The Video Game Critic's
Dreamcast Reviews S

Samba gets an "A" grade ONLY if you have the expensive maraca controllers. If I had to use the normal controllers, it would probably get an F, because it's almost unplayable with those. However, if you ARE lucky enough to get a pair (or better yet, two pair) of the special maraca controllers, then you're about to experience the ultimate party game. Rarely does a video game come along that is completely original, fun as hell, and will make you look like a complete ass. Samba is basically a dance game where you shake maracas to some popular Latin music. The special hardware can tell if the maracas are held high, medium, or low, so you have to shake them at different heights, and occasionally strike a pose! I played this with some friends, and we could not stop laughing. You really can't play without looking like an idiot. I have to give Sega credit for going all-out in the music department. The songs range from Ricky Martin, to La Bamba, to the Macarena. There are plenty of upbeat tunes, but you'll need to unlock most of them. The graphics feature cartoon characters dancing, but you really won't even notice them because they don't affect the gameplay. There are several play modes including a challenge mode, a party mode, a couple mode, and a battle mode. This game is an experience to be had, but only if you can find the controllers. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This is racing the way I like it - pure arcade action! Forget realism, I want simple controls, fantastic tracks, and gravity-defying gameplay. Rush 2049 delivers all of that and more. It's the kind of racer you can just turn on and have fun immediately. The futuristic graphics allow for wild road designs full of shortcuts and ramps, but I wasn't as impressed with the graphics as much as I thought I'd be. The buildings are simple and rather uninteresting, and it's often frustratingly difficult to follow the road! There are far too many detours and 90 degree turns. Fortunately the braking control makes it easy to turn sharply. There are 19 tracks and 13 fully customizable cars in all. A new "glide" feature lets you extend your "hang time" during those huge jumps. Up to four people can compete at once, and the frame-rate keeps up with the action just fine. NOTE: This game may have saved my life. One night after playing San Francisco Rush 2049, my friend Scott and I headed to a local bar for Monday Night Football. Approaching an exit ramp, a deer suddenly darted out front of the car. Using a power-slide much like the ones I had used in the game, I was able to skillfully avoid the deer and position the car back on the road with amazing precision. True story! © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

Sega had a lot of nerve to release this ultra-weird but boldly original virtual pet game. Your job is to take care of a hideous, evolving fish with a Japanese man's head. The game even comes with a microphone so you can talk directly to Seaman! His appearance is downright disturbing at first, but Seaman grows on you, despite the fact that he's usually in a lousy mood. Trying to talk to Seaman isn't as fun as you might think. He only understands short phrases, and often answers inappropriately. It does get fun however when he starts asking YOU questions, and the voice recognition is surprisingly good during these parts. Seaman is interesting, but eventually becomes a pain in the ass. It's imperative that you check on Seaman each day to feed him and adjust his environment. The game knows how long you've been away by the system clock, and if you don't check on him in a few days, you'll find him dead! Besides talking to Seaman, you can also place items in the tank, tap on the glass, "flick" Seaman, and even pick him up. The controls are awkward however, and there's not much to do on any given day. But for a few minutes a day, Seaman is actually an interesting experiment. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

I have one word for this game: OVERRATED. I don't know what Sega's problem is when it comes to racing games, but Sega GT is a major disappointment. This is obviously meant to be the Dreamcast's answer to Gran Turismo (Playstation), as you earn licenses, win money in races, buy cars, and soup them up. There are 130 real GT sports cars in the game, and you can even create your own. There are 3 racing modes, 22 tracks, and even a VMU game. But for all the bells and whistles, it all comes down to gameplay, and there are some serious issues with the control. First of all, the overhead view makes it very difficult to judge your turns, partially because the camera doesn't move with you properly. The first-person view is better, but it severely cuts down your visibility, especially on night tracks. It's easy to over-steer in this game, and making tight turns is frustratingly difficult. The graphics are smooth and clean, but the tracks and cars look very plain and boring and there's little sensation of speed. At times it looks like the game is running in slow motion. And you can forget about the two-player mode, because the fog is so bad it's maddening. Trying to find two different cars that match up evenly is also tough. I had high hopes for Sega GT, but I was completely underwelmed. Only die-hard racers that are willing to spend a LOT of time mastering the funky controls will derive any satisfaction from this. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

The first Sega Rally was a landmark title on the Sega Saturn, but this Dreamcast sequel has some serious issues. Like any rally racer, the idea is to employ heavy drifting techniques to maintain your speed through rain, mud, and snow. If you find yourself sliding all over the place, don't worry - it's all part of the game. Hell, even the paved roads are slippery in this game! Sega Rally 2 (SR2) is structured much like the original game, but there are additional modes and the ability to modify your car's performance. The frame-rate is smooth enough, but the scenery looks dark and muddled. The tracks in the original Sega Rally may have been pixilated, but at least they were bright and inviting. Visibility is an ever-present problem in Rally 2, especially on the "Isle" tracks where everything's shrouded in fog and mountains "grow" as you approach. In the rain-soaked "Riviera" stage, you can't even see the road directly ahead on some turns! Predictably, the problem is twice as bad in the split-screen mode. The only tracks I truly enjoyed were the snow stages, with their picturesque evergreens and gently falling snowflakes. The controls are another liability. I'm usually competent at off-road games (damn good in fact), yet I found myself hitting every guardrail and riding every shoulder. Even the soundtrack is a mixed bag, with the cool, jazzy jams offset by cheesy electronic tunes. The heart of Sega Rally 2 is its "10-Year Championship mode", which I'm hoping to complete by 2018. Last but not least, why oh why does this game consume a whopping 87 memory blocks?! Hell, I have to dedicate an entire VMU to this lousy game! Considering the greatness of the original Sega Rally, this can only be considered a massive disappointment. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

It always amazes me how game companies continually manage to screw up these "greatest hits" packages. This collection contains 12 excellent old games, most of them from the Genesis era (early 90s). There's something here for everyone, including arcade games (Sonic, Vectorman), fighting games (Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe, Wrestle War), RPGs (Shining Force, Phantasy Star II), puzzles (Columns, Sega Swirl), and even a light gun game (Virtua Cop 2). The wrestling game was formerly only available in the arcade, and Virtua Cop 2 was only on the Saturn. Sega Swirl is a freebee that most DC owners probably already have. If you've never owned these Genesis games before, or don't care to recollect them, this is a nifty little package. The games are fun but not 100% faithful to the originals. The graphics are much crisper than the originals, and the text is easier to read. The controls are fine, but the slowdown that plagued the original games persists. The worst part is the audio, which is borderline awful! Why an emulator couldn't reproduce the primitive Genesis sound is beyond me, but the music sounds tinny and way off-key. It's especially noticeable in Sonic and Streets of Rage 2, which originally had some excellent, catchy tunes. And it breaks my heart that Columns, which had such beautiful, relaxing music, sounds absolutely putrid. The audio really has a detrimental effect on the gameplay, and that's a shame because these titles deserve first-class treatment. Beyond the Genesis games, the wrestling game has nice graphics (for its time) but terrible animation. It's fun to play a few times, but that's about it. Virtua Cop 2 supports the Dreamcast light guns, so at least you have an excuse to dust those off. Overall, Sega Smashpack Volume 1 is sufficient for casual players, but longtime Genesis fans should stick with the originals. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This little puzzle game is a freebee that Sega gave out through browser upgrades and magazine CDs, and it's not half bad. The object is to clear a screen of swirls by arranging them into groups of colors. Simple at first, subtle strategy unfolds as you play. After clearing the board, you are rated by score, time, combos, and other factors. If you get the feeling of deja-vu playing this game, it's probably because Swirl is similar to so many other Tetris-like games. There's a very addicting one player mode and even a four-player split screen mode. The graphics are nothing special, but they don't need to be. My main gripe is with the statistics displayed on the side of playing board. The information isn't very useful, and you have to wait until your game is over to see the good stuff. Overall, Swirl is a pleasant way to pass the time, and the price is right. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

This 4-disk epic adventure game manages to create a realistic virtual world better than any game that preceded. Your character, a Japanese teenager in search of his father's killers, can walk around town, enter buildings, and interact with people. The graphics are outstanding, and the attention to detail is astounding. There are literally hundreds of people you can interact with, and each has their own personality, voice, and facial expressions. Not only can you explore houses, buildings, and shops, but the level of interaction is unprecedented, allowing you to open doors, closets, drawers, and refrigerators. You can turn lights on and off, purchase items from a store, play juke boxes, and use vending machines. Shenmue is a slow, deliberate adventure requiring you to do a lot of searching and clue gathering, but there are also fighting sequences that feature Virtua-Fighter style gang battles. You'll find several fun "mini-games" in the local arcade, including arcade-perfect versions of Hang-On and Space Harrier! The sound effects are excellent, and the Japanese background music adds atmosphere. The voice acting is well done, although some of the dialogue translation is unintentionally hilarious, like "I'm looking for a place where sailors go". There are a few minor flaws. First, the control is awkward at time, and it can be hard to position your character in front of certain objects. Also, you can only save you place in your bedroom, which means you'll have to hike back to the house all the time. Finally, although the streets are teeming with people, they often appear and disappear out of thin air, hurting the realism. But overall Shenmue is a quality game that really pushes the envelope. It's a bit slow and methodical, but if you don't mind the detective work, you'll find it quite satisfying. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Silent Scope is a gun game with no light gun support, probably because no light gun could facilitate the pinpoint precision required in this sniping game. Using the analog control, you take aim from long range, and then zoom in on your target. The analog stick on the Dreamcast controller is just the right sensitivity for this game. In the main story mode, you must rescue the President and his family from terrorists, and there are several cool locations including a football stadium. If you think the early stages are easy, wait until you find yourself shooting from a parachute, helicopter, or moving car. The graphics are wonderfully detailed, and the camera provides many vertigo-inducing angles. Terrorists not only act realistically when they get shot, they even take cover when shots miss. And if a car full of thugs is chasing you, shooting the driver is a great way to take them all out. Silent Scope has a few intense moments, like when a terrorist hijacks an 18-wheeler and tries to run you over. If you miss, you're road kill! And check this out - you get rewarded for checking out good-looking babes! The background music is excellent, making you feel as if you're in an action movie. Silent Scope is a fun arcade title, but it's not very long, and although it has some branching paths, it can get repetitive. There are some extra modes, but these are just for training. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

In Slave Zero you are a giant robot on the rampage, and the explosions and mayhem you can cause are pretty cool. You roam a Blade-Runner type of world, trying to infiltrate different areas of the city while fighting other giant robots. Although the city seems huge, you're always limited to a certain path. The scenery is dark, but its scale is not convincing. In order to make your robot look huge, there are tiny cars on the freeways, but these look more like toys. It's easy to forget that you're supposed to be 60 feet tall. The gameplay is shallow but amusing if you like to destroy things. Innovative controls make it easy to strafe and aim precisely, and excellent sound effects include a female radio voice that provides status updates and instructions. Slave Zero is no classic, but it's a not a bad deal if you can pick it up cheap. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

When it's freezing cold outside and snow's beginning to fall, this is the game you want in your Dreamcast. Sno-cross is a snowmobile racer with scenic tracks set in Aspen, Sweden, and Calgary. Also included are some not-so-scenic locations, like the industrial town of Murmansk, Russia. The falling snowflakes, quaint villages, and snow-covered evergreens really convey the feeling of being in a winter wonderland. The snow on the ground looks photo-realistic and I love the "crunching" sound it makes as you slice through it. The sense of speed is good, and it's fun to bounce around halfway out of control. Sno-Cross is most playable from a third-person point-of-view, but the first-person view does a better job of putting you "in the game", as you really feel the chill of getting snow kicked up in your face. Sno-Cross is a nice seasonal game, but its controls could use some work. There's a perceivable lag in the response times, and you'll find yourself over-steering all over the place until you learn to compensate for it. Even when you upgrade your vehicle, it never feels quite right. Making matters worse, when the snowmobiles incur damage they tend to pull to one side. A two-player split-screen mode is available, but when you combine mediocre controls with a lousy framerate, the results are not pretty. I love the winter theme and overall design of Sno-Cross, but better controls are needed to elevate this one above the average mark. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

Sonic the Hedgehog is the legendary mascot who catapulted Sega to the top in the early 90's. After a string of quality sequels on the Genesis, Sonic starred in several mediocre Saturn titles as his popularity plummeted. But with Sonic Adventure, the thrill is back! Not only has Sonic made the transition to 3D, but many elements of the original game (like the speed and fun) have been retained. The game is part action and part adventure. The action sequences play much like the original Sonic games, but in gorgeous 3D. You can either race through these levels or go slow to discover secret bonuses and hidden areas. The awe-inspiring graphics whip by in amazing speeds, showing off the impressive capabilities of the system. Each level features a series of challenges, such as finishing within three minutes or collecting a certain number of rings. There are also some impressive mini-games including snowboarding, airplane shooting, and pinball. Holding together the action sequences is an adventure game where you interact with people and locate objects to open up new areas. The puzzles are fairly easy compared with your normal 3D adventure, but they definitely slow the game down. You can play through the game as one of six characters, each with their own story line and unique set of challenges, which adds up to some serious replay value. You can even download a mini-game into your VMU, which basically amounts to a virtual pet that you can train, load back into the main game, and race in a special mode. The music is good for the most part, but the heavy metal intro seems dated. The camera is sometimes an issue. For a fast moving game like this, camera location is key, and there are many occasions where you'll need to wrestle with it. Sonic Adventure may not be perfect, but it's a beautiful, fast, fun game which will keep you entertained for quite a while. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

When the first Sonic Adventure came out at the launch of the Dreamcast, it was nothing short of amazing. The beauty of its graphics was only eclipsed by its lightning fast gameplay. The only thing that detracted from it were some awkward camera angles and the tedious "adventure" quests. Fortunately, Sonic Adventure 2 is pretty much all action. The camera angles, though much improved, still get confusing at times, but let's face it, that's the nature of 3D games. What's really impressive about this game is the pure variety. There are two modes: you can play as Sonic or his nemesis look-alike, Shadow. Each stage has its own mission, such as collecting a certain number of gems or escaping from somewhere. And it's not all running and jumping. There are skateboarding, shoot-em-up, and even cart racing stages. The game is constantly changing and throwing new surprises your way at every turn. The controls are simple and the vibration feature is effective. The lush scenery is remarkable, as is the sheer number of locations, which include some indoor levels and a Halloween stage reminiscent of Medievil (Playstation 1998). The animation is silky smooth, but the character speech doesn't match up with their lip movements, making it look like a bad martial arts flick. Personally, I thought Sonic was much cooler before they gave him that wimpy voice! I also can't forget to mention the music - it's outstanding. From rock to rap, original songs were specifically composed for each stage. In addition, for those who care, those worthless "Chao" virtual pets are back with some new VMU games. Sonic Adventure 2 is a wild ride, one every Dreamcast owner will appreciate. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

As Sega's answer to Nintendo's Mario Party 64, Sonic Shuffle is a four-player board game with mini action games incorporated into it. As you would expect from a Sonic game, the graphics and sound are top notch. And although the gameplay is derivative, there are still some unique features that stand out. The object of the game is to capture gems that appear on various spaces around the board, but instead of rolling dice, an ingenious card system is used. The numbered cards in your hand are used to move a certain number of spaces, providing for some interesting strategy. In addition, you can collect "force jewels" which alter the game in various ways. Different types of spaces may cause you to gain rings, lose rings, battle a monster, or trigger a mini-event or mini-game. It's just too bad that the one-player monster battles are so frequent, because they bore the other players. The mini-events are basically short stories that usually end by awarding (or stealing) rings or jewels from a player. But it's the mini-games that should be the most fun part of any party game, and this is where Sonic Shuffle falters. To put it bluntly, most of them SUCK. Some are so complicated that you need to play them a few times just to tell what's going on. In others, you don't feel very much in control. Others will leave you scratching your head. But the fact is, most are either boring or annoying. There are some original ideas here, like running around a giant turntable or avoiding crashing waves, but the fun factor is seriously lacking. At least the load times aren't bad, but Sonic Shuffle should have been much better. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

One of the system's original "launch" titles, this one-on-one fighter is regarded by many to be the greatest Dreamcast game of all time. It's difficult to argue. Although technically a sequel to the excellent Soul Blade (Playstation, 1998), Soul Calibur's level of graphic detail, fluid animation, and rich gameplay eclipsed all that came before it. It's an absolute work of art, and to this day I'm still blown away by its magnificent backdrops and responsive controls. The ten-fighter roster contains some memorable characters including Ivy the sexy vixen, the blindfolded freak Voldo, the ninja assassin Taki, and the hulking Nightmare with his "winking" sword. Each character possesses a distinct weapon and fighting style. Calibur's gameplay is remarkably deep, incorporating a guard move, "soul charges", throws, side-steps, and eight-way directional movement. The battles are quite a spectacle. It's possible to knock a fighter out of the "ring" for an easy victory, but that's pretty rare. I find it amusing how you can continue to whack away at an opponent after he's been defeated. It's also a great opportunity to talk trash, like "How (whack!) many (whap!) times (kapow!) have I told you (bam!) to take out (thunk!) that (thwack!) damn (bap!) trash! (bonk!)" Soul Calibur's lush backgrounds appear almost photo-realistic, and a high quality orchestrated soundtrack contributes to the game's epic scope. If there's one thing that's annoying about this game, it's the idiotic dialogue. "Ivy was seriously wounded, but the soul still burns!" What the [expletive] does that mean exactly? Soul Calibur features brief load times, an assortment of unlockable items, and a number of playing modes. I especially enjoy "Mission Battle", which spices up the action with diverse objectives for each round. Soul Calibur is a truly a great fighter that's managed to withstand the test of time. It may be old, but the soul still burns! Whatever that means! © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

It's the 25th century, the earth is being invaded by aliens, and only a drop-dead gorgeous reporter named Ulala can save the planet - by shaking her booty. Yes, this game is WAY over the top. Anyone who loved Parappa the Rapper or Bust A Groove (both for Playstation) will feel right at home with this one. Ulala dances through five retro-futuristic stages that include spaceports, asteroid belts, psychedelic tunnels, and plenty of surprises. The colorful, whimsical graphics are almost wild enough to distract you from your dance moves. The music is catchy, but unlike Bust A Groove, the tunes take a backseat to the gameplay. The aliens will perform a set of moves, and you need to mimic them - exactly (including pauses). There are only 6 moves: up, down, left, right, "shoot alien", and "save human". That's not a lot, but the moves need to be executed in real time. Any humans you save will follow you through the remainder of the stage. Ulala has plenty of style, sex appeal, and a new outfit for each level. Space Channel 5 is a very stylish game with addicting gameplay. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

Speed Devils is an exceptional Dreamcast racer - certainly more interesting that Sega Rally or Sega GT. You get eleven shiny hot-rod cars and twelve gorgeous tracks, which do a fine job of showcasing different seasons, weather conditions, and times of day. The Hollywood track is a bit dull (except for an occasional blocky monster), but the Aspen Winter track is beautiful, and the Louisiana Tornado track is awesome. Speed Devils has all the standard modes, including arcade, championship, and two-player split screen, and you can fully customize the race and track conditions. Handling is good, but the lack of a power slide makes it tough to navigate sharp turns. There are no power-ups or weapons, but the cars are equipped with turbo boosts. You really can't ask for much more from a racing game. My main complaint is that they forgot to include the controls in the instruction manual, although they did include a diagram telling you where the X button is, where the A button is, etc. Like I couldn't just look on the controller to see that! For you modem junkies, there's an on-line version of this game available as well. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

It's been years since there's been a good Spiderman video game, but Activision has done a commendable job of bringing the web slinger into the world of 3D. First impressions mean a lot, so when I heard that classic Spiderman theme song play during the title screen, I was pretty psyched up. The cut-scenes are a bit grainy, but the in-game graphics are beautiful and smooth. Thanks to a well-designed control scheme, swinging between buildings is easy and fun. Although you get about 20 different attacks in all, they're all just slight variations on the basic kick/punch/web moves. The thugs look great, and the villains include Scorpion, Rhino, and Venom. Finely detailed, they even look impressive up close. The buildings are huge and imposing, but since rendering the streets below would have been too demanding on the hardware, the storyline conveniently begins with Venom flooding the streets with a mysterious yellow haze. Since Spiderman can crawl on any wall or ceiling, Activision used transparent surfaces and changing camera angles to keep the action in perspective. They did a fair job overall, although I did occasionally become disoriented, causing Spiderman to crawl in the wrong direction. But let's face it, few 3D games have a perfect camera system, and this game is especially demanding. The basic gameplay is involving and fun, as you swing from building to building beating the crap out of the bad guys. In some ways, the gameplay reminded me of the classic Genesis Spiderman game. The voice acting is expertly done, including narration by Stan Lee, and bonus features include different Spiderman costumes, level select, and an artwork gallery. This is the game Spiderman fans have been waiting for. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

There's something ironic about staring at the words "Spirit of Speed" on the screen while the slowest load meter known to mankind crawls across the bottom. Man, this game takes so long to load that it even rivals the Electronic Arts sports games (THAT'S bad!), and it's really not worth the wait. In fact, Spirit of Speed is so bad that it made me laugh out loud. Apparently, this is an "old-time" racing game, with cars from 1937 that look like hot dogs with big skinny wheels. The driver sitting in the middle of that thing looks ridiculous! There is very little speed to be found in this game, much less the spirit of it. The exotic courses aren't bad looking, but navigating through them is a chore. The cars don't handle well, and you can expect ear-splitting screech noises as you round each turn. And where's the frickin' two-player mode!! C'mon, what's a racing game without a two-player mode!? You won't be able to turn off this game fast enough. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

Where did this game come from? I seemed to come out of nowhere, but I like the concept behind it. Sports Jam plays like Track and Field, but the twelve events are taken from popular team sports. For example, the baseball event is a homerun derby contest, and the basketball entry is a three-point shoot-out. Tennis challenges you to hit targets on the other side of the court, and golf offers "closest to the pin" and putting contests. Soccer has corner kick and long shot challenges, and for hockey there's a puck shooting and a goalie event. Football has "touchdown dash" and field goal kicking games. Finally, there's a cycling contest, which seems oddly out of place. Variety is the name of this game, and the graphics are slick and polished. An obnoxious announcer hosts the festivities, and like most Olympic-style games, each event is preceded with some quick instructions. The controls are simple - sometimes too simple, and the quality of the events is uneven. I could play the tennis, golf, and field goal events all day, but the touchdown and cycling games are shallow, carpool-tunnel inducing button mashers. Still, the split-screen head-to-head action is undeniably fun. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Being a die-hard Star Wars fan, I picked up this piece of junk without giving it a second thought. However, had I scrutinized the packaging I would have noticed this ominous warning: "From the creators of Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense". That game sucked big time, and this is basically the same repackaged crap, only with Star Wars window dressing. That's really sad, because Star Wars provides all the characters, vehicles, weapons, and battlefields you'd ever need for a kick-ass vehicle combat game. Demolition's vehicle selection includes a landspeeder, snowspeeder, AT-ST, and battle tank. You can also play as Boba Fett in a jetpack or the hulking Rancor monster (from Return of the Jedi). Two things I cannot fault are Demolition's graphics and sound. The battlegrounds provide a diverse set of environments, including Hoth, Tatooine, Dagobah, Cloud City, Naboo, and the Death Star. The scenery looks attractive and provides plenty of recognizable landmarks and subtle details only Star Wars aficionados will notice. The musical score and sound effects are straight from the movies, so they're pretty good. Once you get past the presentation and begin delving into the gameplay, numerous problems surface, particularly with regard to the weapons. Your default laser weapon is practically useless, and all too often you get stuck with the ultra-annoying "tractor beam" weapon. The thermal detonators, which work like mines, are also a real drag. In general, it's far too difficult and time-consuming to destroy other vehicles, and you can't even determine if an opponent is taking damage! Making matters worse, shield repair portals can be found all over the freakin' place. Don't be surprised if after spending ten minutes wearing down your opponent, he enters a portal and reappears good as new! Did I mention that the control is horrendous? Star Wars Demolition totally sucks, and it's even more upsetting when you realize how good this game could have been. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

When Episode One Racer was released for the Nintendo 64, it was a real treat for Star Wars fans. This new Dreamcast version looks slightly better, but the gameplay is exactly the same, giving me the worse case of Deju vu ever. Racer lets you relive the exciting pod-race sequence from the Phantom Menace, and the smooth, detailed graphics put you right into the driver's seat. There are 21 spectacular courses spread over eight unique worlds, and a wide variety of drivers and vehicles to choose from. The illusion of speed is effective, and the game does a fine job of capturing the spirit of the film. But is it worth the upgrade if you already own the N64 version? No. In fact, unless you compared both versions side-to-side, you'd never be able to tell the difference. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

This outstanding title lets two players assume the role of Jedi Knights, hacking their way through creatures and environments inspired by the Phantom Menace. Although a "twitch" game at heart, there are some interesting defensive techniques and "Force powers" to spice up the action. This is the kind of game Star Wars junkies have been longing for since Super Return of the Jedi (SNES, 1993). Jedi Battles for the Dreamcast also represents a dramatic improvement over the Playstation edition, which was quite good in its own right. Having played the Playstation version immediately before trying this one, I can say it doesn't even look like the same game! The graphics here are sharper and brighter, and objects are significantly larger. And not only is this version easier on the eyes, but it's more fun as well. LucasArts may have realized how frustrating the Playstation version could be, and made this one far more forgiving. The control scheme is superb, using the analog stick to run and the digital control to walk (with precision). You'll even discover playing modes you won't find on the Playstation version, like a training mode and a two-player versus. Jedi Power Battles for the Dreamcast is outstanding - one of my favorite Star Wars titles. I'd even recommend this if you already have the Playstation version. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

It's amazing how little the Street Fighter series has changed over the years. Sure the graphics and animation get slightly refined with each iteration, and extra little meters and moves are constantly added and taken away. But the basic gameplay has remained pretty much the same as it was ten years ago. Street Fighter III wasn't a runaway hit at the arcades, and I think a big reason for this was the drastic change in the character lineup. Except for Ken and Ryu, all the characters are new, and most are unappealing or derivative. Oro is an ugly, 140 year old, one-armed hermit. Necro is a big-nosed rubber man with moves similar to Dhalsim. Elena and Urien are scantily clad female body builder-types. Hugo is an Andre the Giant look-alike who plays like Zangief. Dudley is an English boxer who plays like Balrog. You get the idea. Despite the new faces, there's little innovation to be found. On the bright side, the backgrounds are pure Capcom: brilliantly colorful, detailed, exotic, and always entertaining. And they even change between rounds. You'll also be glad to know that there's minimal loading time in this game. Technically, there are two versions of SFIII on this disk, but the second one is actually just an extended version of the first. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

Capcom is infamous for constantly releasing incremental versions of its Street Fighter series, and many fans were mad when the third incarnation of Street Fighter III was not included on the Street Fighter III Double Impact package. No question about it, Capcom is milking this thing for all it's worth, but in its defense, Third Strike is quite a bit different from the first two Street Fighter III games. The intro features beautiful hand drawings of the fighters and some decent rap music as well. The game itself features an impressive roster of 19 fighters, including Darkman look-alike "Q", the shape-changing "Twelve", a burnout named "Remy", and the return of both Chun Li (!) and Akuma. And remember in the original Street Fighter II when you had to destroy a car? Well this is 2001, so you have to smash up an SUV instead! The controls are responsive as you would expect and the animation is impressive. This is one beautiful game. The backgrounds don't change between rounds, but they look more scenic and photographic than ever before. Loading time is practically non-existent. A brand new feature is that you are graded after each match. This is an awesome 2D fighter. If you enjoyed SFIII Double Impact, don't hesitate to pick up Third Strike. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This rare Dreamcast racer lets you cruise freely around San Francisco while embarking on a series of timed missions. For a game that didn't get much press, this isn't half bad. If nothing else, Super Runabout does a nice job of modeling the actual city of San Francisco. Having visited the town several times, I found it easy to navigate the streets to locate distinctive landmarks like the Transamerica Pyramid, Lombard Street (the world's most crooked), and the Fisherman's Wharf - complete with sunbathing seals! Certain parts of town look a bit sparse, but most include some traffic and pedestrians. I noticed some pop-up issues with buildings in the distance, but nothing too offensive. You select from two storylines, each of which offer a series of harrowing missions, including chasing down vehicles, disarming bombs, or collecting condiments (that's right - ketchup and mustard). The game tries to maintain a whimsical tone throughout, and one story stars a cop clearly modeled after Dennis Rodman - complete with orange hair and basketball. Super Runabout encourages wonton destruction, so as you zoom down the streets don't hesitate to take out every mailbox or hot dog stand in sight. It's especially satisfying to plow through a busy Chinatown or subway station. It sounds like Crazy Taxi, but Runabout's physics are more realistic and less forgiving. Many vehicles handle very poorly, but you can build up some serious speed on the straight-aways. You have the option of viewing a replay after each mission, and unlike most games, they're actually a lot of fun to watch! The audio is probably the weakest aspect of the game. The folksy background music loops ad nauseum, and some of the cars sound more like vacuum cleaners. Super Runabout lacks the polish and addictiveness of Crazy Taxi, but it isn't a bad title if you can pick it up for a reasonable price. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

I've been waiting for Dreamcast jet-ski game like this for a while. I've always been a big fan of water racers like Waverace (N64) and Hydro Thunder (DC). My biggest problem with many of these games is that the tracks are too narrow (like Jet Moto), forcing you to struggle just to stay on the course. Thankfully, Surf Rocket Racers delivers 15 wide-open courses taking you to the Bahamas, New York, Greece, and the Amazon. Unfortunately, the graphics are pretty lackluster, and certainly a big step down from Hydro Thunder. The scenery is static and lacks detail, and the Amazon jungle looks particularly bad. The water effects are hardly convincing, and there's minimal splashing. Gameplay is similar to Hydro Thunder, but without turbo boosts and short cuts, resulting in races that are pretty boring. Even flying off Niagara Falls seems ho-hum. On the positive side, control is good, and you can use a steering wheel controller. But overall, Surf Rocket Racers is weak and forgettable. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This is a solid, if unspectacular, motorcycle racer for the Dreamcast. Suzuki Alstare has more of an arcade vibe than realistic racers like Sega GT and Sega Rally 2. Its twelve diverse courses are easy on the eyes, with locations like tropical beaches, snowy mountains, and rolling green orchards. There's even a New York City night track with winding freeways and skyscrapers illuminating the background. The frame-rate is excellent, so you'll enjoy a nice smooth ride. The analog steering is sensitive but well-suited to the windy tracks, allowing you to turn on a dime. Your turbo button initiates a wheelie, so you'll want to reserve that for straight-aways (which are few). Suzuki Alstare is rather forgiving, and I often found myself bouncing off walls or riding over embankments instead of crashing. An addictive tournament mode puts you up against CPU competitors, and a split-screen two-player mode is also available. The split-screen graphics are much degraded with ample draw-in, but hey, it's better than nothing. There's a lot to like about Suzuki Alstare. When you crash, your driver is ejected from the bike, and it's especially hilarious when he goes flying over a cliff. After crashing the game almost immediately puts you back on track, so there are no lulls in the action. In split-screen mode, a helpful indicator across the middle of the screen indicates the distance to the finish. My main gripe is how tracks tend to be excessively curvy. The New York track contains far too many right angles and U-turns. My friend Scott insists that "curves are what motorcycle games are all about!" What-ever! The tracks are inconsistent in length, and the longer ones tend to wear out their welcome. If there are any shortcuts to be found, they are well concealed. Ubi Soft didn't put much effort into soundtrack, which consists of sparse beats droning in the background. Suzuki Alstare Extreme is a little uneven, but I found myself attracted to its arcade graphics and pick-up-and-play style. © Copyright 2010 The Video Game Critic.

Despite the idiotic name, this game is alright! After witnessing this game's gorgeous graphics and sound, it may be tough to enjoy my Playstation again. Unlike most games which feature short intermissions between long action stages, Sword of the Berserk has short action levels between long (10-15 min) movie quality clips. Fortunately the medieval-Resident Evil style story is so compelling that you won't mind sitting back and just watching half the game. The graphics are fantastic, and the voice acting sounds professional, but is that flying elf really necessary? Does every story have to have some kind of comic relief? Your character is equipped with special weapons like grenades and a crossbow, but you'll take out most of your anger with your six-foot sword! Its sheer size allows you to take out several baddies at once, but on the downside, it tends to get caught up in tight hallways. Gameplay mainly involves hacking everything to bits. It's mindlessly fun, and there are over 30 freaky monsters and bosses. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.