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Games are rated relative to other games for the same system.
You begin by entering your name and selecting from two courses. You view each hole from a very high overhead angle, making everything look really, really tiny! When aiming your shot you have to scroll around to see the entire course, and the hole is typically so far off screen you need to actively search for it!
Each shot requires you step through a lengthy sequence: direct (aim), club selection, stance, meet (where you strike the ball), and finally take your shot. The shot meter is one the strangest I've seen, shaped like a freaking horse racing track! I find it disconcerting how you're supposed to hit the ball when the meter is in the red. I thought red was bad?
A dotted line traces the arc of your shot, but it's hard to get much distance and nearly impossible to stay on the fairway. Animated "waves" make it easy to gauge the slope of the putting green, but why do my putts keep bouncing off the hole. Can somebody please pull the damn pin?!
As it turns out, you can actually skip over a lot of the set-up steps in Scratch Golf, but that sort of defeats the purpose. After all, a "scratch golfer" is defined as one who micromanages every little aspect of the game. Once you take away all those tedious adjustment steps the only thing left to scratch is your balls. © Copyright 2022 The Video Game Critic.
Anyway, our ninja hero moves slowly but with a deliberate sense of purpose as he traverses building construction sites, rocky gorges, hazardous factories, and Japanese temples. He looks so realistic I thought he was digitized! I appreciate the stage select feature, allowing you to select the order of the first four stages.
The building level has a great sense of atmosphere, with lighted blue skyscrapers soaring into the night sky with flashing red beacons. You can navigate bright red girders with ease thanks to soft, forgiving jump controls. The excellent music has a "galloping" quality like something from an old Western movie.
Shinobi soon encounters goons roller-skating along girders while wearing protective helmets. You can't be too safe! When you're not slashing at those buggers, be sure to smash crates that reveal hearts, power-ups, and the occasional exploding bomb.
You access power-ups from the pause screen, identified by color. Whatever you do, do not use the red magic which just sends you back to the start of the level. What is the point?! Once I accidentally triggered it in the middle of a boss battle, and I was furious! Other power-ups imbue you with useful weapons like bombs which I find are necessary to defeat bosses.
The stages feel a little contrived. In the canyon you're hopping between narrow cliffs as guys crawl out of the ground as flying enemies drop bombs. It's a little much. And they really "phoned it in" with that generic factory stage. Still, it's fun to play for score and there's a handy password feature. I wouldn't place this among the greatest Shinobi titles, but that classic ninja flavor is unmistakable. © Copyright 2024 The Video Game Critic.
The idea is to complete a series of stages by clearing tables while sinking consecutive balls for points. You must reach a target score and you're allowed a certain number of misses. The animated ball path is a useful guide, making it easy to judge bank shots. You execute your shot via a simple two-press power meter. Breaks tend to be weak (even at full power) so the balls don't get well distributed over the table.
Fortunately you don't have to call your shots and sinking balls unexpectedly is part of the fun. There are plenty of bonus opportunities including a "super ball" that bounces around like crazy. The surprisingly addictive trick mode offers 19 preconfigured situations, many of which incorporate strategically-placed wine glasses. Side Pocket for the Game Gear is like having your own little pool table in the palm of your hand. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.
The stages are larger and less linear, with multitudes of alternate pathways, breakable walls, and secret areas. And thankfully, Sonic Chaos is loaded with all kinds of all those crazy loops and corkscrews you can't get enough of. New gizmos include missiles you can fly around on and pogo sticks you can bounce on. In terms of control, the speed dash is a welcome new addition (essential in my book), allowing the hedgehog to go from zero to sixty in an instant.
Unlike the first Sonic on the Game Gear you can even continue your game after you've exhausted your lives. As good as Sonic Chaos is, it still shares a few flaws with the first game. The speed is very inconsistent, alternating between medium speed and near slow motion. And in later stages, it's too easy to fall off the bottom of the screen, resulting in instant death. But if you found the first Game Gear Sonic to be lacking, give this one a try. It's a major improvement. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
The colorful stages are the highlight, reimagining classic Sonic levels like the green hill, casino, and chemical zones. The color schemes are gorgeous and there are a few surprises here and there. The stormy savannah track's raging thunderstorm occasionally blinds you with lightning, and the ice cap track has banked turns that make you slide around like a bobsled. There are an impressive 18 tracks in all.
You race three random opponents at a time, each with a special ability. Sonic can boost, Knuckles can punch, and Amy overcomes opponents with her "heart" attack. Objects litter the course - some good and some bad. When you have an item you just push up to use it. Handing turns can be problematic, as you tend to slide off the track if you react late.
There's a map on top of the screen but it's not very useful. The AI is like a rubber band as other drivers are constantly darting ahead and falling back. The GP mode consists of six short races, which feels just right. Sonic Drift 2 won't win over players on the strength of its racing, but the memorable stages and familiar cast of characters are bound to warm your heart. © Copyright 2018 The Video Game Critic.
The graphics are bright and cheery, with large enemies that are easy to make out. Some of the six zones are inspired by the Genesis game, but they tend to be very linear. The Green Hill zone looks great with its palm trees and dancing flowers, but the "Bridge zone" is a total bust. Devoid of any creativity or aesthetic value, it amounts to one endless bridge littered with fatal gaps. Adding insult to injury, in one section the screen automatically scrolls slowly to the right, making an already mundane stage just plain irritating. Things improve with the lush Jungle zone, but even that has far too many bottomless pits.
I don't like how Sonic on the Game Gear forces you to proceed at a very slow, deliberate pace. The bonus stages let you bounce on trampolines and bumpers to grab rings, but they aren't very thrilling. Slow-down often rears its ugly head, especially after you grab a power-up. Taking a hit only causes one ring to fly loose, but your total is reduced to zero anyway. No score is displayed when the game ends, and that's too bad. This portable Sonic is respectable, but if you've already experienced the stellar Genesis version, this will seem awfully tame. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.
What really hurts this game is its hit-or-miss controls and unforgiving stage designs. You're required to make far too many blind leaps, and performing run-spins to break through weak walls can be unreasonably difficult. Unlike the Genesis version, there's no spin-dash move, and frankly, it's badly missed. There's a new hang-glider element, but it never takes off - literally! Controlling that thing is a pain in the ass, and when a Sonic game has you reaching for the manual, that's never a good sign.
Apparently the "trick" is to push back on the directional pad in short, measured intervals, but even then Sonic sometimes releases and falls to his death. The boss encounters also tend to suck - especially the first one with the scorpion and the pit. The secret to that one, as it turns out, is to do not much of anything! The idea of facing bosses with no rings is also troublesome. This game isn't bad as Game Gear titles go, but with a name like Sonic, you expect more. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.
Sega not only redesigned the game's engine and graphics from the ground up, but addressed the annoyances that plagued the previous Game Gear Sonics. Gone are the blind leaps, fatal falls, awkward controls, and unreasonable difficulty. The spin-dash move is in full effect, and it really comes in handy! The character sprites are large and bold, and the layered scenery is very easy on the eyes. As with any Sonic title worth its weight, there are plenty of inviting tropical stages with multiple routes and hidden secrets.
Adding a little variety are original stages like Sunset Park with its gorgeous orange sky and Robotnik Winter with its snow and ice. And get this - Sonic can even snowboard! You can play through the game as Sonic or Tails, and Knuckles appears as a villain. So what's the catch? Well, the game does suffer from its share of slowdown, but it doesn't adversely affect the gameplay.
The difficulty is much lower than previous Sonics for the Game Gear, to the point where it's sometimes hard to lose a life! That's okay, because this game is a joy to play, delivering the fast action Sonic fans crave with minimal frustration. It's a shame Triple Trouble was released so late in the system's life cycle, because this game is the real deal. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.
The first stage is set in front of the Daily Planet building with police shooting at you from the sidewalk and people punching you from the windows. Apparently you've been framed by the Kingpin so everybody thinks you're bad. Swinging around on a pixelated web strand reminded me of Spider-Man (Atari 2600, 1983) but the swinging controls are worse. To complete the first stage you just need to climb into an open window - easier said than done!
Most stages are just open areas with random enemies you beat up until the boss appears. Spider-Man can bind enemies with his web before moving in for a flurry of kicks and punches. The second stage takes place in a spacious warehouse where you kick pigs (?) and punch henchmen wearing motorcycle helmets. Defeating Doctor Octopus isn't hard thanks to your rapid-fire low kick. One innovative feature is the ability to take snapshots which earn you money later in the game.
Between stages you have the option of resting in your apartment to replenish your health, and why wouldn't you? Because there's a ticking time bomb - that's why! Doctor Strange makes a cameo in the game, giving you a rainbow-colored medallion. I didn't have the heart to tell him it clashed with my outfit. It did come in handy however when I fell into a spiked-lined sewer pit and it allowed me to magically escape. There are some cool features in the game, but so-so controls and poor stage design prove Spider-Man's downfall. © Copyright 2018 The Video Game Critic.
Sports Trivia's game-within-a-game design demands strategy in addition to sports knowledge. The play selection screen offers several options so you can play it safe or go for big yardage. Each question is slowly displayed on the screen, followed by four answers. Considering time is a factor (fast answers net more yards), I wish they would simply flash the damn thing up there. You'll be tempted to hit a button to expedite the process, but that's the worst thing you can possibly do, because the text will just stop and you'll be forced to answer blindly.
The emphasis of the questions is clearly on football, baseball, and basketball. Many of them are very enlightening such as "How many players were selected before Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft?" (two), and "What man played in the most World Series games?" (Yogi Berra). As a sports fan, I really had a blast trying to answer these. Occasionally you'll get a question about hockey, golf, or auto racing. I found those questions to be a good time to use an "audible", which basically lets you skip the question.
The main problem with Sports Trivia is that not enough yards are awarded, and as a result you get a lot of back-and-forth stalemates. It seems like whenever the CPU gets any kind of momentum he'll cough up the ball before he can score. It's not unusual to go to overtime with a 0-0 tie! And what's up with that Kung Fu background music? Sports Trivia could have used a lot more offense, but its multi-dimensional gameplay will captivate sports fans nonetheless. © Copyright 2011 The Video Game Critic.
It's easy to move between floors thanks to ubiquitous air vents that suck you right up, and they make Leia look hilarious as she flails her arms and legs. The shoot button doubles as run when you hold it in, enabling death-defying leaps. As you progress you'll also be able to play as Luke and Han Solo, although the graphic style makes them all look like little kids scampering around.
It's fun to blast jawas, stormtroopers, and sand people, and it's easier if you start shooting before they even enter the screen. Some of the scenery looks nearly digitized including the desert sands of Tatooine and the hangar bay of Mos Eisley. The cantina and Millennium Falcon look amazing. The music from the film sounds fine, but some of the other tunes sound really odd.
Star Wars is remarkably playable and most of the stages are a lot of fun. The sandcrawler however is a real torture chamber, and I'm not even talking about the rapid conveyer belts, spikes, and crushing machines. I'm talking about circular paths that drop you back at the beginning after a missed jump. I'm talking about Jawas that drop right in front of you and require five shots to kill.
The Death Star stage is another prime offender, combining confusing elevator mayhem with blind leaps of faith. You get eight continues but there's no score or password. Did LucasArts expect people to complete this in one sitting? Exciting but inconsistent, Star Wars is still an enticing intergalactic adventure. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.
If you've played any of the SNES Super Star Wars games, you know there's a lot of platform jumping involved, and it can border on tedious at times. Fortunately, Jedi has outstanding control that makes it easy to navigate even the narrowest ledges. You can choose between several characters for each mission, and there are even two vehicle missions to spice things up.
You'll face some huge bosses including the Rancor, but some bosses take far too long to defeat. I really enjoyed Jedi until I reached the speeder bike chase sequence in the woods of Endor. Yikes - those pseudo 3D graphics look awful and you can't even tell what's going on! Other than that aberration, Return of the Jedi is pure gold for your Game Gear. A password feature is also included. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
Most of the stages are included, although slightly abbreviated. My personal favorites are the bar and the amusement park. A few minor details have been left out, like the rain in the back alley at the end of stage one. I find it amazing how all the fighting moves have been preserved despite the fact that Game Gear only has two buttons.
This game rates sky-high in terms of fun. There's nothing quite like the feeling of walking down a street and wacking complete strangers with a long lead pipe. Even the music sounds like the original. Two players can link up for some cooperative action. Streets of Rage 2 is a stellar title, and Sega did one heck of a job of squeezing it into a Game Gear cartridge. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
You embark on a series of missions, usually to destroy a group of targets such as tanks, helicopters, or scud missiles. A scanner screen provides the location of all of your targets, and you can move between them fairly quickly.
The main screen is loaded with indicators and gauges (most unnecessary), leaving only about a third of the screen for your first person view out of the tank. Enemy vehicles look surprisingly detailed and realistic, but their erratic movements make them frustrating to hit.
Despite having several weapons at your disposal, each encounter is like a cat-and-mouse game, and there's little fun to be had. Only one enemy appears at a time, and keeping it in your crosshairs is a constant struggle. The missions are all pretty much the same. Overall, Super Battletank probably won't hold your interest for long. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Prior to each hole an overhead camera slowly pans from the flag back to the tee-off area. That's the reverse of what I'm used to, and frankly a bit disorienting. To better measure things up you'll want to press Start to access the map and status screens. Your CPU caddy does a fine job of selecting the proper club. That's good because the green is usually out of view and therefore hard to judge. Note that by default all shots are aimed directly toward the hole, even if there's a big honking tree directly in your way.
The controls are simple. After choosing your club and contact point there's a meter that bounces up and down. The higher it is when you hit, the harder your shot. Backspin works like a champ, with any amount bringing your ball to a screeching halt as soon as it lands.
The best thing about Super Golf is how you can complete an entire round in under 30 minutes. There's no pauses in the action and when the ball lands on the fairway it doesn't roll far. When you finally get on the green a soft touch is important. On my first hole I repeatedly putted past/over the hole and it was aggravating.
Once you get a feel for it, Super Golf is a brisk, enjoyable experience. With only one course it doesn't take long to get the lay of the land and each hole is unique. The only variety comes from selecting various combinations of golfers and caddies. Super Golf may not have a lot of depth, but when it comes to portable sports titles sometimes simple is good. © Copyright 2022 The Video Game Critic.
The turn arrows don't appear until the turn has already started, and they tend to blend in with all the other indecipherable signage lining the course. You can anticipate turns by keeping an eye on the map at the top of the screen, but that's awkward. And once you begin sliding off the road it's almost impossible to recover. Super Monaco GP was an institution on the Genesis but this portable version is lacking in the driving department, and that's kind of a big deal. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.
With two buttons you can perform all sorts of nifty moves including roll, high kick, low kick, jumping high kick, body throw, and a supremely effective jumping power-punch. Some items let you unleash fireballs. And when you need a boost, you can use your "zatch" to transform into a powerful warrior for a short time.
The pause screen displays your vital statistics and provides access to hints, a shop, and a treasure screen. Using a hint triggers a brief animation of a little kid in heinous pink shorts focusing in on his own Game Gear screen! Button pounding is not enough to beat Surf Ninjas. You'll need to collect items and use them strategically to prevail.
The bright graphics are complemented by upbeat music, but the controls prove problematic. You walk very slowly and can't run. Jumping moves you along quicker, but that can result in leaping into unseen danger. Vaulting onto high ledges is confusing, and I often accidentally rolled while trying to perform a leg sweep. The controls lag too, making it hard to target swift creatures like swooping hawks. It's a little on the sluggish side, but there's much more Surf Ninjas than meets the eye. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.
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Screen shots courtesy of Video Game Museum, Emula Zone, GameFAQs, Moby Games, Games Database, Retro Arcadia, Sega-16