Publisher: Interplay (2000)
Reviewed: 2000/10/11
Rating: Everyone

Caesar's Palace is a decent casino game as far as these things go, but there's nothing special about it. Its main strength lies in its variety of games, including six different card games, roulette, keno, slots, and video poker machines. You begin with $1000, and can save your winnings to memory card at any time. Up to four people can play simultaneously if you own a multi-tap. The streamlined user-interface allows you to bet quickly to keep things moving. The graphics are attractive, especially the digitized hands that deal the cards. A dealer's voice lets you know what's happening at all times. The selection of slot machines includes fruit, Halloween, Ancient Egypt, the Wild West, and baseball. My main beef with Caesar's Palace is its lack of atmosphere. The game makes no effort to create the feeling of being in an actual casino. There's some cheesy music and background voices, but you feel very alone playing this game. Everything is menu-driven, so you never see other people or view any scenery. Another complaint is how there's no in-game tutorial, so you'll need to read the manual to learn how to play the games. Caesar's Palace is not my idea of a good time on a Saturday night, but it wouldn't be a bad game to pick up before a trip to Vegas, just to get familiar with the games. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Castlevania Chronicles
Grade: C+
Publisher: Konami (2001)
Reviewed: 2001/10/12
Rating: Teen (blood and violence)

Once again Konami has brought Castlevania back to the Playstation, this time in the form of a late-80's Japanese PC title. Compared to Symphony of the Night, Chronicles is simpler and decidedly more old-school. There's no separate screen to juggle your items, and the sound effects are tinny, as you might expect from an old PC game. The graphics however are remarkably good, with high-resolution monsters and interesting background animations. The control is a little stiff, and there are a few annoyances including "instant death" falls and irritating bats. Even so, Castlevania fans will relish this long-lost gem. An interview with the game's producer is also included. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Grade: A-
Publisher: Konami (1997)
Reviewed: 2002/10/20
Rating: Teen (blood and violence)
Publisher: Hasbro (1999)
Reviewed: 1999/9/3
Rating: Everyone

After Frogger, this is Hasbro's second attempt to "update" a classic arcade game, and it's only slightly more successful. The world of Centipede is now rendered in 3D, with more enemies and a slew of power-ups. Power-ups were never part of the original game, but they do add some variety. The new levels are so expansive that you can only see a portion of them at a time. So how does this new Centipede play? Well, it feels nothing like the old Centipede. You can now rotate your ship and move anywhere on the screen, but the pace is much slower and less exciting that the original. The analog control is reasonable, but the frame rate is poor and the chunky graphics look sloppy. The original 2D arcade version of Centipede is also included, and it's so superior that you wonder why Hasbro even attempted the upgrade. As with Frogger, Hasbro has fallen into the trap of trying to improve a game that was perfect to begin with. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Classic Games from the Intellivision
Grade: F
Publisher: Activision (1999)
Reviewed: 1999/10/10
Rating: Everyone

Only long-lost Intellivision fans will want to dabble in this ill-conceived collection of 30 Intellivision games from the late 70's and early 80's. Everyone else should avoid this disk like the plague. I can't express how disappointed I am with this. First off, the bloated user interface that lets you select games and variations is just as
poor as the Activision Classics disk of Atari 2600 games. There are endless load screens despite the fact that these games should load in a split-second. Most of the games run agonizingly slow, and trying to emulate Intellivision keypads with a Playstation controller results in some nightmarish control schemes. Finally, those sports games that Intellivision was so famous for are two-player only, so you'll need a friend to play most of these. A very,
very good friend. The Intellivision was a great console, but this package does it a major disservice. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Ascii (1997)
Reviewed: 2002/10/20
Rating: Mature (violence, blood, and gore)
Publisher: Agetec (1998)
Reviewed: 2003/10/12
Rating: Mature (animated violence, blood and gore)
Publisher: Psygnosis (1997)
Reviewed: 2013/3/1
Rating: Kids to Adults (animated violence)
Contra: Legacy of War
Grade: D+
Publisher: Konami (1996)
Reviewed: 2011/3/8
Rating: Teen (animated violence)
Recommended variation: Easy
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Sony (1997)
Reviewed: 2006/2/1
Rating: Kids to Adult (Suitable for all ages)
Publisher: Sony (1998)
Reviewed: 2006/2/1
Rating: Everyone

This snowboarding sequel is a substantial improvement over the original, with more challenges, better graphics, nine courses, and a much-needed two-player split-screen mode. I was pleased by the customization options which offer a wide selection of modes, boarders, gear, and background music. The "tour competition" mode is the heart of Cool Boarders 2, pitting you against seven opponents in a series of downhill and stunt/jumping events. This mode also unlocks new courses, so be sure to turn enable the "auto save" option. And while you're on the options screen, you'll want to turn the voices and background music
off. The muffled commentator and grinding guitar soundtrack are nothing short of an assault on the eardrums. The only thing you want to hear is the sound of crisp snow beneath your board - very relaxing. Stunts are much easier to execute this time around, although the poor instruction manual never sufficiently explains how to perform them. The exciting downhill races feature ample scenery, including quaint resorts and death-defying cliffs. Despite the improved visuals however, there are still far too many unsightly seams. The split-screen mode divides the screen down the center, and while it's certainly playable, the fact that you're only racing against one opponent means you'll rarely see anyone else on the course. Cool Boarders 2 was a major step up for the franchise, but the best was yet to come. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: 989 (1998)
Reviewed: 2006/2/1
Rating: Everyone
Publisher: Sony (2000)
Reviewed: 2006/2/2
Rating: Everyone
Publisher: Naughty Dog (1996)
Reviewed: 1999/7/15
Rating: Kids to Adults

This fantastic 3D action/platform game served as the perfect showcase of the Playstation's graphical capabilities. When released in 1996, nothing else could touch it. The frame-rate is silky smooth as our marsupial hero traverses lush, tropical environments with fantastic overgrown ruins. The audio is also first-rate, with excellent bongo drum music adding to the game's exotic flavor. Although Crash can move on any axis, he is generally restricted to a narrow pathway, although some stages do branch. Your goal is to traverse a series of hazards while smashing crates and defeating animals with well-timed spins and pounces. In most stages you run "into" the screen, but in a few you run "out" of the screen, and there are even some side-scrolling levels. From its shimmering water stages, to Indiana Jones-inspired giant rolling boulder stage, Crash Bandicoot's 3D world is loaded with fun surprises. If this isn't a Playstation classic, what is? © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Grade: A-
Publisher: Naughty Dog (1997)
Reviewed: 1999/7/15
Rating: Kids to Adults

This fine sequel offers more of the same stellar platform gameplay, only with additional moves and interesting new stages. Our agile bandicoot can now slide, crawl, and body-slam. Innovative new stages equip Crash with jet skis (fun) and jet packs (less fun). Cortex Strikes Back also introduces the "warp zone" concept which lets you determine the order in which you'll play some stages. Crash 2 is extremely fun but also very difficult. Not only is the basic gameplay far more challenging, but in order to complete the game you need to locate secret areas so elusive you'll probably need a cheat book to find them all. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Grade: A
Publisher: Naughty Dog (1998)
Reviewed: 1999/7/15
Rating: Everyone

While retaining the winning formula of previous Crash games, Warped incorpoates noticeable improvements to the graphics and gameplay. The motorcycle, jet-ski, and airplane bonus levels are so brilliantly executed they could easily pass as games in of themselves. Crash can now fire a
bazooka, which adds a terrific new destructive element to the fun. The difficulty level is just about perfect. There are a few really tough puzzles, you don't need to solve them all to finish the game. Believe it or not, the completion percentage actually goes up to 104% (maybe higher!). A real gem, Crash 3 offers more depth and variety than the first game but without the frustration of the second. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Sony (2000)
Reviewed: 2001/8/14

Once
Mario Party (Nintendo 64, 1998) caught on, it was only a matter of time before the other video game mascots chimed in with "party" games of their own. Sony's entry was Crash Bash, which offers a collection of minigames in that distinctive Bandicoot style. Watching the intro to Crash Bash reminded me just how great Crash Bandicoot games of the past have been. Their graphics were always so rich and clean, with interesting music and whimsical sound effects. There are plenty of familiar sights and sounds in Crash Bash, but its gameplay comes off as rather lukewarm. Unlike most party games that feature 50 or more unique "mini-games", Bash only has six basic games with several variations on each. One is a cross between Warlords and Hungry Hungry Hippo (remember that board game?), where must deflect metal balls away from your goal. Another is a blatant rip-off of Poy Poy (Playstation), where you hurl boxes at other players. In another, players knock each other off a floating island - a concept taken straight from Mario Party. These games are moderately fun but tend to run too long. This is especially the case in the adventure mode, which lets you and a friend unlock new features. Crash Bash is high quality multiplayer title, but has an uninspired, "me too" quality. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Crash Team Racing
Grade: A
Publisher: Naughty Dog (1999)
Reviewed: 2000/1/15
Rating: Everyone
Publisher: Singletrac (1997)
Reviewed: 2000/7/11
Rating: Teen (violence, blood)

This undersea vehicular combat game comes from the makers of the original
Twisted Metal (Playstation, 1995). You can select from twelve oddly-shaped subs bearing an arsenal of torpedoes, bombs, and mines. The visually impressive stages include lost ruins, a completely submerged city, and the mystical realm of the Bermuda Triangle. The scenery is both foreboding and attractive, with colossal, ominous structures. The surreal music almost contributes to the dark, mysterious atmosphere. Critical Depth's controls are basically the same as Twisted Metal, but its gameplay isn't quite as compelling. Since there's no gravity, it's very easy to become disoriented, especially in the split screen mode. Criyical Depth is probably best played solo. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos
Grade: C
Publisher: Fox (1997)
Reviewed: 2010/5/25
Rating: Everyone
Save mechanism: Password
1 player
Crow, City of Angels, The
Grade: D
Publisher: Acclaim (1996)
Reviewed: 2010/3/24
Rating: Mature 17+ (animated violence, blood)

The first Crow movie was terrific, but the ill-conceived City of Angels sequel was loud and mindless. This video game adaptation is equally bad yet compelling in an odd way. City of Angels is a third-person brawler starring a resurrected hero bent on revenge. You'll wander through dark, dingy locations including a bar, graveyard, and dock. The game's violence is unflinching, and the full-motion video intro really sets the tone with a brutal execution scene. Our anti-hero is stiff and slow, walking around like he has a pole up his butt. His moves include spinning kicks, backhands, and uppercuts. Weapons at your disposal include baseball bats, knives, gun, crowbars, and Molotov cocktails. The controls are not particularly responsive and the collision detection is erratic. The pre-rendered scenery is dark and atmospheric, but the camera angles are
awful! It's disorienting as you attempt to move from one area to the next, and I frequently found myself inadvertently returning to the room I just left! Occasionally you'll find yourself walking against an invisible wall, and that's just plain cheesy. On a positive note, the gritty scenery, moody lighting, and discordant music convey a memorable surreal environment. A password is provided between stages. It would be easy to write off The Crow: City of Angels as complete garbage, but this game actually has a so-bad-it's-good quality that collectors (and fans of the movie) may find appealing. © Copyright 2010 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Password
1 player
Publisher: Konami (1997)
Reviewed: 2010/6/13
Rating: Teen (violence, blood, and gore)
Our high score: 373,800
1 or 2 players