
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1993) Reviewed: 2005/4/20

With the advent of NBA Jam and arcade-style sports games, EA was forced to finally upgrade their basketball engine which they had been recycling for years. The result -- NBA Showdown, a game that resembles its predecessors but boasts faster, more fluid gameplay. The list of new features is significant. There's a terrific new "behind-the-player" foul shot perspective, a battery backup, season modes, support for a four-player adapter, and even the ability to call plays on the fly. The TV-style presentation has returned, with a single anchor behind a desk providing analysis before the game and also at halftime. The court includes an elaborate scoreboard where the scorer's table should be, flashing animations during the game. Michael Jordan is nowhere to be found, and the black referee from the first three games has been replaced with a white one. The previous two EA basketball game were offensive-minded, but Showdown takes the opposite approach, tightening the defense to the extreme. Every game is a "block party" - any shot attempted with a man in your face will be rejected. The end result is less razzle-dazzle and more emphasis on strategy. Like past games, NBA Showdown is weak in terms of audio. Besides the bounce of the ball, the only sound you hear is "put it up!" as the clocks ticks down. All in all, NBA Showdown was a positive step for the series, but it wasn't quite up to snuff -- yet. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NFL '95		Grade: D
	Publisher: Sega (1994) Reviewed: 2000/1/20

This is a weak football game, probably worse than any of Sega's previous efforts. The game looks like Madden, but it isn't very fun to play. The animation is choppy and the control sucks. The quarterback can only see one side of the field at any time, and passes float in the air too long. The game has a sloppy, unfinished look to it. For example, there is absolutely nothing behind the goalposts - it looks like the stadium is situated on the edge of the world. One new feature allows you to "taunt" your opponent with wisecracks. It's pretty silly but good for a laugh. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1-4 players

NFL Football '94		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Sega (1993) Reviewed: 2000/9/2

Talk about Deja Vu! This looks a LOT like Sega's college football game. In fact, it's exactly the same game except with professional teams. That's not necessarily bad though, since the college football game engine is pretty solid. The passing/rushing game is well balanced. The players are small, but the camera zooms in on players after catches and handoffs. The players look realistic and are well-animated, and a voice commentator does a decent job of keeping up with the action. The only nagging problem is an overcomplicated play calling screen. Other than that, this game brings the action home. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

NHL '94		Grade: A
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1993) Reviewed: 2003/6/29

In my humble opinion, NHL '94 was the absolute pinnacle of hockey video games. This edition introduced a number of new features including penalty shots, four-player support, and reverse-angle instant replays. But NHL 94's best addition is its "one-timer" shots (aka "quick-stick"), allowing a player to quickly redirect the puck into the net after receiving a pass. It really adds a whole new dimension to the offense. Other bells and whistles include a season mode, statistic tracking, and player cards. The game is fully customizable, and I'd advise you to turn those penalties off! NHL 94 doesn't have any fighting or blood, but that's okay, because they would only interrupt the flow of the action. Interesting animations include a little boy in the front row of the crowd who occasionally walks up to the glass. When a player turns a hat trick, yellow hats are thrown onto the ice, although this looks so sloppy that I initially thought it was a glitch in the game! NHL '94 has held up well over the years, and I'd take the Pepsi Challenge between this and a modern hockey game any day of the week. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

NHL '95		Grade: D+
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1995) Reviewed: 2003/6/29

What the heck happened here? Apparently EA tried to speed up the action in their prized hockey franchise, but they managed to break a few other things in the process! For one thing, the passing is awful, and the puck never goes where you intend. That stinks, because precision passing is one of the hallmarks of the series, and without good passing, it's way too hard to execute one-timers. Yes, the gameplay is faster, but much less fun. Another problem has to do with the new digitized sound effects. The players sound like they all have laryngitis, and it's really hard on the ears. The theme music sucks royally, and the crowd noise is practically non-existent! And take a good look at the crowd - every single person looks like Thelma from Scooby Doo, and that's never a good sign. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1-4 players

NHL '96		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1995) Reviewed: 2003/6/29

After an off year, EA's famous hockey franchise made a comeback of sorts in 1996. Once again, NHL's engine has been completely overhauled, and the gameplay is faster, smoother, and more realistic than ever. The player graphics are better detailed, and improved physics makes for more realistic puck bounces. The rink is a deeper shade of blue, and the crowd looks better, but for some reason the referee looks like a midget in tights (not that there's anything wrong with that). One aspect where NHL '96 falters is the sound department. EA tried to incorporate new digitized crowd noise, but it's full of static and just sounds awful. There aren't many new features except for the new "elaborate on-ice Stanley Cup ceremony", which people who play through a whole season should appreciate. Overall, NHL '96 represents a return to form for the franchise. This is one slick hockey game. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1-4 players

NHL '97		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1996) Reviewed: 2003/6/28

With NHL '97, you can see that EA was content to milk its cash cow, putting out basically the same game as the year before. Minor enhancements include a "skills challenge" mode, national teams, and four simultaneous seasons. Nobody asked for these, so they hardly justify an upgrade. But it does deliver the same exciting action you've come to expect from the series, so you can't complain too much. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1-4 players

NHL '98		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1997) Reviewed: 2003/6/28

Man, EA must have had a lot of balls to put out the same frickin' game three years in a row. Enough already! This final game in the Genesis Hockey series offers only a few miniscule enhancements. The game can be played at three different speeds, and players can have hot and cold streaks. On the box, EA tries to claim that everything is enhanced, from computer AI to crowd reactions, but to be honest, I really couldn't tell. It may be a terrific game, but it's still a rehash. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1-4 players

NHL Hockey		Grade: B
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1993) Reviewed: 2003/6/29

This was the one that started it all. Being from Baltimore, my friends and I didn't know the first thing about hockey. We didn't know the teams. We didn't understand icing and offsides. We thought a zamboni was a big sandwich. But NHL Hockey completely won us over. As the first in a long series that would continue to this day, NHL Hockey is remarkably addictive, with clean graphics, easy control, and a large, easy to follow puck. The simple three-button control scheme fits the Genesis controller perfectly. The passing is dead-on, and your can inflict some hard-hitting checks on your opponent. There are no "one-timer" plays (they wouldn't appear until NHL '94), so you need to rely heavily on second-chance opportunities (i.e., the puck bounces off the goalie in front on the net). There's fighting, but once the novelty wears off it becomes a bit annoying. I always preferred to turn off all the penalties in order to ensure non-stop mayhem. This version didn't have all the bells and whistles of its sequels (you can't play a whole season), but it does have instant replay and that cool zamboni. In terms of sound, the exaggerated grunts are classic, but that grinding "Road Rash" theme song just doesn't fit. Overall NHL Hockey is still more fun to play than most new hockey games. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1-2 players

NHLPA Hockey '93		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1993) Reviewed: 2003/6/29

The second EA Hockey game is an improvement, with a battery backed-up season mode, new goalie animations, signature moves, and real NHL players. Certain players can even shatter glass when they miss shots! During the intermissions, you not only view scores from other games, but see highlights as well! Perhaps this game's most infamous feature is the inclusion of blood, as seen in the classic movie "Swingers". When a player takes a hard shot and lies on his back injured, a large pool of blood forms around his head. It's unintentionally hilarious, and didn't appear in any other versions of this game. This was also the last NHL game to have fighting in it for several years. Another item of interest is a serious bug that lets you score at will by passing the puck straight through the goalie's legs and into the goal. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1-2 players

Normy's Beach Babe-O-Rama		Grade: D
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1994) Reviewed: 2002/6/1

This platform game is okay, but I liked it better the first time I played it, when it was called Chuck Rock. Normy has the same wacky, cartoonish look, but instead of being stuck in the prehistoric era, you find yourself in old England, a jungle, a futuristic planet, and eight levels of "Heck". The hero is a middle-aged beach bum, out to save a bunch of babes that have been kidnapped. Despite the wacky title, the gameplay is surprisingly bland and unimaginative. You attack monsters with goofy weapons (like rubber chickens) and collect beach balls for points as you progress through each level. The single innovative concept is the "dash" move, which makes you briefly invincible and able to leap long distances. The rest of the game is pure textbook. Normy didn't keep my interest for long, and the repetitive music didn't help. Maybe I'm jaded, but I didn't find any of the zany animations particularly amusing either. NOTE: To access the level select option, hold down A+B+C on the right controller when turning on the game. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Olympic Winter Games Lillehammer 94		Grade: D
	Publisher: US Gold (1993) Reviewed: 2006/4/20

I absolutely love the real Winter Olympic games, so I was totally psyched up to play this cartridge. I was expecting something like the old Winter Games (Epyx, 1985) with a 16-bit makeover, but Lillehammer failed to live up to my expectations. Although it gets the job done in terms of audio and visual, the controls are completely counter-intuitive and the difficulty is excessive. This should have been a great game to stick in and play against a few friends, but it's practically unplayable. The skiing events boast scenic evergreens and large skiers, but you can't see enough of the course ahead! It's too easy to miss a gate, and once you do, you're instantly disqualified. Adding insult to injury, the path of the ski trail is not well defined, so you'll often find yourself turning right into a bank of trees! And why in God's name is it so hard to steer?! Despite offering three selectable control schemes, guiding your skier takes a lot of practice. The bobsled and luge events aren't as bad, but it's still entirely too easy to flip over as you creep up the banked turns. The ski jump, moguls, biathlon, and speed skating all look impressive, but you'll need to study the manual and practice like hell to be anywhere near proficient in them. That's the main problem with this game - it's too complicated. On a positive note, Lillehammer features some excellent vintage 16-bit music, a nice opening ceremony, and a much-needed practice mode. U.S. Gold did us a favor by keeping the voice synthesis to a minimum, because the digitized sample at the beginning of the mogul event sounds like a rooster! All in all, Winter Olympic Games isn't a good "pick-up-and-play" title, but if you stick with it long enough, you may find something to like. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Outrun 2019		Grade: C
	Publisher: Sega (1993) Reviewed: 2002/1/17

If you've played any of the games in the Cruis'n USA series, you know what Outrun 2019 is like. The racing is simplistic, but the graphics are undeniably stunning. Your futuristic car that can reach speeds of 700 MPH, although to be honest it looks more like 70 MPH. Still, the illusion of 3D is exceptional for a Genesis game. The bridges, tunnels, and overpasses are particularly impressive. Four branching tracks contain dozens of unique-looking stages, but while the scenery in the distance is an eyeful, there are few objects on the side of the road. The gameplay really takes a back seat to the graphics. The object is to get through each track segment in 80 seconds. The controls are simple - just hold down the accelerator and steer. Every few minutes your turbo boost kicks in, but it's so unimpressive you might not even notice. The early stages are a cakewalk; you can practically ride through the oncoming cars. In the later stages they can run you off the road, but the game immediately puts you right back on the track. The only thing you really need to worry about is falling off bridges or flipping your car. The audio is awful, and the monotonous background music drones on endlessly, even when you pause the game. Outrun 2019 has plenty of glitz, but it can't hide the shallow gameplay. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Outrunners		Grade: D-
	Publisher: Sega (1993) Reviewed: 2005/5/25

In a feeble attempt to match Super Nintendo's Mario Kart (SNES 1992), Sega released this wretched split-screen-only version of their popular convertible racer, Outrun. This project was ill conceived from the start. The main attraction of the original game was its diverse background scenery, with each leg of the race featuring a new exotic locale. Unfortunately, by definition split-screen modes severely limit the level of detail and eye candy. As a result, Outrunners' stages not only lack aesthetic value, but some look downright ugly. The illustrated backdrops look okay, depicting distant scenery that never gets any closer, including city skylines, waterfalls, mountains, and majestic castles. But the scaling objects on the side of the road look pitiful. Except for the palm trees and 14-foot tall buildings, I couldn't even discern what most of these pixilated shapes were supposed to be! On the bright side, I do like how the hair of the two passengers blows in the wind. And during a wreck, although both are thrown into the air as the car tumbles, they always land back in their seats - a nifty visual effect. Outrunner's music is decent, with its laid-back, relaxing tunes. The sound effects however, are reprehensible. Not only are they badly muffled and distorted beyond belief, but the announcer has worst case of emphysema ever. Outrunner's gameplay also leaves much to be desired. The one-player mode is excessively hard, and the two-player contests don't feel competitive because the game keeps the races artificially close (by giving the trailing player a speed boost). Plus, you can't even see the other guy until he's on top of you (literally!) The manual transmission is not really an option, because the gear indicator is small and hard to see on the screen. I enjoy most split-screen racers, but Outrunners should be avoided. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players