Um Jammer Lammy		Grade: C
	Publisher: Sony (1999) Reviewed: 2000/10/11 Rating: Everyone

This is hands-down the best video game I've ever played with the word "Lammy" in the title. As the sequel to the popular Parappa the Rapper, this musical game provides some challenging new levels, but the weird-o-meter is off the scale. Like Parappa, you must repeat button sequences to a beat, but this time you're playing the chords of a guitar instead of rapping. This actually works pretty well, but the novelty wears thin. At times the game feels like a rehash, especially during the stages with "recycled" songs from Parappa. The graphics are very nice, with funny, paper-thin characters and amazing special effects. But the story line is "out there". It's bizarre, juvenile, and occasionally embarrassing. Most of the tunes are decent, but the lyrics are absolutely idiotic. Gameplay is challenging; you not only have to press buttons on time, but in some stages you have to hit the buttons VERY fast. Um Jammer Lammy is definitely a trip, and if you can bear the storyline, the challenge will keep you coming back for more. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

VR Golf '97		Grade: B
	Publisher: Gremlin (1997) Reviewed: 2000/7/27 Rating: Everyone

Before the Hot Shots Golf series, this was one of the best golf games around. With realistic graphics, smooth gameplay, and excellent commentary, VR Golf even beat out EA's PGA series in some ways. There are no real golfers in this game, but the polygon players look fairly realistic. A fly-by feature gives you a tour of each hole before you play it, describing the lush scenery with informative commentary. The swing control mechanism is just like every other golf game you've played, but the draw/fade control is much better, making it easy to curve your shots around trees. Pat O'Brien and Brit Peter Alliss provide commentary comparable to TV coverage (be sure to turn them BOTH on). They are usually accurate and occasionally hilarious. In terms of options, you can adjust the gameplay in just about every way imaginable. VR Golf is fun, but it has its share of flaws. There are only two courses, and there's a LOT of loading time between holes. While some of the camera angles are cool, the swinging camera is often disorienting, making it difficult to tell where the ball is heading. You can't apply backspin or topspin on your ball. And most annoyingly, you have to press a button to continue after every shot, and during multiplayer games, you're always having to remind the other players to hit their button. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Vandal Hearts		Grade: A+
	Publisher: Konami (1997) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Mature

I'm not a big RPG/Strategy fan, but Vandal Hearts won me over in a big way. This is truly one of my all-time favorite video games. You control a group of warriors caught up in a storyline far too complex to explain here. The gameplay consists of a series of turn-based battles. You individually tell your warriors what to do, and then sit back and watch the action unfold. Vandal Hearts is pretty gory, and each kill causes of geyser of blood to spring forth. The battlefields range for rolling meadows to claustrophobic dungeons, each requiring a different strategy. Warriors range from powerful knights to fragile magic users, and some of the spells look amazing. The story line is enthralling and the gameplay is hopelessly addictive. I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Vandal Hearts II		Grade: B
	Publisher: Konami (1999) Reviewed: 2000/12/10 Rating: Mature

The first Vandal Hearts was a tough act to follow, and although Vandal Hearts II holds it own, it doesn't quite match the original. Like the first edition, this game is part adventure but mostly strategy. An RPG-style story develops as you guide a group of characters around the countryside fighting one battle after another. Like the first Vandal Hearts, the plot is too long and complicated to go into here. The big news is that they've changed the battle system, and the results are mixed. In the first Vandal Hearts you issued orders to all of your characters first, and then sat back and watched the battle happen. In this game, you and your opponents take turns directing one character at a time. When all characters have been used, the round is over. The good news is that there's a bit more strategy, since you have to guess which character the computer will use next. The bad news is that if you try to attack an enemy who's been activated during the same turn, your guy ends up swinging at thin air. This happens a LOT, and it looks utterly ridiculous. Personally I prefer the old battle system. Vandal Hearts II is still worth playing, and it's more than twice as big as the original. The sprite graphics are largely unchanged from the first game, and the spirited, renaissance-style music adds to the overall experience. This may not be a classic, but strategy fans should give Vandal Hearts II a look. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Viewpoint		Grade: D
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1996) Reviewed: 2005/4/12 Rating: Kids to Adults (6+)

Viewpoint is an isometric shooter with devastating power-ups and a legendary difficulty level. It plays quite a bit like Zaxxon, except you can't adjust your altitude. The graphics here are even sharper than the original Neo Geo version. Metal objects gleam convincingly, and despite being 2D sprites, the objects appear to be 3D. I also like the pumping, dance-oriented soundtrack. Viewpoint's full-motion video intro may look like a lame Star Wars rip-off, but its audio is amazing. I could hear blasts echoing all over the room! I didn't realize they even had surround sound back in 1996! The back of the box mentions something about "3D Stereo Sound", which apparently means the same thing. You'd think this game would be a slam-dunk, but surprisingly enough, the gameplay is hurting. First off, the control is seriously lacking. The steering feels stiff and inexact, and you can't aim with any kind of precision. That's no good, because Viewpoint is insanely hard. Worse yet, when the screen gets crowded with projectiles, the action slows to a crawl and the frame-rate goes straight to hell. I was absolutely shocked to witness such heinous slow-down on a console like the Playstation. In contrast to the addictive Neo Geo version, I didn't find this one enjoyable at all. A three-letter password is provided, but there's no memory card save capability. I also don't like how the music kicks in belatedly during the very first stage. I don't know what happened here, but Viewpoint for the Playstation falters badly and pales to the Neo Geo version. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Vigilante 8		Grade: C-
	Publisher: Activision (1998) Reviewed: 2001/8/14 Rating: Teen

I remember when this vehicle combat game first hit the scene. It was the first challenger to the Twisted Metal juggernaut, and it had a lot going for it. First of all, the 1970's theme gave it some personality and provided plenty of opportunity for humor (check out the old lady who flies out the back door of the camper!). The 70's theme is reflected in everything from the driver's outfits to the outdated vehicles and retro music. Unlike the flat, static scenery of the early Twisted Metal games, V8 has smooth, rolling hills, and you can blow up just about any structure. Another nice touch is the way newly-acquired weapons mount themselves to the top of your car. The battlegrounds are fresh and original, including a ski resort, the Hoover dam, an oil refinery, and a ghost town. Despite some clipping problems, the graphics rate highly compared to Twisted Metal. So what's not to like? Well, most of the weapons are VERY cheap. The guided weapons require no aiming at all, and since you get about 20 at a time, you can rain down serious damage on other cars with very little effort. There was a similar problem with the lightning attack in Twisted Metal 2. V8 was never a real threat to Twisted Metal, but it does provide a nice change if you like these kind of games. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

WWF War Zone		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Acclaim (1998) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Teen

WWF War Zone blew me away with its smooth, realistic graphics and animation. It's like watching fake wrestling on TV! All the major WWF personalities are here with their own arsenal of moves, and the special moves are fun to watch and occasionally hilarious. Modes include versus, tag team, steel cage, and practice to name of few. The sheer number of customization options is astounding. You can even create your own wrestler, which in of itself can keep you busy for a long time. The sound effects are outstanding. Wrestlers talk trash, and you can even hear people in the crowd yelling such memorable lines as "Rocky doesn't suck!". War Zone has its moments, but the matches tend to run too long and get repetitive as fighters keep executing the same moves over and over. And you can forget about the tag team mode - it's a confusing mess. It's difficult to tag your partner even when he's right next to you, and you can't tell who's supposed to be in the ring at any given time. Overall, WWF War Zone looks great, but the wrestling action is only average. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Warcraft II		Grade: D-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (1998) Reviewed: 2001/1/13 Rating: Everyone

The classic PC strategy game has finally made the leap to the Playstation, but a heck of a lot was lost in the translation. First of all, these graphics look downright sloppy compared to the PC version. The Playstation resolution simply isn't high enough, and as a result the characters look like blobs. Another major problem is the clumsy user interface which substitutes the controller for a mouse. Although Blizzard attempted to streamline the control scheme, it's still very awkward. Last but not least, the loading times are horrendous. If you can look beyond those huge flaws, the game is playable. But if you have a PC, stick with that version. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Warhawk		Grade: A-
	Publisher: SingleTrac (1995) Reviewed: 2001/1/13 Rating: Kids to Adults

One of my very first Playstation games, I received this along with Wipeout way back in Christmas 1995. Warhawk is a highly-regarded first-person shooter with good graphics (revolutionary at the time) and excellent gameplay. You control a highly maneuverable aircraft loaded with weapons. Six missions send you into war zones full of enemy planes, cannons, tanks, boats, and huge bosses. You can fly anywhere within the large, confined area of conflict, destroying targets and collecting power-ups. Weapons includes machines guns, rockets, a plasma cannon, lock-on missile, and "swarmers", which unleash a army of small guided missiles against any locked on target. The massive destruction is a thrill to watch. For a 1995 game, the 3D graphics are amazing and the music is action-movie quality. Warhawk also contains some very mediocre (and unnecessary) cut-scenes using real actors, featuring an attractive female commander barking orders at a bunch of cocky guy pilots. Warhawk is old as hell but still fun to play. It is a bit short though. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Wipeout		Grade: D
	Publisher: Psygnosis (1995) Reviewed: 2001/2/24 Rating: Kids to Adults

Ahhh memories! This was one of the very first games I got for my Playstation. Wipeout is a futuristic racer with vehicles that hover above winding futuristic tracks, and this game spawned a series of sequels that continue to this day. Wipeout was awesome back in the day, but it hasn't aged well. The name is totally misleading, since the crashes are not the least bit dramatic. Each spectacular track has a distinctive look and feel, and they are loaded with speed-burst arrows and power-ups. Unfortunately, there are some fundamental gameplay flaws. The tracks are too narrow, and scraping a wall brings you to a dead stop. Since it takes a while to build up some momentum, this really kills the fun factor. The weapons are pretty tame as well. And since Wipeout was released long before analog controllers were available, you'll have to deal with the less-than-precise digital control. There's no split-screen mode, but Wipeout does support the link cable. Remember the link cable? Probably not, because no one ever used them. On a positive note, the futuristic techno music is fantastic. These songs were actually released separately on a music CD and sold a lot of copies. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Wipeout 3		Grade: B
	Publisher: Psygnosis (2000) Reviewed: 2000/9/14 Rating: Everyone

It took a dirt-cheap price tag to convince me to buy Wipeout 3, but the smooth framerate, impressive backgrounds, and solid controls won me over. For those new to the series, Wipeout is a futuristic racer with vehicles that glide over bobsled-like tracks. I really enjoy the city background graphics in this edition, and some of these tracks remind me of Blade Runner. A few of the tracks feature rain, but for some reason it even rains INSIDE the tunnels (huh?). The analog control is right on, and the understated, pulsating music makes playing this game almost a relaxing experience. Least I forget, there are plenty of power-ups and weapons to keep your opponents at bay. Wipeout 3 isn't innovative at all, but it's sleek and fun. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 2 players

Wreckin' Crew		Grade: D
	Publisher: Telestar (1998) Reviewed: 2002/6/29 Rating: Everyone

I was envisioning this game as having cars careening around turns, slamming through vegetable stands, creating utter mayhem, and leaving only devastation in their wake. Unfortunately, Wreckin' Crew does NOT deliver the zany mayhem I was looking for. The best aspect of this game is its interesting tracks. From the Streets of New York, to the castles of Europe, to rides in a theme park, each course is colorful, detailed, and unique. The graphics are cartoonish but impressive nonetheless. You view the action from just behind your vehicle,and large arrows show you the way, although the tracks in the split-screen mode are still hard to follow. There are items and power-ups all over the place, and each car is equipped with special weapons. Unfortunately, the combat aspect of the game is weak! While the attacks are imaginative (like dumping chickens, or firing side-mounted cannons), they rarely impact the outcome of the race. And while I was expecting to inflict heavy damage to the scenery, that just wasn't the case. In fact, I usually came to a dead stop whenever I tried to ram an obstacle in my way. The control is pleasantly responsive, and navigating the narrow corridors is a breeze. Unfortunately, riding through enclosed spaces (like tunnels) results in the camera abruptly switching to the first-person point of view, which is disconcerting. Wreckin' Crew looks good at first, but after you've seen all the tracks, the game gets old in a hurry. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Xevious 3D/G+		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Namco (1997) Reviewed: 1999/7/15 Rating: Everyone

Many old arcade favorites have made their way to the Playstation with fancy 3D graphics and sound, but few manage to improve on the original in terms of gameplay. With that in mind, Xevious 3D/G+ is a very pleasant surprise. The original Xevious was a semi-classic overhead shooter from the early 80s, where you shoot UFOs while bombing ground installations. Xevious 3D/G+ retains the same awesome gameplay, but adds some terrific 3D graphics and devastating new weapons. There's even a fantastic two-player simultaneous mode that my friend George and I played for weeks. The later stages are way too hard, but overall this is one of the best shooters you can get for the Playstation. The original Xevious is also included on the disk as a nice bonus. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories		Grade: D+
	Publisher: Konami (2002) Reviewed: 2003/7/23 Rating: Everyone (violence)

Being a Yu-Gi-Oh card player I was pretty psyched up about this game. Granted, I wasn't too keen on the overly complicated PS2 version, but from the box it appeared that Forbidden Memories was "straight" Yu-Gi-Oh, just like the card game. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Although it looks very similar to the card game, Forbidden Memories changes a lot of rules, and the results are not good. Like the card game, you play on a board that lets each player field five monster and five magic cards. By positioning your cards face down or in a defensive position, you strategically battle your opponent. Unfortunately, the monsters here don't have any special abilities, a major element in the card game. The key to this game is "fusing" combinations of monsters and magic to produce more powerful cards. Problem is, you have no idea which cards fuse together! It's all trial and error, which causes you to needless discard incompatible cards and lose many matches in the process. Meanwhile, the computer knows EXACTLY which cards go together. That aspect alone pretty much ruined the game for me. Other problems include the lack of a tutorial, and the inability to save after every match in the story mode (sometimes you're forced to play again immediately!). The graphics and music are more than adequate, and the game moves at a brisk pace, but the incomprehensible gameplay spoils what should have been a great game. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players