Airforce Delta  Konami's Air Force Delta features simplistic controls with an emphasis on supersonic fighter plane action rather than the mechanics of flight. Those who worry about flap positions and realistic spin modeling won't find either here, but armchair top guns will enjoy the game's shoot-'em-up feel and ultrarealistic graphics. You assume the role of a mercenary pilot flying missions with very specific goals, such as destroying a convoy of ships or knocking reconnaissance planes out of the sky. Taken one by one, these missions are enjoyable and engaging, but they are all pretty similar and quickly become bland. Succeeding in a mission earns credits to buy new planes—more than 30 beautifully modeled real-world aircraft are available. Unfortunately, the differences between the fighters are mostly cosmetic. While you may find a plane that performs better in a certain mission than others, they all pretty much fly the same way. The graphics are impressive—but things tend to move too fast to afford much sightseeing. In particular, the fighters are extremely detailed and authentic. The first time you see vapor trails form on your wingtips as you pull a high-g maneuver, your jaw will drop and you'll begin to insist that your friends call you "Maverick." Air Force Delta is a good "show-off-your-Dreamcast" game that could probably have benefited from a little more time in development. However, it's the perfect game for a quick flying fix. —Aaron Karp Pros:Lots of fighter aircraftImpressive graphics at close rangeVery cool, cinematic "mission reply" optionCons:Bland campaignNot enough variety among planes Blue Stinger  As Eliot or Dogs Bower, a ferry captain Eliot meets early in the game, you explore the island and uncover the story behind the disaster. While most of the game focuses on solving puzzles and learning more about the meteor and its effect on the island, roaming zombies and huge monsters will keep you on your toes. Graphics are good—with nice flashy weapons effects—but not mind-blowing like Soul Calibur or Sonic Adventure. The Jump Pack accessory (sold separately) provides great tactile feedback when firing weapons or getting mauled by a monster—it seems to spend more time rumbling than not. While the fighting is a lot of fun, some players may be frustrated by the regeneration of zombies. It can get tedious to exit a room after killing all of the enemies, only to run into them again when returning. The game's viewpoint system also could be improved, as it occasionally leaves you fighting an enemy you can't see. Parents should note that Blue Stinger is a horror game, and the gore flows readily. All in all, while it doesn't build any new genres, Blue Stinger provides a solid gaming experience. Its flaws keep it from being a great game, but don't keep it from being a good time. —Aaron Karp Pros:Long gameplayInvolved science-fiction/horror storylineGood balance between puzzles and actionCons:Occasionally awkward viewpoint systemRepetitive enemy encounters Chu Chu Rocket  While the bare-boned graphics won't win any design awards, Chu Chu Rocket does offer an impressive online gaming experience. In addition to the solo mode, the game lets you connect with gamers from around the world for true multiplayer madness. Whether you compete against others or tag-team to solve the puzzles, Chu Chu Rocket provides an exciting entry point into the emerging world of networked gaming. (Note: Online features require players to have an existing ISP connection, sold separately.) Crazy Taxi  Dead or Alive 2  Dead or Alive 2's character-against-character action takes place in gorgeously rendered locations ranging from a cathedral to a moving elevator cage. In a special twist, characters can battle in multiple locations in many of the areas and interact with the environment. This means that the cathedral window is more than just a pretty background—it's just waiting for an opponent to be hurled through it and onto the fighting platform below. Perhaps the coolest feature of all is the Tag Battle mode—available to one-, two-, and four-player games—that enables fighters to summon a teammate into the action. A total of 12 male and female fighters are available, each boasting a slew of basic and special attacks, tag-team combos, reversals, and throws. Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm  Ecco The Dolphin: Defender of the Future  But there'll be time for that. First, you're going to have to learn to swim, eat, and think like a dolphin. Use different songs to communicate with other sea creatures and be prepared to defend yourself against predatory sharks. Later, go on to solve puzzles and work with others to accomplish your goals. The game features beautifully detailed seascapes, with creatures and plants that look and move realistically. Flag to Flag Cart Racing  Hydro Thunder  IllBleed  Jet Grind Radio  Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver  Marvel Vs. Capcom 2  The amount of playable characters is enough to put any fighting fan's salivary glands in overdrive. Beginning with favorites such as Spider Man, Wolverine, Ryu, and Chun Li, players can eventually unlock 56 characters. We had our hands full just mastering a few of these fighters, and getting familiar with all 56 would take months of intense practice. There are almost too many moves, all depicted with superb animation and augmented by several tag-team combos. When the match begins, you can pick three characters. Once things heat up, you can call in your pals to unleash a massive move on your opponent. This adds immensely to the game's depth, and button mashers will be in for a shock when they find that their mistimed tag-team moves backfire. Visually, this game is intense. The large characters are slightly jagged around the edges, but that's more than compensated for by the massive amount of animation frames, colorful special effects, and stunning 3-D backgrounds that are loaded with detail. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 also delivers a sonic performance that is nearly arcade-perfect. This is a must-buy for any fighting fan, especially those who have a couple of buddies to bash. Just be prepared to put in a lot of time in practice mode if you want to get good. —T. Byrl Baker Pros:Brilliant 3-D backgroundsA massive number of characters to play asTag-team element adds a fun strategic component to the gameplayCons:Characters were drawn at low resolution NFL Blitz 2001  Omikron: The Nomad Soul  In Omikron: The Nomad Soul, you must thwart Astaroth's plan by possessing the bodies of the city's inhabitants, each with different strengths and weaknesses. If your borrowed body dies, the first person to touch its corpse will receive your spirit, and your mission will continue. This futuristic adventure features 3-D motion-capture animation in its battle and dialog scenes, 40 characters to inhabit, 140 different creatures with which to interact, and a story that develops through more than 400 sets. Power Stone 2  Ready 2 Rumble Boxing  By far, the best feature of the game is the variety of boxers—20 in all—representing a range of personalities and abilities. Afro Thunder, for example, is a trash-talking, Chris Rock-sounding fighter with a repertoire of ring speed, quick jabs, and over-the-top hooks, while Butcher Brown is a heavy-handed thug built like a dump truck. There's something for everyone, with many nationalities, genders, and fighting styles represented. Since each fighter has different speed, reach, and moves, there is a pleasant amount of depth to the game. Ready 2 Rumble offers two different game modes: Arcade and Championship. Arcade mode is for one or two players, and is simply a series of boxing matches. The single-player option pits you against a computer-controlled opponent, while the two-player format lets you and a buddy hammer it out. Championship mode puts you in charge of your own boxing gym. You start the game with three rookie fighters, facing off in second-rate gyms, and it's your job to train them in hopes of reaching the championship bout. Championship mode also lets you access Ready 2 Rumble's most innovative feature: the ability to pit your prized fighters against boxers from a friend's gym through the Visual Memory Unit. Just save your stable of boxers onto the VMU and then use it in a buddy's Dreamcast, where you can fight an exhibition match against one of his or her boxers, or arrange a trade. The VMU also lets you save your progress. Without it, all your boxers (and all the secret characters you've managed to unlock) are erased when you turn off the console. But then again, if you've got Ready 2 Rumble, it's unlikely that you'll turn off the console anytime soon. —Mike Fehlauer Pros:Impressive graphics and boxer animationsVariety of personable, quirky, fun boxersEasy-to-learn controlsGreat use of peripherals (VMU and Jump Pack)Cons:Punch combinations can be slow Rez  Samba de Amigo  Seaman  Voice-recognition software built into the game will enable your tiny mermen to learn your voice and, in time, hold conversations with you. In fact, these Seamen are notoriously moody and may even make fun of you at times. If you neglect them, they will definitely let you know! Sega Bass Fishing  Let's be honest here. Fishing simulation games aren't for everyone. Many hardcore gamers will likely bypass this title because they believe the genre lacks the instant gratification of fast-moving shooters. That's a shame. Though it might not be everyone's can of worms, Sega Bass Fishing does offer a subtle, highly addictive gaming experience that will challenge even the most seasoned of game veterans. This isn't Quake, to be sure. But you'll need similar gaming smarts and strategies to succeed in this water-based sporting environment. It takes a skilled aim and a steady hand to hook and reel in the largest fish, which are surrounded by smaller, less desirable catches. There's nothing worse than casting your lure directly at a monster-sized bass only to have it intercepted by a meddlesome minnow. We encountered more than our share of near misses, which gives us virtual bragging rights to "the one that got away." While some gamers will prefer the subtlety of free-form fishing sans time constraints, this game also features a fast-action arcade mode that requires the player to meet a minimum quota of catches before advancing to a new fishing environment. An optional Dreamcast fishing controller (sold separately) makes the task of catching these underwater critters all the easier. The controller, which also adds a realistic rumble when you catch a fish, is a highly recommended accessory for the ultimate home fishing experience. —Brett Atwood Pros:Near-perfect translation from the hit arcade gameEight realistic 3-D fishing environmentsThree different game modes to choose fromGreat control with optional fishing controller (sold separately) Cons:Game genre will not appeal to everyone Sega Marine Fishing  Shenmue  The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. The city of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series of neighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itself is ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero Ryo Hazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before his very eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identity of the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge this wrongful death. Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space—in total, it represents maybe a square mile—but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearly every person or object that you see; 300 citizens go about their daily routines, and whom you encounter is as much determined by where you are as when you are there. Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges from Dragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press to dodge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second of real time equals about a minute of game time, and Ryo has to be home by 11 p.m. each evening. The game moves at a brisk pace, and each challenge or battle feels like a race against time. Some might say that gaming doesn't get shallo Silver  Sonic Adventure  Our favorite level is Windy Valley, which requires you to survive the stormy perils of a tremendous tornado. This tyrant of nature chases you relentlessly before ultimately sucking you into the air and up through its eye. During the chase, the tornado manages to tear up just about everything on the screen. This dizzying visual spectacle moves so fast that you will literally hold on to the game controller for dear life. Assuming you survive the tornado, there are several more challenging areas to conquer, including a level that requires you to snowboard directly in the path of a fast-approaching avalanche. During the Emerald Coast level, you will race across a precarious dock as a killer whale attacks from below, destroying the wood planks underneath your feet while you attempt to outrun the crazed creature. We also liked the numerous mini-games scattered throughout this title. When you least expect it, Sonic Adventure tosses in some old-fashioned arcade action, such as pinball or bumper car racing. In between, you can raise virtual pets, known in the game as "Chao." These characters, which are saved using the optional Visual Memory Unit (VMU), can be combined with other Chao characters exchanged between friends or downloaded via the Internet. Gamers looking to show off the strong processing power of the 128-bit Dreamcast will definitely want to pick up this title. Simply put, Sonic Adventure's graphics surpass those of any other game currently available on any home video game system. Let the Sonic assault begin. —Brett Atwood Pros:Strong replay valueStunning graphicsBonus virtual pet gameSix different game characters Cons:May be too fast-moving for some playersAwkward camera angles can inhibit gameplay in some areas Soul Calibur  Pros:Exceptionally lifelike graphics and animationMultiple game modes—1-player, 2-player, team, computer vs. computer, martial arts demo, and moreSecrets and extra features will keep players coming backCons:May be too violent for some parents Space Channel 5  Tennis 2K2  Time Stalkers  Toy Commander  The progressively more difficult missions, consisting of action sorties like rescuing toy steamboats from malicious submarines, or strategic ones like transporting eggs into a pot of boiling water, are anything but a tea party. All missions fit comfortably within the game's storyline and can be seriously challenging. The sense of scale, as you commandeer the game's 35 vehicles, is true to the look of an ordinary room to a tiny toy. Fun and offering a surprising amount of depth, Toy Commander is a nostalgic, innovative, and entertaining romp. —Sajed Ahmed Pros:4-player split-screen death match mode, using any of the 35 vehicles in one of the eight roomsAll the vehicles look and handle very differently, adding to the gameplayImpressive detail and interactivity in the game's environmentsVaried missions include warlike action, racing, and strategy elementsCons:Tedious mission goals could prove frustrating Virtua Tennis  Starting the game presents three game modes. Arcade mode is a direct translation of the coin-operated arcade game in which you must defeat five challengers in order to win a championship. Exhibition mode allows you to choose a player and then challenge any of the other available tennis players in singles or doubles matches. World Circuit mode casts the player as a tennis superstar, touring the world and competing for heaps of cash and worldwide rank. If you're looking to play as one of the top tennis aces in the world, you're going to be disappointed. No Sampras, Agassi, or any other tennis giants are to be found. Rather, you're stuck with 16 smaller names including Jim Courier, Carlos Moyà, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Despite the recent boom in popularity, the women's tennis circuit is unfortunately completely absent. Sega's presentation and graphics are very well done and could almost be mistaken for a real televised match. Details such as the crowds, line judges, and instant replays look stunning. It's a shame that Virtua Tennis doesn't feature the famous venues and tournaments of real tennis, but the game's imitation stadiums in England, New York, and France look close enough to be recognizable. The player graphics are fantastic. Each player displays plenty of detail in everything from facial expressions to sneaker logos. Both the TV-style overhead view and the behind-the-shoulder viewpoints feature animation that's almost always ultrasmooth and is guaranteed to keep your eyes glued to the screen. —Mark Brooks Pros:Amazing graphicsEasy to play yet hard to masterCons:You can play as real tennis players, but not as tennis superstarsStrictly arcade—not particularly deep gameplayContent advisory: No objectionable content Zombie Revenge  A perfect translation of the arcade game by the same name, Zombie Revenge also offers up an original mode that features a few small differences, including the option to play with powered-up guns or in bare knuckles mode (without the aid of handguns). The graphics are crisp and clean, but the controls are mired in poor response time, and too many functions are assigned to the same buttons. Fans of the arcade version will rejoice at not having to pump quarters into a machine, but average zombie-hunting folks might be better off with Sega's other spooky shooter, House of the Dead 2. —Jeff Young Pros: A seamless arcade-to-Dreamcast conversionInteresting VMU minigames enable players to add strength to their charactersImpressive graphics Cons: Ambiguous controlsNo save-game featureYou can only carry one weapon at a time |
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