For "seasonally conscious" gamers like myself, here is a collection of games that are distinctively Fall. Coming up with a set of Autumn-themed games wouldn't be so hard if it weren't for the fact that I already have a Halloween Game Review Spectacular. That rules out a lot of titles people usually gravitate towards this time of the year!

So what constitutes a Fall game? Well obviously there's the colorful foliage of the trees. The weather is typically overcast and chilly, with gusty winds that blow the leaves around. Other symbols synonymous with the season include pumpkins, cornfields, and scarecrows. I think the following set of games properly convey the spirit of the season, if only for a stage or two.

Spy Hunter (Midway 2001) System: Playstation 2 (and others) Grade: B+

You may remember the original Spy Hunter arcade game, which was popular in the early 80's. In that overhead racer, you controlled a car loaded with both offensive and defensive weapons, allowing you to shoot cars ahead while dropping smoke screens behind you. This updated Spy Hunter manages to preserve the fun of the original while adding gorgeous 3D graphics and deep, mission-based gameplay.

Each mission has a set of objectives, mostly involving blowing up specific targets. The game looks and plays much like an action movie. You'll find yourself careening over cliffs and plowing through outdoor cafes, with explosions detonating all around you. It can be very exhilarating at times. Each level offers a long, unique course that cuts through a variety of locations, complete with hidden shortcuts and other secrets. When your car jumps into water, it instantly morphs into a speedboat - pretty awesome!

The controls take a while to learn, but are responsive overall. Spy Hunters fine graphics and breakneck pace will keep your adrenaline flowing. My biggest complaint is that everything is locked initially, including the two player split-screen mode. Otherwise, Spy Hunter is a worthy successor to a classic arcade game.

Fall Angle: Spy Hunter's second stage features an utterly spectacular fall stage. As you wind through country roads and small towns, the spectacular foliage really steals the show. Whether there are other stages like this one, I do not recall.

Decap Attack (Sega 1991) System: Genesis (and others) Grade: B-

This offbeat platformer doesn't make much sense but it's a heck of a lot of fun. Decap Attack stars an eccentric mummy named "Chuck D. Head". Chuck can rapid-fire punch foes with a head that bursts from his chest. Yes, that is awesome. Occasionally he's equipped with a skull on his shoulders he can hurl, but it's really easy to lose. I love how the skull changes expressions when you leave it sitting on the ground.

The platform action is responsive as you hop between platforms, stomp cartoonish monsters into the dirt, and smash totems to collect potions. You can land on gray clouds and flutter in the air to slow your fall. The assortment of enemies include werewolves, cattle skulls, dudes with propeller hats, and black birds that look like Daffy Duck on crack. Your goal is to reach the exit of each stage, although it's not always clear where that lies.

Potions you collect become available for use on an item screen accessible by the A button. You can use this screen to read descriptions of each item, but the user interface is terrible! It would help if the scrolling text could display more than five words at a time! It's very easy to accidentally use an item you didn't intend to. These short-lived power-ups offer invincibility, extended punch range, and high jumping. Don't hesitate to use the potions, as most do not work on the bosses!

Decap Attack's stages depict barren landscapes with skulls hanging from trees. I think they are intentionally bleak to convey a Halloweenish spirit, and it works. I really like those translucent platforms. The weird, jaunty music is great, and I love that creepy organ music that kicks in when you die. The lack of a score and password is a bummer, but it's fun just to see how far you can get. Decap Attack may look like your garden variety platformer but proves to be anything but.

Fall Angle: This platformer was a bit too generic to make my Halloween special, but it definitely has a Fall flavor. The cloudy skies, twisted trees, and layers of barren brown scenery had Fall written all over them.

College Football National Championship (Sega 1994) System: Genesis (and others) Grade: B+

Although their Joe Montana line of NFL games couldn't compete with Madden, Sega came back strong with a nice College Football game in 1994. This time, Sega dropped the side view in favor of the Madden style, 3D vertical field view. The game still has a unique look however, because the players are smaller and look more realistic than Madden. As with the Joe Montana games, the action zooms in close when the ball is passed or handed off, which really works well.

You have 32 of the best college teams to choose from, and it's fun to take one through a regular season and try to attain the #1 ranking. There are a slew of game options and a wealth of statistics. This is one of the only games to take advantage of Sega's 6 button controller, but I wish they had incorporated a catch button. The game has a few other issues too. The play-by-play announcer from the Montana games is back, but he's mediocre, and it can be downright comical to hear him exclaim "he could go all the way!" as the runner gets stopped for two yards. Even more annoying is his use of the word "zip", as in "Florida State 7, Alabama zip".

The playing field is so wide that sometimes you can't see all of your receivers. And while the player animation is good in general, after each play they stand around like soldiers, which looks really stupid. It's interesting to note that hitting the B button after any play causes your player to raise his helmet in triumph -- even if he screwed up during the play. Trust me, once you discover this "feature", you will be doing it constantly, and laughing out loud. Despite the silliness, this is a very good football game.

Fall angle: Nothing screams Fall like college football!

Sonic Adventure 2 (Sega 2001) System: Dreamcast (and others) Grade: B+

This high-quality sequel attempts to duplicate the magic of the first Sonic Adventure without bogging things down with tedious "adventure" segments. Sonic Adventure 2 offers two separate story modes that follow either Sonic or his nemesis look-alike, Shadow. The platform stages play out much like the first game, sending Sonic whizzing through corkscrews, bouncing off bumpers, and performing homing-attacks on enemies.

The opening stage has him skateboarding down the steep hills of San Francisco and fleeing from a rampaging 18-wheeler. It's non-stop action, and I really dig that "Escape From the City" song that plays throughout the stage. In Metal Harbor, Sonic leaps between industrial platforms and cranes over the water. Some of the more unusual stages include the claustrophobic "Prison Lane" and the Halloween-themed Pumpkin Hill. The semi-automated speed sequences are back, but they are somewhat overused, making stages like the lush jungle less satisfying than they should be.

Sonic Adventure 2 brings two optional gameplay elements from the first game to center stage - with mixed results. Tails stomps around in a mech walker in stages that focus on shooting. He has the ability to lock-on to several targets before unleashing missiles, and the carnage is terrific. On the flip side, Knuckles is relegated to tedious "find the gem" stages that are time-consuming and frustrating. His ability to glide and climb doesn't make these wild goose chases any more tolerable. The droning rap tunes (which sound like LL Cool J) don't help matters.

Throughout the game the camera tends to pull in extremely tight. While this makes you feel "closer to the action", your limited periphery is problematic when you're trying to locate gems or shoot off-screen robots. Last and certainly least, those worthless "Chao" virtual pets are back with some new VMU games. With the exception of the Knuckles stages, Sonic Adventure 2 is a fast-moving, enjoyable journey. Every stage offers something new, and there are plenty of surprises. It may not match the original game, but Sonic Adventure 2 is still quite the spectacle to behold.

Fall angle: This 3D adventure features a very memorable pumpkin patch stage with Knuckles trying to collect gems. It's not the best stage in the game, but that eye candy has to count for something.

Super Sunday (Avalon Hill 1985) System: Commodore 64 (and others) Grade: B+

Super Sunday appears to have an identity crisis. While my packaging clearly states "Super Sunday" you'll find other versions around the internet labeled "Superbowl Sunday". It's confusing, but could be worse considering the Atari version got stuck with the title "Computer Football Strategy".

No matter what you call it this game is Avalon Hill's answer to MicroLeague Baseball. It's a purely stat-driven manager-perspective take on the popular American professional sports league which will go unnamed. Donning your virtual clipboard and headset, you’ll take the helm of any one of 20 historic Super Bowl teams. Each NFL team (whoops) is identified by city, and its players by last name and position.

Super Sunday is a single-game affair, with no season mode or chance to see your favorite players rise and fall with the tides. Still, the ability to put my 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers up against the 1984 Washington Redskins (as the Washington Football Team was called back then) is a fantasy matchup I’ll gladly take on any cold, rainy Saturday afternoon.

I tried my hand against the CPU and even against the Critic himself. On offense you select from three general formations and about a dozen actual plays. You also select key players like the quarterback, running back, or receiver. On defense, you can blitz linebackers, fall into prevent mode, and even key on a particular player. Joysticks are supported, but it's so awkward to enter plays that way you'll probably opt for the keyboard, even with two players.

Once your selections are made you just sit back and watch the play unfold on a nicely-rendered field with animated players. It's exciting because you can't always be sure when a tackle will be broken or a receiver will shake free for a big gainer. Likewise, an unexpected turnover may cause you to scream at your monitor, prompting the wife to stick her head in and ask WTF your problem is now.

I was impressed with the realism of Super Sunday. It really did seem like certain players were more or less likely to squeeze out extra yards or make a tough catch based on their historic stats. If you're the type of gamer who can appreciate the cat-and-mouse aspect of trying to call just the right play at just the time to outfox your opponent, this game will scratch that itch.

Fall angle: Here's a slow-paced football title that you can relax with on a blustery afternoon when you should be raking leaves instead.

Need For Speed: Most Wanted (Electronic Arts 2005) System: Xbox 360 (and others) Grade: B

This urban-themed racer allows you to wreck scenery and avoid police while participating in no-holds-barred street races. It's very satisfying to smash through fences, barriers, construction sites, and phone booths as you whiz past rival racers and avoid converging police cars. The oncoming traffic and amazing sense of speed gives the game a certain Burnout (GameCube, 2002) flavor.

The action takes place in the fictitious city of Rockport, with scenery emphasizing realism over flash, incorporating run-down industrial areas and rendering everything in dull brown hues. The trees look amazing, as do the changing weather conditions. During thunderstorms, rain glistens on the streets and beads on your windshield as thunder booms in the background. While Most Wanted doesn't deliver the polished visuals or instant gratification of Ridge Racer 6 or Project Gotham 3, it may have the edge in long-term play value.

The engaging career mode lets you to challenge 15 progressively difficult rivals, each requiring you to complete a number of preliminary races and challenges. You can cruise around town to locate the next event, or initiate each directly from your "safe house" menu. The races are exhilarating at times, although the field is mainly limited to four cars. When a cop first appears on the scene, the screen suddenly freezes and zooms to his position - a very effective cinematic technique.

The ensuing chases are fun, although they make you feel like one of those criminal lowlifes you see on reality television shows. I love how you hear the cops communicating back and forth about you on their radios. Escaping police is time consuming but not particularly difficult, and these encounters tend to wear thin after a while.

You begin with a modest vehicle, but can upgrade and trade up as the game progresses. Defeating rivals unlocks new cars and locations, as well as mystery bonus items including cash, "get out of jail" cards, and special upgrades. Need For Speed's controls have a loose feel, but that's consistent with the reckless style of the game. It can be hard to avoid oncoming traffic, but if you do wreck head-on, you only need to hit the handy "reset" button to be instantly put back on the road.

Most Wanted's soundtrack has an appropriate hip-hop vibe which I found to be better than average. Cut scenes feature actors with a processed "glow" that helps them better blend into the computer-generated background scenery. Naturally, a super-hot chick plays the lead role. One annoying aspect of the game is its email and voicemail functions. It's bad enough to deal with these in real life - I don't want them in my games. Fortunately, you can pretty much ignore the messages as they accumulate in your inbox.

A two-player split-screen mode is included, but sadly, you can't play the role of the police. Need For Speed: Most Wanted definitely hits the mark when it comes to streetwise, chaotic racing contests. It may lack the pristine visuals and crisp control of other 360 racers, but Most Wanted's wild brand of lawless action will keep you coming back for more.

Fall angle: Some games feature individual Fall levels, but in Need For Speed: Most Wanted, the entire game is an Autumn wonderland! Whether you're speeding through the park or along an expressway, bright leaves can be seen both on the trees and blowing around in the streets. Also, the game sports a somewhat dark, shadowy look that often characterize Fall days. These factors really give the game a distinct flavor.

Bully Scholarship Edition (Rockstar 2008) System: Xbox 360 (and others) Grade: B

The thought of returning to high school may not sound appealing to most, but Bully lets you do the kind of stuff you wanted to do in school, like pick fights, play pranks, kiss girls, pull fire alarms, break into lockers, and simply be a major disruption. While similar in structure to the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) games, Bully is actually better in many ways due to its smaller scale. It also happens to be less profane and not nearly as raunchy.

This game received stellar reviews on the PS2 a few years back, and it gets a new lease on life on the 360 with extra missions, improved graphics, and two-player mini-games. Playing the role of a 15-year-old juvenile delinquent named Jimmy Hopkins (who looks closer to 50), you roam freely around an expansive virtual campus while embarking on various missions. The campus is an interesting place, and I was especially pleased to see the leaves change color with the seasons and decorations going up for holidays.

Rule-enforcing prefects drag you to class when you're truant, but even the classes are fun! In English, you'll unscramble letters, and in chemistry you hit buttons as they scroll across the screen. Art is played like the old Qix arcade game, and biology walks you through a realistic frog dissection. As you might imagine, the dissection begs for motion controls. These mini-games are also available in the excellent two-player mode. Bully has its share of load screens, but they tend to be short and colorful.

The action moves at a steady pace, and the story is conveyed through brief, well-crafted cut-scenes. The stiff character faces reveal the game's PS2 origins, but the stately brick buildings and their lavish interiors still look terrific. The excellent soundtrack strikes an irreverent tone, and the professional voice acting is quite convincing.

My issues with Bully are similar to those I have with GTA games in general. The missions are fun at first but start to feel like errands after a while. Once the scope of the game extends to a nearby town, the fun factor takes a hit. The basic storyline is very linear, so until you complete a critical mission you're forced to keep replaying it. Bully never achieves true greatness, but with an original concept, clever design, and high production values, it comes admirably close.

Fall angle: The most memorable aspect of this game is the change of seasons. Since the game begins at the beginning of the school year, you'll almost immediately thrust into Fall, complete with turning leaves and decorations that go up for Halloween and Thanksgiving. It almost makes me wish I was in school again. I'm kidding, of course. School sucks!

Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The (Midway 2006) System: GameCube (and others) Grade: C+

This turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Instead the kiddy-themed platformer I was expecting, The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy is a wild 3D fighting game! Much like Power Stone 2 (Dreamcast, 2000), it's every cartoon character for himself in a series of creepy environments. While not quite up to Power Stone standards (that game is a classic), Grim Adventures does offer the same brand of chaos, with satisfying attacks, unique weapons, and projectiles flying all over the place.

The main characters are a pair of kids and a scythe-wielding grim reaper. Although targeted to the younger crowd, I found the game to be very funny and not the least bit irritating. In addition to going solo in the story mode, you can engage in four-player battles and even assemble teams.

Weapons include flame-throwers, vacuum cleaners, and a "brain-sucking" gun. You can sometimes mount larger weapons like giant crossbows and mech warriors. When it's time to finish off an opponent, you execute a G-rated Mortal Kombat-style "fatality" by pressing a button sequence displayed on the screen. On the downside, when things get hectic it can be hard to tell what's going on, and targeting a specific character is tricky.

What put this game over the top for me was the Halloween theme, with fun locations like pumpkins patches, graveyards, laboratories, and Egyptian tombs. As the battles progress, the environments constantly change, keeping things fresh. I really like the cell-shaded graphics because it really does feel like you're playing a cartoon. The soundtrack is whimsical and fun with a nice macabre undertone. It's not exactly original or polished enough to be an upper-tier title, but there aren't many games like Grim Adventures on the market.

Fall angle: This is another Halloween-ish game that captures many elements of the Fall. The stage set in a pumpkin patch is pretty amazing.

Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo 2008) System: Wii (and others) Grade: A-

If you enjoy breathing air, you'll probably enjoy Mario Kart Wii. I doubt there's ever been another racer as inviting or readily enjoyable. Unlike Mario Kart Double Dash (GameCube, 2003), there's only one character per car, but there's a much wider selection of vehicles to choose from. Besides the standard karts, you can drive off-road four-by-fours, dragsters, stock cars, and motorcycles. The motorcycles are unique because they take up less space on the road and have the ability to execute "wheelies" for mini speed bursts.

The game borrows some ideas from Mario Kart DS, like the view-obstructing squid ink attack and the inclusion of tracks from classic Mario Kart titles. If the old tracks give you a "been there, done that" feeling, rest assured the new tracks are amazing. I love the shopping mall's dual levels, escalators, and a bright, palm tree-lined parking lot. The mine-cart track is a virtual roller coaster, and the snow courses feature mammoth half-pipes. A relaxing autumn stage lets you plow through leaves, and the wet-and-wild island track feels like a virtual water slide!

The graphics are comparable to the GameCube, but close inspection reveals a lot of subtle details, like your character pumping his fist when one of his weapons hits. Playing solo is madly addictive and the raucous split-screen mode accommodates up to four players. I hear the on-line action is also superb. The motion-based controls are fantastic, providing the most precise steering ever. Although the included plastic steering wheel is not really necessary, it feels comfortable.

Mario Kart Wii would have been an A+ title if Nintendo had shown a little restraint with the power-ups, which are far too ubiquitous. Not only are there item boxes along every stretch of road, but you typically get three items at a time! The trailing karts get the best power-ups, and the leader routinely gets pelted with multiple shells - sometimes going from first to last in two seconds. I was never a fan of the unavoidable purple shell, and that new "POW" block is an unwelcome addition. You feel obligated to immediately unload whatever you pick up just so you'll be able to collect the next batch. The squid ink attack is a neat concept, but it occurs too often. Maybe Nintendo went overboard in an attempt to distance this game from Double Dash. It's not perfect, but Mario Kart Wii is undeniably fun and has universal appeal.

Fall angle: Just when you thought Nintendo ran out of ideas for Mario Kart tracks, they whip out an Autumn stage that's nothing short of sensational. The yellow, orange, and red colors are brilliant. There are piles of leaves everywhere, and one ramp actually sends you flying thru some dense Autumn foliage. Good times.

Sonic & Knuckles (Sega 1994) System: Genesis (and others) Grade: B+

The Sonic & Knuckles cartridge has an unusual shape due to its innovative "lock-on" technology. In addition to functioning as a stand-alone Sonic game with two playable characters, the cartridge lets you stack on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or 3, giving you the ability to play as Knuckles in those games. Sonic and Knuckles represents the last of the great 2D Sonic games. You can expect vibrant stages, pin-point controls, toe-tapping music, and a ton of play value.

The opening Mushroom Hill stage offers inviting Autumn colors and the Lava Reef stages harkens back to the Marble zone of Sonic 1. Other stages like the Flying Battery are less memorable, and Sandopolis is downright aggravating with its repetitive paths, converging ghosts, and annoying timers. The addition of Knuckles the Echidna is the best aspect of the game. This red creature has the ability to glide, climb, and break through walls by touching them. In fact, the stages seem specifically designed with Knuckles in mind.

The frenetic gameplay will keep you on your toes, but the pacing is often disrupted by annoying hazards like vines that ensnare you and chickens that blow you into spikes. Eggman does not play a role in all boss encounters; you'll sometimes face a robot (like a giant hand) or magical creature (like a sand golem). The bonus stages are mostly rehashes, and the new "electric ball" stage is confusing. There are times when Sonic & Knuckles feels like leftover odds and ends from the original trilogy, but I still enjoyed it.

So what's it like to use Knuckles in Sonic 2 and 3? Pretty awesome actually! Knuckles actually takes over the title screen in Sonic 2, and his ability to climb tall walls lets you reach previous unexplored areas. In the more "open" stages like Emerald Island, Hilltop, and Oil Ocean, you can use him to climb to a high point and glide over much of the stage. I was able to get through the Casino Zone in record time.

The lock-on function works great, but it's no surprise the concept never really caught on. Not only does it require a lot of planning ahead, but you have to be pretty confident the franchise is going to be around long enough to support it! The technology may go down as a footnote in video game history, but I love how Sonic & Knuckles breathes new life into two old favorites.

Fall angle: Sonic & Knuckle's opening Mushroom zone is mostly green at first, with oversized mushrooms that splash the screen with vibrant orange and red colors. Gradually however the foliage turns orange, and eventually the stage transforms into a golden autumn paradise! This may not be the best Sonic game for the Genesis, but it's still very, very good.

Madden NFL 97 (Electronic Arts 1996) System: Saturn (and others) Grade: A-

Some may dismiss the 2D Madden games of old, but Madden 97 proves they can be every bit as fun - if not more so! I reviewed this with my friend Eric who owned this game "back in the day", and we were both shocked at how well it's held up. Madden 97 opens with a grainy but interesting CGI intro with several shots of New Orleans, and that classic NFL theme music really gets you pumped up.

Each game is introduced by James Brown at an anchor desk, who passes control to John Madden and Pat Summerall who provide additional commentary. That's right - Madden was actually involved in his games at one time! Why Madden and Pat are previewing the game in a silent, empty stadium I have no idea. On the field, the digitized sprites look great, despite the fact that every player is #88.

The animation is less than stellar, but the controls are crisp and the action moves along at a brisk pace. You can quickly call plays and players line up immediately, so there's never a lull. The six-button Saturn controller gives you a lot of receiver options, and runningbacks bounce off would-be tacklers with stiff-arms, speed bursts, and spin moves. It's hard to kick the ball for distance, but the kicking controls are the best ever devised.

The instant replay system is also very user friendly - when was the last time you could say that? Madden 97's one glaring weakness is its tackling. Often a bump is all that's needed to take down a runner. But it's the game's distinctive quirks that give it its charm. The sporadic audio commentary features Madden's disembodied voice punctuating big hits with phrases like "doink!", "where'd that truck come from?", and "that one knocked the snot right out of the locker!" (huh?) When a play is over, you can still dive at your opponent, and it's quite habit-forming!

Unlike modern games, the crowd is fairly quiet, at least until the "D-Fense" chant kicks in. Most stadiums look generic, but the bright orange trees outside of Memorial Stadium in Baltimore look gorgeous. Madden 97 was largely overlooked in its day because flashier 3D games were stealing the spotlight, but it's one of the best sprite-based football games. If you're weary of the modern, cookie-cutter Maddens, revisit this classic and have fun again.

Fall angle: Any Fall special worth its weight needs an obligatory football game, and this one really captures the feel of the season. When I play as the Ravens in the old Memorial stadium, there are trees bursting with Fall colors in the background. It really gets you psyched up for the season! It doesn't hurt that this game totally kicks ass.

Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (Capcom 2001) System: Playstation 2 (and others) Grade: C-

As rabid fans of Ghouls 'N Ghosts (Genesis, 1989), my friends and I were licking our chops in anticipation of this fully-realized 3D romp. At first Maximo: Ghosts to Glory seems to live up to the hype. Our whimsical knight finds himself in an ominous graveyard of twisted iron fences, weathered gravestones, and decrepit burial sites. The gothic atmosphere is amazing, especially with a lavishly-orchestrated Ghouls and Ghosts theme playing in the background.

The controls feel crisp as Maximo double-jumps between rising chunks of land and slices skeletons in half with his sword. He can even hurl his shield like a disc! It doesn't take long however for Maximo's luster to fade. There's way too much junk to collect: gold coins, diamonds, hearts, keys, potions, and various magical items littering the landscape. I don't even know what half of this [expletive] is!

Enemies quickly ramp up in difficulty, becoming impervious to normal attacks. When you find your sword clanking off of everything, you have a tendency to avoid encounters altogether. Scouring the graveyard requires trudging through a lot of swampy areas that not only slow you to a crawl but subject you to grabbing hands. Too many chests are of the "you can't open this yet" variety.

And don't even get me started on that [expletive] camera. Despite taking place almost entirely outdoors, this game feels downright claustrophobic! Your view is narrow and the controls only allow centering the camera behind you. It's difficult to gauge distance while jumping, especially since your shadow isn't well-defined. When you reach a glowing checkpoint you must perform a downward strike to activate it - a detail I found infuriating the first time I played.

Saving is also unnecessarily complicated, as you can only record your progress near boss towers. Despite its flaws Maximo's production values are impressive, at times conveying the sensation of being trapped in a haunted house. There's plenty to explore including a pirate ship and the obligatory ice world. Maximo should have been a slam-dunk winner but I'm afraid Capcom over-engineered the [expletive] out of this one.

Fall angle: Unlike its predecessor (Ghouls and Ghosts for the Genesis), Maximo didn't make my Halloween special, but its Autumn vibe is unmistakable. The trees have big red and brown leaves, and you can see clouds blowing across the ominous dark sky. The game just feels like October.

Maximo Vs. Army of Zin (Capcom 2003) System: Playstation 2 (and others) Grade: B+

The original Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (Capcom, 2001) transitioned the classic gameplay of Ghouls 'N Ghosts (Genesis, 1989) to glorious 3D while retaining its distinctive gothic style. Sadly, its ponderous, frustrating gameplay failed to live up to its considerable production values. I'm happy to report this fine sequel remedies most of the bone-headed design flaws that marred its predecessor.

Maximo Vs. Army of Zin begins in a burning village, which isn't the most exciting place but at least is consistent with the series. Enemies tend rain from the sky in the form of rickety robots that look like something from Ratchet and Clank (Sony, 2002). You'll contend with pouncing mechanical dogs, teeming spiders, and in a nod to Monty Python, cute bunnies that become vicious brutes when you strike them.

The hack-and-slash action is first-rate, especially when you perform a rapid-fire shiv attack on some big Frankenstien-looking dude. Your weapons are potent throughout and I can't get enough of that earth-shaking hammer. When you come up short for a jump Maximo will hang on by his weapon and pull himself up, which is pretty sweet. The right stick lets you swing the camera around to your heart's content, and you can simply smack a checkpoint marker to activate it. Saving can be done any time via the pause menu, although you'll always restart at the beginning of a stage. These conveniences may provide a sense of security but keep in mind one bad jump into the abyss still results in "game over".

I wasn't crazy about the stages until I entered the Forbidden Forest, which embodies the full spirit of Halloween and Fall with its twisted trees, brown leaves, burning torches, cawing ravens, hazy mist, and blood red moon. Scarecrows lurch out at you in cornfields, and I think I even saw a pirate for crying out loud. The only thing that dampened my enthusiasm were some frustrating jumping challenges. All things considered however Maximo Vs. Army of Zin is an essential Autumn title that effectively redeemed the entire series - too little too late as it turned out.

Fall angle: Stage after stage of gorgeous Fall scenery.

Jack Bros. (Japan) (Atlus 1995) System: Virtual Boy (and others) Grade: D

Besides the fact that it was one of few Virtual Boy games missing from my collection, I was really looking forward to playing Jack Bros. for its Halloween theme. This whimsical overhead platformer lets you assume the role of a ghost, pumpkin, or skeleton trying to reach a magic portal before midnight. The English version of Jack Bros. is rare and expensive, so I picked up the Japanese version instead (which wasn't all that cheap either).

At first I regretted this decision because the game has a fun intro and plenty of dialogue that I couldn't read. In terms of gameplay however, Jack Bros. is not innovative at all and makes minimal use of the system's 3D graphics. In fact, I'm not sure why this game is even on the Virtual Boy!

Each level offers a different set of stacked mazes sprinkled with wandering creeps, traps, and power-ups. There's some mild strategy here and there (like moving boulders to clear your path) but the action is basically limited to finding some keys and heading towards the exit.

The characters are composed of stacked 2D sprites, but the illusion of 3D is modest at best. The Halloween theme isn't readily apparent either, thanks to the run-of-the-mill music and generic creeps. A password is provided between levels, but no score. Ultimately I'm glad I settled for the Japanese version, because Jack Bros. is definitely not worth breaking your piggy bank for.

Fall angle: It's not a strong title, but Jack Bros. offers about as much Autumn as the Virtual Boy can muster. If you have to play it, you may as well do it in the Fall!

Warlock (LJN 1994) System: Super Nintendo (and others) Grade: D-

If you ever get a chance to play Warlock, stare intently at the beautiful autumn foliage and scenic covered bridges of the opening stage because that is the best part of the game and frankly it's not even close. You're a guy in a blue trenchcoat running through this idyllic landscape when the old dude from Phantasm appears and the sky grows dark and ominous. He starts transforming dogs into werewolves and the effect looks pretty cool.

After you duck into a library, the evil warlock begins turning innocent students into those fake-looking zombies from Corpse Killer (Sega CD, 1994). You can fire "magic blasts" from your hands to turn them to dust, but everything takes several shots to kill. It's hard to change directions, which is aggravating when being approached on both sides.

You're also armed with this worthless levitating orb thingy. You can send it flying in various directions, but it moves in an erratic zig-zag pattern and doesn't do much damage. Spells are available but I never really got a good grip on how to effectively use them.

There's a lot of stages but they are repetitive. In stage two you explore caves with dripping acid and giant spiders that burrow up from below. You can't shoot low enough to hit them and they're too wide to jump over, so you're just taking damage constantly. After taking a hit you get a few seconds of invincibility, so take advantage of that and get moving!

In one particularly unpleasant graveyard stage you'll face a series of animated statues. One is a lion you have to defeat to pass. The problem is, it won't come to life unless you're practically on top of it. Apparently somebody thought this was a good idea.

The best aspect of Warlock is its graphics. The blood red sky in the graveyard stage looks striking, especially with those eerie green lights emanating from the crypts in the distance. This feels more fleshed out than the Genesis game, with clear digitized sounds and vivid graphical detail. It's a shame the gameplay is so marginal. Warlock is intriguing for the first few minutes, but once the fun factor goes into freefall you'll be forgiven for not wanting to stick around.

Fall angle: While not the best game in this special (maybe the worst), this game strikes an unmistaken Fall atmosphere from the minute you fire it up.

Jersey Devil (Sony 1998) System: Playstation (and others) Grade: B-

During the late 1990's there was a spate of 3D platformers for the Playstation. This one is based on an actual creature that has been terrorizing southern New Jersey non-stop for over 100 years (see Wikipedia). This game's depiction of the Jersey Devil is a bit less terrifying, more closely resembling "the Noid" of Domino's Pizza fame. The game opens with a full-blown animated cartoon which is quite a treat.

Jersey Devil has a distinct Halloween theme with spooky environments, pumpkin-headed bosses, and mad scientist storyline. Enemies include bats, mummies, cobras, apes, and giant spiders. Expect a lot of precarious platform jumping situations. The jump-and-glide mechanic is forgiving, but I hate how the Devil pauses momentarily when you initiate a glide, causing you to lose momentum.

The short-and-sweet stages work in the game's favor, as they are very satisfying to scour from top to bottom. You collect pumpkins to earn extra lives and there are all sorts of hidden areas and goodies to discover. I noticed the crate-busting sound effect was lifted directly from Crash Bandicoot (Sony, 1997).

Despite its high production values Jersey Devil suffers from issues typical of early 3D titles. Some areas are claustrophobic, requiring you to finagle with the camera to get a sense of your surroundings. Sometimes you'll die for no apparent reason. Why would touching a blue crystal cause me to drop dead?

The combat could be better. Punching requires you to get dangerously close to enemies that have a tendency to explode. I think the game is missing sound effects. You can punch a bat out of the air and it won't make a sound. The ominous, Indiana Jones-style musical score is well done but a poor match for the on-screen hijinx.

The game is innovative in some ways. Its auto-jump is similar to the one in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64, 1998). The fact that the game supports analog control was a big deal at the time, but I find it a little touchy.

Overall Jersey Devil has aged surprisingly well. In 1998 most gamers were looking for huge, expansive worlds, but its limited scope and focus makes this more appealing today. There are other options such as Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (Playstation, 1997) but during the Fall months Jersey Devil is your best option. Trust me on this one.

Fall angle: Probably more Halloween than Fall, this is great to play during a crisp Fall afternoon.

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