Wow, 2K Sports has really stepped up this year, delivering perhaps the best basketball game I've ever played! 2K6 has it all - flashy graphics, tight controls, and a professional, TV-style presentation. There's really nothing to criticize about the bright, crisp visuals. The lifelike players are remarkably detailed and move with quickness and grace. Better yet, they behave as they do in real life, exhibiting the same strengths and limitations, as well as their distinctive trademark moves. The controls are streamlined and comfortable to use, with a single "shoot" button, and even one unused button (L1). The passing is very responsive, so you can execute quick dishes under the basket with precision (although sometimes inadvertently). Playing defense is fun, because you can actually steal the ball (using the right joystick) without being called for constant reach-ins. The slam frequency is reasonable and the dunks look realistic, making it all the more dramatic when you witness a high-flying, jaw-dropping monster dunk. NBA 2K6 requires some serious skill and patience; attempting to blindly force the ball into the middle will usually result in a steal or charge. There are even tie-ups - something I don't recall seeing previously in an NBA video game. 2K6 incorporates some original elements as well. The jump balls are won by tapping the square button, causing a meter to sway between two teams. The unconventional "one-touch" foul shooting system takes some getting used to, but it feels natural once you get the hang of it. You can even direct a second player without losing control of your current man! In addition to the rock-solid underlying gameplay, 2K Sports understands that the little details really do matter. When the game is in the process of loading, you'll spend that time watching a flashy lineup presentation, instead of the typical static loading screen. The two-man play-by-play is informative, and they stay on top of the action remarkably well. Attractive but unobtrusive TV-style graphics enhance the presentation without getting in the way. A lengthy half time show features shapely cheerleaders, a sideline report, and a surprisingly in-depth recap of the half. The coaches on the sidelines closely resemble their real life counterparts, although I think Phil Jackson looks more like Colonel Sanders. There are even periodic shots of the crowd, which are usually very amusing. With NBA 2K6, 2K Sports clearly went well beyond the call of duty, making this the basketball game to own this season. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

This game makes me think back to the very first edition, NBA Live 95' on the Genesis. That was the first great basketball game, but in the years since, the series been uneven in quality. This first edition for the PS2 is satisfying enough, although not nearly as impressive an effort as Madden 2001 or NHL 2001. The graphics are fair but not fully realized. The player models look good, as do the fans and the people sitting at the scorer's table. But where are the coaches? And where are the referees? How hard can it be to have a ref retrieve the ball after a free throw? Yes, there are players on the bench - but they don't move! Control is good, and the vibration feature is effective, especially when you dunk the ball. Blocking is fun, but rebounding is difficult, and more often than not the ball bounces right back to the guy who shot the ball! Hasn't EA learned anything about physics in 10 years of doing these games? In addition, the problem of players shooting from behind the backboard has once again reared its ugly head, causing balls to brick off the back of the glass! The sound effects may be the worst aspect of the game. The whoosh of the ball passing through the net is well done, but the crowd sounds like a water faucet on volume control. The boring commentary also leaves a lot to be desired. On the bright side, there are a ton of options to let you customize your game. You can set your own rules and turn off that annoying illegal defense crap. Many options provide a meter that lets you fine-tune things like fouls, audio, and replay options. You can create your own players and play a one-on-one game in a city street court, with dream match-ups like Dr. J vs. Vince Carter! Despite much room for improvement, NBA Live 2001 still delivers some decent hardwood action. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Let's face it - EA's college football game is great every year, and it continues to improve. NCAA 06 provides the most exciting and realistic brand of pigskin action I've experienced. The graphics have improved slightly, with players that slip on the turf, make sliding catches, and contort their way through holes in the defense. The right thumbstick is now used for jukes on offense (including a new "backward juke") and to apply "big hits" on defense. For novice players, the game offers excellent (and thankfully brief) tutorials. The "running the option" tutorial is required watching if you want to fully understand the college game. I also love how the game prompts you on how to spike the ball or call no-huddle as the clock is winding down. In general the graphics haven't changed much since last year. There's a hint of slowdown on rare occasions, but it's hardly worth mentioning. The teams properly reflect their real-life counterparts, and the CPU-controller opponents are intelligent and unpredictable. I really enjoy the new "Race for the Heisman" mode, which literally puts you in the game. It's a nice alternative to the Dynasty Mode, since you don't have to worry about any tedious coaching or administration duties. Another new feature is "impact players", which allows standout players to execute explosive plays in the clutch. NCAA 06's TV-style presentation includes a game introduction with anchors at a desk, and the in-game commentary is solid as usual. NCAA 06 takes customization to the extreme, allowing you to create your own players, playbooks, fan signs, and even your own school! There are no major flaws in this game except for a few "EA-isms", like when your runningback stops dead at the goal line (and stands up straight) or inexplicably injure his chest. I also wish the game would let you know definitively if a pass is complete or not. There's no half-time show, which is odd considering the game has everything else. One pleasant surprise is the music selection, which sounds like the soundtrack from my college days. With tracks from De La Soul, the Pixies (a censored version of "Debaser"), and the Clash, it's madly eclectic but highly listenable. NCAA 06 Football is a terrific package, and a no-brainer for college football fans. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

It's another solid year for EA's college football franchise, and if you're a diehard fan, buying this game is a no-brainer. NCAA Football 2005 plays like Madden, but has an entirely different feel. The distinctive college playbooks contain plenty of option plays, which allow the quarterback to either run with the ball or lateral it back to a running back. Compared to Madden, you'll see many more dropped passes and broken tackles. The full-featured dynasty mode lets you construct your own stadium and tend to each player. Most of the new features in this year's edition fall under the "bells and whistles" category. EA came up with the great idea of letting YOU design the signs held up by the fans, but unfortunately they botched the implementation. While it's easy to create a sign for each type of situation (touchdown, interception, etc), getting your signs shown during the game requires some really confusing button presses that take a long time to figure out. Once I got it to work however, my friends were rolling on the floor in laughter after witnessing some of the most perverted, profane signs I could come up with. Another cool new feature lets you douse the coach with Gatorade. On the field, you can "power-up" a part of your team (line, secondary, etc) whenever a timeout is called, which is quite useful near the end of the game. The worst of the new features is the "crowd pulse" which makes your play selection screen shake in an irritating manner when the fans get rowdy. It looks more like a bug in the game! Other annoyances include no halftime show, players that walk through each other, and the fact that you can't bring up your receiver symbols before hiking the ball (unless you want to reveal their routes!). For a series that's been around for so long, I found NCAA Football's flaws hard to overlook. But still, if you like the college brand of pigskin action, this is a lot of game for your money. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

Have you heard EA's new slogan? "If it comes out before the Y2K Sports, it'll sell more copies". Or better yet, "If we price it $10 higher, people might think it's better." I reviewed this one with my old buddy (and fellow college basketball fanatic) Eric. Over the years, we've played nearly every college basketball video game ever made. Needless to say, we were both fairly disgusted by NCAA March Madness 06. EA really "phoned it in" with this one. Incredibly, the game's graphics appear to be devolving - they look sloppier than ever! I actually had to adjust the contrast and brightness on my TV to clarify the dark, muddy graphics to an acceptable degree. The creepy player faces don't even vaguely resemble their real-life counterparts, and if their hideous mugs don't scare you, the bizarre ball physics just might. The manner in which the ball leaves the hands of the players looks "unnatural" at best and "buggy" at worst. March Madness hasn't kept up with the times, and its venerable engine is showing. The players do not move in a fluid manner, and pause before passing or catching the ball, killing fast break opportunities in the process. Rebounding against the computer is almost impossible - you can have three players crashing the boards, only to have the single computer-controlled player come up with the ball. At the other end of the spectrum, slam-dunks occur on nearly every possession, and they're always those crazy, two-handed, hang-on-the-rim dunks. There are two shoot buttons (one for jump shot, and one for lay-up/dunk), and it never fails that I get them confused. On defense, trying to steal the ball always results in a reach-in foul, so what's the point? When you're ahead late in a game and the CPU starts intentionally fouling, your players seem to become paralyzed - you can't even attempt a pass! Perhaps the most unforgiveable flaw is the complete lack of coaches! Whatever happened to "If it's in the game, it's in the game?" Their absence is especially conspicuous during timeouts, when the players gather around and appear to argue about which play to run! The graphically intensive "screen wipes" that occur between plays aren't as lengthy as last year, but they're still annoying as hell and should be removed altogether. The new animation that shows players getting into each other's faces after a hard foul is a cool idea, but it's poorly executed. The fouled player appears unphased initially, but then suddenly becomes enraged and runs up to the fouling player. Even the menu interface is clunky and needs work. On the controller select screen, the teams are listed on the top and bottom, so when I move my controller icon left or right, which team is it getting assigned to? Finally, your patience will be exhausted by EA's patented, never-ending load screens. Is there anything positive to say? Well, the play-by-play features Dick Vitalle, who is always entertaining. The band music is also quite good, with the exception of that idiotic EA "If it's in the Game" theme song. Five years ago, I could have looked past many of the flaws in this year's March Madness, but now we expect more from our basketball games. This isn't going to cut it in the 06. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

After a dismal effort last year, EA's March Madness has finally stepped up to be to a major contender. It still has its share of rough edges, but the fast, fluid gameplay is very enjoyable. Actually this gave me flashbacks of an old EA college hoops game, Coach K on the Genesis! Both games have a similar feel, especially if you switch to the press box camera angle. Graphically, the players could have been better detailed, but at least the animation is fluid, with plenty of realistic dunks and lay-ups. Just be sure not to zoom in on the players' faces, because you'll never recognize them. There are some funny animations during play stoppage, like the mascot horsing around with the players on the bench. The gameplay is solid overall, and EA's trademark (and superior) foul shooting meter is back. By default, you'll see too many blocks, but not to worry because everything is customizable, including game speed, interceptions, deflections, steals, momentum, offensive rebound aggression, etc. Most of the problems are relatively minor. Ally-oops are often caught from behind (a bug that's been around for years), and the players still need to retrieve the ball after shooting a free throw. Also, you can't see the clock as the half winds down, which is very annoying. There are a few new moves that really improve the gameplay, like being able to dive for a loose ball or pass to the leading man on a fast break. The CPU isn't too smart on offense, but it's tough as nails on defense, especially with the full court trap. And the CPU will get very aggressive (some would say cheap) at the end of a game if it's losing. If you want to recreate the season of your favorite team, you'll find most, but not all of the NCAA teams here. Besides the season mode, there are dynasty and tournament modes as well. You'd think that winning the tournament would treat you to a special ending, but no, this is an EA game, so you don't get squat. The Brad Nessler/Dick Vitalle commentary is disappointing. The comments are sparse and generic, although I did smile when Dick said "You don't get any points for replay but it still looks great!" I think college basketball fans will overlook the flaws in March Madness 2003 and enjoy it for what it is. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

March Madness 2004 has a lot of rough edges, but the game is still awfully fun, thanks to its smooth animation, incredible moves, and well-conceived control scheme. The players could be better detailed, but their body movements are uncanny and fun to watch. The coaches look very generic - most look like George W. Bush. The cheerleaders appear to have canvas potato sacks covering their faces - scary! It's readily apparent that the developers at EA spent the bulk of their effort on the mascots, which do look terrific I must admit. Players can execute almost any move imaginable, including jump-hooks, finger rolls, give-and-gos, dives for loose balls, and hops to the basket. There are separate buttons for dunks and jump shots, and this is a terrific idea. I was able to execute alley-oops without too much difficulty, and the foul shooting system is by far the best I've ever seen. EA's patented "freestyle" right joystick control lets you perform some fancy dribble moves, but the player always stops after making his move instead of continuing to the hoop, and that really sucks! Likewise, players always stop and turn around whenever they receive passes, killing most fast break opportunities. Other flaws include far too many blocks, almost zero offensive rebounds, no tie-ups, and you can't tell if a foul call is offensive or defensive. There are over 320 schools and a wide variety of playing modes, including Season, Mascot games, Rival Games, individual tournaments, and an incredibly deep Dynasty mode, which lets you take charge of coaching and recruiting. There are several issues with the Season mode, including problems customizing your players and a horrible scheduling algorithm that often schedules back-to-back games against the same opponent! The ranking stinks as well. There are also a slew of options and sliders, but some of the more desirable options (like adjusting block and steal frequency) are nowhere to be found. Another annoyance is how the game prompts you for the same information every time you play, including your favorite team and the file name of your season. And since it's an EA game, you can expect some excruciating load times. In terms of audio, Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler do a superb job and are very amusing to listen to (although Dick is always calling for a replay after you've already skipped it). It's far from perfect, but March Madness 2004 has an arcade sensibility that's appealing, and the multi-player matches are particularly enjoyable. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

In past years I've given March Madness (MM) the benefit of the doubt, but in its fourth year on the PS2, there's no excuse for its blatant oversights. Apparently EA dedicated most of its energy to the obligatory "Dynasty Mode", which lets you control every aspect of the team, from training to recruiting, for over 30 seasons. That's a lot of time to dedicate to a single game, and casual gamers will not be impressed. Regrettably, MM's basic gameplay is largely unchanged from previous editions, and some of the new bells and whistles actually get in the way. At its core, March Madness isn't a bad game. I like how the right joystick is used for special dribble moves, but WHY are there two shoot buttons? One is for jump shots, and one is for dunks, and I always manage to hit the wrong one. Some of the animations are very impressive, like the rebounding and tip-ins around the hoop. Timeouts are like the real thing, initiating a 30 second timer before play resumes. Unfortunately, the action lacks the smooth flow of a real game. Slowdown occurs during steals, and players inexplicably pause during passes and special dribbles, killing what should be easy scoring opportunities. The icon passing doesn't work during throw-ins, so getting the ball in can be frustrating. And where are the [expletive] head coaches?! It's as if EA said, "People complained about how bad they looked last year, so hell with it, we'll just remove them altogether!" I don't understand how a game can have cheerleaders and every possible mascot but no coaches! Their absence is especially conspicuous during the time-outs, where one player seems to be coaching the rest of the team. Next, we have those gratuitous "screen wipes" that flash the team logos between possessions and after replays. Not only do these things create unnecessary lulls in the action, but you can't even turn them off on the option screen! How aggravating. And what's up with the camera angles? Sure, I was able to find something decent after fiddling around for a half hour, but you'd think the default camera would be playable (it's not). The "arena pulse" feature is also ill-advised. When you see the screen shaking, you'll think it's a glitch in the program. Finally, there are the excruciating load times EA is infamous for. They must be using the same slow-ass load algorithms they've been using since the PS1. On a positive note, March Madness excels in the sound department. Unlike most sports title with their trendy rap or alternative soundtracks, March Madness incorporates terrific college band renditions of popular songs. In addition, the two-man commentary (including the one-and-only Dick Vitalle) does a fantastic job. But overall, March Madness 2005 feels like a step back, making it hard to recommend. As a big college hoops fan, I'm frustrated by the series' lack of improvement. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

In the past, Sega's NFL 2K series has always compared favorably to Madden, but this year I think Madden may have an edge. NFL 2K3 is more visually appealing and has better commentary, but Madden beats it in nearly every other regard. The first thing you'll notice about 2K3 is how it begins like an ESPN SportsCenter show. I love the TV-style presentation and music, but Sega doesn't use this to its full potential. Instead of having anchors and highlights during halftime, you just get a few statistic screens with voiceovers. On the field, the action looks superb. You can clearly see the players' faces and their expressions, and even the coaches look good. Gamers new to Sega's football series will dig the silky smooth animation and deep play-by-play, but frankly, it's old news to Dreamcast veterans. The action is more arcade-like than Madden, with harder hits and high-flying bodies. Players dive further, tip passes frequently, and escape tackles more often. The result is less realism but more excitement. The animation is often amazing, despite some obvious slowdown and occasional hiccups in the framerate. The stadiums don't look as good as Madden, and the turf looks a bit fake, although I do like how cloud shadows creep over the field. The camera could be better, as you tend to lose wide receivers off the edges of the screen. Defensive controls are severely lacking. Pass coverage is fine, but there are no special moves for the defensive linemen, so you can't do much with them. The playbook isn't as deep as Madden. For example, there's no goal line offense, and you can't set up to return a kick left or right. There are a few minor annoyances as well. I once saw a ball pass through a defender's head, which rarely happens in real life. Also, I hate how time-outs or end-of-quarter whistles seem to cut off the end of a play. I was diving into the end zone at the end of one quarter when the view immediately switched over to the guys running off the field like nothing had happened. And here's another request for Sega: please let us know if a touchdown has indeed been scored. Sometimes the players seemed to stand around clueless, and I have to look at the scoreboard just to see if I made it in! Commentary is good as usual for an NFL 2K game, but really no better than past editions. Finally, there's no way to challenge calls on the field, a feature that is in Madden. Overall NFL 2K3 is still a good game, but Madden is clearly better in terms of control and overall gameplay. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

If you don't think NFL Street is an absolute blast, you must not be a sports fan, because this game is unreal. It redefines the term "smash-mouth football", with no-holds-barred gameplay, body-crunching hits, and an unprecedented level of trash talking and hot-dogging. This game is NFL Blitz on steroids. And despite the fact that it's made by Electronic Arts, this is NOTHING like Madden. It's a seven-on-seven contest with no yard markers, no clock (you play to 36 points), no kicking, and absolutely no penalties. Teams are composed of actual NFL players with highly exaggerated physiques. The playing fields range from urban areas with brick walls lining the field, to warehouses with poles, to a scenic beach with waves lapping against the sidelines. Unfortunately, only two of the eight fields are available from the outset, and most are not very exciting. A streamlined playbook lets you set up run, pass, and trick plays on offense. Since most hand-offs and pitch-backs are automatic, you can execute complicated plays like double-reverses and flea flickers with ease. I appreciate the large number of "option" plays, normally seen only in the college game. On defense, you select a formation to defend against the run, long pass, or short pass. The action is fast and furious, and the ball gets fumbled all over the place. Besides the turbo button, there's also a "style" button that lets you taunt your opponents at the risk of fumbling the ball. Exhibiting "style" builds up you gamebreaker meter, which when full allows your team to whoop the other team's ass for several plays. It's a cool feature with a lot of strategic value. The controls are simple to learn, although Madden veterans will need to change gears a bit. For example, the triangle is now used to lateral the ball (not jump), and I always find myself hitting it out of habit. The animation is fluid and it's fairly easy to follow the action. Unlike most football games, playing two-on-two works out quite well. NFL Street is a rip-roaring good time that won me and my friends over completely. It was all we played for weeks! © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

It's been quite a while since I've been really psyched about a new hockey game. Oh sure, the yearly offerings from EA and 2K Sports are usually okay, but hardly what I'd call addictive. What's cool about NHL 06 is how it appeals to arcade-minded gamers like myself. Using the Quick Play option, you can dive into games that are relatively short, easy to play, and action-packed. The penalties and stoppages in play are minimal, so you won't have to sit through endless face-offs as you do in other games. It's also refreshing not having to tinker with the options and sliders for once. Even the default camera angle is ideal - it's as close as it can be without restricting your view of the rink. Hockey fanatics looking for more realism can adjust the multitude of options to their heart's content, and set up their own seasons and dynasties. Just be aware that saving a season will take up more than half of your memory card (damn you EA!). The controls are right on target. Although at first I didn't like the idea of two shot buttons (wrist and slap shot), now I can appreciate why it's designed that way. Slap shots can be "wound up" for maximum strength, but wrist shots use more finesse, allowing you to angle your shots with precision. I love the little target that appears in the back of the goal, leaving no doubt where you're aimed. I also like how when you race down the rink with the puck, you only have intermittent possession of it. That's far more realistic than having the puck magically "stick" to your player. The enthusiastic two-man commentator team always has something to say, and tend to work themselves into a tizzy. On the downside, body checks are relatively weak, and the computer AI is questionable. At the end of one close game, the CPU allowed me to run out the entire final minute without even making an effort to get the puck. The menu navigation controls are strangely unresponsive, and the options for pulling/returning your goalie are confusing. Finally, I think I have an obligation to talk about the "retro" NHL '94 game that's also included on this disk. Initially this seemed to be a fantastic bonus. As a huge fan of the original Genesis version, I still regard NHL '94 as the best hockey game ever conceived. Playing this emulated version however, I was aghast to witness slow action, sluggish controls, and sound effects that would abruptly cut out. After my friend Steve N. and I forced ourselves to play this mess, we then pulled out the old Genesis and cranked up the original version. Sure enough, it was ten times better, delivering fast, furious action and pinpoint control. We were jumping around and hooting just like the old days. EA deserves to be lambasted for including such a substandard version of this classic game! And the thing is, it's their game, not some throwaway title they licensed from another company! Unforgivable! I fear younger gamers may equate this inferior version to the original, which would be a crime. All in all, the main game of NHL 06 is fine, but this so-called "bonus" left a very bad taste in my mouth. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

It's not much to watch on television, but the sport of hockey makes for one hell of a video game. Although not as fun as the classic hockey titles from the 16-bit era, I must admit that the modern hockey games look terrific. In NHL 2005, the animated player faces look incredibly lifelike, and even the fans and coaches look respectable. The gameplay is somewhat arcade-ish, so you don't need a deep understanding of the game to enjoy it. It can be confusing however that there are two shoot buttons: wrist shot and slap shot. I didn't know what the difference was until I heard the commentators discuss it. Apparently the slap shot is weaker but quicker to get off, and that's important because it's hard to maintain control of the puck in the vicinity of the net. My favorite aspect of NHL 2005 is definitely the "hit stick", which lets you use the right joystick to deliver vicious body checks. One time I even popped a player's helmet off! NHL 2005's passing controls are crisp, and your teammates do a good job of avoiding offside penalties. Unlike so many hockey games of the past, it's not particularly hard to score in NHL 2005, which is refreshing. My main beef concerns the choppy puck animation. It can be very hard to follow, especially after a shot. It's not unusual to lose track of the puck or wonder how in the heck you scored a goal! Unfortunately, the instant replay is just as jerky! I suspect EA's been recycling the same hockey "engine" since NHL 2001. In contrast, Sega's ESPN NHL 2K5 maintains a silky smooth frame-rate at all times, and it makes all the difference. In terms of sound, I recommend turning down NHL 2005's lousy music and mediocre two-man commentating, but crank up the "on ice" sound effects. The crisp sound of scraping ice, players being slammed on the boards, and the "clicking" sound of the puck are very appealing. NHL 2005 plays respectably and looks great, but if they want to compete with Sega, it's time for EA to get off their lazy asses and create a new engine for this thing. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

Naruto is a Japanese Manga series about a group of kids who aspire to be ninjas. The main character is a blue-eyed, blonde-haired boy named Naruto. Now there's something you don't see every day. This one-on-one fighter has potential. The menus and cut-scenes are vibrant with wacky humor. The characters are rendered via cell-shaded cartoons (a la Dragon Ball Z). The multilayered environments and music are traditional Japanese. A scenario mode lets you play through the game as any one of the characters from the series. I was cracking up at Sakura's chapter entitled "Never Mock a Woman's Ability", which ends with her saying "I'm not always just a hindrance!" The battlefields are divided into two planes and you hop back and forth between them to collect items. You also have the ability to run up walls and skim across water. There's a basic attack and you can toss weapons like throwing stars. But your most potent attacks are "secret techniques" triggered via the triangle button. Once initiated, you must respond to rapid-fire button prompts to successfully complete the attack. Your opponent is given a similar set of prompts, allowing him to minimize the damage. Dynamic camera angles really hammer home how explosive these techniques can be. As a pure fighter however Ultimate Ninja leaves much to be desired. Normal attacks barely chip away at the health bar. You can get stuck facing the wrong direction. Should you corner a CPU-controlled opponent, you can beat the living [expletive] out of him. It's annoying how the fighters hop between planes, especially when they're grabbing health icons which drag out the battles to excruciating lengths. The environments look washed out and it's hard to see what's happening on that distant plane. You can earn credits to use on slot machines, but most of the time your prize is a "blank" (nothing!). Naruto Ultimate Ninja had some cool ideas but the fighting action isn't very tight. Still, Naruto fans will appreciate this, so they can bump up the grade by a letter. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.

As much as I despised the first Contra game for the PS2, Contra: Shattered Soldier (Konami, 2002), I absolutely love Neo Contra. This is arguably the best pure shooter for the Playstation 2. Predictably, the action takes place in a futuristic world of mechanical beasts and hideous bosses. The high overhead view provides a good vantage point as you splatter enemy troops and shoot down aircraft that explode brilliantly. The single player mode is furious and violent, and the two-player simultaneous action is twice the fun. Your main weapon is a rapid-fire gun, but you also have grenades and guided missiles. The control scheme is perfect, with shoulder buttons that allow you to strafe or remain in place while shooting. Although Neo Contra is mainly linear, you can select the stage ordering and certain stages have multiple paths. In addition to the thrilling run-and-gun action, one stage also lets you ride on galloping reptiles. In one particularly over-the-top scene, your man must scurry around on the blades of a flying helicopter's propellers! Now there's something you don't see everyday! Some readers may recall that my biggest beef with Shattered Soldier was its overemphasis on bosses, and although Neo has its share, they all can be defeated in a reasonable amount of time. Another major improvement is that when you die, you restart close to where you left off. On the downside, the cut scenes are not even worth watching, and could the voice actors speak their lines any slower? Personally, I think it's time to do away with these obligatory cinematics - does every game really need a storyline? Neo Contra can certainly stand on its own without one. It's an adrenaline rush from beginning to end - a supremely satisfying exhibition of destruction and gore. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

After playing so many King of Fighters games, I'm not really sure what to make of Neo Geo Coliseum. It's a weird 2D fighter with a hodgepodge of characters, not unlike Capcom Fighting Evolution (PS2, 2004). The competitors hail from old SNK franchises like Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown, and World Heroes, but mostly King of Fighters (KOF). The fighting action feels like King of Fighters, except the screen scales in and out like Samurai Shodown. The arcade mode has some unconventional rules. Your team consists of only two fighters, and the object is to dispose of as many enemies as you can within a time limit (usually five minutes). Your number of wins servers as your final score. The game ends abruptly when either of your characters is defeated, so you need to swap them in and out as necessary. A "tag mode" is also included which plays more like a traditional King of Fighters game. Stick with the arcade mode though, because its quirky rules are what makes Neo Geo Battle Coliseum unique. In contrast to KOF games which limited you to human opponents, Coliseum might pit you against an oversized robot or a green jellyfish. Yeah, it can get pretty silly. And if you think the sword-wielding warriors from Samurai Shodown have an unfair advantage over unarmed foes, well, you're right. Some characters have some incredibly cheap attacks, such as making a giant bell fall on your head from out of nowhere (ouch). Coliseum's crisp backgrounds tend to be high-tech in nature, and they are hard to describe but easy to forget. I guess my favorite is probably the huge satellite dish with the snowy mountains in the distance. The quirky Cool Cool Town stage looks like the worst amusement park ever. Neo Geo Battle Coliseum definitely leans toward the "gimmick" end of the fighting spectrum, but if you're into this kind of thing, it offers a nice change of pace. © Copyright 2009 The Video Game Critic.