Tekken		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Namco (1995) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Teen

I remember people being mesmerized by this at my first housewarming party. My wife's friend Julie, who doesn't normally take notice of video games, mentioned how she couldn't take her eyes off the screen because it looked like a movie! With lifelike fighters and cinematic camera angles, Tekken elevated fighting games (and video games in general) to a whole new level. Not only do the character movements appear smooth and natural, but texture mapping adds a layer of realism to their skin and clothes. Tekken's control scheme is surprisingly simple, with punch and kick buttons that map to each arm and leg. Combinations of buttons are used to execute holds and throws. Once initiated, these moves are played out automatically via a series of maneuvers that typically culminate with a nasty "crunching" finale. Dramatic camera angles make the game as fun to watch as it is to play, and the slow-motion replays are fun to watch. Tekken's two-player versus mode is the main event, but there's also a single-player mode that lets you to unlock hidden characters and view each fighter's full-motion-video ending. For once, these endings are actually worth watching! Although only released a few months after the popular Battle Arena Toshinden, Tekken beats that game in a Pepsi challenge hands-down. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Tekken 2		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Namco (1996) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Teen

This sequel to the premiere Playstation fighter offers many more characters, deeper gameplay, faster action, and buckets of extra features. Unfortunately, in order to accommodate these enhancements, the graphics have been noticeably downgraded! In fact, these fighters look downright blocky compared to the first Tekken. Not only are there less polygons, but there's less use of textures as well. King in particular looks pretty bad. Tekken 2's 3D fighting action still delivers the goods however, with smooth action that's noticeably faster. T2's underlying gameplay is beyond reproach, but it's a shame they had to compromise the graphics. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Tekken 3		Grade: A
	Publisher: Namco (1998) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Teen

Tekken's third installment effectively combines the rich graphics of the original Tekken with the deep gameplay of Tekken 2. This is regarded by many to be the ultimate fighting game for the Playstation. The Brazilian Capoeira is a great new addition, and his fluid "dance" moves are amazing. Those who played through the first two are probably getting tired of Tekken by now, but this is as good as it gets. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Tempest X3		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Interplay (1996) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Kids to Adults

In the early 80's, Tempest was a cutting-edge space shooter. Its unusual "spinner" controller provided precision control, and its sharp vector graphics delivered some amazing 3D effects. Tempest X revives the old classic by incorporating flashy colorful graphics, power-ups, bonuses, techno music, and explosive sound effects. For the most part, it works. Tempest X looks damn impressive, yet retains the fun gameplay of the original. Occasionally the flashy graphics overshadow the action, making it tough to see what the heck's going on, but it's still a blast for gamers who crave "twitch" games. The two-player mode is pretty worthless, but the single player game is a feast for the senses. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Ten Pin Alley		Grade: C+
	Publisher: ASC Games (1996) Reviewed: 2000/9/14 Rating: Kids to Adults

Ten Pin Alley is perfectly respectable for a bowling title, but its goofy graphics may turn off some gamers. You can choose between three sets of lanes, and they all look pretty slick, especially the neon "Congo" bowl. Your selection of bowlers is less impressive - mainly limited to unattractive nerds. Where are the babes?? Ten Pin Alley employs three meters (similar to a golf game) to control curve, speed, and accuracy. I love how the ball rumbles down the lane, and the background chatter of people makes you feel like you're in a real bowling alley. The physics and sound effects when the ball hits the pins is exceptionally realistic. Numerous options allow you to adjust minor details like ball weight, lane slickness, and background music. There's even a brief promo video for the Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis. Up to six players can takes turns in Ten Pin Alley. I really thought my friends would have a good time with this, but they weren't patient enough to sit through a whole game. So many this isn't as fun as I thought. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 6 players

Tetris Plus		Grade: D
	Publisher: Jaleco (1996) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Everyone

Tetris is a classic puzzle game that's widely considered to be one of the great video games of all time, if not the greatest. Despite Its simple, blocky graphics, its gameplay is remarkably addicting. It's tough to screw up Tetis, but Jaleco came close with this exceptionally lame version. The graphics couldn't possibly be more boring and plain. The two-player mode allows for simultaneous play, but the computer doesn't bother to keep track of who wins! Additional modes include a puzzle and edit mode, but these don't add much play value. If you want Tetris on your Playstation, this will suffice, but just barely. Jaleco should be ashamed of themselves for not doing more with this valuable license. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Thunder Force V		Grade: B
	Publisher: Technosoft (1998) Reviewed: 2000/5/10 Rating: Everyone

The Thunder Force series originally appeared on the Genesis, and set the high water mark for side-scrolling shooting action. Thunder Force V (five) continues the tradition with remarkable 3D graphics and twitch gameplay. Thunder Force veterans will feel right at home with familiar weapons like "wave", "hunter", and "craw". Even the musical score is similar to the old games. But be prepared to have your senses bombarded. The graphics are pretty spectacular, and enemies emerge from the top, bottom, sides, and background. Missiles and crosshairs fly across the screen in all directions, amidst numerous explosions. It takes some time to get a feel for what's going on, and even then you'll occasionally lose track of your ship. The stages feature all kinds of bizarre creatures and bosses that keep coming back long after you think you've killed them. You can choose the order of the stages (good), and they are all relatively short. Is it just me or are video games getting extremely hard? This game is a little too tough. At least there are a full range of options to let you customize the difficulty and control. Completing stages opens up artwork for your viewing pleasure. Thunder Force V is no classic, but shooter fans will enjoy it. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Time Crisis		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Namco (1997) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Teen

This exciting and innovative light gun game lets you play two different scenarios: a hotel and a castle. The game requires Namco's Guncon controller, which is by far the best light gun for the Playstation. Time Crisis has mediocre graphics that are not especially sharp or detailed, but the innovative control scheme allows you to take cover between shots, adding a new dimension to the gameplay. I especially love how the bad guys react differently depending on where you shoot them. Time Crisis is a solid arcade shooter, but nothing more. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Time Crisis Project Titan		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Namco (2001) Reviewed: 2002/1/29 Rating: Teen

For a sequel that took four years to come out, I'm really surprised how similar it is to the first Time Crisis. In fact, it's actually somewhat LESS impressive. The graphics and sound haven't improved at all. The thugs are blocky and tend to dress in dorky white shorts and pink jump suits. I guess Namco was trying to make this game as non-violent as possible, because there's no blood, and thugs yell "SHUCKS!" when shot. The semi-interactive scenery is plain and not particularly interesting. The stages take place in a yacht, an airport, and a mineshaft - not the most original settings! The action is smooth and the control is decent, but the gameplay is utterly generic. There are no power-ups, grenades, or hidden goodies to spice up the action. There are two minor new features. The first lets you switch hiding positions when facing bosses, adding a little strategy, but not much. The other new feature is a consecutive hit counter on the top left of the screen. I don't know if it affects the gameplay at all, but I couldn't resist seeing how many hits I could make in a row. Project Titan is a by-the-numbers shooter that serves its purpose but doesn't break any new ground. You'll need Namco's Guncon to play this one. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Tobal No.1		Grade: A
	Publisher: Squaresoft (1996) Reviewed: 2002/5/5 Rating: Teen

This early Playstation 3D fighter didn't sell as well as its flashier cousins (Toshinden and Tekken come to mind), but die-hard fans strongly preferred this game. The reason? Tobal runs at a silky smooth 60 frames per second, and that makes all the difference in the world. The fighters are somewhat blocky (in a Virtua Fighter kind of way), but their movements look incredibly natural, and the controls are crisp and responsive. The extra-terrestrial characters look like they were pulled from the Cantina scene in Star Wars. They vary a great deal in size and shape, giving each fighter a totally different feel. One of the bosses is absolutely HUGE! Although both fighters are always facing each other, they can move around freely. The battles are played out on raised platforms, and falling off the edge is easy to do. Actually, one of the bosses tries to PUSH you off as his main strategy! While the graphics are simple, they look remarkably clean, making this game quite easy on the eyes. The background music is also noteworthy. Tobal No.1 is no joke, and if you're a serious fighting fan, this game belongs in your collection. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Tomb Raider		Grade: A
	Publisher: Eidos (1996) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Teen

Tomb Raider set a new standard for action/adventure games, featuring realistic 3-D creatures and huge expansive levels. The first Tomb Raider game is a classic, appealing to the Indiana Jones in all of us. Laura Croft makes for a beautiful heroine, and the third-person view provides some dramatic camera angles. The control scheme allows you to leap deep chasms and hang onto ledges, but takes a while to learn. The wonderful graphics make each new stage a treat just to look at. Some of the temples look absolutely magnificent. Tomb Raider is a genuinely exciting game, with well-designed stages, thoughtful puzzles, scary monsters, and dangerous traps. The encounter with the rampaging T-Rex is one video game moment I'll never forget. Tomb Raider is a long game, but it's so good you may want to play through it again. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Tomb Raider II		Grade: B
	Publisher: Eidos (1997) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Teen

Although technically an improvement over the original game, playing Tomb Raider II too often feels like an ordeal. It's basically more of the same action with slightly improved graphics and higher difficulty. This game took me MONTHS to complete. Yes, you can save any time (as opposed to the first game where you had a limited number of "save crystals"), but as a result you end up saving constantly. And unlike the first game, it's far too easy to get stuck and frustrated. The levels are imaginative, but many are simply too big, and you'll get tired of wandering around trying to figure out what to do next. I have to admit that I did appreciate the upside-down ship level, which had a Poseidon Adventure flavor to it. Also, there are some nice vehicle levels (like a snow mobile) that provide some much needed variety. Most of the enemies are human this time around, and I didn't find them as intimidating as the monsters and wild animals of the first game. Tomb Raider fans will appreciate this game, but casual players probably won't make it to the end. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Tomb Raider III		Grade: C
	Publisher: Eidos (1998) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Teen

I'm a big Tomb Raider fan, but this time Eidos went too far. Tomb Raider II was painful enough, and this third edition is even HARDER! The gameplay features some minor new tweaks and special stages. The graphics are slightly improved, and the dual shock controller is supported for the first time. The huge stages include London, the Amazon, and Antarctica, but the scope of the levels has become too large. What happened to the tombs? Unless you finished the first two games and are dying for more, I would not recommend this. A difficulty setting may have helped matters, but Tomb Raider 3 simply isn't much fun. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater		Grade: A
	Publisher: Neversoft/Activision (1999) Reviewed: 2001/8/10 Rating: Teen (mild language)

Oh yeah - this game rocks! Tony Hawk is the ultimate "extreme" game, with more attitude than all the others combined. And you don't need to know anything about the skateboarding to get hooked on this revolutionary game. You can choose between several professional skateboarders and numerous locations including a school, a mall, and a warehouse. Each stage is loaded with ramps and rails for you to perform tricks on. The graphics are excellent, and the camera always seems to be in the right place. The music will really pump your adrenaline, with classic jams from punk rock bands like the Dead Kennedys and Suicidal Tendencies. No question about it - this is some of the best music I've ever heard in a video game. But the real star is the well-designed control scheme, which makes it easy to pull off some really eye-popping maneuvers. Like any good video game, it's easy to play, but mastering Pro Skater takes some serious practice. There's a great two-player split screen mode, but the heart of this game is the Career Mode, which challenges you to achieve five goals on each level. Completing these goals will unlock additional levels and features. Typical goals include racking up a certain number of points, destroying a number of objects, finding five letters, or locating hidden objects. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is amazing - a modern classic. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Treasures of the Deep		Grade: C
	Publisher: Namco (1997) Reviewed: 2004/12/16 Rating: Teen (animated violence)

An undersea exploration game, Treasures of the Deep puts you on the back of a submersible vehicle (which looks like an underwater jet ski) to perform a series of missions that involve salvaging lost relics. I was looking forward to freely exploring magnificent undersea ruins, so you can imagine my disappointment upon discovering that most levels are linear in design. In fact, many are shaped like undersea mazes, and I didn't like those at all. Still Treasures of the Deep manages to be occasionally exciting thanks to its variety of sea creatures, collectable items, and hidden areas. The murky ocean water looks realistic and is teeming with life. Torpedoes and missiles let you to blast sea monsters and enemy subs, and easy-to-deploy nets let secure your treasures and send them to the surface. Some of the areas are enormous, but an overhead map helps track your position. I enjoyed the whole treasure-hunting aspect, and the game hooked me for a while. Unfortunately, you need to complete the missions in order, and you will get stuck on the most annoying stages. Treasures of the Deep features a jazzy musical score that doesn't match what you're seeing on the screen. Gamers with an interest in scuba diving or marine biology might find Treasures interesting, but those looking for fast action should look elsewhere. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Turbo Prop Racing		Grade: F
	Publisher: Sony (1998) Reviewed: 2001/10/6 Rating: Everyone

In the warmer months I enjoy playing games featuring water and tropical locations, but Turbo Prop is not what I had in mind. The water in this game doesn't look real at all, and it's hard as a rock! As a result, your boat is difficult to control as the choppy waves toss you all over the place. Forget the racing - your main challenge is just to stay within the narrow confines of the waterway, and hitting land (or any other obstacle) will send you spinning through the air! The poorly designed, narrow courses are located in Miami, Utah, Canada (ice), and even a volcano (wow - orange water!). The graphics aren't too bad, but the techno background music is the worst I've heard in a long time. The dual-shock vibration feature is supported, but it just feels like an annoying pager going off constantly. Why can't we have a good boat racing game on the Playstation? © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Twisted Metal		Grade: B-
	Publisher: Singletrac (1995) Reviewed: 2000/7/27 Rating: Teen

Twisted Metal is a revolutionary video game that popularized the "car combat" genre. You can drive one of 12 deadly machines, each loaded to the hilt with weaponry. There's a nice variety of vehicles, including an ice cream truck driven by a psychotic clown, a monster truck, a police car, a dune buggy, and a motorcycle, just to name a few. Each has their own special weapon, and you can collect other weapons scattered and hidden throughout the battlefields. The stages range from an indoor arena, to a suburban neighborhood, to the rooftops of buildings. The graphics are hit and miss. The vehicles look great, but the scenery is heavily pixilated. Normally your view is from just behind your car, but you can also play the game from the INSIDE of your vehicle which looks great because you can see the interior and dash. In practice however, it's not too playable because your car gets thrown around so much that it's tough to tell what's really happening. The biggest problem with this game is the framerate. Even in the single player mode, the frantic pace and choppiness makes it difficult to maintain control, although the control scheme is well-designed. The music is of the head-banging variety, and it's not bad. Audio effects include a signature sound for each vehicle (so you'll know who hit you). Twisted Metal was very innovative in its time, and began a long, popular series. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Twisted Metal 2		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Singletrac (1996) Reviewed: 2000/7/27 Rating: Teen

Regarded by many as the best game of the series, Twisted Metal 2 was a major improvement over the original, with smoother gameplay, bigger and better battlefields, combo attacks, and more hidden surprises. The vehicle lineup is largely unchanged, with the exception of a tractor and a muscle man stuck between two huge tires (what the heck?). The new stages are more interesting and wide open, including Paris (where you can destroy the Eiffel Tower), a city in Hong Kong (with a working subway), and Antarctica (glaciers). The new "combo" moves allow you to jump, shoot backward, or freeze your opponent by pressing certain button combinations. The gameplay is deep, and the split screen mode allows you to either cooperate or compete with a friend. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Twisted Metal 3		Grade: C
	Publisher: 989 Studios (1998) Reviewed: 2000/12/10

This Twisted Metal game was a bit of a disappointment. It seems to take two steps forward and three steps back. The vehicle selection is about the same, but there's a whole new set of battlegrounds, which tend to be small. The good news is that your opponents are easy to find. The bad news is that these areas look sloppy and uninspired. Hollywood is nothing but a bunch of broken ramps stacked upon each other, and Calypso's Blimp is nothing but a series of boring rooms (talk about unrealized potential!). The best reason to buy Twisted Metal 3 is its new 4-player split screen mode, which is genuinely fun despite the limited view. Another neat new feature is the "CPU ally" in the one player mode, making an extra vehicle fight for you (making the game much easier). The music is this game is provided by Rob Zombie, which seems to be the standard for video games nowadays. Unless you're a fan (I'm not), you probably won't appreciate the head-banging background noise. Twisted Metal 3 still provides the destructive fun you crave, but the series is starting to show its age. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 player

Twisted Metal 4		Grade: C-
	Publisher: 989 Studios (1999) Reviewed: 2000/12/10 Rating: Teen

Twisted Metal 4 begins with a nice video sequence describing the birth of the Twisted Metal tournament, and the aged, grainy black and white look is very effective. The sequence ends in the present day, revealing that Sweet Tooth has overthrown Calypso as the leader of Twisted Metal. That's interesting, but if you're expecting something new in terms of gameplay, think again. The new vehicle lineup includes a family truckster (remember that from the movie Vacation?), a UFO-looking hover bike, and Rob Zombie's "Dragula" mobile. Rob Zombie also did the music for this game, and it makes my stomach turn. The eight battlegrounds here are certainly a step up from those in the third installment. Highlights include a bedroom level where you battle it out Toy Story style. But my favorite is the Carnival, featuring a haunted house and a roller coaster! Unfortunately, the main game engine hasn't evolved much, and the pixelated tracks and crude collision detection should have been better. I even had to restart the game after getting stuck in a wall! You'd think they'd get it right on their FOURTH try! Anyway, only die-hard Twisted Metal fans will want to pursue this game. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Twisted Metal Small Brawl		Grade: C-
	Publisher: Sony (2001) Reviewed: 2002/5/5 Rating: Teen

When I first heard about a Twisted Metal game with small, remote-controlled cars, I thought it was a major cop-out. But after giving it some thought, I decided maybe it wasn't a bad idea after all. I mean, Twisted Metal was never realistic to begin with, and this would give the developers a chance to incorporate some creative new environments. It almost worked. The vehicles are based on the classic Twisted Metal cars, but are simpler and more cartoonish. The imaginative battlefields include a playground, haunted/fun house, kitchen, and miniature golf course. I found environments to be well designed and interesting. Since they tend to be small, you aren't likely to get lost or lose track of your opponents. The gameplay is classic Twisted Metal - tough but very addicting. You get three lives in EACH stage, and you'll need them all. Audio-wise, the background music seems inspired by "classic" Twisted Metal music (no Rob Zombie thank goodness). So what's the problem here? It's the graphics. You'd think that by the FIFTH Twisted Metal incarnation on the Playstation, they would at LEAST be able to maintain a decent framerate, but no. The action gets really choppy, and the two-player split screen mode is practically worthless. The physics is poor and you'll often find your car floating through the air, taking forever to land. Even the background scenery is sloppy and full of seams. Small Brawl looks like a mess, and that really pulls down the score of what should have been a very respectable game. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players