|
Joy schtick Reviews and previews of the top video games A whole roster of new games on the market for the Sony Playstation and Nintendo 64 offer even better ways to waste your time. Here are a few suggestions: South Park (Action, 1-4 players) N64 Well, I'm disappointed to say this one failed to live up to expectations. I was hoping for something a bit more engrossing, and South Park wasn't it. Yes, it's fun to pretend you're Starvin' Marvin for awhile, but the game begins to wear thin. The controls are a bit too sensitive, which gets frustrating. Rogue Squadron (Action, 1 player) N64
Battle Tank (Action, 1-4 players) N64
Zelda (RPG, 1 player) N64 Absolutely one of the strongest adventure role-playing games on the Nintendo. If you still haven't tried it, rent it and get hooked. An epic story, Zelda doesn't get tired anytime soon. Syphon Filter (Action/Adventure, 1 player) PSX
Blast Radius (Action/Space, 1 player [2 players w/link]) PSX From the makers of Colony Wars comes Blast Radius, a great space shoot-'em-up with an arcade feel. The game features eye-catching graphics and is a blast to play. If you're lucky enough to have access to two systems with two TVs, you can play head to head--a space combat junkie's dream. Um Jammer Lammy (Action/Bizarre, 1-2 players) PSX The long-awaited follow-up to 1997's bizarre and original hit, Parappa the Rapper. This time, instead of rap the music of choice is rock. You play Rami, a wannabe rockstar. You can play against a friend as well, in a little rock head-to-head. If it's nearly as good as Parappa (and all indications are that it is), it'll be hard to put down. [Not yet released] Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (Action/Adventure,1 player) PSX A sharp looking game from the people at Crystal Dynamics. You play a Raziel, a vampire out to get some vengeance on your old boss, Kain. The demo I played ran smooth and looked pretty impressive--a lot of good buzz about it of late. Look for it around May. [Not yet released] Budget buys Here are some games that are oldies-but-goodies. Some have just had their prices dropped due to age, others due to the release of their sequels. Bushido Blade (Fighting, 1-2 players) PSX Still a great fighting game. A weapon-based 3D fighting game, with a bit of extra realism. You can kill your opponent with a well-placed hit. You have six characters to choose from, and a nice selection of weapons. The graphics are acceptable, and the gameplay's great for two players. Colony Wars (Action/Space,1 player) PSX One of the best space action games out there (for either system), Colony Wars is still a good deal. You play a pilot with the rebel forces who are fighting the evil confederates. With great graphics, sound and a good variety of missions, the game has a high replay value. GoldenEye 007 (Action, 1 - 4 players) N64 If you haven't played GoldenEye yet, make this your next buy. A perfect mix of action and strategy, you take on the roll of Agent 007 of Her Majesty's Secret Service. The plot runs the same as the movie, which makes it all the more fun. The multiplayer mode is excellent, with a good variety of levels and tons of characters, including Oddjob and Mayday. This shooter is still one of the best games on the N64. Wave Race 64 (Racing, 1-2 players) N64 Drive Yamaha jetskis through a number of levels in this aquatic racer. Nice gameplay; a lot of fun against a friend. Even though it's one of the early titles for the N64, it's still a good buy, especially if you're new to the system. |
Unlike South Park, Rogue Squadron actually lives up to the hype. With fantastic graphics and sound, all your favourite ships are ready to battle (including the Millennium Falcon and Tie Interceptor). Plenty of missions, including some bonus levels to unlock. A must for any Star Wars fan.
As the title implies, it's a game where you battle with, well, tanks. Plenty of mindless destruction, made even better by the fact that you can destroy the surrounding environment as well. Always a blast to blow up good friends in the multiplayer mode (where the game really gets good). Cathartic, really. Play the game, save some money on therapy.
A game with some great variety--it doesn't get boring fast. Taking some of the best from GoldenEye 007 and Metal Gear Solid, the game goes one step further. You're an agent out to stop terrorists (clichéd, I know) from unleashing the Syphon Filter virus on Washington, D.C. With nice style and enough good gameplay elements, it's worth playing. It'll be one of the hits of '99.