The VGC loves originality, and Odama has it in spades. Its gameplay is an unlikely hybrid of real-time strategy (RTS) and - get this - pinball! The action takes place on a screen-sized battlefield set in ancient Japan. In the midst of a huge battle, the object is to have your soldiers transport a large bell through a gate at the top of the screen. Using a pair of huge "flippers" on the bottom, you propel a huge black iron ball (the "Odama") across the battlefield, knocking out obstacles and steamrolling any soldiers who get in the way (including your own). A special power-up causes the Odama to glow green, allowing it to "convert" enemy troops to your side. Odama's pinball gameplay is addictive, but the game falters in its attempt to incorporate voice recognition. You're supposed to issue vocal commands to your troops via the included microphone, like "press forward", "move left", and "rally". Unfortunately, it's rarely obvious when to issue each command (except when the game prompts you), and using the microphone in the heat of battle is distracting. I would prefer to just hit a button, or not have to worry about these commands at all. The targeting system for selecting groups of soldiers is quirky as well. Another big issue is the game's steep learning difficulty curve and excessive complexity. The second battle alone took me and a few friends literally hours to complete, and subsequent battles have so many confusing objectives, it's hard to keep track of them all. Each battle is timed, so even when you seem to be making progress, the game can end abruptly if the clock runs out. As flawed as it is, however, Odama is still strangely compelling and addicting. My abysmal performance and lack of progress did not prevent me from playing Odama for hours on end. The ancient Japanese theme is artistic and unusual, and has an off-beat, self-deprecating sense of humor. Odama could have been a winner if it were easier and less complex. I love to see innovation like this, but I could really do without the frustration. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

Based on the Japanese cartoon series, One Piece Grand Battle is a pirate-themed one-on-one fighter in the tradition of Power Stone (Dreamcast, 1999). As you listen to rap music playing over the intro, it slowly dawns on you that this is not your standard Pirates-of-the-Caribbean fare. Actually, you can't really tie One Piece to any time period, because the series is set in its own universe. The main character "Luffy" is a kid in a straw hat that longs to be "king of the pirates". The other characters include a freak with a pointy nose, an evil clown pirate, a dude with Freddy Krueger hands, and a guy dressed in a suit (just as I feared - a Republican!). At its core Grand Battle is a series of one-on-one fights in constrained environments like a castle courtyard, a quaint village, a swimming pool, and a wooden ship. The stages are not spectacular, but they are true to the source material. One Piece fans will appreciate how so many of the secondary characters on the series make cameos throughout the game. The attempt to emulate the Power Stone formula comes up short. It's possible to unleash some nifty attacks, but it's hard to target an opponent who's jumping all over the place. Tapping certain button combinations will unleash a barrage, but more often than not you'll initiate an elaborate chain of moves in the wrong direction. The special moves are enhanced with slow-motion close-ups, and it's always satisfying to witness a devastating roundhouse kick to the chops. Opening chests can reveal power-ups, but beware of poisonous mushrooms. The matches tend to be frantic, and it's pretty exciting when they come down to the wire. One Piece fans will relish the details of Grand Battle, but may be disappointed at the lack of a Japanese voice track. Anime fans can bump up the grade by a letter, but others might find the subject matter a little hard to grasp. © Copyright 2012 The Video Game Critic.

One Piece has its share of pirates, but they aren't from the Caribbean. No, this quirky Japanese manga series takes place in its own bizarre universe. One Piece Carnival is a Mario Party clone designed for up to four players. I reviewed this with several friends, including the RPG Critic who happens to be a One Piece fan. He enjoyed the animated intro but cringed at the voice acting. Carnival is played on a grid with players taking turns fighting for tiles via mini-games. Some of the dialogue is a little corny ("I'm going to be king of the pirates!") but there are a lot of colorful characters including a Merman, an evil clown (yikes!), and a pirate disguised as a butler. The cell-shaded graphics have personality and fans of the show will recognize familiar landmarks and secondary characters. The idea of fighting for tiles is fun (in an Othello kind of way) but the quality of the mini-games tends to range from "huh?" to "oh dear". There are rhythm games, treasure hunts, balloon races, and of course the obligatory "find the panda man in a crowd" challenge (sarcasm alert). Sinking ships with cannons is fun, but fighting on stilts is just a clumsy mess. Some of these games are just too complex for their own good. In one you need to hop between logs in water while avoiding spears and bombs. If that's not hard enough, you also need to grab gas masks along the way to protect yourself from poison gas! C'mon now! Players can select the games, but when playing the CPU that bastard tends to pick the most annoying games over and over again. Once while playing with friends the action came to a screeching halt with an error message displayed on a red screen. That's pretty much unheard of for a console game, and Scott thought it worthy of an automatic F. You can bump up the grade by a letter if you're a One Piece fan, but most gamers would be well advised to sidestep this quirky, buggy title. © Copyright 2013 The Video Game Critic.

This could have been called "Battle of the Namco Stars" because it really isn't a Pac-Man game at all. No, Pac-Man Fever is a four-player party game starring Namco characters like Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Asteroth (Soul Calibur), Heihach (Tekken), Reiko (the hot Asian chick from Ridge Racer), and some black dude with a big Afro. Three game "boards" offer medieval, tropical, and space themes, but none are particularly interesting. I enjoyed the pulsating techno music of the space stage, but the looping flute of the medieval stage was almost unbearable. You can select from three games lengths, including my personal favorite, short. Fever's gameplay consists of moving a random number of spaces (no dice roll necessary) and collecting coins that help you reach the finish line. The rules are fairly simple and the contests move along at a steady pace. Of course, a party game is only as good as its mini-games, and Pac-Man Fever's are a mixed bag. For every fun event like dart throwing, there's some kind of irritating "whack a mole" crap. I did find it interesting how certain games are inspired by old classics like Kaboom, Pong, Beamrider, and Tron Deadly Discs. The instructions preceding each are minimal, but figuring out what to do is half the fun (although some of my friends would dispute that). Pac-Man Fever is entertaining with multiple players, but one heinous design flaw nearly ruins the whole affair. The last four spaces of each board have special conditions that make it easy to become hopelessly stuck on them while the rest of the field catches up. It really doesn't matter how well you performed during the course of the game, because invariably everyone ends up bunched up in those last few spaces! Even so, Pac-Man Fever still compares favorably to the recent crop of mediocre Mario Party games. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

Submitted by RPG correspondent Jonathan Hawk
As the sequel to the popular Nintendo 64 game (2000), The Thousand Year Door beings with Princess Peach sending Mario a treasure map and inviting him to a distant island away from the Mushroom Kingdom. Before she can meet him however, a mysterious group called the X-Nauts abducts her. To save her, Mario, along with several likable allies, must use the map to locate seven crystal stars and open a large magical door. The game is divided into several chapters separated by intermissions starring Peach, the X-Nauts, and Bowser. These benefit from a snappy, witty script that constantly pokes fun at the Mario franchise, often breaking the "fourth wall" (or as we call it in pencil-and-paper role-playing, "Talking Over the Table"). Paper Mario has slight platform elements, and each ally has a special ability like hiding in shadows or blowing up cracks in a wall. Mario has "paper" abilities like folding into an airplane or slipping through thin spaces. Most of the action however lies in the combat. Mario can jump or use his hammer during a fight, and as you collect crystal stars, his abilities expand. Your attacks are augmented by timed button combos which incur additional damage, and thankfully they're very simple to enter. Only Mario and a single ally can engage in a fight at a time, and if Mario runs out of health the game is over - even if your ally is still standing. Battles take place on a stage in front of a cheering audience, and the audience will replenish your star power when you use crystal star abilities. Collectible badges add combat bonuses or new attacks, although some have silly effects like changing Mario's clothing. My one serious gripe is that you can only carry a few items at a time. Staying true to the Paper Mario roots, Thousand Year Door does an amazing job of rendering 2D characters in a 3D world. I was dumbfounded by how many sprites could be animated on the screen at a time with no lag. Everything looks crisp, smooth, and brightly colored, albeit simple. The music is enjoyable but understated, and you'll occasionally recognize a recomposed tune from another Mario game. There's no voice acting, but occasionally Mario will exclaim "Wah-hoo!" or Bowser go "GWaaaaRrr!". One thing that blew my mind is how upon beating the game, you can save your progress and actually "play" in the post-end-of-story world! Everyone you encounter will thank you for your bravery or tell you how great you are, and you have the opportunity to do things you didn't get a chance to do the first time through. To sum up, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is a light-hearted, clever, and funny experience. It has a great story but is slightly repetitive and occasionally frustrating. GameCube or Wii owners will find it worthwhile, and RPG fans may even want to bump it up to an A-.
Completed In: 31 Hours
Favorite Character: Vivian © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

Were you expecting a swimming game? Pool Paradise is a billiards title with a tropical island theme. Instead of playing in a seedy smoke-filled lounge, the table is situated in an open-air beach bar. The tropical vegetable and shimmering ocean look inviting, and you'll also enjoy ambient sounds of seagulls, crashing waves, and soothing jazz music. The challenge mode lets you ascend the ranks against 30 colorful characters that include several monsters (mummy, zombie, frankenstein) and caricatures of OJ Simpson and Bill Gates. Each opponent plays his own flavor of pool, and at first I resented having to play unfamiliar variations like "Killer", "6-ball", or "UK Pool". The format grew on me however, mainly because the games tend to be short and easy to learn. What's most remarkable about Paradise Pool is how your opponents are completely invisible except for their hands. It looks pretty amazing (and a little creepy) as you watch the disembodied hands meander around the table and move into position for the next shot. The animation must have been motioned-captured considering how smooth it is. Your opponents don't speak so the matches are generally quiet and relaxing. The action moves at a brisk pace and most variations do a nice job of pre-positioning you for your next shot. Variations where you have to manually select your shot (like 6-ball) are more problematic because it's hard to make out the numbers on the balls. The shooting controls could be better. Your power is limited and sometimes the end of your cue stick obstructs your vision. The balls also tend to "cut" more than I expected. Still, it's satisfying to sink shots due to the crisp sound effects. Paradise Pool also looks surprisingly good on my HDTV. I just wish the time of day didn't cycle between day and night so frequently, since it kind of takes you out of the moment. I couldn't figure out how to save my progress until I discovered the save option was buried in the pause menu. It's not the best pool game I've played, but if you're looking for a virtual pool experience Pool Paradise has a stylish flair that sets it apart. © Copyright 2014 The Video Game Critic.

Make sure you watch the intro video when you turn on Pro Rally or you'll miss the best part. There are five mechanics working on a car while being directed by a babe sporting a form-fitting outfit and an amazing rack. My friends maintain this brief sequence alone is worth a letter grade. The game itself is pretty standard but leans more toward realism than arcade. Rally racing isn't too big in the states but I'm told it's the number two sport in the rest of the world! You'll race on-and-offroad on a wide variety of tracks with varying weather conditions, but first Pro Rally subjects you to a rigorous "driving school" course. Each of its ten lessons are timed with a very small margin of error. You can't even touch a cone or barrel without being disqualified! Personally I'd prefer to hone my skills on a track - not a freaking parking lot. The GameCube controller isn't ideal for driving. The soft triggers are imprecise so when you touch your accelerator your car tends to jerk forward and turn sharply. I didn't have much luck with the normal brake or handbrake, but squeezing them both around turns works pretty well. I love the sound effects of my wheels rolling over the crunchy gravel. Once the championship mode is unlocked you can race in a variety of locations. The hazy dirt tracks of Argentina and Greece are boring but later you get to race along the coast of Italy and scenic English countryside. I like how the trees sway in the wind. You don't race head-to-head in rally; you race for time. A co-driver provides constant instructions ("right hairpin and left 5"), but sometimes I feel like he's getting too far ahead of me. After a few races of "making fools of my team" I got the hang of it and started winning. You can get into a zone playing this. You never gain much speed but it's very relaxing drifting around one turn after the next. I enjoyed Pro Rally but the arcade mode is still locked and I'm still waiting for a snow track like the one on the box! The split-screen head-to-head mode is surprisingly smooth, but when a guy runs off the track he often gets "reset" ahead of the other. Hmmm. Pro Rally isn't likely excite casual players (intro notwithstanding) but this is a solid entry for rally racing fans. © Copyright 2019 The Video Game Critic.

Based on a movie that nobody has even seen, Reign of Fire places you in an all-out war between dragons and humanity in the year 2024. It begins with a series of missions in well-armed jeeps and tanks, but later actually lets you play the role of the dragons! Reign does a fine job of making you feel as if you're in the middle of a large-scale conflict, with raptor-like "jackyls" attacking from the ground and huge dragons swooping in from above. Your arsenal includes rapid-fire machine guns, rockets, and heat-seeking missiles. Since you are part of a larger fighting force, you don't need to do all the work yourself. In fact, the key to surviving most missions seems to be: a) Keep moving, b) Keep shooting, and c) Don't wander too far off. Unless you have guided missiles, it's hard to tell if you're inflicting damage, and the dragons will sustain many hits before they die. Your vehicle is constantly set on fire, requiring you to find water ASAP, which can be a real pain. A small scanner identifies enemy positions, but you can't distinguish if they're approaching by air or land. Reign's graphics are surprisingly detailed, and the post-apocalyptic earth looks both desolate and beautiful. The dragons look so realistic that if they did in fact exist, I'm betting they would look exactly like these. It's quite a rush to see one of these huge beasts turn around in the distant sky, lining you up for their next attack run. Some dragons will even pick up large objects and drop them on top of you! I once did a double take as I watched a boat fall onto one of my tanks! The fire effects are completely convincing, and a dramatic musical score fits well with the explosions and rampant carnage. Reign of Fire lacks polish however, causing my mood to alternate between excitement and aggitation. The difficulty of the missions is wildly uneven - some are incredibly hard while others require little effort. The frame rate gets a little rough when things get hectic, and the load times are easily the longest I've seen on the GameCube. Clips from the movie are interspersed with the stages. Despite its lack of polish however, Reign of Fire's visually compelling action is exciting enough to keep you coming back for more. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

The granddaddy of survival horror has returned to reclaim its crown! The original Resident Evil (PS1, 1996) was (arguably) the first genuinely frightening video game. Trapped in a house full of zombies, traps, and puzzles, you had to brace yourself for each new room. Several sequels expanded the scope of the original but rarely matched its level of hair-raising thrills. In light of that, remaking the first Resident Evil makes a lot of sense. Even those who played through it the first time around shouldn't hesitate to pick this up. With dramatically improved graphics, new room layouts, relocated monsters, and better puzzles, it's practically a new game. For horror movie buffs it's kind of like the difference between Evil Dead I and II. The cheesy live-action scenes from the first game have been replaced with some jaw-dropping CGI work. The mansion interior is spectacularly detailed and magnificently gothic. Lightning flashes and shadows from trees reflect on the walls, and new areas include a decrepit old graveyard. The scenery is pre-rendered which is both good and bad. On the positive side, pre-positioned camera angles allow for some downright creepy cinematography. For example, at the end of one long hallway you may see the faint image of a mysterious figure. On the other hand you can't adjust your view and that's occasionally frustrating. The music effectively builds tension and improved voice acting makes the awkward dialog sound halfway credible. Shrill screams and ominous groans will send tingles down your spine. While the graphics and audio are stellar, you still have to deal with a rather clumsy control scheme that really hasn't changed much since 1996. The targeting system makes it easy to locate monsters but aiming at close range can be maddeningly difficult. As with past Resident Evil games you'll need to juggle a lot of items, and your carrying capacity is very limited. It seems like whenever I find a new item I need I don't have any place to put it! One clever new gameplay element is the "defensive weapon", which let you subdue enemies after they've gotten a hold of you. Just don't confuse the defensive dagger with the knife like I did. Also new is the ability of certain monsters to follow you from room to room, removing what little sense of security you had. The monsters don't go down easily, so remember: they aren't dead until the music stops! Resident Evil is an all-time classic and you're sure to be terrified by this slick, updated two-disk edition. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

No game is perfect but Resident Evil 4 (RE4) comes about as close as you can get. While playing it I was actually thinking "this is the best video game ever". A masterpiece of great length and substance, RE4 is such a huge leap for the series it doesn't even feel like a Resident Evil game. Cleverly conceived with originality to burn, the game is madly addictive and supremely satisfying. What makes RE4 so compelling? Well the rural mountainside conjures up films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Blair Witch, and Night of the Living Dead. The desolate forest is practically a character in and of itself. Although your movements are limited to a predetermined path you'd never know by the natural-looking surroundings. The dilapidated old house you stumble upon looks authentic and foreboding. Later you explore an old church on a hill surrounded by a graveyard, and it just doesn't get much more Halloween than that. Your adventure begins on a dark cloudy day and only gets scarier as night falls and a thunderstorm rages. RE4's audio track adds to the sense of urgency with harrowing sound effects that seamlessly meld with a haunting musical score. The gameplay offers brisk pacing, reasonable difficulty, and extraordinary variety. Don't rest during the cut-scenes, because "quick action events" prompt you to hit buttons at critical moments to escape injury. The game keeps you on guard but you never feel hopelessly stuck. Even when you die you continue close to where you left off. Your mission is to rescue the President's daughter from a cult, and you'll spend a large portion of the game escorting her to safety. Instead of conventional zombies RE4 opts for chanting monks and brainwashed townsfolk armed with pitchforks, torches, and axes. The violence is unflinching. When a farmwoman freaks out after being shot in the face, it's actually quite disturbing. But nothing strikes more fear in this game than the sound of a chainsaw. RE4's control scheme may seem awkward at first due to the lack of a strafe button, but the limited mobility just adds to the challenge. The over-the-shoulder view is a nice compromise between a first-person shooter and third-person adventure, and the jumping is practically automatic. Your firepower is so astounding that a shotgun can blow several attackers across a room with a single blast. The game incorporates a surprising amount of sniping action, so before you enter a new area you'll want to weed out as many enemies as you can from a distance. Unlike previous RE games item management is not tedious at all, and a mysterious cloaked figure appears every so often to buy and sell goods. A testament to RE4's greatness is how many memorable moments are packed into this single game, including a battle with a giant "troll" monster, a wild encounter on a ski lift, a crazy mine cart ride, and a row-boat sequence as thrilling as the movie Jaws. It should be noted that the game is definitely intended for mature audiences due to excessive violence and gore, along with some profanity. While it never takes itself too seriously there are some genuinely intense moments and gruesome images. Resident Evil 4 is one for the ages. The bar for survival horror has now been set very, very high. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

Gamecube owners are fortunate that these excellent Resident Evil titles are exclusively available on their system. Resident Evil Zero and the original Resident Evil remake released last year (2002) are two of the very best Gamecube titles. Although I didn't find this chapter as terrifying as most, Zero still delivers it share of thrills and is quite enjoyable. Zero is actually a prequel, revealing the backstory of the first Resident Evil. While the narrative is somewhat interesting, the main draw here is the classic gameplay we've come to know and love. Zero features fixed-camera angles and pre-rendered scenery. The level of detail is absolutely stunning, but a major drawback is how you can't adjust the view. These graphics surpass anything I've seen in a survival horror game, with driving rain, aged wood furniture, and subtle lighting effects that are nothing short of spectacular. Even the characters move with a certain grace rarely observed in a video game. The story begins with Star Team member Rebecca Chambers (very cute by the way) in a train full of dead people - an intriguing setting to say the least. Walking down aisles of dead passengers, you know it's just a matter of time before they get up and start shambling around. After the train moves and eventually derails, the action moves to more familiar surroundings - a research center which resembles an old mansion (oh no - not again!). Zero may tread on familiar territory, but at least its puzzles go beyond the standard "find the key and unlock the next door" variety. You often have to examine and combine items, as well as work together with a partner. That's right - Rebecca must join forces with an escaped convict. Having a partner backing you up is comforting, but it reduces the scare factor being isolated. Often your partner fights right along side of you, but occasionally he'll just stand there like an idiot. You can switch between characters on the fly and even exchange items. The helpful map feature not only displays the room layout, but also tracks objects you've found or dropped. One new innovation is how you can now drop an item anywhere - you no longer have to search for a chest. As an unwanted side effect, it's easy to pick up the wrong item when too many are lying around. I don't like how each character only has six item slots, with some weapons taking up two of them! You'll need to do a lot of item juggling to stay well-equipped. Like past RE games, you'll use ribbons and typewriters to save you place, which always provides a feeling of relief. Control is a bit clumsy, and this time there's no auto-aim - you'll need to turn slowly towards your target. But these are minor issues. Resident Evil Zero is like a good book - it's absorbing and hard to put down. I have to confess I didn't feel the same degree of fear as I've felt in past games, perhaps because I've become too familiar with the series. I've seen dogs jump through windows and zombies burst out of closets before - you almost come to expect that kind of thing. Newcomers are in for some surprises however, and long time fans will feel right at home with this well-designed game. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.