2008/11/27: Playstation 2: Bode Miller Alpine Skiing, Metal Slug Anthology, Suzuki TT Superbikes

[VideoGameCritic]

This set of reviews is a strange hodge podge. 

The first Metal Gear Anthology review was critical of a control lag, but that turned out to have more to do with my plasma TV than the game.  As discussed in other threads, the PS2 puts out an interlaced (480i) signal that takes a while to render on most HD TVs.  Sorry for screwing that up.  I'm smarter now.

The Bode Miller Skiing game is another re-review.  Apparently I accidentally wrote two reviews for this.  I took the best parts of both to create this one, which I think you'll find pretty entertaining.

The Suzuki Superbikes review is the only new one, although it had been sitting in my queue for at least a year.

[hi there]

Man, the Wii is a modern-day 3DO!  It tries to survive on gimmicks that don't work all that well in real life, and the games are either downgraded ports with new stuff nobody wants, poor, low budget games, or casual gaming crap that remindes me of free flash games and that educationial stuff on the CD-i! It's amazing that people buy into Nintendo's lies.

[soporj1]

[QUOTE=hi there]

Man, the Wii is a modern-day 3DO!  It tries to survive on gimmicks that don't work all that well in real life, and the games are either downgraded ports with new stuff nobody wants, poor, low budget games, or casual gaming crap that remindes me of free flash games and that educationial stuff on the CD-i! It's amazing that people buy into Nintendo's lies.

[/QUOTE]

What exactly does this have to do with these latest PS2 reviews? Also, I love the fact that you misspelled "educational".

The lesson learned? Be careful when you are trolling.

[DigitalSpace]

...ok. 

Anyways, I spotted a used copy of the Suzuki game for $2.50 once and passed it up. The review doesn't make me regret it one bit.

There's a sequel, which, like the first one, is currently collecting dust in bargain bins everywhere.

[Alienblue]

I LOVE Metal Slug Anthology. This and stuff like the Capcom/ Taito/ Namco series and TEMPEST X make me realize:

The NEO GEO and JAGUAR are playthings for the rich.

We poor can get almost all of the best the more expensive consoles have for around 10% the price! Imagine buying every NEOGEO Metal Slug Cart! Sure its cartridge and available right there, but is that really worth $3,000?

I am thankful SNK and others have released these games for the Playstation series. For the best in 2-D gaming all I need is my cheap PS2!

[J_B_Philouza]

I can no longer ignore the Playstation 2's awesome library of games.  I must own a PS2, and Metal Slug Anthology will be my first game!

[Luke]

Critic, much thanks for re-reviewing Metal Slug Anthology and clearing up the button-lag issue. Your mentioning of that in your previous review was the EXACT reason why I have held off on purchasing this game for so long.

I'm going to buy it now.

THANKS!

[andrew]

Quote from Gamespot regarding superbikes:

"

• Impressively realistic bike physics and rider animations  
• An extremely realistic depiction of one of the world's most famous circuits  
• Superb sensation of speed  
• Helpful, believable audio.

"
It's like you bought a completely different game. To think at $4.99 you gave an F still when Gamespot gave a 6.9. In fact its average is 71%. So its really that bad though?

[VideoGameCritic]

[QUOTE=andrew]Quote from Gamespot regarding superbikes:

"

• Impressively realistic bike physics and rider animations  
• An extremely realistic depiction of one of the world's most famous circuits  
• Superb sensation of speed  
• Helpful, believable audio.

"
It's like you bought a completely different game. To think at $4.99 you gave an F still when Gamespot gave a 6.9. In fact its average is 71%. So its really that bad though?

[/QUOTE]

This looks like something copied from the back of the box!  What reviewer would write like that?

[Luke]

I would like to point out that there is a way to change the handling in TT Superbikes. You mentioned that sometimes the CPU will automatically "slow you down around turns." This is because the handling is set to novice. Once you set it to "Intermediate or Expert" it then changes that so you have full  control.

Under Novice, the CPU will assist you with brake assistance, wheelie prevention, weight adjustment, and additional bike stability.

What I've personally found though, is that the overall bike control in this game is often so difficult (especially around turns) that the Novice setting almost is mandatory.