San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing
Grade: D+
Publisher: Midway (1996)
Reviewed: 2007/1/14
Rating: Kid to adults (6+)
Find San Francisco Rush Extreme Racing on
eBay,
YouTube1 or 2 players
Publisher: Atlus (1997)
Reviewed: 2012/2/25
Rating: Kids to Adults
Save mechanism: Controller Pack
1 to 4 players
Snowboard Kids 2
Grade: D+
Publisher: Atlus (1999)
Reviewed: 2012/2/25
Rating: Everyone

The first Snowboard Kids title was moderately enjoyable despite some glaring flaws. But instead of addressing those shortcomings, this ill-conceived sequel sends the franchise into a
downward spiral of death. Snowboard Kids 2 will have you careening through tropical jungles, haunted houses, underwater, and even
outer space. I'm pretty sure I spotted the Little Mermaid in the underwater track, and I was
not amused. Call me old-fashioned but I like a little
snow in my snowboarding games! The over-the-top stages stink on so many levels. The jungle foliage looks like cardboard cut-outs, and the "Wendy's House" stage is just a whole lot of nothing. The haunted house track is incredibly lame, although it's cool how the kids are decked out in Halloween costumes. Fortunately the game is redeemed by a handful of snow tracks. The Christmas-themed Jingle Town is probably the best of the bunch with all of its festive holiday decorations, but its theme song sounds decidedly un-Christmas-like. Power-ups are now represented by teddy bears instead of clowns, and I'm cool with that. The story mode is deeper than its predecessor, and its paperboy-style mini-game is a winner. Unfortunately, Snowboard Kids 2 shares the same fundamental issues as its predecessor, including excessively long tracks, cheap weapons, and lift gates that are hard to finagle into. Worst of all, I think the developers forgot they were making a
snowboarding game. © Copyright 2012 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Controller Pack
1 to 4 players
Publisher: Nintendo (1997)
Reviewed: 2006/12/30
Rating: Kids to adults
Star Wars: Battle For Naboo
Grade: A
Publisher: LucasArts (2000)
Reviewed: 2005/5/18

If you enjoyed Rogue Squadron, you'll
flip over this Episode One-inspired title, set on the planet of Naboo. In addition to excellent dog-fighting action, many stages feature ground-based combat between floating vehicles. Battle For Naboo's graphics feature beautiful cities and scenic landscapes inspired by Episode One, and the explosions are among the best I've seen on the N64. The voice acting is sometimes hard to understand, but I like how your commander always specifies what your next objective is. As in Rogue Squadron, there's a helpful radar display that not only identifies friends and foes, but keeps you headed in the right direction. You'll pilot seven vehicles from STAPs to starfighters, and the controls are responsive. Your performance determines which metal you earn (bronze, silver, or gold) in each of the 15 missions, adding replay value. The stages are ideal in length, and if you bite the dust, you pick up right where you left off. Battle of Naboo is a first-class shooter that should thrill Star Wars fans. I could find no serious flaws with this one. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Star Wars: Episode One Racer
Grade: A
Publisher: LucasArts (1999)
Reviewed: 2005/5/18

This masterpiece is a dream come true for Star Wars fans! Episode One Racer faithfully recreates (and expands upon) the exciting pod-racing scene from the Phantom Menace. The game offers 23 different vehicles available and 25 unique courses. The graphics (with the help of the memory expansion pack) are magnificent and the illusion of speed is exhilarating. You can win and collect other vehicles which can be upgraded by buying parts from Watto (who has many funny lines in this game). The racing aspect is the best I've experienced on the N64, with controls that are more forgiving than most racers (you have to hit a wall
really hard to crash). The frame rate does struggle to keep up in the later stages, where things get
really crazy. The tracks themselves are all fascinating and surprisingly
long. Some require a few minutes just to complete a single lap! As you would expect, the digitized sound effects and orchestrated musical score are beyond reproach. Episode One Racer also features a fine two-player split-screen mode. LucasArts obviously went all-out with the game, and the quality shows. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Battery
1 or 2 players
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Grade: B+
Publisher: LucasArts (1998)
Reviewed: 2005/5/18

The best stages in Shadows of the Empire were the ones that let you fly ships, so LucasArts made Rogue Squadron nothing but dogfighting action all the way though. Set chronologically between
A New Hope and
Empire Strike Back, you play the part of Luke Skywalker, embarking on a series of missions to protect the Rebels and keep the Empire at bay. As you would expect, the production quality is top notch. The background story, characters, voice acting, sound effects, music, vehicle specifications, and locations are all faithful to the Star Wars mythology. The planet surfaces are plain but rendered in high resolution and appear silky smooth. Vehicles are detailed up close, but it can be tough to distinguish Tie fighters from Rebel allies in the distance. Your radar display is handy for guiding you to your mission objective, but less helpful during the hectic dogfights. The air-to-air combat is fun and challenging, and the explosions are a joy to behold. Sometimes you'll nick a Tie on the wing, sending him into a downward spiral - sweet. Rogue Squadron's single graphic shortcoming has to be the wimpy explosion of your ship when you crash - it's about the size of a firecracker! The game offers five aircraft to choose from, each with its own unique look and feel. A huge hit, Rogue Squadron kicked off a popular series that would continue on the Gamecube. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Grade: B
Publisher: LucasArts (1996)
Reviewed: 2005/5/18

As one of the original "launch" titles for the Nintendo 64 console, Shadows of the Empire follows the storyline of the popular novel while incorporating a wide variety of playing styles. The background story is conveyed though a series of illustrations and text. The action begins with a Snowspeeder battle on Hoth, which frankly is the best stage of the game. The excellent graphics and tight control place you into the heat of battle, blasting probe droids and tripping up Imperial Walkers. Later stages include a very original (and fun) train-jumping sequence, a "swoop bike" race, and some dogfighting in space. Most stages, however, play like a third-person shooter, where you view your character from behind. As you might expect, he
can get in the way at times. Shadows looks impressive but has its share of control problems. First, the touchy analog stick makes in difficult to navigate narrow ledges without sliding off. Also, the aiming controls for firing upward are
not good. If you can deal with these issues however, Shadows provides a very satisfying and original Star Wars adventure. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Battery
1 player
Publisher: Midway (2000)
Reviewed: 2012/10/27
Rating: Everyone
Publisher: Nintendo (1996)
Reviewed: 2019/3/20
Save mechanism: Battery
1 player
Super Smash Bros.
Grade: C
Publisher: Nintendo (1999)
Reviewed: 2008/4/8
Publisher: Titus (1999)
Reviewed: 2003/2/25

Ripped to shreds by critics, Superman is regarded by many to be one of the worst video games
of all time. I'm not sure about that, but it certainly is
bad. The 3D characters look extremely rough, cars look like boxes, and the flat ground is tattooed with patterns that are
supposed to look like houses from high above. Unfortunately, many of your missions require you to walk
right over these surfaces, and they look really,
really stupid. The buildings look respectable, but the city is completely shrouded by a thick fog that severely limits your visibility. Superman's background story is incomprehensible, and many of the missions (all timed) seem confusing and pointless. Flying him through an obstacle course of giant rings (quite common in this game) is an exercise in frustration thanks to the unresponsive controls. I really did give Superman a chance, but the more I played it, the more I hated it. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Nintendo (1997)
Reviewed: 2003/2/25

This puzzle game is innovative and nice looking, but as I discovered, that doesn't mean it's fun to play! Once again Nintendo is milking its Tetris cow, but this attempt falls flat. In the aptly named Tetrisphere, you manipulate a rotating sphere covered with layers of Tetris pieces. By sliding them around and placing them flush with pieces of the same shape, you can make them all explode in various chain reactions. Your ultimate goal is to reach the core. In terms of graphics, Tetrisphere is well suited for the N64. The sphere rotates smoothly and the chain reactions are very satisfying thanks to the crisp explosive sound effects. The thumping techno soundtrack is okay but not exceptional. Despite a nice overall presentation, the gameplay fails to live up to Tetris standards. It's too complicated, there's a serious learning curve, and I
hate how pieces tend to replenish themselves. Unlike other Tetris variations that are relentlessly addictive, Tetrisphere gets more boring as you play. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Grade: B+
Publisher: Activision (2000)
Reviewed: 2014/5/8

I reviewed this game with my friend Brent who happens to be a world-renouned Tony Hawk expert. First we took some time to play the
original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (Playstation, 1997) as a basis of comparison. The results are clear: Tony Hawk plays perfectly well on the Nintendo 64 yet pales to its PS1 counterpart. The music quality is slightly degraded and the controls are not as tight. The graphics employ smoother textures, but this takes its toll of the framerate, causing the game to run noticeably slower. That said, this edition of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is still the same fun, madly-addictive game. Controlling famous skateboarders you'll grind rails in malls, schoolyards, and warehouses, trying to rack up points and collect items before time expires. Catching big air lets you string together elaborate combinations of flips, spins, and grabs. Button mashing gets the job done for beginners, but you'll need to develop better technique to conquer all of the challenges. Adding to the fun is an edgy soundtrack of classic punk tunes that will really get your pulse pounding. The high score screens are a nice touch, encouraging you to try just
one more time. For what it's worth, this cartridge has a snazzy blue shell. It's not the best version of the game, but it is classic Tony Hawk so you really can't go wrong. © Copyright 2014 The Video Game Critic.
Top Gear Overdrive
Grade: B
Publisher: Kemco (1998)
Reviewed: 2016/6/12
Rating: Everyone
Publisher: Boss Game Studios (1997)
Reviewed: 2017/3/5
Rating: Kids to adults
Save mechanism: controller pack
1 or 2 players
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
Grade: F
Publisher: Acclaim (1998)
Reviewed: 2008/2/27
Rating: Mature
Save mechanism: Controller Pack
1 to 4 players
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Grade: C
Publisher: Acclaim (1997)
Reviewed: 2008/2/27
Rating: Mature 17+ (violence, blood and gore)
Save mechanism: Controller Pack
1 player
Twisted Edge: Extreme Snowboarding
Grade: C-
Publisher: Midway (1997)
Reviewed: 2008/2/27
Rating: Everyone
Find Twisted Edge Extreme Snowboarding on
eBay,
YouTubeSave mechanism: Controller Pack
1 or 2 player
Waialae Country Club
Grade: C-
Publisher: T&E Soft (1998)
Reviewed: 2015/7/4
Rating: Everyone
Save mechanism: battery
1 to 4 players
Publisher: Midway (1996)
Reviewed: 2010/6/6
Rating: Mature 17+ (animated violence, animated blood and gore)
Publisher: Nintendo (1996)
Reviewed: 2007/6/12
Rating: Everyone

With its simple gameplay, beautiful scenery, and superb water effects, Wave Race 64 is one of the most appealing titles available for the Nintendo 64. Its eight distinctive courses include a sunny beach, a serene lake, and an industrial port. There's even a "sunset" course where you race on an ocean of orange Kool-Aid! The choppiness of the water varies between courses, and hitting a large wave at the right angle can send you high in the air (sweet). Wave Race's foamy water and splashing sound effects are so realistic that you can almost smell of the salty water of the beach and the raw sewage of the port. The controls are absolutely terrific, and I'm glad because serious skill is required to weave in and out of the colored buoys (miss too many and you're disqualified). It's possible to perform tricks, but they seem a bit pointless really. The one-player championship mode is addictive as hell, and the two-player split screen also very nice. The main problem with Wave Race 64 is its annoying announcer, who never has anything interesting to say, and
will not shut up. Get used to hearing him shout the same words over and over: "Good!! Nice!! O-kay!! Okay!! Maximum Power!! Okay!!" Despite having a full options menu, there's no way to shut up that frickin' idiot. Despite this unfortunate audio flaw, Wave Race is a fantastic water racer and a must-have for all serious Nintendo 64 fans. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.
Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey
Grade: D
Publisher: Midway (1996)
Reviewed: 2011/3/20
Save mechanism: Controller pack
1 to 4 players
Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey 98
Grade: B-
Publisher: Midway (1997)
Reviewed: 2011/3/20

The first Wayne Gretzky hockey had a fast arcade style but its design flaws drove me nuts. This 98 edition patches things up but doesn't go far enough. Unlike the first game, my friend Steve and I could actually configure a game so we could be on the same team. Hurrah. The graphics are nearly identical to the first game, but there are a few tweaks that improve the overall experience. First, the overhead view is noticeably higher and offers a much better view of the action. The control scheme still sucks, but at least now you always control the player with the puck. It seems harder to score, and I can say that because I didn't find myself scoring
by accident nearly as often! I pride myself as an expert at one-timer plays, and I could pull them off pretty effectively here. The passing is so crisp and accurate that you can practically toy with the goalie, passing the puck from side to side in front of the net. The sound effects are clean and distinctive, but that announcer doesn't have anything interesting to say. Wayne Gretzkey Hockey 98 is not one of my personal favorites, but I can't complain about its short-and-sweet contests. I wish the series would have continued on after this, because it seemed to be heading in the right direction. © Copyright 2011 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Controller pack
1 to 4 players
Publisher: Midway (1998)
Reviewed: 2001/4/1

This isn't your father's Wipeout. No, this futuristic racer has evolved quite a bit over its many Playstation incarnations, and this N64 version seems to have finally got the formula right. Despite a few limitations, this is probably my favorite Wipeout game. Why? Two things: Awesome control and silky smooth graphics. The N64 controller was tailor-made for this game, with an analog stick that provides just the right sensitivity. The tracks are wide enough, and scraping against the sides will throw sparks but won't slow you down too much. The weapons are pretty much a "best of" from previous Wipeouts, including the awesome "Quake Disrupter", which sends a huge ripple down the track in front of you. The frame rate is smooth even in the four-player split screen mode. Careening down twisting slopes almost out of control can be pretty exhilarating, but there is a cost. Yes, the background graphics exhibit that much-dreaded "pop-up" problem in the one-player mode. In the four player split-screen games, there aren't any background graphics at all! It's just a track, and while that doesn't really affect the gameplay, it looks kind of lame. Other problems include track sections that are too dark and an overly-difficult single player mode. Some players may also frown on the paltry number of tracks (six) and vehicle styles (four). Fortunately the trademark techno music has been retained and contributes greatly to the ultramodern feel of the game. Despite its flaws, Wipeout 64 offers engaging, high-tech racing fun. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Controller Pack
1 to 4 players
Xena Warrior Princess
Grade: D
Publisher: Titus (1999)
Reviewed: 2001/12/15

I'm no Xena fan, but this was only $5 at Target, so I decided to give it a try. I was hoping Xena Warrior Princess would be an action adventure, but alas, it's just a 3D fighter featuring characters from the television series. The graphics and sound aren't bad though. The fighters have digitized faces and the medieval background graphics are very cool. In addition, the well-orchestrated music gives the game an epic flair. It's a shame the gameplay is so stale and hackneyed. You simply jump, kick, and punch, while trying to squeeze in the occasional special move. Xena also features a four-player simultaneous battle, but it's little more than a button mash-a-thon. In this case, I think I got what I paid for. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Nintendo (1998)
Reviewed: 2005/1/22
Rating: Everyone