Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: November 5, 2002

If you’re looking to make a big splash in the platform genre, you can still stuff your game full of cartoon characters, but you’d better make sure they’re palatable to the older generation. The only platform hero who can get away with being painfully cute is Mario, and even that’s up for debate. The formula for universal appeal is an elusive magic that every mascot from Crash and Sonic to Jak and Daxter have been trying to nail down. Sucker Punch has concocted Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus with such a focus. Another platformer starring a group of mixed-species talking animals sounds like sure-fire kiddie fare, but this game is definitely geared toward a wider crowd. ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: October 31, 2002

Well known for its massive team competitions and sprawling levels, the first-
person universe of Tribes has been adapted for PS2. Sierra and
Inevitable Games have delivered Tribes: Aerial Assault – an adaptation
rather than a straight translation of the popular series. Everything about the
title was custom-made to feel comfortable on a console – and its heart and soul
are anchored online. If Sony’s SOCOM:
US Navy Seals was too serious a shooter to suit your tastes, maybe the
arcade action of Tribes will suit you better. ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: October 23, 2002

Onimusha 2 is a classic video game sequel. The same villain from the first episode is back, the same control format applies and the same graphical style pervades. Several years after his first defeat, Nobunaga, the demon king, has returned to wreak havoc on Japan once more. Full disclosure demands that I tell you I have not played the original, so my perspective on the sequel is different from that of your average reviewer. Taken on its own, let’s see how Capcom’s latest adventure plays to uninitiated fans. ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: October 17, 2002

There’s no turning back. The consoles have gone online, and couch-and-controller people now have to decide if this new experience is really for them. Sony has worked very hard to get a large sampling of online titles to market along with its Network Adapter. SOCOM: US Navy Seals is the first of many Internet-capable shooters to hit the market on PS2. SOCOM was built with a multiplayer model different from what consoles are used to. Whereas mixing guns with gamers usually means a free-for-all, this squad-based military shooter demands teamwork. Will console owners oblige? ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: October 10, 2002

There are already so many tales of fantasy on PS2, but if you do it right, one more can always fit into the crowd. Atlus has brought another quirky title to the U.S., one without all of the big budget polish of bankable blockbusters. The game is Dual Hearts, and it’s a role-playing adventure, of sorts, with the traditional story structure, real-time action and a certain intangible charm. Much like Sky Gunner, released by Atlus earlier this year, this is a niche title, but one without a built-in audience. Perhaps the publisher hopes that pure merit will carry Dual Hearts. So, is there enough value here to bear the burden? ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: October 5, 2002

Activision’s Blade II is based on the movie of the same name, which in turn was based on the first “Blade” film, which in turn was based on a Marvel comic. There are dozens of great movies out there ready-made for interactive entertainment, and just as many comic books have that same potential. However, game fans know the disasters that have come about due to poor use of great licenses; bad titles based on movies and comics are practically a cliché. “Blade” is both a movie and a comic book, so is this a win-win or a double whammy? ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: September 24, 2002

I can imagine what the pitch meeting for Riding Spirits must have been like. Back when Tony Hawk exploded on the scene, no doubt every subsequent extreme sports game was pitched off of it. “Tony Hawk on a Bike,” “Tony Hawk on Rollerblades” and so on. Similarly, Riding Spirits was apparently sold on the one-phrase concept, “Gran Turismo on Motorcycles.” Developer Spike has built a racing sim offering over 200 real world motorcycles, plenty of upgrades, and simulation-style gameplay. But can it do for two wheels what GT did for four? ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: September 18, 2002

I’ll admit that, until now, I’ve watched the giant robot games phenomenon only with distant fascination. Of all action subgenres, it appeared to be the least accessible to mainstream players. Sure, the robots looked really cool, but for some reason, it all seemed so technical and esoteric, like a flight simulator with legs. I’m probably not the only one who harbors this hunch, as giant robots have yet to have a breakout hit. Now, Armored Core 3 is here, bringing more hardcore machine madness, but with the promise of instant gratification. Have the audience-friendly giant robots finally arrived? ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: September 13, 2002

I walk past the cage on West 4th in New York City every day, and there’s usually a massive crowd clinging to the chickenwire, no matter what time it is. Naturally, there’s some serious 5-on-5 going down on the court, but little did I know that this was the most famous park in the world. Activision and Black Ops Entertainment taught me that with Street Hoops, an arcade basketball game fashioned around the world of street ball. Like its neighborhood-based players, Street Hoops looks to make a name for itself wholly separate from the NBA branded ball simulations. ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: September 5, 2002

It’s about time someone made a video game out of The Thing. John Carpenter’s science fiction masterpiece spun a claustrophobic tale about a group of research scientists battling an enemy they couldn’t see. It was a horrifying story of survival before there was “survival horror.” Now it’s an interactive entertainment product endorsed by Carpenter himself, no less. Universal Interactive and Computer Artworks have crafted this title’s tale as a sequel to the film; let’s see if it overcomes the usual movie-to-game curse. ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: August 16, 2002

All reviews are subjective. Anyone who tells you otherwise simply doesn’t have a good grasp of the English language. Now and then, though, something comes along that may make a reviewer too subjective – that is, biased. Reflections’ Stuntman has arrived, and it’s only fair to mention up front that I’m a car stunt junkie. I’ve got all the old Halicki and McQueen movies, and after E3 2002, I was very close to taking a stunt driving course myself. Alas, that plan fell through, but now I have Stuntman. Can it satisfy the reckless driver in me? ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: August 9, 2002

Midway’s release of Fireblade seems to beg a question many have forgotten to ask, namely, “Where are all of my helicopter games?” There are gun-toting cars, jets and mechs stacked six deep on the retail shelves, but hardly any recent reincarnations of our beloved Chopper Command. One has to wonder why, as helicopters can outmaneuver and outgun any armored car, jet, or mech (unless the mech also transforms into a helicopter). Given that, this release couldn’t have come at a more opportune time; Fireblade is here to fill this hole in the action genre, bringing gamers the promise of intense attack chopper action. ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: August 1, 2002

It’s a tough market for PlayStation 2 titles. Say what you will about the pros and cons of each of the big three; there’s no denying that the PS2 dominates in just sheer quantity of releases. In a saturated market, you need some strategy to stand out, especially in a genre like fighting. For developer Saffire, the tactic toward distinction was amalgamation. Barbarian is a four-player brawler packed end to end with familiar fragments: pieces from fellow fighters, some role-playing, and a story mode to boot. Born from this mix-and-match craftsmanship, does Barbarian equal the sum of its parts? ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: July 27, 2002

The first action / RPG on the GameCube. As we approach the one-year anniversary of Nintendo’s biggest console, companies can still boldly claim to be the first on the block with their software. Activision’s Lost Kingdoms is certainly a first, as there is very little in the line of lengthy medieval adventures for the platform. Not only is it first, but Cubists also have themselves some platform exclusive software to boot. There are some fresh ideas promised from this game, including the card-based battle system. Now, let’s see if this “genre first” can also deliver the genre goods. ( read more… )

Review by: Matthew Dujnic
Published: July 17, 2002

The world is waiting for their wrestling game: Robotic gameplay, confusing controls, and disappointing graphics have been the norm since the genre’s inception. We’re now in a world of 128-bit game systems, yet recent offerings have still failed to impress. The technology is there, the content is there (wrestling is an activity ready-made for video gaming), but where’s the execution? The time has come to take a close look at this latest GameCube release, THQ’s Wrestlemania X8. ( read more… )