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The benchmark SNES classic goes portable. The big punch for the SNES back in 1994, "Donkey Kong Country" was the evolution of platform gaming, with graphics unlike anything the world has ever seen. It achieved two things: It revived perhaps the oldest video game franchise (Donkey Kong), and it gave Nintendo another mascot to market besides Mario (who never dulled, mind you). The GBA port was inevitable, and could not have been more welcome in my collection.
Donkey Kong and his spry little sidekick Diddy Kong must reclaim their stolen banana hoard from the reptilian swine who took it. The story is simple enough, but the adventure is anything but. There are massive levels with varying degrees of difficulty, and sometimes the game is frustratingly hard. But let's start with the graphics. They are excellent, even by today's standards. The fluid animation and detailed environments are a sight to behold, and they translate pretty well on the small screen. The only drawback is that the characters look overly pixilated at times, and it is sometimes hard to make out certain objects like jump tires and ropes (especially in the darker levels) due to the small size of the screen and the massive amount of detail contained within. The music is as we remember it, though slightly altered in parts to accommodate the GBA's monophonic speaker.
The one complaint I had with the original SNES version is that it was too easy at times. Certain elements have been changed to make the GBA port more difficult, such as adding extra enemies or changing the boss battles slightly (the Giant Wasp boss in particular). It makes the game more rewarding, and sometimes frustrating. On the plus side, all the bonuses are still intact, so achieving 100% completion is still an incentive to play over again.
The extras are not a big deal, and definitely don't make it worth the price of admission alone. There are two "mini-games", a fishing game and a dance game. The fishing game, hosted by Funky Kong, requires you to catch as many different colored fish within a specific timeframe. It is pretty dull. The dance game, as hosted by Candy Kong, might excite fans of "Britney's Dance Beat", but it's nothing more than a reflex test where you are giving buttons to push and they move a character on the screen. There is also a bland picture stills gallery (you add pictures by collecting camera icons scattered throughout the game), which is something you are unlikely to get excited about. However, the one extra I do like is the "save anywhere" feature, which is handy at every turn of the game.
The GBA port of DKC should satisfy any gamer, since the it perfectly balances gameplay with ample eye-candy graphics. The tweaks made to make the game more challenging are both a curse and a blessing, and the extras are pitiful, but the game itself makes it more than worth getting. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Best Platform on the Market for a TRUE gamer. All of us Gamecube lovers can well admit that it may not have all the beef of a chunky american system like the microsoft XBOX but lets face it, why do I need to spend extra money on a system simply because it plays DVD's and stores music, Don't we all have a DVD player and a computer for that which do it much more efficiently and at higher quality. When shopping for a console you should look for what is important like maybe... games. And the gamcube carries the biggest hitters like Zelda the windwaker, Metroid prime, Custom Robo, Smash Bros. (by the way Gary Schulze in your review you stated that Metroid prime and Zelda were release games... they weren't they came out about 2 years after the release. If your going to bash something do a little research.). Don't misunderstand I love the ps2 and the Xbox has it's perks but the best game Microsoft has to offer is Halo but now you can get Halo on the Computer and it looks a heck of a lot better and FPS's are a lot better to play W/ a mouse. Trust me if you buy a gamecube you'll see that the overall quality and inovation Nintendo puts into all it's products. The graphics are smooth and Frame rates are high and since developers are finally learning to develop acording to the systems highest potential the graphics are looking even beter (Check out the E3 shots of Zelda and Resident Evil 4).The controller is comfortable and the compact size of the system makes it easy to transport. If your in the Console Market and what something purely for the gameplay get yourself a cube and while your at it get yourself a ps2 also, they will give you exactly what you want good games and less extra crap. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A must for any RPG fan. Along side Skies of Arcadia, Dreamcast owners have another RPG to go nuts over. The sound, graphics and gameplay make Grandia 2 an outstanding RPG that everyone should check out. First, the graphics are just fantastic. The further into the game you get, the better this game looks. Fantastic character designs, great looking towns and amazing spell effects using FMV round out the visual package. The sound varies from fantastic music to music that doesn't seem appropriate to the situtation. Sound effects are solid, and the voice overs that are present are high quality (not the best but very good). The translation looks spot on as well with no major errors in the text. And the biggest standout is the amazing battle sysytem. By FAR the best battle system this real-time/turn-based system works incredibly well that adds real depth and strategy to an RGP component that can get very tiresome over time. With all that shiny goodness, there are some flaws. Grandia 2 is pretty formulatic, with a pretty tried and true story (it's still a good one though), and quite linear, as you are pretty much led from town to town, event to event, boss to boss with no real exploration of the map to be done. Beside that, it's a fantastic game with a great Soundtrack included. Highly recommended. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
This is my first experience with Super Robot Taisen. ... and I'm up to mission 12 in Original Generation 2. While I've played my fair share of Fire Emblem and Advance Wars, this is my first time to play an SRPG centered around giant robots and their pilots. The thing about this game is it's not just a carbon copy of those games with giant robots. In Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2, the battles nearly take a backseat to the complex story.
Not having played the original, I asked for some background information from a friend who had, and I am glad I did. The amount of history and character background is enough to fill a textbook, and if you don't do any research before diving into this sequel you will be lost. There are probably 100 characters introduced in the first 12 missions alone. But I did my homework and paid close attention, so I was able to keep up. Barely.
SRT:OG2 has huge amount of dialogue that carries this deep and twisted story through its dozens of sub-plots. The dialogue often lasts longer than the actual missions, so if you don't like to read in games, cross this game off your list immediately. The fighting robots even stop in mid-battle for discussion. Fortunately, this being a portable game, the developers made it possible to save at any time, even in the middle of a conversation. Just press "start" and you can pick up where you left up, and by pressing the "B" button you can backtrack through the dialogue to refresh your memory on what was being said. Very handy. If you can deal with the sheer amount of dialogue you'll discover a well-written story with fleshed-out characters each of whom has a distinctive personality. Some are lovable, some are despicable, and it all adds up to a very memorable experience.
Artistically this game is a winner. The robot animations are detailed and exciting. I believe SRT:OG2 has the best animations I've ever seen on the Gameboy Advance. But if you're pressed for time, or if you get tired of watching battles (each of which lasts between 15 and 30 seconds) you can switch them off and the battles will progress much faster on the map. The soundtrack is excellent, and sounds even catchier through headphones.
I've really enjoyed the story, but the actual missions fall short of perfection. The main problem is the way the robots are represented on the field. It's hard to tell who's who since every ally on the map is grayish-green (even though they are actually red, blue, pink, and every other color in the rainbow). You'll often have to click on each ally to confirm who they are. This is a hassle.
So is Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 for you? Ask yourself this: Am I willing to study up on the first game's background so I know what's going on? Do I have the patience to read pages upon pages of detailed dialogue full of references to politics and personal relationships? Am I committed to studying this game, to learn the intricacies of battle and robot/pilot customization? If not, stick with the much-simpler Fire Emblem or Advance Wars. Personally, I'm glad I got this game because it has challenged me as a gamer and a student of storytelling. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Good game, no classic. Playing this is essentially as close the films as I can imagine for right now, and that is glorious! My fave level is easily HOTH. However, the plot is told just at screens or in your ship, it's not so well-written. A lot of the levels don't feel too STAR WARS-esque, I think they should have introduced some SW Prequel dogfights into this, along with those ships. The codes are really cool, you can get all sorts of different ships, but they should be easier to input and save so you don't have to do it all the time. I love how the time adjusts in-game to the time that your Gamecube has, so if you're playing at dusk, Tatooine is at dusk also, and that's great. It makes it seem at least somewhat fresh, though they have you do some of the same exact things you did last time out, like race Wedge through the canyon and some missions are nearly the same as well. Voice talent is first rate, they got the actual Wedge and a reliable Mark Hamill impersonator. Ultimately, I feel RS1 was more interesting, more fun, just more exciting, RS2 seems like it should be more fun, and it isn't quite, maybe it was seeing the landscapes of RS1 being done on the N64... At any rate, some levels are great, just like the movies, others are made up and it's not fun to play the made-up levels (or levels from SW books), they aren't distinct as something from STAR WARS, it's like playing any other sci-fi shooter, maybe character interaction is key. I prefer to do what I've seen done in the films, maybe those few fights should have been concentrated on, given a few levels based on one scene, so the graphics could be even better and the gameplay could be more epic. I'd love to play the CLONE WAR in RS3, maybe Rogues weren't really around back then, but they could work around it. Anyway, parts could've been changed, made less mathematical, but it's still a pretty decent thrill. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A underated Banjo-Kazooie Platformer. Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's revenge is really underrated. It is a platformer like Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie and it is done well. I love this game it is a great on the go platformer. First there are a few problems people might have like that you have an isometric view and that the game is short. but first the story canonically Grunty's Revenge takes place 2 months after Banjo-Kazooie. Klungo makes a robotic grunty called mecha Grunty. So Grunty can transfer her soul into it. after that she kidnaps kazooie and takes her back to the past to make sure Banjo and Kazooie never meet. The gameplay is fun you do have to relearn moves from the first game but it is still fun recollecting them you get some new transformations. Which you can use any of in any world but you can't be the transformations in spiral mountain. Spiral mountain is split into three sections Spiral Mountain, Spiral Rise and Spiral mere. all containing each of the worlds to visit in order to learn new moves you need to collect notes. and to acsess new levels you need to collect jiggies there are eight in each world. eventually you will fight Klungo and grunty as well as being able to expand your helth ar by visiting the beehive and by collecting extra honeycomb pieces. Overall the game is fun to just pick up and play. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Only for fans of the original trilogy. Only get this if you have played the original Trilogy and loved them, DO NOT go into this game expecting something amazing, just see it as the closest thing you're going to get to reliving that childhood wonder of the original trilogy. The game designers were doing their best on this game, unfortunately Universal did something that not only made the two potentially amazing companies that were working on this, disappear from the gaming industry, but also possibly changed the fate of the Spyro series, they PUSHED the game to be released MUCH too soon.
Otherwise I would not recommend this title for anyone else | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
2nd revision of a great handheld system. My first Game Boy handheld system was the red Game Boy Color system and since then, I've played so many games for Game Boy. I traded in my original purple Game Boy Advance to get the Game Boy Advance SP system in platinum and it's awesome! It folds like a mini laptop, has a slightly bigger screen, improved back light so you can play in dark places and is backward compatible with all Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.
The PROS: It's made from Nintendo so the quality is way up there. It's sturdy, can take a beating and with its new design and choice of colors it comes in, it's the definitive Game Boy Advance version to own that will last for years to come.
The CONS: There is one small drawback that caused a bit of ire among GBA gamers. The GBA SP is so compact in design, Nintendo had to leave out one small detail: the headphone jack. Up until this release, every version of Game Boy had a headphone jack to plug in headphones while you play your games. In order to plug in your headphones to the GBA SP, you had a buy a headphone jack accessory and snap it into the back of the system. While it wasn't too expensive, it still caused some gamers to complain about this issue. Thankfully, Nintendo didn't repeat the same mistake with future portable systems.
The Game Boy Advance SP is Nintendo's second revision to its popular handheld system. Though they did release one more revision with the Game Boy Advance Micro, the GBA SP is still the favorite among the three different versions and would prove to be more valuable in time: with the release of the Nintendo DS (and future revisions), it is backward compatible with Game Boy Advance games only. If you haven't owned any Game Boy or played any Game Boy games, get yourself a GBA SP. You won't regret it. *****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED***** | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Twitch" gamers beware...this is a mere button-masher. Giga Wing is a vertically-scrolling shooter that casts off the strategic elements that fans of the genre often look for in favor of exaggerating the action to preposterous levels. Enemies don't just hound you persistently and shoot at you in big bursts...they totally blanket the screen with fire that simply cannot be avoided with slick maneuvering and well-placed shots. Hence the "reflect force" ... a tool that creates a force field around your aircraft to repel the countless projectiles back at your foes and produce oodles of items to snatch. You can also wipe the screen clean with smart bombs, which produce similar results.
There are several different planes to choose from, each with different standard weapons which can be upgraded via appropriate power-ups, but not a great deal of variety is added to the game because of this, because fighting your way to the end is really just a matter of using your reflect force at every opportunity and dropping bombs whenever the screen gets cluttered (which is just about all the time). You're given unlimited continues and when you use one you pick up at the exact same point you left off, so there's not much incentive to be careful where you fly or to deploy your bombs conservatively. Pretty much anyone can pick up this game and beat it on their first attempt with the proper amount of patience. Continuing will reset your score (which can be up to 16 digits) but most people won't want to put themselves through the frustration of finding the one square inch on the entire TV screen where it's safe to be when the enemies are bombarding you with gunfire from about a thousand different directions at once.
In light of this criticism, my three-star rating may seem too high. Well, in spite of the simplistic gameplay and unremarkable graphics and sounds (not to mention the feeble Japanese-to-English translation), Giga Wing is sort of fun, at least for a while. It's mercifully short, and if you're not expecting a masterpiece of old-school 2-D shooting bliss, you may find some merit in it. Casual shooter fans are advised to pass it by; die-hards may want to break it out every once in a while, but chances are it won't hold too glorious a spot in their libraries. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A wonderful game for gameboy advance. Lets face the facts, F-Zero proves how great technology has come, especially for a handheld device. The graphics are beautiful. But the gameplay makes you think twice. The game is simple, On grand prix mode you can race up to three racing worlds, Pawn, Knight, and Bishop. Then you can set the difficulties. They are beginner, standard, and expert, beat all of these and a new difficulty comes along, MASTER, which is very tough. Don't worry, all you have to do is be in the top three of every race to pass. After you beat all worlds in all difficulties a new option will appear, Championship. And you start all of this with four cars, hot violet, j.b. crystal, fireball, and windwalker,. If your going to choose one of them when you first stat, choose j.b. crystal. Every time you beat a world and all its difficulties you will get a new car. When you race i warn you it will be challanging. This game is very fast, sometimes it will even hurt your eyes. Your car has an H.P. which will you slow you down if you hit the electric edge of the course, or another racer. Run out of H.P. and you will explode. Before you start the game read to booklet and it will give great details on how you can make sharp turns as easy as possible. Another option is Training in which you practice on all of the tracks you have raced on. The rest of the options is for multiplayer. Overall this game is just fun, oh and its hard, frustrating, and may make you want to turn it off and go back and get a refund in the first five minuetes of gameplay. Before buying this game, know who you are, and know what you may be risking. I hope you have fun. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
excellent. i purchased the action replay for gamecube after seeing screens of the secret "test" worlds for the legend of zelda: the wind waker. i was disappointed to discover that the codes i wanted weren't pre-loaded into the hardware, meaning i had to manually input them. luckily, the action replay is extremely user-friendly, making even the longest codes easy to input.
it's also great if you play "animal crossing". who has the time to compile 800,000 bells to pay off your final loan? i don't. you'll also be able to unlock the ultra-secret "legend of zelda" and "super mario brothers".
all in all, the action replay is extremely easy to use, and if i've never had a game crash using any of their codes. highly recommended. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Quality Movie-Style Action. Enter the world of Joe, or rather, Joe enter the world of movies. With his girlfriend Silvia seized by the villian of a movie and Joe's hero, Captain Blue, defeated, he must step in and don the V-watch of the mighty hero and win back his girl.
GRAPHICS (9/10):
Viewtiful Joe, though it looks rather ridiculous and the graphics mediocre on the box, is in fact quite a graphical masterpiece. While the graphics won't win any aware for realistic portrayal of events, they could win for matching the style of game they represent. The strange cell-shaded 2/3-D action is delightful, particular with the ability Joe has to manipulate the scene around him (Mach Speed, Slow-Mo, and Zoom In). The scene transitions are sharp and well done, and there are virtually no problems with camera angles. It is, however, sometimes difficult to tell what parts of the environment you can and cannot interact with.
SOUND (7/10):
While the music is often cute and fitting, the repetitive voices during various sequences can become quite irritating. The music itself is good for the game, and the sound effects are amusing until you find yourself stuck on a level and you hear some particular line ("Cut! Cut! Cut!" or "A Bomb Has Been Armed!") about three hundred times, you'll want to shoot yourself.
PLOT (7/10):
While not original, the plot is fairly well done. Most chapters are disjoint stories on their own, where you may go from one chapter being in a cave to the next on city streets. The ultimate goal of saving Joe's girlfriend is always overshadowed by the next boss, and it doesn't seem to have an entirely logical progression towards saving Silvia.
GAMEPLAY (10/10):
This is truly where Viewtiful Joe excels. After completing the beginning of the third part, Joe will have access to all of his trademark moves (as mentioned above) as well as the opportunity to buy a host of upgrades for these abilities. The combinations available of even the base moves make this game wonderful to play as well as watch.
DIFFICULTY (7/10):
Two modes are avialable - "Kids" and "Adults". The primary difference is the life of the bosses and enemies, and the number that appear on the screen at once. Also, health is not as easily obtainable in "Kids" mode. Many of the "puzzles" are not intuitively obvious (such as slowing time to make jets build up or water drops to become huge).
REPLAY (5/10):
Unless you begin on "Kids" difficulty, you may find this game doesn't have a lot of replay value (unless you want to go through and beat it "Viewtifully"), which is typical of side-scroller games. For myself, after getting through the third chapter, I decided to start over and found it a (boring) breeze to get all the way back to where I was, as I knew all of the puzzles and tricks.
OVERALL (7.5/10):
A quality game, with only a handful of real annoyances. With dedication, it can pretty easily be conquered in a single rental. Unless you have several people that want to play through it and play with it, I wouldn't advise buying it while it is still full price.
Hope this was helpful. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
12 year old Frogger fan rates it BIG. I own the game, and it is simply wonderful! I recieved it as a christmas present this year and totally LOVE it! it is not hard at first, which makes u want to go farther, and then, by the time u reach 2 temples higher, (dots on the map) it gets tougher. It is a wonderful game also, because of the fact that you don't pay the $... or whatever and beat it the first 2-5 days and say, well, now that i know what happens and i beat it, whats the point on poppin it back into the game boy console and playing it, it takes a while and has great graphics which make u keep playing instead of it being boring. I recommend it for all ages, but when it gets hard, about ages 8-all. PLEASE BUY ONE, YOU WONT EVER REGRET IT!! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Like a Vacation in a Game. "Super Mario Sunshine" is a fun game with some things that make it a big different from typical "Mario" games. But, first, the story. In this game, Mario and Princess Peach go to the sunny Isle Delfino for a vacation, but there's trouble. A mysterious man that looks like Mario is making messes all over the island in the form of graffiti and this weird goo. And the Shine Sprites are missing. Mario is blamed for the trouble, due to being mistaken for the strange man, and is told the clean up the island. (And you guessed it. Peach is kidnapped again at some point.)
Luckily, Mario has FLUDD. This device can spray water, and so is great for cleaning up the island. And not only that, but FLUDD has a hover nozzle, too, that helps Mario jump a lot better. There are two other nozzles that you can get later, as well, though one of them doesn't usually seem to be very useful. I absolutely love FLUDD. I love the hover nozzle, which lets you control your jumps much better. I've never been good at jumping with Mario, and FLUDD makes it so much easier and helps me to enjoy the game more. It's nice not dying as much anymore because of slightly bad timing in jumps.
The game is also quite fun, with a nice variety of things to do. Each world has a good amount of Shine Sprites that you can get. Eight are in different episodes. Two are secret. One is from 100 coins. You get the Shine Sprites by doing different things, like collecting red coins, defeating bosses, climbing places. Yoshi shows up a few times to help you in the game, as well. Plus, the central location of Delfino Plaza has a good amount of Shine Sprites to find, as well. And if you prefer to do a bit more traditional platforming, there are these levels where you must cross all these platforms without FLUDD, which can be quite difficult. The game is actually quite challenging, which is usually nice, except when it's a bit too hard and frustrating, but nothing in the game is impossible if you try enough times.
Something worth mentioning is that, as you likely can guess, all the levels in this game are island-themed. A harbor. A sandy beach. An amusement park by the sea. So there isn't as much variety in this game's levels as other "Mario" games, but at the same time, I really like the island levels. It's pleasant. It's like I get the vacation that Mario and Peach planned on. The game also has very nice graphics and nice island-themed music.
So overall, this game is a lot of fun, and I definitely recommend it. It's different from other "Mario" games because of the goo cleaning and FLUDD and the purely island-themed levels, and I think they're nice changes. And the game is a challenge, too, and will keep you busy for a while, which I also like. The only problem I have is that I wasn't a fan of the story that much, but stories never have been that great in "Mario" games. The important thing is that this game is fun, and it certainly is. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
My Spider Senses are tingling. I remember playing this extemely difficult game in the 1990s and it was great for its time (I borrowed it from a friend). I like the game's concept and objective as well as the superior graphics and nice color scheme (a dramatic opposite from previous Spider-Man titles). Spider-Man needs to disarm a nuclear bomb that the Kingpin has not only framed Spider-Man for stealing but plans to detonate within twenty-four hours. With the game's objective and short amount of time to complete it, the player is under extreme pressure of warding off several foes that stand in his way (like Sandman, The Lizard, Hobgoblin, Dr. Octopus, and a obscure creatures like a freaking escaped Gorilla), taking random photos to earn money to buy web-fluid, and defeating Venom at the end of each round before reaching the main boss (adding on to the ultra-hard challenge). This game doesn't mess around so you have to be focused at all times. I advise first timers to use the practice level before playing the actual game. Once I get a new Sega Genesis (my old one stopped working), this will be one of the first games I'll pick up and practice at it until my fingers bleed (unfortunatley, I never got to beat this extremely difficult game). Its not the best Spider-Man game, but its still a fun game to play so why not pick it up for myself. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
MMX Fan - Had to have it. I've been a Fan of the MMX games for SNES for a long time, and I even played X4 on my old Play Station. I wanted a bit of nostalgia so I purchased this game to work on my Wii. Unfortunately I ran into two separate problems. When on the Wii you need to use the standard video cables, I was using component cables for my Wii however, (and I have no idea why this is) the video would go black, but you could still hear the audio. An online search revealed this was a common problem but using the original cables solved it.
Also, I disliked the control scheme on the game cube controller (however it is fully customize-able in each game). I found a more SNES looking game cube controller and now it's perfect. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
My Favorite GBA game. STRENGTHS:
Great graphics in remake of Pac-Man (Pac-Man Arrangement) with new design and new features; Has four games; Continue function in Pac-Man Arrangement makes him basically immortal.
WEAKNESSES:
I wish they had Continue option in other 3 games too; Pac-Attack could be better if it was more like Tetris. I found Pac-Mania quite boring though I like that you can jump over ghosts there; Would be nice if they have included Ms. Pac-Man in this collection.
BRIEF REVIEW:
I think out of four games in this pack only 2 are actually playable for real fun and are indeed time consuming. They are Pac-Man Arrangement and Pac-Man original. Although I like the first game better because of new graphics and many new features.
PAC-MAN ARRANGEMENT:
What I especially like in Pac-Man Arrangement is that it is a great redesign of original Pac-Man with multiple options.
You can start from 2 to 6 lives instantly. Graphics are captivating for a fairly outdated console as GBA is.
It also has new characters such as a cute Rabbit-like-pink ghost who jumps all over the places and Bull-like-red-boxer ghost who may abruptly throw himself against you like a real boxer. There are some more additions which you will love to discover during playback of Pac-Man arrangement.
I like arrow-like points of speed acceleration which allows to use speed burst from one direction of another. Jump-hole innovation is great but in latter worlds they are insanely more than I needed too. Music and graphics are really nice!
Although you can't save the game, I like that you may actually CONTINUE the game from the same spot. However, after you die your score still turns to zero. This means that you're virtually immortal! Thus, using Continue function every time my Pac-Man died I was able to go through all 5 worlds and complete the whole game. It won't take more than 30-45 minutes to complete all 5 worlds though. I wish they had more worlds.
PAC-MAN:
Original Pac-Man comes in full-screen version which is really tiny or you may choose a bigger but scrolling screen version which of course negatively affects on your ability to see the hidden part of the world.
I think they kept original features and didn't add any new because basically a new Pac-Man is reborn in Pac-Man Arrangement. I wish they could at least add Continue option in Pan-Man too, like they did for Pac-Man Arrangement.
PAC-ATTACK:
It is weird attempt to create a tetris-like Pac-Man with geometric figures falling down and with little Pac-Man attached to one of the ends of the figure. As soon as any figure with Pac-Man falls down it eats a path which was previously made out of other Pac-Man-ends of figures. Not only it is worse than Tetris, but it is hard to play and game finishes quickly.
PAC-MANIA:
It is basically a three-dimensional Pac-Man who also jumps.
Other than that I didn't find it exciting.
CONCLUSION:
I think this game pack is probably one of the best buys out of all GBA games. Especially in terms of bringing you endless fun per spent dollar. It worth every spent penny.
Would be nice if in Pac-Man Arrangement there was a jump over ghosts function too. Game developers could develop Pac-Attack and Pac-Mania in a much better and more playable way and include Ms. Pac-Man in this collection.
I would rate Pac-Man Arrangement as the best innovative game out of these 4-pack game collection. I highly recommend to purchase this game pack because you won't be disappointed. I found a great deal and bought 3 of these games - one for myself, the second for my spouse and the third as a spare game. :) | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Showing Its Age, But Still Holds Its Own. It still is, and always will be, a classic.
The updated graphics are great, and if I'm not mistaken, they also added some very nice cut scenes. Some may complain that they're too "Matrix-y" but I think they fit the game rather well and are very entertaining, regardless of the implausibility of some of the scenes.
The updated gameplay, which basically adds all the moves from MGS2, is somewhat nice, but makes the game a little easier. The original simply wasn't designed with first person shooting in mind, it makes the game a little too easy now. For instance, in the original, there was a room you had to get by where you absolutly were not allowed to use your weapons, forcing you to either sneak past the guards, or sneak up behind them and snap their necks. Well, now you have the tranquillizer gun, and can just put them to sleep from afar. Pretty easy.
The second time around, I also notice how cheesy the plot can get at times, maybe back when I was younger I could tolerate cheese better. Oh well.
At any rate, it's nice to know that the granddaddy of all sneaking games is still one of the best, despite all the different variations on the sneaking theme in games that have been released of yet (it seems all games these days has at least one "sneaking mission" involved).
Bottom line: Worth at least a rental for those who've already played in, just to see the game played with hardware that matches its sophistication. A must-buy for those who haven't experienced it yet. If you thought MGS2 was good, it's worth your money to figure out why the rest of us thought it was a somewhat dissappointing sequel. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Who thought this was fun. The developers of this game dropped the ball like a ton of bricks. Don't get me wrong. The idea was cool: Four characters, each with their own technique and weapons, trying to rid the world of zombies and other possessed creatures. But, believe me, that's where the excitement ends.
From what I hear, playing this with 3 friends is where the fun lies, but if you're going alone, the only reasonable character choice is Duece. He is the strongest and has the most reach with his axe. You'll find that he is the ONLY one capable of handling the endless amount of enemies that appear out of nowhere, which is one of the game's biggest problems.
The enemies keep respawning. What's the point of killing tens of monsters, if they're only going to respawn seconds later? It's repetative and pointless. There's almost nothing worse than fighting through an area only to find that the same people you killed a moment ago keep coming back.
Another HUGE problem with this game is the camera angles. You have zero control over it. All this game allows you is a zoom in feature, which only serves to make your experience worse. Countless times I found myself turning a blind corner and having to actually walk a few seconds before the camera allowed me to see down that path. That's the kind of thing that gets you needlessly killed.
Next, we have the bosses. Okay, so who's bright idea was it to make bosses so cheasy? The first boss I fought had a horde of monsters helping him kill me, and none of them were moving slow enough for me to think too hard. The second one, a Teddy Bear, wouldn't stop chasing me. I had to literally run around in circles, avoiding killer spirits, while occasionally jumping to avoid Teddy Bear induced earth quakes and vomit, all the while trying to get a shot with my special weapon. You literally only have seconds to get that one shot off. By the way, if you run out of ammo for that special weapon, just restart, because you will not defeat that leader with anything else. Sound like fun? I didn't think so.
The next problem is the cycling of the weapons. During the game, I found that it takes certain weapons to destroy certain creatures. For example, the spirits and gargoyles cannot be killed with guns and the spiders and alligators cannot be killed with blunt strikes, unless you want to die, of course. I've tried and it resulted in either my death or a huge loss of energy. It's a nice concept, but you'll find yourself running back and forth as you try to cycle from one weapon to another as you attempt to rid yourself of deadly spiders as the spirits are coming at you simultaneously.
The final problem is the need to reload your special weapon. Okay, I understand this concept, but then ammo is not easy to come by. Why couldn't they just make this like Blood Rayne and give you the chance to reload when you kill someone who has a gun? Also, why does the chainsaw have such a short limit? It's not like it does any more damage than your regular weapon.
So basically, the game sucks.
One more thing. The guy that does the voice for the mysterious dark creature that tells you why this happened sounds like the Mayor of Grant City in Dead to Rights. They sound exactly the same, in fact, only this character is overly melodramatic. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
THE BEST GAME EVER. This game is great it has a whole lot of levels. This is a game you should buy. You can be sonic tails knuckles and ammy. If you played sonicadventure2fordreamcastorgamecube. This a version of sonic adventure 2 battle so if you have a game boy advance and you like sonic buy it. Im going to give you some hints the caos emeralds are pretty hard to find the first one is in level 1 at the end of the level. these hints are for GBA.Evey character has a different abilities. Knuckles huvers'tails flys'sonic speedy one'ammy has a hammer. If this helps you check yes if it doesn't check no bye. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
SQUARE ENIX , YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN . This game is not a great game , its more like the best game ever!! It has all the elements of a perfect strategy game. You can build a party of tons of characters, use a variety of spells and skills, change classes, and go on over 300 missions .You can even create the world map as you go !! This is the type of game that you don't ever want to stop playing as long as theres more to play. If youve ever played a Final Fantasy game , you will love this game. Yes its that great, and no matter what other people may say I recommend this game to anyone who has ever picked up a gameboy. In other words, stop reading this review and GO GET THIS GAME NOW !!! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
The definition of epic. I am so terribly upset that Shenmue 2 was not released for the Dreamcast in the USA. It's a horrific shame, because this is one of the very best, elite of elite cream of the crop games that you don't ever get to see. This really is Virtual Fighter the RPG, or originally that was supposedly the concept. Graphics are quite wonderful, the areas are huge and planned out, and combat can be both quick and fun to watch. And you can play Space Harrier. Do any other games today give you that ability?
Though, if you don't have decent reflexes, you might find Ryo getting plastered across the pavement more often or not. But the game does have areas where you can practice that too. It's great to watch Ryo suddenly bust out the karate and start beating the heck out of the bad guys. At least, I'd assume it would be Karate. After all, that's Japanese, and Kung Fu is Chinese...though there are so many different schools to that too. Maybe it's neither. Why can't they make a Bruce Lee game like this? | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Awesome. I have yet to receive my item but I'm tracking it right now and its within hours. I ordered it on Friday and its now Monday so its rather fast. I would recomment this dealer to anyone and everyone. Price was more than reasonable, Im not expecting a tip top shape product but none the less the price is firm. I was about 11 yrs old when Pokemon first came out and I fell in love with the show, then I went from the show to Pokemon cards and then the gameboy color. I haven't played this game in nearly 5-6yrs and I am excited to play it. Thanks guys for an awesome product and service | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
It Works. In short, this works I would buy it again. I do not wear contacts or glasses and have 20/20 vision
The long story: I bought the MLG Phantom and the VAYPER before I finally settled on these. out of the 3 this one happens to be the most comfortable even though looking at the images you wouldn't think so. The other models actually irritated my eyes, and I have no idea why. they also were very uncomfortable on my nose and I felt they left too much of my field of view uncovered. this model though cheaper, fits me better, covers all the field of view I care about, and even with headphones on it still comfortable.
as for the promise of eye strain, yes it works. I bought these for that sole reason because the last couple of years I've had to stop playing some of the games I wanted because I couldn't bare it, my headache and eyestrain would go through the roof and even web surfing and reading on the computer was a forced chore that I had to endure for school. but with these, when I start getting eyestrain I put these on and it goes away.
don't let the yellow tint throw you off, once you get used to them you honestly do not notice it while gaming. you just completely forget that their is a tint, until you take them off. then everything looks shockingly blue when you do.
so again, they are comfortable, fit my head, I like them, they look cool, and they really do work. don't use these if your not sitting close to the screen though far off objects get slightly blurry. I am %100 happy with these, however DO NOT get these without ordering microfiber cloths and lens wipes/cleaner because they scratch easy and they get dirty way too easy. I use Zeiss wipes because they work and dry faster than most other wipes minimizing streaks.
Update 9/13/2013
These still work, and still get dirty waayy too easy. I try to clean them as few times as necessary because some minor scratches are starting to happen. You will never get these clean without a cloth and i suggest taking any measures you can to avoid getting scratches on the lens by blowing the dust off with compressed air before wiping the lens down with anything.
One thing ive noticed thats new to me, but apparently common to anyone who wears glasses: is that your eyes get tired, especially under the eyes in the bags. Its not eyestrain or anything you experience from looking at a monitor, just something related to the broad catagory of wearing glasses in general. It doesnt cause a headache, it doesnt disrupt your gameplay or reading, nor make your life hel* like eyestrain does, however it has made me want to go to sleep early on some nights.
I would buy these again if i lost these.
update 4/9/2014
i menaged to find a hardcase that fit thes: http://www.amazon.com/Sunglass-Case-Sunglasses-Eyeglasses-Investments/dp/B00C9TVL8K/ref=cm_cr-mr-title
this does a better job than the included white cloth bag at keeping them clean. the gunnar hardcase is too small. finally, why was this review not helpful to 3 people? you should leave a comment about how i can be of more help
update 7/26/2015
so how i use them nowadays is this: normally i don't wear them unless i'm having any of the above issues, and then i put them on. and so far that seems to stop the issues when i need it. if however, i wear them when i don't have issues...i seem to get issues. i don't count this as a negative because my purpose in buying them was to stop the issues when they occured, and that they do. other than that nothing new to report. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Lets Party. Mario Party e brings a wonderful card game from Nintendo's hit game Mario Party. On each colorful card there's some excitement to the game. You need Coin cards to play certain cards like duel item and some chaos cards. Chaos cards are a fun way to mix up the fun. Sometimes you can take some of your opponent's cards. Blocker cards prevent any of your opponents to try and take your cards. With Deul cards, you need a game boy advance to pick an opponent and let the duel begin. Whoever wins follows the directions on the card. Item cards you have to collect three and play a superstar card to win! Superstar cards you need to win the game or you can use them to steal an item card. Search cards you can play a mini game and if you win you are allowed to search your opponents hand or the deck for cards. So shuffle the deck, deal the cards, and Let's Party! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Fire Emblem! Woo Hoo. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is a really fun game. Here's the story...
The main character is Ike, who is a mercenary living in the country of Crimea with his father, and several other mercenaries. One of your fellow mercenaries has been studying in the capital of Crimea, but comes back to inform you that Crimea and Daein (another country) have begun a war against each other. What side should you fight for? Of course, the mercenaries decide to fight for Crimea once they find Princess Elincia, princess of Crimea.
You can choose who you want to train. For instance, if you loathe someone -cough-Nephenee-cough, then you can decide to just not send them into any battle... and stuff.
Like the other reviewers have said, this game involves using your brain. (For most people, that is) It's strategy. Yeah. And you don't literally control the characters, as you know if you've played the other two Fire Emblem games for USA. You do get to choose where they move, but you can't press a button to use their weapon or anything. It's sort of hard to explain.
The graphics are really good, and I like the music as well. Conversations between the characters can be long, but I like reading all of it.
I really like this game, even my mom likes it. And she doesn't like many video games. I think it's because it doesn't really involve any hand coordination or skill. Ha ha! ^__^ | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Old School Entertainment, Sonic Style. My family recently unearthed our Sega Genesis and once again we can not get enough of Sonic The Hedgehog. We have a pretty diverse collection of Sega games, but this one always seems to rise to the top. As far as the 'fun factor' goes, I'd easily stack it up against a fair percentage of my PS2 library. I don't know much about the ports, except to say that Sonic has been made available on the Playstation, the Xbox, and even made portable for the Game Boy Advance. I haven't played any of these, but the reviews I have seen are fair, at best. So, proceed with caution.
Maybe its true that you can't improve upon perfection. The cartoony goodness of the frenetic hedgehog brings a smile to my face without fail. The way he zips along his path, snatching up rings is something straight out of a roadrunner cartoon. And on those occasions where he gets zapped by an enemy or a set of spikes, he flails his limbs, but gets right back into the fray again.
I have never completed Sonic, but that doesn't make the game any less addictive. There's the constant quest to collect 100 rings in an attempt to extend game time. There's the challenge to find all of the secret short cuts and bonuses. And the boss battles with the evil Doctor Robotnik is just tons of fun. Maddening at times. But fun, none the less. If you have this game tucked away somewhere, you owe it to yourself, to dust off the Genesis and have another go. I promise you, its just as much fun the second, third, and fourth time around. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A great game. "MOH: Frontline" is immersive and addictive. While the controls take some getting used to and the story line is quite linear, there is so much that makes up for it. The environments are great. you really feel like you're on the beaches of Normandy or in a small Belgian city that has been raveged by the Nazis and Allies alike. The sounds are nice... especially when you're sneaking around the submarine port late at night and you can hear the water and fog horns in the distance. Very atmospheric and moody!! And the Germans actually speaking German is a nice touch.
There is also some sly humor worked into the game: notice those silk smoking jackets that the decadent Nazi officers are wearing while relaxing in the Mansion? And finally, the replay value on this game is high: Killing Nazis with a shotgun, a grenade or an STG-44 never gets old.
One thing to note is that while the ads make the game look like you're often fighting with other Allied soliders, there are only a few levels like that. In most, you're on your own, using a combination of stealth and firepower to complete the mission. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
The return of brilliance to gaming. In 1996 I picked up a game made by an unheard of developer called Silicon Knights. The game was the epic Blood Omen: The Legacy of Kain. Since then Silicon Knights have been my developer simply because of the brilliance behind the story, and while Crystal Dynamics have done a decent job with Kain since, none of the current stories light a candle to the original.
It has been four years in development, and Eternal Darkness has been well worth the wait. I have only spent a few hours with this game, but what I have played so far is a refreshing experience literally all its own. This game cannot be compared to Resident Evil at all. Walking dead aside this game bares no resemblance to the survival horror genre. Co-developed by Nintendo the game has a Nintendo style of game play that is ingenious, beautiful, smooth, and brilliant.
The graphic are not on par with Resident Evil, but yet is still breath taking, and it is one of the better-looking GCN games. But this game was never about graphics anyway. With Silicon Knights it's never about graphics, but an intriguing story line of epic proportions. Despite the low polygon character models the subtlety of the games details is amazing. Small things like a floor filled with screaming faces are both disturbing, and appreciated. Too bad Capcom never thought that one up.
The best part of this game is the sound. This is the best sounding game I have ever heard on any game on any console. Resident Evil has the best Graphics; Eternal Darkness has the best sound. The music isn't much to sing songs of praise about, but the ambience of the game, and the way things sound distant when they're in the background... the amazingly realistic sound effects... and dare I mention the voice acting? So far I swear I have heard the voices of Simon Templeman (known for his role as Kain, playing Pias Augustas) Rene Aburjonis (SP?) (Best known as Odo in DS9, but also Janus Aldron in the recent Legacy of Kain games) and possibly Michael Bell (Knows for his role as Raziel). I'm not sure on this because I have not seen the cast, but its nice to hear voices that I know and love behind this game. The voice acting, aside from Alex's fake sounding crying, is on par with Legacy of Kain, probably because of the voice actor's selected for the game. Simply one of the best.
The most interesting thing about this game is the packaging. The fact that this game is developed by Silicon Knights is in fine print. Nintendo is making it very clear this very M rated video game is a Nintendo game, and considering that Nintendo themselves co-developed it its a claim that they are entitled to. I was aware that Silicon Knights was a Nintendo Second Party, but from the looks of it, SK may have been made a part of Nintendo, much like EAD, HAL, and R&D, which would be a brilliant move on Nintendo's part. SK could single handedly target the adult audiences that Nintendo is making an extra effort to obtain. I have a feeling this won't be the last Nintendo made M rated title. I hope it will be the first of a new trend because this game so far was well worth the wait... especially when the weird things start happening. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Tame and ride a wild horse. My 11-year-old daughter couldn't wait to get this game, and plays it as much as she is allowed. For a true fan of the movie, this is a fine game. Her only complaints about it are that you have to complete whole segments of the game before you're allowed to "Save" -- and when you do save your game, you're assigned a password to use to restart your game where you left off, and it can be hard to remember the password -- or where you put the paper you wrote the password on.
At the start of the game there's a thunderstorm that scatters the herd -- you choose which of two Native American characters to represent you in the game, and then you go about taming the horses by gaining their trust (feed, water, groom and even sing to them); soon you'll be able to ride them and proceed to round them up while avoiding unfriendly animals -- or getting help from friendly animals -- all the while keeping away from rustlers and the like.
The little booklet that comes with the game gives enough basic information to get started, but my 8-year-old was frustrated by the lack of on-screen information giving him hints of what to do. Nonetheless, now that he's watched his sister play for a while, he's decided to start saving up to buy his own copy of the game. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Multiplayer is a near impossible option, but still a very good game. Mario Kart: Super Circuit is a blend of concepts from the SNES Mario Kart and the N64 Mario Kart, all squished onto a tiny GBA cart. For its time, its graphics were impressive, and they still look pretty good thanks to bright colors and consistent art design.
The music is catchy, the sound effects add some personality, and the overall presentation is very slick.
The gameplay feels more like the SNES Mario Kart but with some refinement. Coins still litter the tracks, which adds a metagame to the proceedings. In order to achieve high rankings in cups, players need to collect lots of coins, use items effectively, AND get good times.
The items are just as useful as they ever were, taking a page from Mario Kart 64 as far as their execution is concerned: items can be be held onto, thrown forward and backward, etc. The items are essentially a copy of everything from Mario Kart 64, and that's all that was needed here. The controls can feel a bit cramped after long periods of play due to the mandatory use of both shoulder buttons and heavy use of the D pad while the A button is held down the majority of the time. If you've played Mario Kart DS, the button layout will be practically the same on your DS. The physics, as with each Mario Kart, have their own feel this time, and are more reminiscent of the SNES title.
Lastly, and most importantly, the track design is superb. Not only are all of the SNES tracks unlockable, there's a full set of brand new ones, and many of them are some of the most clever in the whole series. The new tracks look great and play excellently, with plenty of curves and turns and obstacles, each one feeling unique, for the most part.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit main flaw is that multiplayer is relatively bust. You'll need AT LEAST multiple GBA and link cables, (can't do it on the DS) plus you'll want multiple copies of the game for the full experience. Players can't do Battle Mode against CPUs, either, which is a disappointment. That said, this title is still quite fun even with just its single player stuff, and is n my opinion one of the best GBA games out there and one of the top Mario Kart games. Give it a go if only to experience the sweet tracks and revisit old ones. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
The only reason to buy a GameCube. When I first saw the previews in magazines, I knew that I would have to get SSBM (Super Smash Brothers Melee). I would read up on it on the internet and Nintendo Power. When I got the game for Christmas, I fired up the GCN and started to play it. My cousin was there so I started to play and I was amazed at even the title screen. The first person I picked to play was Bowser. Naturally being a video game expert I had "mastered" the controls instintally. The thing about this game is that it's very easy to get the hang of it, but if you play it long enough(and I have) you'll get very good at everything. The catching items is a very usefull thing when you have a pokeball thrown at you and you catchit and through it back at them! There's also a button where you can dodge attacks and flying obfects in the air. That I haven't qiute mastered and I play almost every day. So as you can see it's easy to lear, but hard to master. Then there's the trophies. What they are, is a model (3D model) that you can look at. But there's only about 300 tophies so you can look at Ray MKII if you wanted to. You get the trophiesby either complteing a certain task, or by playing the slot machine. The reason to buy this game (and a GameCube) is the preeminent (if you don't know what thatmeans look it up) multiplayer mode. It's also the only reason i borght four controllers for the GCN. So as you can see. this is the MUST HAVE GAME OF THE YEAR. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A refreshing break from the tedium of typical RPGs. Sigma Star Saga may not win any "game of the year" awards, but it is an experimental amalgamation of a "shmup" (shoot-em-up) and RPG, and as such is a refreshing break from the typical and stale console-RPG formula. The random battles take place in a side-scrolling, ship-shooting "mini-game" of sorts. While the "shmup" portion of the game is generally not difficult ("boss" battles are a notable exception, although even they do not approach the challenge of, say, Ikaruga), it's a far cry better than navigating menus in the repetetive, turn-based tedium present in most console RPGs.
The various ships that they often make randomly available during the "shmup" often add or subtract to the difficulty level as well. Slower ships can be more difficult to maneuver, especially through narrow passages. Furthermore, the ability to completely customize your weapon with add-ons discovered during exploration adds an intriguing level of strategy to the "shmup" levels.
Sigma Star Saga is a worthwhile experiment in the area of console RPGs as a whole. It is also far better than most of the licensed / sequel games released on the GBA, and as an original concept it is well-executed and fun. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Pac-Man VS.- A fun party game for all. I heard about this game online, and since I like Pac-man I figured it would be cool. I also bought a GameBoy Advance mostly to play this game (you need a GBA and GBA/GC connection cable to play). It's only multiplayer, so I don't recommend it unless you have a few friends who like video games or Pac-man. By far the best thing about Pac-man VS. is that you get to play as the ghosts as well as Pac-man, but I recommend getting one with the instruction manual because the way the game works can be confusing. Overall, it's a great game, and I recommend it. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
The best Pokemon game yet. This by far the best Pokemon game ever. Way better graphics, more edditing done to make it cooler. Alot of new Pokemon. Better Pokedex. I got this game today, and I am of course having a blast. Everything got changed from the mart's to the Pokemon Center. This game it think is 2yrs. after Gold Silver an Crystal. I give a salute to Nintendo for making such a better game(I also salute to the military people God Blees them)It is alot more harder than Gold Silver etc.. But it is realy fun. Ther is not night time pokemon for some reason, I wish I kew why. There is two on two battle, which is realy challenging. You might want to get Ruby and a link cable to catch them all. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Pointless addition of minor leagues. I am completely confused as to all the praise this game received. Everyone has been raving about the "owner/dynasty" modes as being so deep and realistic. Basically, what the game has is every major league team plus AAA, AA, and A teams also included. This sounds great when you consider there is a disabled list, contract negotiations, and personalities to deal with. The problem, and IMO, it's a game breaking problem.....they don't have any waivers, options, or call-up send-down rules. I am baffled that people can find this to be a realistic simulation of running a baseball team. You can send players down to the minors one day then bring them back up the next. Essentially, you have access to a full 25 man roster on all four teams, giving you 100 players to use EVERYDAY. That is insanely stupid. Forget about a five man rotation folks, say hello to a forty man rotation. EA Sports took the time to add all of these minor league affiliates and didn't spend any time adding basic and necessary rules.
To say I'm being nit picky is really turning a blind eye here. At the very least they could have added one realistic rule to fix this problem. Even if you want to skip waivers and options, they could have made you keep players in the minors for at least two weeks after being sent down (a real MLB rule). That would prevent havig complete access to your minors everyday. Very simple, yet EA didn't bother with it. Who cares about the gameplay when the owner/dynasty modes are 100% unrealistic and stupid. Big deal, they have a disabled list. Where is the strategy in player movement when you have access to four full teams??? OOTP for me I guess..... | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
An excellent game - the improvements outweigh the flaws. I became an SSX fan when it was thrown in with the PS2 bundle that I bought at Amazon.com. I wasn't a skating fan before, but I found SSX to be an excellent game that was highly addictive. The same is true for SSX Tricky, the latest snowboarding game from EA Sports. SSX Tricky is an improvement in pretty much every area over SSX (although keep in mind, I am comparing the PS2 version of SSX to the GameCube version of SSX Tricky), and the few flaws that were retained from SSX or introduced in this version are far outweighed by the quality of play and graphics.
If you've not played SSX before, the concept is simple - start by choosing one of a few riders, enter races, win to unlock tracks, boards, and riders. You get medals for placing first, second, or third in the final heat of a race or by beating specific scores in Showoff mode. As you gain experience, you add points to your rider's abilities - these abilities, combined with the board your rider uses, make it easier to speed, turn, do tricks, and stay on your board when you get a shove.
SSX Tricky takes each area of SSX and expands it a little. There are two new tracks, a beginner track and an expert track, and the others exist basically as they did before, but with more detail, rails, jumps, and tricks. Most of the characters were carried over from the original, although some of them have markedly different personalities now (I liked the old Zoe better than this one), and new characters have been added too.
Personalities? One of the big changes is that the behavior of your rider is more significant. In SSX, your rider made comments as he or she did their thing, but the main sound came from the music in the background and the announcer, who's the same this time around. In SSX Tricky, your riders make more comments, and the background music is quieter by default. However, the biggest change there is that you now have "friends" and "rivals." Rivals are more likely to knock you down during a race. If you knock people down yourself, you increase their aggressiveness toward you. That carries over to future races, so you may not necessarily want to knock down everyone in sight. I haven't yet figured out how to make people more friendly.
Successfully knocking people down is one way to fill your familiar "boost meter," in addition to the time-honored tradition of pulling off tricks. The bigger the trick, the more boost you get. You can still use it for turbo, but this time, it's more important than that. When you fill the meter, you start a 20-second timer. During this time, if you catch enough air, you can pull off an uber trick, which is worth significantly more in points than the others. Complete six tricks and you get unlimited boost and uber potential for the rest of the race. Let the time expire or wipe out and you have to fill your meter again. Wiping out in any event will reduce your boost meter, as will using Y to bring your character back on track (if you've fallen into a giant ravine, are way off course, or are stuck). Once you get to some of the more advanced tracks, you'll need to pull off uber tricks to get medals in Showoff mode. Remember that uber tricks are like regular tricks in that they can be part of combos and that you get half credit for repeating a trick, one-third credit for the second repeat, and so on.
Another improvement is that individual statistics are kept for each rider - their best time and score on each track, along with medals they have, and their best performance in each of a number of categories, including knockdowns, number of each kind of trick, and rail, grab, and air time. I like records because they give you something else to go after if you're stuck in a rut or have unlocked everything. There are also bios on each rider as well as a movie that can be unlocked if you reach Master level with a rider.
Trick books work differently now. In SSX, you had three levels of tricks, and you could complete them in any order, if you could figure them out. Remember how Hiro's trick book was messed up? Well, in SSX Tricky, you have to complete them one chapter at a time. Each chapter contains 5 tricks, so with 6 chapters, you have fewer tricks to complete, and you don't get credit for pulling off a triple back flip from chapter 3 if you're still on chapter 2. It also seems as though there is less variation in the trick books - everyone has basically the same tricks in chapters 1 and 2, but starting with chapter 3, you get some originality. One nice new feature is that you can pause the game during a run, bring up your trick book, and see right there what combo you need to pull off. In the past, you either had to write it down, buy a hint book, or have a really good memory.
I did mention flaws. Some of them existed in SSX, like the annoying thing about Alpine riders where you really need to go forward, because the board isn't symmetric front-to-back like a Freestyle or BX board, but it slows you down to turn around, and you can't always tell which way it'll turn you. Because you're going the same way, you really can only do half of the tricks that another board will let you do, because you don't have the option to do a Switch trick (off the opposite foot). On that note, because the GameCube controller has three trigger buttons instead of the four the PS2 has, this version allows for fewer in-air variations, so you have to be more careful about repeating tricks. I also disagree about some places that it insists are out-of-bounds. All in all, though, those are minor complaints.
The combination of the more in-depth tracks, better graphics, and uber tricks makes for some really interesting racing, both for spectators and players. Also, I really appreciate the uber-tricks because they make it possible to get the higher scores on some of the more difficult tracks like Elysium Alps. In SSX, you pretty much had to nail every 5x crystal to get a gold, because you had no other way of getting big points. Now, with the right jumps, you can use uber tricks to make up for that. You still need to learn the shortcuts and alternate routes to get the big points and quick times - and you may need a different route in Showoff mode than the one you took in Race mode. The graphics also add something else to the characters, showing a little more of the story behind them ... in more ways than one. The scene that's played when Elise moves up a rank is, um, interesting. There's definitely a feel of designed-by-teenage-guys to this game.
Overall, this is a really good sequel to SSX. I'm sure the PS2 and Xbox versions are good as well, but I would definitely recommend this game. I've got three other GameCube games, none of which has managed to hold my attention, and right now, they're all patiently waiting by the TV for SSX Tricky to leave the spotlight. I think it'll be a while before that happens. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Fantastic Game. I remember playing Final Fight in the arcade back in the day and loving it. This version is everything the original arcade version was and more. Compared to the snes version it's far superior, as the snes version didn't have guy and was missing the industrial area. This gba version not only has the missing area and guy, but also 2 bonus characters you can play as, alpha guy and alpha cody, also there are many cool settings you can unlock as you play other than the bonus characters. This is a great game and well worth the money, one of the best street fighting games in my opinion. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A Sega Sports Downfall. Only one word can decribe this game, sub-par. Shame on Sega Sports because they were able to produce games like NFL, NBA, NHL 2k, and Virtua Tennis which set the standard for sports on the Dreamcast and came out with a game like this. Sad to say, this game is below standard.
This game has many things wrong with it that are near-perfect in games like MLB 2001 and All-Star Baseball 2001 like, hitting the ball. Yes, hitting the ball is a task in WSB 2k1 because the camera angles give you a bad perspective of where the ball is to go. Look at All-Star Baseball 2000, the Normal power mode gives you an oval area of the strikezone in which you WILL hit the ball. In WSB 2k1, the circle is the size of the baseball and is hard to hit with. Also, why would someone want to have the COMP. field the ball? And to add to that, the COMP. is as dumb as the sole of my shoe. A near diveable ball was let through the infield and the first baseman didn't go after a ball hit through the second-first base gap. Please give me manual control!
Graphic wise, this game flat out rocks with signature stances, bubble-popping benchwarmers and so many real-life animations make you think twice about NBA 2k's graphics. But like most games, there are problems. First, the crowd is so bad I think back to the 16-bit Baseball Star's crowd. The most annoying "feature" is when someone steals and the catcher gets up to throw, the slowdown in that part is terrible. If its a feature or a problem with the game, its got to go.
Sound wise, this game is hit-or-miss. The commentary is worse than WSB 95' which wasn't groundbraking. Then the music, OKAY at best but could be better if they had classics like "Cotton Eye Joe". The national anthem is ear-piercing and made me lower the volume for that section. WSB 2k1 has music that has to be changed along with mostly everything else.
The selection on the Dreamcast for baseball is limited sice ESPN Baseball 2Night has been delayed till Spring 2001. For all you baseball nuts, WSB 2k1 will hold you till Spring 2001, but be warned, WSB 2k1 IS HIT OR MISS AND SHOULD BE RENTED FIRST. Virtua Tennis is the defult game this summer till NFL 2k1 and NBA 2k1 come out. Save your money and get Virtua Tennis or youll be back at FuncoLand in a week. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Months Later. At first, I hated the game because of the ridiculous non-fielding thing, the difficult hitting and pitching, and the poor baserunning. Now, going through a season, I have different impressions. First of all, no game of any sort of any sport has ever captured the essence of individual players like this one. Look at Nomar swing, Hideo Nomo pitch, it is so on point that its scary. Once you get going in a season, raise the levels to legend, and fiddle with handicaps as you need, you get an incredible game. As far as fielding, you DO control your man as far as being early to point in the direction that the ball will go to make plays, and getting off quick throws. You also set up where you want your fielders so that if there's a man on second, only if you bring your outfield in do you have a chance of throwing out the runner trying to score on a base hit. There are some annoying quirks, still, especially when your second baseman fields a ground ball next to first base.
Pitching is awesome. Once you figure out the pitches, which naturally make sense (up for heat, down for change, side for slider, down and away for curve, etc.) you realize that you can have different levels of fastballs and curveballs which are most effective at certain times. Even though I've become an awesome pitcher, with Pedro, Hideo (and, well, Bartolo Colon got onto the Sox in my season, too), strikeouts are hard to get against the computer. You don't always want your fastball at the highest limit, for example. Aiming is cool because you don't have a cursor, you can be off, just like a real pitcher. Hitting is cool because the players are so real. You learn their stride, their swing, their timing, and you're ready to go. Pitch selection can be difficult to learn. Baserunning still ..., the players are slow to respond when you tell them to go in a certain direction, it's difficult to work with more than one runner, especially say, stealing second with a man on first and third, while trying to hit the ball as well. During a season, the staistics are kept well, but the All-Star game is a fluke, it just gives you the default rosters with players on their original teams, even if you've done trades during your season. Also, you should be able to play against people during a season and why not be able to play any game druing a season, like the old NBA Live games from Sega Genesis. In all, I am completely satisfied with this game now. The graphics are awesome and the game play gets better with time. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Solid Replacement Cases, With Minor Flaws. I have been collecting video games for well over a decade now. Just started getting into Sega Genesis the past 2 months or so and I have found that it is probably the easiest system to collect CIB games. The only problem is that there were many Genesis games released in a cardboard box, which makes it A.) Hard to find those games in box, or B.) Makes it difficult to display those games on shelf.
These cases can help do the trick. Are they perfect replicas? No. But for a little over $2 a case they are well worth the investment for anyone who is trying to box all of their Genesis games. The cases are a little slimmer than the actual Genesis cases. Also, the sleeve where you put in your art insert is very shiny/glossy. So if you're up close you can tell which ones are the replacement cases. These also do not fit any of the larger Electronic Arts cartridges, so keep that in mind. Some people have seem to have had quality control issues with the cases, such as the hang tab falling off. I haven't run into any of those. The cases seem durable and have stuck together well as I have inserted the art covers and games.
Outside of minor flaws, I am quite happy with the purchase. As I said earlier, for just over $2 these are definitely a good option to look at, as it's hard to even find sports games in box for that cheap these days. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A Nice game. This is one of the best NFS games so far ever since Porsche Unleashed when it comes to graphics. Nothing to say the cars are cool, but you find it difficult to reach speeds of over 200+ mph. There is plenty of staright but to me the cars takes their time to reach higher speeds execpt the last 6 cars but don't get mad because the games states that the Mclaren F1 goes over 240 Mph but the maxinm I push it was 196Mph both versions of this car. But if you are good try manual transmission with NFS Edition of the Mercedes Benz CLK GTR. The tracks are okay but what I miss is the weather options that would the racing better instead of clear skies. Not enough courses to really test speed like Porsche Unleashed had. Just like Porsche Unleashed the traffic cars look cheap and small and when you hit them you get damage and they don't. No upgrades option like the previous games to make the cars go faster. The pursuit mode are intense sometimes the cops will try anything to take you down so pay close attention to what they say because sometimes they will switch their actions and your busted! I would give this game 5 stars but when EA games decides to put back the weather and upgraded options then the next game would get 5 stars | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
PYRATED. I was very excited to get a Pokemon emerald version in the mail. When it arrived,it looked a little different than I remembered,I made the mistake of discarding this feature,and played the game happily. I then proceded the invest over 70 hours in the game,and beat the elite four. I turned my game off and back on,and was suprised to see that my saved file was erased. I later learned that I had recived a pyrated copy. I was skeptile about this at first,until I saw the customer pictures,and saw the example of the "FAKE" copy,looked at mine...EXACT MATCH!Be careful wich one you buy. I am very mad,and will have to drop another 30 or so bucks to get an "official" copy. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Flawed but Fun Gameplay. If you've played the PlayStation version of Jedi Power Battles, then you already know what to expect from this installment: a basic action game where you journey through levels destroying enemies and jumping from platform to platform (a good gameplay comparison can be found in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games of old). Other than vastly improved graphics and slightly better play control, Power Battles for the Dreamcast doesn't feature any good improvements.
To start, the added Training Mode is too short and doesn't even tell you how to perform certain actions such as reflecting laser shots back at the enemies (to do so, block just before the shot reaches you).
The new VS. Mode, where two players can duke it out, is uneven and boring. Players start by selecting their characters and are then put in a small, plain arena where there are no objects to jump onto or block their way. Borrring! Also, the characters are often uneven, meaning that someone will always have the advantage. For instance: if your opponent picks a simple droid as his character and you choose one of the jedi as yours, you will more than likely win since your character has force powers and can also deflect laser shots, while your opponent's droid can only shoot from a distance. Unfair!
And to end it off, LucasArts never fixed the small glitches: you still get stuck between objects like trees and cliffs, the animation of characters is still choppy, and sometimes the screen scrolls to blackness and you can't see your character. There was even one time in the last level as I was fighting Darth Maul, when he fell into a pit, and the only way to proceed with the game was to jump down after him, sacrifice a life, and start the level over.
With all this said though, the main game is still a blast, especially when playing cooperatively with a friend. I find Jedi Power Battles' simple action a great diversion from the large, complex adventure games that seem everywhere nowadays. After all, who hasn't wanted to be in the shoes of a jedi and wield a lightsaber? | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Metroid and Samus... Any Question. Every once in a while, a game comes along, which redefines very essence of gaming and sets a standard for all other games to follow. It could be graphic, game play, music, innovation, originality, and experience. When I play a game, the most important factor I see and cherish ultimately comes down to experience. I can pick only three games; Ico, the masterpiece which shouldnt be missed by anyone, and Metal Gear Solid, another masterpiece where everything was masterfully controlled. Lastly, I pick Super Metroid for SNES, which literally made me cry for 3 hours, and almost, almost made me to determine to never play video game again back in college years. So you see how much Ive been anticipating for true sequel of Metroid. Now the question is does this fourth true sequel of Metroid lives up to its legacy? Now just finishing Metroid Fusion for the first time (you will get goosebump all over when you hear that classic Metroid title music, SERIOUSLY). I cant help but being immersed in this world of, you tell me, like world of exceedingly wonderful mood-
This very sequel, Metroid Fusion, will mesmerize you with the time-tested foundation of previous Metroid games with enhancement on every aspect. Graphic looks so vibrant and vivid that you will literally go WOW, seriously. Music wise, I would say they sort of took out that out-in-the-space atmosphere more and inserted more of movie score like, making it feel like more of movie. You know, thats true because previous Metroid games had almost one objective, like destroy the Space Pirate, or exterminate Metroid, and that was it. However, Metroid Fusion contains many objectives, as part of story line, and yet they don't feel like an individual objective, which would cut the flow of story, but it makes it like a well-made movie. You know, that was really nice addition because not only you are playing this classic of classics with all the great element intact but also with great story line like a sci-fi movie. Really, you will see what I mean. Theres this one aspect, a great aspect of the game which will be revealed toward the end of the game, which elevate this already a great game into something good enough to compete with games like Ico and Metal Gear Solid.
You know, I cant help but to make a comparison with this recent game, Castlevania :H of D for GBA. Actually Castlevania implemented the concept from Metroid starting from PS version, Symphony of the Night (or may be back in NES time), which forces you to obtain certain item in order to proceed to next area. Not only Metroid Fusion kept that tradition, but also they threw in lot of secret passages. Seriously, as I was playing, I got really stuck and thought of it as bug. But there is always way to get out and proceed with the game. One thing I sort of didn't like about Navigation Room was that it does somehow take away that full sense of exploration since it literally tells you where to go, unlike Castlevania. Ok, going back to the comparison, without a doubt, the Metroid Fusion really shines compares to Castlevania: H of D when it comes to boss fight. Yes, in Castlevania, boss fight wasn't that hard because you literally have countless potion to heal yourself. However, in Metroid Fusion, you will have to either defeat them or you will be defeated. This really distinguishes Metroid Fusion apart from rest of games out there because you will have to really try hard, not only just trying hard but also maneuver Samus quickly and cleverly. You cant just beat the boss by jumping and shooting some missiles without putting any thought into it, you will actually have to decide your move carefully. You see, in previous Metroid games, when you have, lets say, 8 Energy tanks, you are like undefeated, right? THATS SO WRONG in Metroid Fusion because trust me, even if you have 10 Energy Tanks, the way they balanced your health/energy point is almost insane, one hit will take away more than half of your whole energy tank, not just boss but also regular enemies. So theres this constant tension, even if you are walking with 10 Energy tanks with 150 missiles because just mere enemies can inflict tremendous damages, mark my word.
The very first game I played for Nintendo was Metroid, and it really showed me what an excellent video game is all about. After defeating that Mother Brain, and evacuating the planet within limited time to see another Samus, it gave me this sense of fulfillment. When I finished Metroid 2 for GBC (I personally consider Metroid 2 as the best GBC game along with Zelda DX), I was left with this sense of completeness with brilliance of Metroid game. When I finished Super Metroid, I was crying like a baby for 3 hours (seriously, you gotta play for yourself to really experience the experience) with sense of Emotion. Now, you have Metroid Fusion, which will give you the sense of fulfillment, completeness, and ultimately emotion.
Like this one review of Metroid 2 said, IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE BRILLIANCE OF NINTENDO, PLAY METROID"
DONT MISS IT. REALLY. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
GameCube or Wii, Twilight Princess is Amazing. Three years ago, as I was sitting at my computer looking up anything that I might have missed at E3, I ran across something called "Wind Waker 2", thinking there was a new Zelda game I quickly checked it out. After seeing the trailer...and then re-seeing....and then re-seeing some more...I knew that this could finally be the game that could take over Ocarina's title.
One thing that I noticed immediately about Twilight Princess is the huge world. I enjoy a big Hyrule as much as the next guy, but when you can't find Epona or the whistle to call her, you may be in a little bit of a problem, nothing to major, but you still may run into a problem here and there.
Twilight Princess also has the best story (in my opinion anyway) of any Zelda thus far. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that it keeps on getting deeper and deeper.
As in every Zelda game (excluding Zelda II of course...) the bosses and enemies remain easy, and the puzzles are what really prove the challenge. A friend of mine brought out that there should be a hard mode, and I'm hoping that Nintendo makes this move in Phantom Hourglass.
I've played through all of the Cube version, and up to the Gale Boomerang in the Wii version. Each has their own pros and cons...most cons are the same though.
Remember these are just my opinions ^_^
Cube
Pros:
-More gorgeous on the Cube than the Wii, because it's on the Cube
-I seem to prefer the `b' Button sword thing over the Wiimote
-This version is actually findable
Cons:
-The Cube version is nothing to brag about >_>
-If you've played a little of the Wii version, you may be in trouble due to the mirror effect
Wii
Pros:
-Aiming the bow, slingshot, etc. with the Wiimote is definitely revolutionary to Zelda
-You can brag to your friends that you have the Wii and TP for it
-If you have this then you have the Wii...or you're a big Zelda Freak
Cons:
-Friends will abuse it
-This version's hard to find
-You have to pay, $300 plus to play it
I prefer the Cube version more, I'll get the Wii version when I get the Wii...man I need a job >_>, but from what I played the Cube version is more enjoyable.
When it comes down to it. This is the perfect game for either the GameCube's death, or the Wii's beginning. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Classic RPG gaming with a futuristic twist. If your a fan of multiplayer RPG/combat games, then Phantasy Star Online is for you. It is one of the best RPG's out there. Featuring an outstanding multiplayer mode for up to 4 people, it sets the table for what RPG gaming should be like. The single player mode provides a great challenge for all RPG gamers, and you complete quests and explore new areas to unlock the mysteries of the planet, Ragol. Gameplay is challenging at first, and I would recommend reading the instruction manual if you don't want to be lost! After a short while of gaming, you will learn the basics and work your way up to being a master. With beautiful graphics, a wonderful soundtrack, and endless hours of great gameplay, Phantasy Star Online will make a great addition to any Gamecube collection.
-Recommend ages 13+ due to complexity and mild violence. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Great games / Sad interface. As I grew up with an Intellivision console, I was very happy to see this compilation, however as a GC release this is a flawed item.
As the other reviewer stated it requires you to use one of the GC control sticks to replace the number pad, this was not handled very smoothly and just does not give you the control some of the games require, effectivly killing the playability for those games from anyone, beyond those in my shoes who played them before and really wish to play them again.
That said, it also contains some of the great classic Intellivision games that don't require the number pad and are just as fun to play as they were 20 years ago. Astrosmash is still a game that can be played for hours it you are good/fast enough.
Simply put, older games who had the system might enjoy this, but with the lack of the original number pad it just isn't as good as other classic releases (atari, namco) to pick up and play.
Also the bonus items (old ads, a short history of the system) were a nice addition to add. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Better Than Pokemon. I got this game a week ago or so, after craving it for some time(3 months). I chose to pick up Tara's Adventure rather than the one featuring a male protagonist, and, in truth, there is no real difference. Being a male, I would have preferred the male protagonist, Cobi, however, you only realize you are playing as a female character a couple of times throughout the game, and hey, it's refreshing! My game got here super fast, and I most definitely recommend buying from Get-It-Fast Gaming, they aren't kidding when they say it's fast! Overall, for the gameboy color era, this game features great graphics and sprites, some catchy and great music, and great gameplay which rivals that of Pokemon. The best part about this game is its immense breeding options. There are over 200 breeding options, and its fun to see how kick-ass you can make your party! I cannot believe this game was downplayed as a "Pokemon Clone", its very special and very unique, what are you waiting for, give it a try! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A Classic Sega Arcade Game On The Proper Port. Sega's Altered Beast is a video game classic! When it came out in the arcade system, people would gleefully dump coins into the system to play as one of two resurrected Roman centurions in hopes of beating the nefarious Neff in the underworld as they rescue Zeus's daughter Athena from peril. Regrettably, those who had the original Sega Master System were likely sorely disappointed with the disjointed and disorganized gameplay that the title had on that platform. The resolution? Sega released it on Sega Genesis, where it played better than it did in the arcade (let alone Sega Master System) and allowed players the ability to customize the game's difficulty (there were control options that could enable a person to award or remove lives and health bars, in addition to setting the game difficulty.)
The game itself takes you through five different levels where your centurion battles a collection of ghouls, demons, zombies, and other unpleasant creatures that work to impede your progress. As you battle through each level, you must obtain three orbs by vanquishing a blue Cerberus whenever it appears on the screen. Once you obtain three orbs, you transform into either a Werewolf, a Weredragon, a Werebear, a Weartiger, or the ultimate creature, the Golden Werewolf, to defeat Neff and whatever form he takes to attempt to defeat you. This continues until you finally vanquish Neff and save Athena. When you beat the game, you get the credits and the option to play again but at a higher difficulty. Beat the highest difficulty and you get to play again. Not the greatest ending ever, but the gameplay makes up for it.
The controls are easy to figure out, but the gameplay is far from being a pushover. The creatures have amazing abilities, but you'll need to push them to their maximum limit to make victory a possibility. The moments are never dull and the soundtrack remains one of the most legendary in video game history. This game is a true classic and if you have a Sega Genesis (or get one of the Sega comps for the later-generation systems that features Altered Beast), this game should be considered a must-play. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
TOO ARCADE STYLE. THIS GAME IS NOTHING LIKE REAL TENNIS.THE PLAY STOPS AND FREEZES WHILE A PLAYER HITS A POWER SHOT.I LOVE TENNIS SO I WANT A GAME THAT IS LIKE REAL TENNIS.AND SO FAR ONLY SMASHCOURT TENNIS 2 IS LIKE REAL TENNIS.THIS GAME IS JUST ABOUT FLASH AND LOOKS AND NOT TRUE TO REAL TENNIS.THE STOPPING AND FREEZING AND THEN STARTING UP DURING PLAY IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR ANY TRUE TENNIS FAN TO TAKE.ALSO THE PLAYER IS SO FAR AWAY FROM A BALL AND CAN MAGICALLY GET TO IT WHILE POWERING UP YET AGAIN AND THE SCREEN STOPS PLAY YET AGAIN.AND THEN WHEN IT STARTS IP THE PLAYER IS ABLE TO GET TO THE BALL THAT IS SO FAR AWAY.AGAIN NOTHINGLIKE REAL TENNIS. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Old school -- but that's the problem. TimeSplitters 2 is, in essense, the spiritual successor to Rare's smash N64 hit "Goldeneye" (based on the James Bond movie of the same name). Its major downfall is that it hasn't improved much on that game, and it's starting to show.
The improvements they have made are great -- there are much better graphics, over 50 selectable characters for multiplayer, dozens of weapons (with completely customizable weapon set selections), and even a map editor! The included multiplayer levels (which are plentiful) are pretty good -- there aren't any that are obvious duds. Most of the game's plentiful features are unlocked by completing a series of increasingly difficult single-player missions. Some of these are near-impossible (especially if you want to hit the uber-difficult and unlisted "platinum" times), but you only need a "bronze" medal on them to advance.
However, the gameplay feels exactly like Goldeneye, which, in 2003, leaves you wanting something more. The levels are fairly pretty, but the single-player missions are extremely linear, and everything seems kind of blocky and angular -- none of the cool curved surfaces of Quake 3 or Unreal Tournament. The weapons are many, but mostly they're variations on the same cookie-cutter guns you get in every FPS (pistols, magnums, machine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, laser guns, missile and grenade launchers, timed, motion sensor, and remote mines...). You can wield two of almost every gun, but they kept the bizarre Goldeneye convention of having the "double" weapons count as entirely different from the "single" ones (which eats up extra weapon slots in multiplayer). Moving your character around feels somewhat awkward compared to the beautiful controls in Halo. There aren't any vehicles, nor is there much in the way of a storyline (other than a few screenfuls of text describing your mission). The plot has you jumping around in time, which (unfortunately) gives them a perfect excuse for having *absolutely no connection* between levels. You go from a Russian military base (full of zombies?!) to 1930s Chicago to the Amazonian jungle to the Old West with neither rhyme nor reason.
That said, the multiplayer is an absolute blast if you have 3 friends and you're looking for that old-school Goldneye action the console world has been missing the last few years. However, it's just not enough to justify the purchase for me. But at $20, you might consider it if you're a fan of Goldeneye (especially since rentals are like $6 nowadays at Blockbuster). | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Some good parts. I found Sonic's first few levels to be a lot of fun. Basically, I would just like to be Sonic and run around large places with complete freedom.
As for every other character's levels, I did not like them. The shooting levels are kind of boring, and the searching levels are really boring and tedious. The 5-minute level with that nasty bat character is so annoying that I've never been able to beat it; I can only find two Emeralds within the time limit and I don't like to keep trying that level since I don't think it's fun at all. And if it's not fun, why should I do it? It is a game, after all.
I don't like Rouge the Bat because she looks really slutty. (I don't mean to sound vulgar, but it's true. Just look at her. ...But not for too long, or parents won't let their kids play the game. Actually, that might not be such a bad thing. The Archie comic adaptation of the game had to "flatten" her out, if you know what I mean.) That moment between her and Knuckles was creepy. Knuckles has Julie-Su, thank you very much! (Read the Archie comic or Knuckle's own canceled series if you don't know what I'm talking about.)
I appreciate the Japanese language and text feature, and that Eggman is being called Eggman, instead of Robotnik. If this comment sounds a little late, it's because I hardly played Sonic Adventure 1 at all. (I don't have a Dreamcast and buying one now would be kind of pointless. If Gamecube would get SA1, I would buy it.)
Did I mention that I hate that Rouge in prison level?
The game claims to have some 150 missions, which is a deceptive way of saying that it's really only got 30 levels, and only about 3 of those levels are fun.
Still, I can not completely dis this game. The three good levels are really fun, and every now and then, I go back and play them. Like in the last game, I'm glad that Sonic doesn't have to go to special stages to try to get Chaos Emeralds. That always annoyed me. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Works fine but joystick a little wobbly; fixable with solder and new joystick box. Controller works ok overall, I'm using it for Melee. Awesome color 5/5, I never had the Orange Spice as its a Japan only release I think. Came kinda dirty but not a problem if you have the triwing screwdriver you can open it and clean it all. HOWEVER: joystick was a little wobbly and didn't think this was a problem until I kept getting owned and changed to a different controller (sounds clich I know but it really matters). This realization made it kind of obsolete until I solder a new joystick box inside. I am willing to buy again as it seems to be a flip of the coin now good the Joystick still be. If this doesn't matter to you, this is a 4/5 product. If you don't have the triwing or solder,or don't know how to use them this is a 3/5 purchase. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
If Could, I'd give it NO STARS. This game stunk with a Capital S! I mean I had waited 4 whole stinkin' months just to buy it. But the minute it came to stores(May/15/02), I was so darn stupid... I maid the biggest mistake of my life..."Buying DragonballZ Legacy of Goku!" I knew I should have rented it first, to see how good it was before I bought it, like I always do, but, noooooo! I had to be so UnSelf-Controlled and was anxious to buy it in a beat of a heart! I mean I can't even beat the 2nd level. But what I do know, is that Goku dosen't go around saving cats from trees, and finding little lost children in forests. And the King Kai didn't teach him the Kamehameha Wave, Master Roshi did. Duh! Every DragonballZ fan should know that.(My 5 year old cousin knows that!)They give you 5 seconds to fly and your done. And when you do the Kamehameha Wave, two beams and your finish. I've got cheat codes for level select, infinite health, waves, and flying,
and character select. Better, but still, this game is a bunch of DOG CRAP! Normally, Atari games are the top video game companies, but this game is a discrace to sociaty! Don't buy, touch, even rent, this game. Get Dragonball Z Legacy of Goku 2 or wait for Dragonball Z Budokai 2 coming in December. But always remember,"TRY A GAME FIRST,BEFORE BUYING!!!!!!" See YA! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Luigi's Mansion, Ups and Downs. What I like about Luigi's Mansion is when you first play it, you have just about no idea what you're doing, but after you beat the first boss, you'll get to know the drill. I like how you can shoot fire, water, and ice from the Poltergust 3000 and use them for special purposes. Also, King Boo is plain sick. With the blue tongue, pink eyes and scary noises, he makes the perfect bad guy. It's really fun when you first play it, especially for me when facing King Boo. I also like the suprises...The biggest downside of this game is once you truly beat it, it's pretty boring. I beat it, and never even played or watched the game since, unless I was helping my friend on one of his files. Also, the game's pretty hard to beat without the guide. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A flawless classic re-released for all to enjoy. This is by far the coolest Mario Bros ever! I grew up playing this game and it's the first video game I've ever played. Many people from a younger generation (ex. born in the 90s) won't enjoy it as much as old school gamers who weren't raised by N64 and Game Cube. Okay so I may be wrong when I say this game is "flawless" because the GBA version is a rough copy of the orignal NES version. So on this game you cant save and the graphics aren't as impressive as they once were. But on the other side you don't have to blow into it to get it working and you can play it anywhere when ever you want to insted of setting up your old dusty NES. The other good thing is my NES Mario Bros doesn't work to well so now I don't have to rely on my NES to play my fav. classics. I would like to say thanks to the people of "Classic NES Series" for restoring such priceless games and I would like to think Nintendo for inventing the classics in the first place! So for those of you who were raised by the NES get this game it's worth every penny you got! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A truly great game machine. I want to start by saying this is truly a great game system!!It's a much better system than the old gameboys & even the newer Advance! With a built in blacklite,built in rechargable battery,&the sleek clamshell case it is truly amazing!!The only down is the screen is a bit small but it's still a minor problem to this near perfect system. It has good graphics for a handheld system & gives you a comfortable feel when you are playing it.
weighing only around 5oz. and folding up to be an amazing 3 and a half inches this system is truly portable! So I hope my review is helpful because this is truly a must have system for all you gamers out there! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Fantastic headphones, especially for the price. I am really impressed with these headphones! I looked through several headphones before deciding on these, and I can definitely say I'm very happy with these, for a good number of reasons.
First of all, they work great. Both the headphone and microphone functions are fantastic, so as far as base functionality it's already great. The microphone swivels easily so you can keep it out of the way when not using it, and when in position it picks up your voice very nicely. You can't adjust the arm itself in any way beyond the swivel, but I haven't found that I have any issues with that position.
Beyond the basics, the form of the headphones are also great. They are quite large, so keep that in mind if that may be an issue, but they're large enough that they fit all the way around your ear, so I haven't noticed any ear soreness issues like I have with other, smaller earphones. And plus they do a good job of isolating sound. The crosspiece is also very nice, the padding is much appreciated and just feels great, and the adjustable length means it's easy to find a good position. Overall, I have played Overwatch for several hours with these on and have had no issues with comfort at all, and the sound and microphone were more than up to the task.
Lastly, the cord is also very nice, it's a little heavy but that's because it's nicely covered in braided fabric which keeps things nicely un-tangled as well as protected, and it has a nice little fob that allows you to control the volume and mic on/off on the fly, which is also quite handy and works as expected. And just because, the jacks come with nice little plastic sleeves, which aren't really necessary but, hey, they're a nice touch.
My only issue is that the lights are a little garish and I can't see myself every using them. However, all you have to do is not plug the USB plug in (it's only purpose is the lights) and you're good to go.
So, overall, that's really the only bad thing I have to say about this. They feel great, sound great, and have a nice few extra features, and the price is fantastic. What's not to love? Highly recommended. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
The Best Videogame of All-time? Very possibly. We all remember seeing Polly Pocket commercials on Nickelodean back in the day. Pre-pubescent boys and girls(but especially boys) alike loved carrying polly pocket sets in their pocket and showing them off at recess. Who would have thought that someday Polly would someday go on to star in this game that many journalists in the field are already calling one of the greatest video games of our era. Never before have story, character depth, gameplay, music, and level design been melded together so seamlessly into a flawless experience like this. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Greatness. Well, it's about a dude name Joe. His girl gets kidnapped into a movie world, and now it's his duty to retrieve her The game is generally a 2D beat'em up. here's why it's so good....
Graphics"
Just plain good! Sooooo much detail. Colorful. Just bursting off your screen.
Control:
Super easy to get used to. X is the punch button. Y is the kick button. To do Joe's signature moves, you use the L and R buttons.
Slow down time with the L button. Mach speed is set to the R button.
Gameplay.
The best! Super addictive fun! You can kick ass with all the style you want. You will be bustin' awesome combos till the very end of each level. Brilliant.
Overall, just get the damn game. It gets released on october 7th.
Major fun with this one. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
fell short of a perfect clone in many areas. first off its short. next its easy and the ai is [garbage]. but the atxt and the republic gunship are awsomeYODA IS AVAILABLE NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE TELLS U IF THEY SAY HE ISN'T TELL THEM TO BEAT EVERY BONUS CHALLENGE and the mulit player lacks ai its not that its bad but there isn't any but if u have a frend or sibling who loves starwars as much as u then buy this and enjoy it... THE GUNSHIP IS UNDER USED THE TANK IS OVER USED AND THE ATXT IS BORING IN SINGLE PLAYER DUE TO ITS SLOWNESS. IN CONCLUSION THE ROUGE LEADER OF GROUND COMBAT | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Quite the Unit. After scrounging around for a good Christmas present for my little sister, I stumbled across a wireless controller for gamecube by Nintendo and although I had my doubts, I went for it. Wow, my sister has only gotten to use it about 3 times because her older siblings are constantally grabbing for it. We've never had any problems with it and it also helps out with clean up quite a bit as you don't have to worry about winding cables and such up. The only drag about this was the battery life is quickly depleated if the "on/off" switch is left on. Kind of a killer to go play and discover your controller is dead. Other than that, awesome unit, no problems. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
My Backpack's Got Jets! I'm Jango, the Fett. I'll keep this short, Bounty Hunter was a really great game for it's time. Compared to games now, the graphics are nothing to write home about and the storyline could've used some touching up, but in the grand scheme of things, this game is still a lot of fun to play. I originally owned it for PS2 until someone stole the console from me. I ordered the Gamecube version and it arrived ahead of schedule and in good condition. Overall, it's a fun concept to run around tying people up with your wrist cable and dragging them around. The game play does get a bit repetitive, but if you enjoy Star Wars as much as I do, then you're so immersed in what you're doing that it doesn't bother me too much. I gave it 4 stars simply because it's an older game and because of the slight repetitious nature of the game itself. Final Rating: B+ | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
great game. this game is great and "master of all games" the reason it hasn't been on the top 5 most wanted cause its not out yet duh... im not saying its the best game ever but it is very good... in this game it has the same battle as metroid prime but its slightly tweaked and has more adventures... samus comes back investagating the bravo teams disapperance and find a friendly race but the dark creatures called the ING are trying to destroy them... samus gets new items and weapons such as the light suit and the dark suit, the light beam and the dark beam and even screw attack! a move used when samus sumersualuts and whatever she toches is injured. and the standard metroid prime moves like power beam, missles,double jump,bomb, and power bomb. but unlike regular beams the light beam and the dark beam have limited ammo... they also are used as weaknesses agasit certain creatures... they are esstinal for the game... what seems to be a simple mission to samus erupts into trouble once a dark creature is silently stalking her and the space pirants are once again out to get her... the problem witht his ame is it has nothing to do with the chozo and its basicly like metroid prime.. and if you're planing to buy this for your kid its sort of violent but not bloody all it is is shooting and staregy. i seriously recomend this game and if you liked metroid prime 1 this is a must. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Buyer BEWARE. I'll be honest: I haven't played this game, nor will I ever. But the reviews I have read of this dreadful title do not justify what was previously written here. Lest anyone be fooled into purchasing this game, here is a quote from a respected source:
"I am tired. I am frustrated. I don't ever want to play a game this bad again. I don't want this to be funny; I just want it to be over. I simply wasn't prepared for how miserable the next few hours of my life would be when I put this game in... "
"The opening? A picture of "The Rock" with a mono version of 'I Stand Alone' playing in all its glory. The first cut scene? Compression so bad you have to wonder if they used a program to send the file through email. The audio in said cut scene? GBA. The in-game models? You know what the refs and cameramen look like in NFL2K3? The ones the developers spent NO time with? You got it. The animation of said characters? When "The Rock" jumps, it will remind you of Mario...from the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES. Straight up and floating."
"But none of this prepares you for just how bad this game is. The entire game consists of button mashing against the same 2-3 guys in a room until they die, and then going through the door that opens up because they're dead."
Take this however you want. Just consider renting this before you pay $... for it. You have been warned. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
WORLD SERIES BASEBELL 2K LINE STRIKES OUT AGAIN. I was so excited when heard that Sega was making another baseball game for the Dreamcast. I just knew that there was no way that WSB2K2 would be as bad as the previous edition. Boy was I wrong.
First of all, what's up with the fielding? I mean it seems that every ball hit is a frozen rope, and impossible to field. Once in while, I was able to get to the balls that weren't hit too hard, but usually everything just shot right by my fielder. Also, when you go after a ball that you think you have a chance of getting, the computer will automatically switch to the outfielder, so you just barely miss making a play. As far as the outfield, the only thing they were good for was making catches. There is no possible way to throw a computer runner out, because it will not go beyond a sure base.
As for the hitting, I think it was way to easy to get a solid hit. And the homeruns, it seemed like whenever you hit one, it looks like you're hitting it out of a little league field.
The absolute worse thing about this game is the amount of bugs in it. I am not able to advance to additional games. My stats are saved, but I still keep playing the same game. Horrible, absolutely horrible!
The one bright side about the game is the pitching interface. It seemed realistic.
Overall, I hate this game. I wish that Visual Concepts had spent more time on fixing the bugs before releasing it. You know that they had plenty of people testing the game, but they felt it was more important to meet a release date, instead of producing a quality baseball game. If you are searching for the best baseball game available, check out High Heat 2002 for the PC. From what I've seen, it is the most realistic game to date. It doesn't have the best graphics, but the gameplay is awesome.
From this point on, I am boycotting all future WSB2K games, but of course I doubt there will be anymore. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Wow.. this is one of the many reasons to buy a Cube. I remember the day the Game Cube came out, I was working at TRU, and everyone was asking for this game! Of course it didn't come out at launch... that would have been too easy! This was the main game to get when the system launched back in November/December 2001. This game is a fighter at its core, but it's more humorous then bloody. You fight as many of the Nintendo key characters such as Link, Mario, Zelda, Pikachu etc, against each other. There are some well known names in this group, and there are some vague characters. This is an excellent multiplayer game, but it is good as a single as well. Personally, I don't think it deserves the Teen rating it got. The first one on the N64 was rated Everyone, and I feel it should have received that as well. Yes there's violence in it, but compare it to something like Soul Calibur (great game, just more graphic), and you'll see Smash Bros is much better. With all the different characters you can be, this is a definite must have for the Cube. And at the lower price point, it's a value. A+! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Great game. Great soundtrack. This is a good example great gameplay and music. Perhaps the most memorable soundtrack since Tony Hawk. I don't know about half of the artists, but the music does blend great with the rebellious fun of graffiti.
For the most part, the game is fairly easy to pick up. Primarly, you will be grinding on many surfaces to "tag" areas or run away from authorites. In some stages, you will also get to tag rival gangs. Believe me, its like pinning a tail on the donkey and the donkey is running. Other than the fact that I almost got blisters from doing all the tricks, you will have a blast with this game. Man, I wish there was a full soundtrack to this! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Brings back memories. You know, I had this game a long time ago, this was the second video game i have EVER owned, so it has a nice little spot in me, brings back some memories.... now time to get serious..........
Graphics..........................................................................
For how old it is the graphics are practically next- gen to the 2nd gen if you no what i mean
storyline.........................................................................
If they did this game over again and made the story-line EXACTLY the same but longer, that would be amazing! But the storyline is SUPER short.
Sound.............................................................................
Doesn't look like a Japanese movie that was translated into English and it's like the graphics, next-gen for the 2nd gen
Other.............................................................................
You can't select the speed at which you turn and if you have ever played any of these games then you should know what I mean
James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire------- about 1/3 as fast
Call of Duty:------------------- 1/1,000 is my guestamite
World of Warcraft: Depends on how less of a boss you are as me:
Right there----1/1,000,000
around there---1/1,000
not good-------1/100
you suck-------1/10
(Sorry if I offended your skills.)
Unlike other games such as call of duty you can't interrupt a reload(depends on pistol or shot-gun) or make it reload faster.
Don't even TRY to quick-scope, yes this is a discouraging statement, you can do it but you better be GOOD at it.
Over-all...........................................................................
AMAZING GAME! Yes I am saying that because of the fact that I had it as a kid but also because of the fact that this game has the --------------ing (Fill it in yourself) power to be a third-gen perfection if redone and that is final, yes there are glitches but yeah they don't mess with the gameplay any, just minor issues. (With 2002 video game scripting it could've had better scripts but you get my point.)
And that is my review hope you loved it. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Medal of Honor: Underground. I'll have to agree with John Wolf, honestly. For what Destination had to work with, I think they did an admirable job with MOHU. Admittedly, for it being a Playstion game originally, MOHU was an ambitious undertaking yet Destination did fine with it...and, in my opinion, is definitely a worthy FPS worth owning for the Gameboy Advance. Sure, it may not be as polished and innovative as some other FPS for the system but it holds its' own and, for that, they should be commended. I'll admit, I'm a diehard-hardcore Medal of Honor fan myself. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, either. That's, probably, why so many are disappointed with the game. But, Reviewer John Wolf is right with what he said in his review. Medal of Honor:Underground isn't that bad of a game. It should be given a chance. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
eeriely familiar. once upon a time, i heard word of a little game called "Resident Evil" on the original psx. having absolutely NO clue what the game was about, i bought it and began to play. judging from the original box cover, i expected an experience similar to that of a castlevania temperment...instead i received an experience in trouser-wetting. it became one of my all-time favorite games as it completely created a new genre of gaming in Capcom's aptly-named "survival horror" breed(atari's "haunted house" didn't quite cut it). it's revelutionary graphics(for the time), tense-pacing, and control scheme helped deliver a fright induced heart-attack to millions of victims world-wide.
when word got out that a remake was coming to the next generation of game systems, i couldn't believe the stupidity i was hearing, so naturally i read an article about it. better graphics were a given(they better be, at least), but "new locations and scares", "new enemies", and a completely redone puzzle and item scheme sure erased the stupidity aspect in my mind. this had real potential...if they didn't change TOO much about it!
after playing it, i couldn't believe how many times i said "wow"! these graphics HAVE to be seen in action(wait till you see the lightning through the windows, the jaw-dropping lighting effects throughout, the haunting outdoors, etc.)...they COMPLETELY set the mood for the eerieness and spooky atmosphere. the sound is just as impressive...the effects are great(although they sound a bit forced in a couple areas), and the music is perfectly ominous. puzzles weren't necessarily harder than the first by any means, but more interesting for sure(although i will miss my "young-to-old" crowfest...<sniff>), and movies and voice acting are better, although not quite perfect(again, i will miss finding out who the "master of unlocking" is, and who was almost a "jill-sandwich").
now for a few controversial issues, namely the control scheme, pacing relative to the genre, and camera angles. first, the control scheme hasn't changed from the original, and it definitely takes a little getting used to, but really fits the tone perfectly. getting away from the monsters really is tense, as it should be. this feeling of tension is also brought about by the terrific pacing of the game. in this genre, you will NOT find a hero using both arms to carry gatling guns screaming out thousands of shells as the barrels are aimed jedi-style at swarms of sea monkeys with bats and tennis rackets, oh no...how scary would that be? instead you'll find yourself limping around with three rounds left in your pistol and a butter-knife, praying to GOD that there's an herb or ammo around that corner and not a giant set of teeth. it's a trademark that capcom started, and it's perfected in this game. fixed camera angles also only heighten the tension...no glitch-peeking through walls or around corners here.
as such, this game is gory and scary, so it's not for everyone, especially the mickey mouse clubbers...and the difficulty can be steep(this IS a good thing ;) ), but for those that dare challenge it, turn out the lights and get ready...you just may need those clean spiderman boxers. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Little known, but a classic RPG. When first I played Skies of Arcadia on the Sega Dreamcast, I faced an utterly daunting challenge to beat the first boss. Failed at my attempt and hadn't played in a very long while. Recently, I came to purchase the title on the GameCube and I couldn't have been happier. The game itself is a fair challenge to gamers of all ages, and it has an innovative element system unused by any other RPG. Boss battles are a little tedious, rather drawn out by the sheer HP totals of the foes. In all, I do honestly recommend the game to any true RPG gamer, and it's worth the price if you can find it. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Possibly the best Harvest Moon in the series. The first Harvest Moon I ever played was Harvest Moon 64 and it still is one of my favorites of all time! Since then, I've played all other Harvest Moon and finished it at least once and now I am currently playing this one. I am having so much fun with it that the time really flies while I am playing it! There are so many things to do, so little time! There is, however, no time limit so you don't have to rush things. Of course there are pluses and minuses but hey, what did you expect? No game is perfect, don't you think? Still, one of the things I really don't like the most is the mining! Unlike others in the series, the time flows while I am in the cave which makes mining very hard thing to do! Also, there is no such thing as a basket which makes it even more hard! I DO know this game is not about mining but... Well, that's it for now. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A blast from the past. This is a somewhat difficult cartridge to review, because reactions to it will vary so widely. If you're young enough that none of the titles I'll mention ring a bell, consider this a three star cartridge that should be your first choice if you ever want to try a retro compilation. For anyone who grew up with an Atari 2600 in the early to mid 80's, however, this is a five star cartridge that should be among the first 10 that you get for your Game Boy. What you have, basically, is a handheld Atari system with 34 of it's best known games, plus extras, on one cartridge. Simply astonishing.
The four games featured on the front packaging are among those you'll probably be playing most often. In Freeway you help a chicken cross a highway. In Chopper Command you pilot a Chopper and, well, shoot the heck out of anything airborne that moves while avoiding crashes and return fire. In River Raid, you make your way down a river blasting enemies while avoiding shooting refueling tanks that you need to use.
There are other games you'll like too, but one rules above all the others. Mario. Samus. Alucard and the Belmonts. Before them all, there was Pitfall Harry - and countless of us grew up trying to get our Indiana Jones like hero through a jungle alive, those triple-crocodile jumps the bane of our young gaming existence.
There are some extra pluses and minuses. Those used only to games like the colorful Mario ports will find the screen a bit dull, but that was the Atari coloring of the time. Return fire bullets were small, which means that on the Game Boy they're Really, Really Small. Again, that's the system and the games. Finally, fans of the popular Kaboom!, the game featuring the dreaded Mad Bomber, should be aware that the controls don't lend themselves to the game very well - perhaps the only instance in the cartridge.
Now, however, for the pluses. You get a menu screen resembling an Atari cartridge deck, and can view the original box art and instructions - enough to give you a smile in itself. And - here's the big one - the cartridge retains records of high scores, which was the whole point of the Atari era. If you get a high enough score, you can even get a virtual patch resembling the ones you could send away for in the 80's if you provided Activision with a snapshot of your TV screen with a score of a certain level.
If you want to relive those days on handheld, then this cartridge is a must for you. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Best Sequel ever for the Best GAME ever. If you like Legos and Star Wars (and the number 2) this is the game for you. Unlike the first game you get to mix and match caracters 9and play them in free mode).You also get to build stuff out of legos that are lying around for people who don't have the force. If your lucky it will be a viechle like a star ship, really bid droid thing, or ATATs (and some times a trator!) ,and you really get to ride them. There are also less lightsabers in this game. In place for that people with guns can hit. Yes, Chewbaca can rip clones arms of. This game won't make much sence to people who have never seen Star Wars before. But they try to make it clear that Darth Vader is lukes father ect. ect. with out talking. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Right Up There With Mario And Metriod. This is one of my favorite games just like Super Mario SunShine and Metroid Prime. This game is difficult but fun to beat over and over because once you get good, you feel invincible. The objective is to get the parts to your spaceship within 30 days before you run out of oxygen (The movie tells all). The only way you can is to use these small creatures that are part animals, part plants. As you look for parts you must use these pikmin to take down walls and enemies. There are different types of (Pikmin) and they all do different things. The Pikmin are very cute and funny but grow an army of 100 and watch them work. The enemies are very vivid and cool, some small, some Huge! This is a great game and I recomend it to any Nintendo fan. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Age Appropriate. I got this game for my son (4 years old). He loves Dora and he loves playing video games. All I had to do was turn this on for him and he did everything else!
This game is very age appropriate. As Dora is walking around the different planets, there are choices for the child to make. Either walk along the paths or find crystals and other hidden goodies. This makes it interesting for the kid who's playing instead of just a boring walk here and there. But it's not too complex that you can get lost.
The game guides you where to go so the player always feels successful and accomplished. It requires some thinking and problems solving skills where you pick up items and have to figure out where to use them.
My son made it from Earth to the Purple Planet in several sessions which kept him entertained for a while. The saving feature is very nice so the kids can play for 15 to 20 minutes at a time without having to go back.
There should be more games like this for preschool age children! Anyone who loves Dora or playing video games will love this one. A must have for the holidays! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Animal Crossing: Nintendo's Answer to the Sims. Animal Crossing is the first game I got for my GameCube. I picked it up for only $20, way less than it's worth.
You start out by naming your character and riding the train to your town. Then you meet the villagers and Tom Nook, who runs the local store. One of the coolest features about this game is all the spontaneous parts: finding a duck washed up on the beach, shaking a tree to find a bee's nest fall out, or even chasing a floating present tied to a balloon around town.
This game may not appeal to those gamers out there who play games for the violence, but for anyone else...this game, in my opinion, is better than the Sims, or even the Sims 2. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Master Quest. This is one of the best games in Nintendo's History of gaming, well next to the N64 version it is. I love Ocarina of Time its still a lot of fun for a young child (if the parent approves of the violence level being tolerable) but still challenging for an adult/ hardcore fan that it will make you want to stare at the TV all day and play this game. This game is rare and according to other reviewers this was an added bonus if you pre-ordered Wind Waker, and I believe the Promotional Collectors Edition was a bonus too and was included in most systems especially the Platinum/Silver Gamecube. Well lets cut to the chase first off this game is so awesome compared to the original on N64 the picture is much improved and the graphics display is awesome still the same game plus Master Quest which makes the game harder but still the same story and of course different controls and I love the gamecube controller it's simpler and it's a lot easier to use then the N64 controller. I love LOVE this game and I highly recommend this game to any hardcore Zelda fan. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Only for fans. This game is a cute distraction for fans of the anime. You'll enjoy travelling through familiar locales and meeting familiar people.
If you aren't a fan, or are at best indifferent, you will NOT like this game. There is zero depth. Hand to hand fighting is a good way to get killed, but that's about it. It's all about pelting your opponents from maximum range with ranged attack X and then running away like a little girl- very un-Goku like.
I'm a big fan of the show, and I enjoy the game every now and then. It's fun to make Goku scream "Kamehameha!" so often your girlfriend begins to scream it randomly too. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Warning: "Lens" is a sticker & will damage your screen. A total crock, don't throw your money away. Since I'm paranoid about scratches or dust getting under the screen of my gba I thought screen protectors were a brilliant idea. Stupidly I imagined it would be some sort of plastic face plate that would clamp on somehow. When I realized it was nothing but a clear sticker I knew I'd been scammed, but I was still hoping to find some value in it. Idiotically I attached it to the screen. In the process the sticker took a scratch and that, combined with the dust on the sticker, made my screen look like exactly what I was trying to protect it from. I then became frantic trying to get it back off without hurting the actual screen. The back of the box, hysterically, actually recommends using a sharp utensil. Thankfully I had a friend with me who thought of using some strong adhesive tape to get the sticker off without harming the screen. If you end up in this situation, attach the tape to the sticker and then peel back. Good luck. Buyer beware. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Great controller, but be weary when buying any other controllers. The Nintendo GameCube controller is by far one of the best controllers ever made, right behind the Xbox 360 controller of course. Despite the loss in buttons due to being out in an age where said buttons weren't needed (bumper buttons), it holds up quite well as a controller. I would highly recommend investing in a GameCube controller, specifically the old controllers. They've got specific metal parts in the shoulder buttons that make it feel really nice, unlike the new Smash 4 edition GameCube controllers.
Before actually investing in one, I'd highly recommend looking for quality, proof of quality, and seller ratings. This particular seller provided a perfect picture of what I would be getting, and the promised description was exactly what I was given when the controller arrived. Despite my good experience with this seller, I would still advise to be very careful buying controllers that are supposedly this old. Anytime you buy a GameCube controller, or any 1st-party controller for that matter, always rely on pictures and a detailed description. Besides that, I have no problems with this controllers! It holds up very well, especially for Super Smash Bros. Melee! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A work of art, but not without faults. First of all, the graphics. It is simply astounding. I always thought Nintendo did "water" better than anyone (i.e. WaveRace 64). And this is a good thing considering that the setting is a tropical isle. There is a stage, where you swim in the coral reef, fishing for coins. Being an avid snorkeler, I was awestruck by the fact that I felt like I was swimming in the ocean while sitting on my couch. Of course, there will be distractors, who simply cannot get over the cartoon-like graphical nature of the game. But this is more of a matter of taste. You need to take it for what is instead of wanting 3-D rendered polygon environment and characters.
Having said all this, I still think that Super Mario 64 is a better game. I have read that the worlds in Sunshine is much bigger than those in 64 but I somehow never got that feeling. They are about the same and there is less worlds in Sunshine not to mention the lack of variety. For instance, Mario 64 had 12 different worlds (ice, water, desert, lava, sky, etc.) In Sunshine, all the worlds, more or less, are somewhat similar. With the introduction of the water pack, you can do so much more with Mario in Sunshine, but I would have preferred the variety in the worlds over controls.
All the complaints about the camera-work is valid. You do have to micromanage to get the best view constantly. I often found Mario hidden behind buildings and it got frustrating at times. But it is a small price to pay for such an enjoyable game. Finally, I also didn't like the fact that for every world, you had to play a specific episode to get a specific sunshine (the main thing you collect through out this game). I found this a little bit restrictive and less challenging since you pretty much know what you need to do for each episode. In 64, you were basically thrown in a world and you had to go find the 6 stars hidden throughout the world. But again, this is only a minor pet-peeve.
Over-all, this is the best game for the Gamecube so far (until Zelda comes out). | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
The Most Fun You'll Have On GameCube. This game is the best multiplayer game out for GameCube. It's better than Mario Party! It's better than anything!
You're playing golf with a frog as your ball. You launch the frog off a little seesaw and try to hit various targets along your way to the hole. There's trampolines to fling your frog further, monsters to throw your frog in another direction, lilypads which flip your frog in another direction, fish that eat your frog and spit him out across the lake, pterodactyls that eat your frog and fly him to another place on the course before spitting him out, and elephants that stomp and send your frog flying. Not to mention the lakes, rivers, sandtraps, hills, whirlpools, flies, and items that help you along the way!
This game may seem like it's just for little kids, but don't let the graphics fool you. It's a tough game to master and takes a lot of skill to get "frog-in-ones" on every hole.
You can play on one of 5 worlds: jungle, lava, ice, space, or robot. I highly recommend Ribbetopia (jungle) and Techtron (robot) as the best levels there are for play.
Play multiplayer or one-player story mode to unlock new frogs with new abilities and new characters. It took me about 3 weeks of playing every day to beat story mode. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
It's so fun!!! Check it out. I love this game. I read all the reviews on this web site and most of them were disapointment but I think it's so great. In my opintion it's better than Wrestle Mania 2000& WWF No Mercy and all of the Smackdown series. But WWF RAW for XBOX is damn good too. In WWE Wrestlemania X8 you can choose through over 40 different match types such as hell in the cell-cage-TLC-table-ladder-royal rumble and many more. If you like WWF RAW for XBOX than you'll like this game...but there will definalitly be some dissapointments! Such as CREATE- a - WRESTLER thereis so lil options its unbelieveable...N64's WWF WRESTLEMANIA 2000 has much much more options. The music is kinda dull unlike the TV show and there is no variety of moves. But if want a really easy-fun- game to play with your friends you'll want to get this game as soon as possible. But theres one question On triple threat and fatal four way matches the AI characters have a habbit of ganging up on you. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
The sequel did the first no justice. This is the real thing. Okay I must say the second one did have good multiplayer games but thats it. The main game is horrible. I mean when you get to inchworms which is practically impossible you just want to break the game in half. That is not the case with the first one. You can easily get to the last level but it is still challenging enough to keep your interest. This game is so fun and the racing section is MUCH better than the second one. One player mode is actually the most fun if you ask me and the price for this game was inexpensive so its a true bargain. Buy this game today. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Not fulfilling, but temporary fun. As a fan of the Super Mario 64, I figured that this new Mario game would be just as fun. But apparently, in the 6 years since the last game, the makers decided that a harder game is more enjoyable. The tropical island graphics are beautiful and when you play it you really feel like you're at an island resort. Also, the music in the different levels is upbeat and doesn't get old even when you hear it a hundred times. The downfall of this game lies in its newfound difficulty. It's entirely too frustrating and almost impossible to figure out every little detail of each level without a guide, and I am a strong believer that when you have to have a guide in order to be able to play a game, it just isn't fun. If you are one of those rare people with eons of time to spare, then perhaps you can beat this game, but otherwise, tough luck. In the beginning, I was in love with the game, but once I completed all the easier levels, I was in a rut. I would turn the game on and say, "Ok what do I want to do now? The level in that world that I'm entirely too frustrated with or the other level in the other world that I'm entirely too frustrated with?" After a while, I just stopped putting that game into my gamecube. It is a quality game and the detailed worlds and the new addition of playable Yoshis is exciting, but this game just doesn't have the addictive power that keeps me coming back. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Great game, easy on the eyes. I had this game when it came out and then had it scratched up by my younger brother. I recently purchased it again so just relive the game and I have to say this is a great game. The previous Zelda games for the N64 were a bit more difficult and probably not for inexperienced gamers but Wind Waker is great for the younger new gamers looking for to play an adventure/action game. The graphics weren't what I expected from the Zelda people but it's really easy on the eyes and younger gamers may appreciate that. I have to say, the N64 Zelda games were pretty scary, my brother couldn't stand to watch me play them but this game is great, he even plays it now. All in all, great game for a more casual gamer or to relax from the super graphics of the other Zelda games. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
This is a weird one. As silly as it may sound to those reading a review of a Castlevania game, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance has got to be one of the weirdest games I have ever played. Point blank there are just SO many odd design choices within this game - some of them good, some of them pandering, some of them (surprising) game saving but NONE of them game breaking - that I'm dumbfounded that I like it and that it even works. Games with much more promise than Harmony have been forgotten for much less yet here's a game that is - dare i say it - actually "fueled" by its irreverent choices and memorable because of it.
Now, you may be wondering what is just so "weird" about Harmony of Dissonance? Well, oddly enough the story begins with the soundtrack. I think most people that have partaken of what Konami offered here will agree the quality of the audio leaves a lot to be desired. Seriously, there are original GameBoy games that sound better - even those with lazy sound programming. For a game with the word "Harmony" in the title there isn't much to be heard musically, but this is just part of the stupid, logic-defying gamble that saves the game from itself. The game's audio prowess was sacrificed to make the game's world larger and it is the story line twist that explains the increased geography that ultimately makes the game worth playing. Yes, you heard that right, the twist explaining why the game is larger than its predecessor or successor is what saves the game.
Without that gamble and quite possibly a hand from above the other curious aspects of Harmony of Dissoance would be dead on arrival. The level design isn't terrible but it's far from elegant which makes it... interesting? The rather absurd amount of time Konami spends using Juste Belmont to remind players of Alucard from what is a vastly superior game? Somewhat suicidal and pandering yet it doesn't derail the experience. Really, I've only scratched the surface of these in-game oxymorons but rest assured Harmony of Dissonance is filled to the brim with them and it is what makes the game so interesting in that "can't look away from the train wreck" kind of way.
Regardless of what I say those who are into Castlevania are going to buy this regardless - and I don't say what I said above to make the game less attractive - but those who really like to play games and analyse them as to why they work and don't work should definitely nab this one. Harmony of Dissoance is like the video game equivalent of a rubrics cube. Just when you think you understand it something comes along and throws it all up in the air again. Quite honestly, Konami should be counting their lucky stars that this game is so off-kilter - it's literally its saving grace. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Another Classic from Nintendo and Treasure I.N.C. I played this game at the 2003 E3 Expo in L.A.,And all I can say is that this game is an excellent work of gaming at its finest. If you enjoyed the Wario Land series for GBC and GBA you will like this because it captures the feel of the games in 3D form. With unique and frentic gameplay and superb levels,characters,and graphics Nintendo has a winner. Plus Nintendo co-developped it with Treasure Games one of the most talented gaming companies which previously worked on the critically acclaimed Castlevania,Contra,and Ikaruga games. And with the Nintendo team including Shigeru Miyamoto creator of Mario and Zelda on it too, this will be one of the best games on the Gamecube and also one of the best games overall of 2003. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
falls short of greatness. I give this game such a poor star rating because I had such high expectations. X-Com UFO Defense, designed by the same Gollop brothers, was a flawless piece of PC gaming, and it will probably never be matched in the genre, on that system or any other.
Since that game Julian Gollop has made better and worse spiritual successors. I don't think that any of them have contained the global strategy part of the original, which is a shame. Laser Squad Nemesis, a shareware game for Windows available over the web, is one of the better ones. Rebelstar for the GBA, this game, is one of the worse.
Not because it is a bad game, but because it is not as good as it could be. The controls are a sort of clunky, the animations a little slow, the story tepid, and the anime-style art a bit tired. The game is fun, the pixel art is bright and it offers some interesting challenges to the tactical gamer, but you'd be better playing off the Advance Wars games for the GBA, or buying a used copy of X-Com and running it with DOSBox on a PC or buying Laser Squad Nemesis for Windows. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Give it a chance - you'll be glad you did. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT write this game off after 15 minutes of playing it! I broke this out with some friends on release weekend and they made me take it out after 3 races because nobody could control their jet skis. We were all over the place! Needless to say, "That game stinks, don't put it in" is all I heard for the rest of the day. So, after everyone left I popped it back in to give it another shot.
I'm glad I did.
There's no doubt that Wave Race Blue Storm takes some time to get the hang of. And if you haven't played the first one, it's gonna take longer. However, if you are willing to put the effort in you'll be handsomely rewarded.
The basic premise is to race thru a course against the computer or other players while weaving thru bouys and come in first. 1st obviously gets you more points than second, and so on. You want to rack up enough points to get to the next course in the circuit until you have completed it. Beat the first circuit and you get to the next one, which has more levels and closer buoys, making the turns harder.
As mentioned before, the controls are extremely sensitive but that actually works for you when you get the hang of things. You can change direction on a dime if you need to or gradually turn through the buoys, but you need to know which one to do. It's that simple. Did you stop trying to learn to drive a car when you couldn't parallel park the first time? No. Otherwise you'd still be walking everywhere. Stick with it!
Anyway, once you figure out how to steer yourself thru the courses you get to enjoy the graphical quality of this game. The water is rendered amazingly and with waves ranging from 1 foot to tsunami levels, and the course surroundings run a close second. The frame rate looks good and sound is up to par; plus, they got rid of that annoying "Maximum power!" guy from the first one. Well, for the most part...
But this game is all about the water and here's why.
The game play changes not only for each course, but with weather conditions too. And it's no joke. My first run thru the initial circuit had me in hurricane-type conditions trying to steer thru ocean city. Let's just say I only got thru one lap before I missed the maximum of 5 buoys. Your success really depends on how you adapt to the weather conditions on a particular course. And don't forget, the water is choppier on later laps from the wake created by the jet skis on earlier ones.
You get the idea. It's hard, but fun. There are hidden passages that will cut your lap time down throughout the game, as well as a turbo boost, which can save your hide. Hit it right before you miss a buoy and maximize the potential of a bad situation! But you'll only get a chance to figure out the nuances of the game if you give it a chance - and if you want an unforgiving race game that makes you earn your wins, this is it. But if you want to open the box and immediately win the cup, maybe you should take a pass on this one. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Buy It Now. Reminds me of SEGA's My Hero 1980's. This is the Mario Bros Game We've all been waiting for 20 years It's an RPG,Adventure and Arcade Game in one (You can play the classic 1983 Mario Bros Arcade Game up to 4 players). It has those classic NES RPG Game attributes. The sounds and music from previous Mario Games and all new music are awesome . This game reminds me of SEGA's My Hero because you control and attack two people and the battle mode looks similar to when you fight the boss' on the beach. I've been playing games for 22 years and a lot of stuff out here is a load of garbage that shouldn't sell for more than twenty dollars but this one is worth every penny.
THIS GAME IS ACTUALLY FUN. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
More of a movie then an actual game. D2 has it's moments but for the most part this game is just plain boring. The graphics are stellar, the cinematics were well done and the controls are pretty easy to learn, but when it comes to actual gameplay, there is a lack there of. The game consists of four discs of little more then repetive cgi movies. You control a women who never speeks on camera but supposidly does off. You are forced to trek back and forth to the same spots over and over again killing the same monsters in the same spots the same way each time. 90% of the time you will have no control of what is going on and just sit back and watch. And for every little thing your character does, open doors, pick up an item and so on, you are forced to watch a quick cut scene, Everytime. It gets very old very fast. For those who actualy like to play games rather then look over your friends shoulder and watch, look elsewhere. Don't even bother with this coaster. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
One Of The Best Games For GBA. This game is one of the best games for GBA, no doubt about it! Throughout the whole game, you play through the Trunks, Android, and Cell Sagas. In this game, you actually get to control five characters, which are Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, Trunks, and Goku.
Growing levels is pretty tough, since the animals are practically stronger than you. If you win a stage, it is best to remain there and train on the weaker onces before proceeding. All the characters look surprising alike to the movie, but a little childish. Goku keeps on having a little smile on his face! The controls are really easy to learn. A bad thing is, each character can only learn two special moves and one special melee attack.
The game is challenging and extremely addictive. Perfect Cell is practically unbeatable! I had to train like crazy in order to be on a level high enough to even get a shot on him. But in the end, I defeated him. Believe me, it can be done. I would recommend this game to anyone, even if you're not a Dragon Ball Z fan! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
I have to admit I was expecting a bit more. This game feels like it was rushed into production to fill the demand for all things Naruto. The graphics and sound were just average, and the game itself was a throw-back to NES sideways scrollers. Lacking even the hidden powerups that Super Mario Brothers had and no with move combinations to master, this game was too basic and simple. Walk to the right, press B a few time, walk to the right some more. A few of the bosses were challenging, but that's about it. If you're looking to kill an hour or two and want to add another notch to your belt, this might be worth a rental. Otherwise skip it. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Dreamcast is the best no buts about it. I have seen all of the other systems that have come out this year and find myself in a spin. Sure great graphics and 2 out of 3 have DVD support but who wants to take on a system that locks up, not me, especially for the outrageous price of $300. Controllers for $40, RF Switches for $30, Memory Cards for $35, and most games running $50 to $60 who do the game companies think they are? Well one company and system did not send me through the rollercoaster this year, and that was Sega Dreamcast. The system cost $50, I found extra controllers for $15, VMUs (the most innovative memory cards ever) for $10, Rumble packs for $5, and most importantly official Dreamcast RF Switches for $15. The graphics are awesome and still rival its counterparts. One can get on the internet and play against players across the world. I haven't seen that with other systems. The game lineup is much better in my opinion than any other system ever. With dreamcast still producing games for other systems what is stopping them from producing games for their own system, nothing! Please don't get sent through the rollercoaster this year and buy the hall of fame caliber Dreamcast. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
A fun, quite annoying game. A Simpsons fan will enjoy this game for a few days. The game takes place in a very realistic 3-d world of Springfield. You can drive around town and explore at your own pace. But, then there's an actual game with missions that takes place. Bart gets abducted by space aliens, and the family works hard tracking him down. You take turns as Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge and Apu repeating virtually the same missions over and over again. The game is fairly hard, and quite frustrating. Going to all the different places in Springfield is very fun, but the mission's are a pain in the neck. Especially when you come real close, and miss, and have to do the whole thing over again. The game's cheap now, so it's worth a pick up. But, play just to drive around and explore the town. The vehicles are fun and fast, and if you get bored, actually play the game. | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
Hallelujah. Upon renting this game I didn't think very highly of it, mostly because of glitches in it that were apparently absent in the PS2 and X-Box versions of the game. But no more! I just received this as a gift and it appears Midway now makes an updated version with any bugs removed. Even some camera angles in certain boss battles are different but things I have noticed as of right now:
1. The bosses and golems DO HAVE life bars.
2. The Scimitar of Decapitation along with any other faulty weapons now work PERFECTLY.
3. Inventory is much more responsive.
4. Stats DO stay in place after you purchase them
And last but not least
5. No more getting your character caught and unable to move on ledges!
If you have been debating on whether or not to purchase this, now would be the time! | video-games_retro-gaming-microconsoles |
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