archive

S

 

6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A - Long Term Shelf Life
B - Deserves Another Play
C - Once Should Suffice

 

SHADOW MADNESS

Shadow Madness is reminiscent of early Final Fantasy games. The story in this case unfolds as your lead character tells the bartender his tale. His village was destroyed by a mysterious force, leaving few survivors and deadly beasts roaming the land. Your quest is at hand. Finding weapons and magic to assist you in attacks, your main aim is to survive and ask people what's going on. They help you out, giving clues and also provide info like how to use your fighting abilities, special functions and more. Fighting sequences also rely on the one-for-you-one-for me FF principle. Not as much fun as going for it as opposed to pushing your button for attack, defend or flee. A long term adventure on two discs for those who like to roam around, explore and have that Final Fantasy kind of experience in a retro / futuristic setting.

3 / C
- PB

 

SHAOLIN

Fighting games need to be real inventive to impress us nowadays. What makes this one cool is the way you can pick a number different styles and add that to whichever character's look you prefer. There is everything from Thai Chi to Drunken Boxing. Some wicked combos can also be perfected to kick living shit out of your opponents. In addition to the arcade style fighting challenges laid before you, a free roaming adventure / RPG style section is also included, elevating it from a mere beat 'em up to another level (like
Ehrgeiz and its extra little games). Shaolin is great fun in the meantime till you wait for the PlayStation 2 console and the Tekken Tag Tournament !

4 / A
- PB

 

SILENT HILL

Those who found the
Resident Evil games engrossing adventures, filled with thrills and spills, will be equally pleased with this baby. This survival horror spectacular places you in the unfortunate shoes of Harry whose car runs off the road near the town of Silent Hill. His daughter, travelling with him, disappears, and he ventures into the fog bound, mysterious town. Then things start hotting up. The brilliant opening music and graphics is enough to get you in the mood. On your way you find clues leading you to your daughter, but a horde of monsters (four legged, airborne, you name it) will stop at nothing to have you for supper. Weapons, maps, keys, first aid kits and more can be collected and will prove invaluable in your task. Solving puzzles also make up part of the action, giving it more cerebral credibility than a pointless roaming bore. This game is nail-biting, thrilling and absolutely engrossing. It not only has a dark backing story and filled with atmospheric moods and situations, it also boasts amazing cinematic sensibilities. You encounter alternate universes and various mysterious characters of whom you're not sure whether to trust or kill... This is one hell of a kick ass game that is meant for more mature players...but that's never stopped you before, has it?

6 / B
- PB

 

SLED STORM

Snow sport games seem to be leaning a bit heavily in the snowboarding direction, so this snowmobile racing game is welcomed with open arms. With a choice of 6 characters, 14 tracks and music by Rob Zombie, Econoline Crush, Uberzone, E-Z Rollers, Dom & Roland (& more), who can go wrong? You have 40 possible tricks and combos to pull off as you leap over ramps and ditches. Besides the basic tracks, you can veer off into alternative routes, knock over roadsigns, snowmen and small trees (and get points credited!). The handling of the vehicles feel great and will get even better as your victorious dosh buy upgrades that cover the likes of a sport tune up, a 600cc engine, power reverse, tail scoop, sure start (when you wipeout, you need to pullstart your vehicle a few times like a lawnmower!), spotlight, centre treads, cutter skis, single pipe, sport racing chip, special skims, single swingarm, light chassis and graphite brakes. Huh? Huh?! Once you manage to get all of this you'll turn the snow into H2O and leave the rest spluttering, dripping wet. One or multiplayers can have a ball (up to 4) in either quickrace or championship modes. Time trials are always present and is always a jol, trying to beat the other guy's (or your own) best time. The terrain covers most snowy areas and can take you down Pine Valley, Kodiak Canyon, Hard Pack, Eagle Ridge and three Super Snocross courses. Using your L1 & R1 buttons to lean around corners are great, but too much will have you chowing powder in no time. Exciting, enjoyable and, yes, pretty addictive.

4 / B
- PB


 

THE SMURFS

These little blue buggers have a part of most of our lives in some way or another. Personally we got into collecting figurines from the gas station in the late 70's. Now they've invaded the PlayStation! Although it's aimed at the 4-8 year old market, you'll be surprised how you could end up enjoying this little time killer. A Basic, but detailed 2D platformer, you cruise along with Hefty Smurf, looking for Baby Smurf and 9 other Smurferoos kidnapped by Gargamel's creation, the Gorgs! With
Smurfs covering everything from TV cartoons, dolls, music albums, books and more covering over 30 countries, it's a good, visible element to be introduced to the PlayStation and get younger players into the swing of things. There is a Tamagochi style level where you need to take care of Baby Smurf. 10 platform levels full of happenings with functions covering walking, jumping, swinging, climbing, swimming, slipping, throwing, catching, somersaults and more to be utilized in order to succeed in your progress. There are special levels like skiing, rodeo, haunted castles and mole & butterfly catching. Cute, fun and blue.

3 / B
- PB

 



 

 

SPACE DEBRIS

Yeah, aliens just keep on stirring it up in our peaceful little solar system. UED (United Earth Defense) fleet head, pilot James Bryant is stranded behind enemy lines when the aliens force a retreat. They're heading for earth and Bryant has to save the day, and, well, the human race. Here we're given 10 levels of blast 'em up space action. There is a choice of 6 fighter craft, all with special weapons and the like. While much of the action is linear, there are also free roaming sectors. It feels a lot like those Phoenix arcade games of the early '80s, alien craft zipping in at you in single file - only here it's 3D. There are cinematic links that aids in the progression of the story line. Gigantic ships beg to be blown up and claims are made of break through lighting, polygon and colour techniques - but, you'll have to be the judge whether it is revolutionary or not. Personally it didn't blow me away, but then, we tend to get used to things a little easy - pity.

3 / B
- PB

 

 

 

 

SPEED FREAKS

Where Mulan helps to turn children into bright sparks, this game will probably turn them into delinquents! This whacked-out racing game has 9 loony, original characters (3 of them hidden) who skip (and break out of) school to race like hell in their special modified go-karts. The characters all have their own personalities and skills and cover everything from meatheads to cute girlies and brainy professor-type kids who put their feet down to the floor to be the winner. What makes them a little more interesting is they're limbless physique. Bodies, heads, hands and feet...missing arms and legs, get it? As Rollcage, Wipeout (and most racing games nowadays), you have weapons, powerups, attacks, bombs and more with which to cheat your way to the front, providing you nab them and not speed by. The 12 tracks are quite diverse and contain hidden areas, shortcuts, water pools, dirt patches, oil spills and lava patches with which to liven things up a bit (if the frantic speed and weaponry isn't enough to get your butt cheeks pouting. On many tracks the crowd boos you if you race poorly. For readers with a multiplayer tap, there are an additional 12 tracks on which to burn cartoon rubber. The game boasts a customized league system where you can pick your favourite tracks and race them in order of your choice. Once you get sucked in, you might be addicted sooner than you think, but the main thing about
Speed Freaks is the crazy cartoon style, yet in the end, it's just another racing game in the go-kart vein - like the bandwagon all the cartoon characters and existing game franchises are jumping on

4 / B
- PB

 

SPICEWORLD

Ai-yai-yai! My goodness, what an industry these ol' slappers became. Their own PS game. Crikey! Dance to their music and get up to all sorts of boring Spice crap or check out clips of your favourite one. Fortunately I never had a favourite. Strictly for fans.

1 / C
- PB

 

SPYRO THE DRAGON

Here we have another revolutionary title which employs an advanced engine allowing players to see the whole gaming area and not just a few pixels ahead. No fogging or clouding effects con you here. The maneuverability of the cutesy little dragon,
Spyro, on his mission to save his elders from their crystalised state, is so much better with a Dual Shock. The sheer size of the worlds you enter are an adventure in itself. Weird & loopy characters cross your path and you can either bump the baddies with your little horns or singe them with your fiery breath. Gliding from one area to another is also important to finish some levels. Exciting and cute all rolled into one. And did I mention vast?

5 / B
- PB

 

SPYRO 2 - Gateway to Glimmer

Spyro and his firefly buddy is sick of the rainy weather. They decide to zip off to a beach world. But, they get sucked into Glimmer where the residents have been trying to lure a dragon to save them from an arch foe. Spyro's task is at hand again to save a world. Many new bits are added this time, like picking up, aiming and throwing rocks, learning to climb and a host of other new handy tricks. Not to mention 100 new characters. Collecting gems and smashing bad guys amoung huge stretching landscapes, caves, nooks & crannies again takes up the bulk of the game as you edge your way to the bad guy. A 'Spirit Particle' system allows devolpment for Spyro as gameplay progresses. Hidden games allow you to play an ice hockey match or fly a plane.

5 / B
- PB

 



STAR OCEAN the second story

This twin disc quest game throws in a lot of the usual ingredients of good & bad characters to help or nail you on your way, while magic, other weapons and goods can be selected from your inventory to move you through the narrative at as quick a pace as you can set yourself. It has its moments.

3 / C
- PB

 

 

STEEL REIGN

Besides
Pong, the first real video game I can remember which preceded Space Invaders, Asteroids and Pac Man, is the good ol' Tank. The evolution from the green on black top-view combat-simulation had come an unbelievably long way. With Steel Reign you're launched into the game's 3-D environment by means of real time video of you escaping from the last outpost with your super tank, up against General Storm and his flunkies, out to blow you to hell and back - and vice versa, of course. What seems like a basic breeze proved to be quite a sticky battle as the shields on your tank (a choice of 3 machines) get blown to bits and your special weapons run out. Even when you collect new ones you get trigger happy, and spend your ammo before you know it. The levels range from the likes of desolate desert terrain to full scale cities - bastards lurking alongside every rock, around each corner and behind every grassy knoll - or else they just wait for you in the wide open. Consulting your map and inventory of weaponry when you can park in a secluded, liberated spot, will be a great help. It will also highlight the location of your main targets whereas your smaller on screen display of the area will highlight enemy tanks and other offensives like helicopters swooping in to nail your ass. The pounding soundtrack drones along with the soundFX of mass destruction as you clench your teeth and smirk with a curse, sending another sonofabitch to his maker. In between levels there are such cool inserts like real-time video of a female TV reporter doing her CNN-style frontline broadcast, then getting harassed by the bad guys, beating up the cameraman! Your various tanks will have their individual strong points and weaknesses - you'll need to decide which level needs speed or more weaponry as you wheel your way across the land with your heavy metal thunder, destroying the enemy's hardware, tactical landmarks & bases while foot soldiers can be run over with a red splatter and a distressed yelp (!). So much for the Geneva Convention, eh?

3 / B
- PB


...the 2nd Opinion...

STEEL REIGN
Time to blow stuff up, guys & dolls! This nuts seemed an easy one to crack., until the enemy blew me away on countless occasions! Your choice of 3 tanks seems too few but their varied stats can't really change too much - speed, armour and ammunition capacity. Your arsenal comprises of regular cannon shells, machine guns, missiles, lasers and special weapons of mass destruction. If it weren't for the shield restoration bonuses you can hunt out, I'd still be on level one! Tanks, jeeps, helicopters and foot soldiers make your life miserable as you try to pound forth in search of the notorious General Storm. If hooked up to a substantial sound system, this game could be a great non-violent stress relief as you blow up tanks, radar facilities and enemy bases. On the other hand, frustration could kick in if you don't stick to it and blow all their asses away before they do you. Like I said, this nut shouldn't be taken at face value. If you think, "Oh, big deal, blow stuff up with a tank", reassess your attitude, soldier! - Getting over-run by helicopters from the north, tanks from the south while stuck in the middle of a mine-field with a depleted shield and no back-up, 10 metres away from your objective, sure 'aint pretty. See how much of an accomplished one-man bombshell you are and take on the
Steel Reign. Be a creator of havoc and destruction in your lounge, not the friggin' streets.

3 / B
- PP

 

 

STREET FIGHTER EX2 Plus

I've never been a great fan of this classic Arcade series. The 2-D look always put me off. With this latest installment, though, I think they might prove me wrong. It gets a more "
Tekken" look with more fluid movement and 3D characteristics. Crazy characters with wild powers light u the screen as you bash each other up real good.

3 / B
- PB

 

SYPHON FILTER

Guerilla/espionage first person action/adventures are far more involved and exciting than at first glance. In this cool, complex game, you are Agent Gabe Logan, out to stop a nutzo international terrorist organistation from unleashing the Syphon Filter virus that will wipe out life in about a 200 mile radius. The terrorists could cause global massacre with this deadly virus and it's up to you to make the best of your reconnaissance, stealth and combat skills to prevent such a disaster. You infiltrate the area with limited back-up, mostly solo, wiping out hoods to get to the head honchos, but they're slippery and tricky. Labyrinthine situations in city streets, inside buildings, cellars, tube stations, everywhere, has you on the run to and from danger. You collect a wild array of weaponry and accessories (if you keep your eyes open for special boxes). From a 9mm silenced pistol and M-16 assault rifle, to a sniper rifle, shotgun, grenades and nightsight rifle. A torch comes in handy when you're dumped in darkness, while the flak jacket makes life a lot easier. These cunning bastards are all over the place though, hiding on rooftops, running while nailing you with gunfire. Burning cop cars or any other fire source will set you alight if you get too close. You need to think on your feet and make snap decision, also making sure you don't kill your own men. Kneeling behind some kind of cover and popping up to nail the bastards seem obvious, but helps a lot in the long run. Throughout you're in touch with Lian, who gives you valuable information on your directives, objectives and dangers to be encountered. The game covers 20 levels of complete 360 degree areas with hidden passages, lifts and the like, taking you all over the place. Ammunition is collected when crossing a snuffed enemy while your 4 targeting types succeed in pleasing almost everyone's style of playing. The sniper target comes complete with distance meters and all. An auto targeting system (R button) will instantly point at a baddie once he's in the area. Ammunition is not limitless, so shoot sparingly (some guys need to be plugged quite a few times, also having flak jackets). You can also select 1st or 3rd person views, depending on your preference. This game will have you addicted in no time, even if this kind of thrill isn't your bag.

5 / B
- PB

 

SYPHON FILTER 2

The original
Syphon Filter was a very exciting covert operations adventure game with a whole bunch of elements rolled into one. The same goes for the sequel, and then some! This time the game is much bigger, stretching over 2 discs. You get to play more than ne character and there is an added deathmatch game included. The latter is a two player game where you run around a huge selection of locations, plugging your buddy with everything you've got - the same cool selection of weapons as in the main game scattered about for your armament. Once you step into the actual game, you're faced with great challenges from the outset. You need to be quick witted in addition to your quick trigger finger. The basics of the story line again place you in the boots of agent Logan straight after the first installment. Your co-agent, Lian, is infected with the Syphon Filter virus. Besides getting to her, you need to reach your destination with the top-secret discs (without the corrupt Agency's numerous soldiers sniping your ass, riddling you with bullets). Some sections will have you screaming to get past, until you use your head for a little more than stopping bullets (blood effects for head shots not censored). Syphon Filter is even more engrossing and exciting than its predecessor - as it should be, most sequels just a re-hash. Using stealth to sneak past guards (or up behind them to slit some throat) and other heavily armed enemies will also be necessary in many cases, adding another dimension of tension to this cracker. But there is a certain rush in blowing away these punks, or slowly & systematically nailing the bastards in the head with your telescopic sniper rifle.

5 / B
- PB