Review by: David Laprad
Published: September 16, 2000

I sometimes get e-mail from readers wondering which are the toughest games to write about–great ones or terrible ones. The answer is neither. The most difficult-to-review titles are those that impact me on an emotional level, much in the same manner that reading a good novel or seeing a great movie does. The new first-person shooter, Elite Force, falls into that category. I used overpowering weapons to annihilate aliens, stared slack-jawed at the screen in awe of its beautiful graphics, scribbled down 18 pages of notes, and now I am at a loss as to how to write the review. All the usual critical categories seem to collapse in the face of a game that stirs our feelings as much as it challenges our minds and stimulates our senses. Still, a reviewer must scrutinize the details, so I will steel myself, Vulcan-like, to the task at hand. ( read more… )

Review by: Mike Laidlaw
Published: September 14, 2000

On first impression, Chrono Cross is just another clone of the Final Fantasy series: the same style of overland movement; the zoomed in 3D combat scenes; the expansive story and multiple characters available to join the always inscrutable hero in his quest to discover a mysterious secret from his past. Not that this would necessarily be a bad thing, as Square has consistently delivered high quality stories and quality gameplay in their flagship titles, but Chrono Cross is the sequel to the highly acclaimed Chrono Trigger. As the latter is considered one of the best role-playing titles ever available for console, players have a right to expect something more than just another Final Fantasy from its sequel. ( read more… )

Review by: Nick Stewart
Published: August 4, 2000

Regardless of your philosophy or particular point of view, there’s no denying one singular fact: war is hell. Epic films such as Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan have demonstrated this to a considerable degree, putting the inherent raw brutality and psychological trauma on gritty, blood-soaked display. Yet, some would argue that within this oft-necessary shell of pain and suffering lies a heart of nobility, an amorphous entity that can only be discovered in the trenches and fields of battle. This element shifts and changes for every individual involved; for the soldier, it is the courage to do his sworn duty, to protect his compatriots and his country in spite of the dangers that may lie ahead. For the field officer, it is the faith to carry out his orders handed down by his superiors, regardless of his own uncertainty. For the commander, it is the need to balance the needs of his men with the needs of his mission, and the tactical prowess to make it all happen. These are some of the basic elements of war, and it is these items that award-winning developer Big Time Software attempts to bring to the wargaming genre with their new offering, Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord. ( read more… )

Review by: Chris Harding
Published: July 3, 2000

Deus Ex is a Latin term used to describe a person or thing that appears out of nowhere and unexpectedly resolves a great conflict. Pronounced Day-Us X, Ion Storm’s third release takes place in a futuristic setting and is home to the most elaborately detailed world ever created for the home computer. Created by well known producer Warren Spector, famous for his involvement in titles such as System Shock, Wings of Glory and Thief, Deus Ex isn’t like anything you’ve played before. While at first glance it strikes a similar pose to its creator’s previous works, under its trench coat of many mysteries, Deus Ex introduces us to a world so rich and unique that comparing it to any other game would serve as unfair criticism. ( read more… )

Review by: Chris Harding
Published: June 13, 2000

The evolution of the third dimension into the real-time strategy genre has been, by most accounts, a painful one. Marred by horrific camera systems and frustrating combat engines, it’s no wonder publishers are hesitant to invest and market such volatile productions. Whereas 3D polygonal engines dominate nearly all other forms of game design, attempts to infiltrate them and their associated gameplay into the strategic realm have been, with few exceptions, categorical failures. In truth, there’s been little to no redeeming value associated with many of the offerings. Titles such as WarGames, Machines, and the most forgettable of all, Star Wars: Force Commander offer ample ammunition to the argument that strategy offerings should remain two dimensional. Even so, I do not subscribe to that notion, and here’s why. ( read more… )

Review by: Nick Stewart
Published: May 31, 2000

Adventure gaming has certainly seen some drastic changes since its inception so many years ago, constantly evolving to fit the tastes and technologies of the times. The initial text-based jaunts such as Zork and its kin sparked the imaginations of an entire generation of players, presenting an almost literary experience as a result of its words-only approach to puzzle-solving. The public eventually developed a taste for visuals, leading to the use of animations alongside the text commands, though even this gave way to the point-and-click style of interface. It was roughly in this period that such Sierra classics as King’s Quest and Space Quest emerged, sharing the limelight with the likes of LucasArts’ Monkey Island and Zak McKraken. At this point, the genre came to know great success and has since come to be associated with a sort of “golden age.” ( read more… )

Review by: Nick Stewart
Published: May 20, 2000

When you think about real-life professions that would make for great gaming opportunities, jobs such as a SWAT team member, secret agent, race car driver or army general tend to come to mind. These titles and others like them involve facing some sort of danger or meeting some sort of grand challenge, which, generally speaking, is fairly inaccessible to the average person and thus seems suitable for an exciting gaming experience. However, you would probably not figure this formula to apply to something as widespread as programming, as it can often require herculean degrees of logic, extensive understanding of a programming language, as well as countless lines of code. All-in-all, this is not a type of challenge that you would imagine somebody would use to entertain themselves. Nevertheless, independent developer CogniToy is looking to change these preconceptions with their flagship game MindRover: The Europa Project, a product whose primary focus revolves almost entirely around that very element: programming. ( read more… )

Review by: Chris Harding
Published: May 10, 2000

Like many of you, there are but only a handful of experiences that serve as the foundation of my gaming addiction. As David Laprad pointed out so well in his recent editorial, being a gamer means a lot more than having a hobby, it’s a persona, a lifestyle. And it is those rare experiences, the ones that transcend reality, that bring us back to our computer screens time and time again, like an explorer searching for the end of a rainbow. One such experience of mine came back in 1993, when Origin released their Elite-inspired Privateer. Better than any product before it, Privateer brought together the elements of non-linear progression and strong story-driven gameplay. And yet, nearly ten years later in an industry five hundreds time larger, that feat remains unduplicated, at least it did until now. ( read more… )

Review by: Chris Harding
Published: May 5, 2000

I grew up in a time and place where football was a sport played by the biggest, meanest and nastiest kids in the neighborhood. This is a game where crossing the goal line means six points and tackling is an integral part of every play. Football in south central Texas was a sport dominated by quarterbacks, wide receivers and tailbacks, and one where kickers were considered pansies. You went to war over the right to play with pig’s skin, and you used pads and helmets just to stay alive. Today however, most of the world thinks of football as something entirely different, and to be honest it’s been an education for this kid from mojo country. Football, or soccer as I call it, is a game where kicking and heading the ball is the primary means for play, and is the method for scoring points and winning the contest. EA Sports has actually been promoting the sport via their FIFA franchise for years, starting out with strong showings on console systems in the early nineties. And as the popularity of soccer has increased, gaining support from Major League Soccer (MLS) and the World Cup, more and more video gamers are clamoring for “real” professional teams, more realism and higher quality immersion, bringing their sport inline with the likes of basketball, hockey, American football and especially baseball, which has ruled the digital sports arena for decades. ( read more… )

Review by: Chris Harding
Published: March 24, 2000

Have you ever noticed how history tends to focus more on certain events than others? Take the Vietnam and Korean wars, for example. While the Vietnam War should garner more pages in text books because of its longer duration and elevated costs, it still surprises me when I examine the proliferation of published material in print, film, and now digital media available for both periods. Yet other than the television show M.A.S.H and a few other nondescript movies, the Vietnam War is virtually shutting out the Korean War. In the computer games industry, the Korean War has gone untouched by strategy and simulation developers–until now. Empire Interactive and Rowan Software established their reputation as a builder of highly detailed, ultra-realistic, beautiful flight simulators last year with their outstanding World War I offering, Flying Corps Gold. The duo have traveled the timeline once again to deliver yet another exemplary offering. The product is called MiG Alley, and its setting is the Korean War. ( read more… )

Review by: Nick Stewart
Published: March 9, 2000

Without question, Will Wright is a visionary. At a time when publishers sniffed at the idea of a game in which there was no winning or losing, he persevered to create the genre-setting masterpiece, SimCity. The continuity of its concept and popularity of its successors, SimCity 2000 and SimCity 3000, should speak for the genius in the concept Wright laid forth so many years ago. In light of this astounding accomplishment, the industry as a whole understandably stood up and took notice when Wright announced his intention to base a PC title not on the creation of a city, but rather on the management of everyday life. The gaming community has waited with baited breath for the opportunity to oversee the ins and outs of a digital self, and very recently had this desire sated with the product’s release. The Sims has since been propelled to the top of the charts, but at a time when titles like Deer Hunter and Frogger have dominated the upper echelons of sales lists, does this mean Wright’s creation is a good game, or merely a novelty for mass consumption?

( read more… )

Review by: Scott Steinberg
Published: January 22, 2000

Across the board, developers and publishers are eternally striving for a big hit, and once in a while, a few of these digital prospectors actually strike gold. Everyone assumes that things become rosy for the lucky parties in question, but bringing fame and fortune to a brand name isn’t as wonderful as some might believe. Consider that the rewards for success are fleeting, and that when the money runs out, it’s up to the people behind a big franchise to churn out sequels that live up to the lofty standards set by the original game. ( read more… )

Review by: Scott Steinberg
Published: January 19, 2000

Weighing in as one of America’s most popular sports, it’s odd that basketball has never gotten the treatment it deserves when one thinks about digital recreation. Most of us have probably witnessed more than our fair share of basketball simulations dribble their way right off store shelves and into the bargain bin, and with good reason. From outright poor attempts to cash in on players to shoddy simulations and lame spin-offs, we’ve seen it all. ( read more… )

Review by: Scott Steinberg
Published: January 15, 2000

When it comes to video games, few sports have been given as royal a treatment as football. From before the days of the Super Nintendo and Genesis to the current age, no other spectacle of professional competition has been featured in as wide a selection of titles. As the years rolled by, the quality of most of these products has improved bit by bit–no pun intended–but I’d thought we’d just about seen the peak of this trend in recent years. Up until a few months ago, things were looking pretty bleak, with Acclaim’s NFL Quarterback Club series struggling to catch up to Electronic Arts’ famous Madden NFL line, which was beginning to get a bit stale. ( read more… )

Review by: Chris Harding
Published: December 24, 1999

I was mildly shocked when Interplay’s Black Isle division announced the development of Planescape Torment. Having been an avid pen and paper “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” player since early adolescence, I was fairly confident they had bitten off more than they could chew. To my knowledge, no one had ever developed a computer role-playing game set in the Planescape realm, and considering the scope behind such an effort, I was certain it was doomed to fail. One of the unwritten rules of the pen and paper sect is that to have a successful campaign based in Planescape, your party and dungeon master have to be either highly experienced or very naive. A lot of newbies are attracted to the realm of gods and gateways, and due to Planescape’s built-in complexities and general weirdness, most games played by non-experts fail horribly. Therefore, when I heard it was being brought to the computer screen, I didn’t have a lot of hope. Because the world in which the computer title exists is so vastly different from anything CRPG fans have experienced before, a little explanation of the environment and history is in order. ( read more… )