Playstation Reviews N

They're not so easy on the eyes but I still love to play these old Playstation football games. NCAA Football 2000 uses real college footage in its musical intro - something I haven't seen in a while! The sound of the band playing on the title screen always gets me pumped. The game contains all 114 division 1-A teams, and 26 division division 1-AA teams. And if you're school isn't represented, guess what? You can create your own damn team! I'm always glad to see a quick-start mode, but you can't even change the teams! Choose exhibition mode instead. The players on the field the players look comically thick and blocky. It's like a bunch of Transformers doing battle out there, and once they get a head of steam they're like a runaway freight train. That's a problem when you're trying to stay in bounds! It's easy to select plays and formations and helpful hint boxes are displayed between plays (turned off via select button). The passes tend to be extremely slow and floaty. When running with the ball L2 and R2 will juke and stiff-arm, but don't confuse them with L1/R1 which pitches the ball! It's hilarious how wide receivers never turn around; they just run down the field with both arms straight up and catch the ball anyway. The kicking meter might be the best I've seen, with intuitive controls that require both skill and timing. The instant replays are kind of lame because you can't adjust the camera at all. The crowd looks like ugly wall of static pixels and there are only three cheerleaders on the sideline. The fact that there's no halftime show makes this feel like a lazy effort. Still, there are some nice touches. Nets rise behind the goal posts during kicks and referees take some shots during plays. I was a little surprised when the band played the correct Maryland fight song! The PA announcer says some amusing things too. Overall NCAA Football 2000 isn't a great game but it's quirks and rough edges actually give it some personality. © Copyright 2019 The Video Game Critic.

As the box says, dig in your cleats! NCAA Football 2001 opens with more stylized, hard-hitting college football footage. The question is, is this game itself any different from last year? Not that you can tell from the menu screens! You still can't pick your own teams in the quick start mode. On the field the graphics look noticeably improved with rounder, better-defined players. Interesting new animations include running backs flipping end-over-end and teammates helping each other up off the ground. I do get really tired of players making that "pointing first down" signal. The action is good but not great. Passes are less floaty than lack year but they still lack enough zip to thread the needle. When running through the line, backs often get stuck running in place as if they've hit an invisible wall. I like how all the players pick themselves up after each play and just stand around momentarily, as if they're waiting for the signal to resume play. Auto-instant replays are a nice touch, periodically showing big plays from side angles. The new momentum meter in the corner of the screen is interesting; it gives the game a tug-of-war vibe. Weird glitches include players having seizures and quarterbacks throwing weird "hook shots" down the field. During one celebration two guys were supposed to be butting helmets but they were way too close. Then they proceed to prance off the field together. And why does my selected defender keep trying to run into the opponent's huddle? Stuff like this provides unintentional humor but the lack of a half-time show is harder to forgive. This was EA's last college game for the Playstation and you can tell they weren't trying too hard. © Copyright 2019 The Video Game Critic.

I owe of debt of gratitude to the reader who recently brought this to my attention, because NCAA Football 98 is truly a joy to play. The intro features video footage with computer "enhancements" that actually make it much harder to watch. I like hearing a band play over the main menu, but I think they would sound better if backed by crowd noise. The game contains 112 teams over 10 division 1A conferences, along with a slew of modes including season, dynasty, scouting, and tournament. The extensive list of options lets you adjust weather conditions, penalties, fatigue, injuries, and play-calling modes. Rounding things out is a create-a-player feature and the ability to save highlights to memory card! On the field I was surprised (but also pleased) to see the players rendered with 2D sprites, not unlike NFL Gameday (Sony, 1995) or any of the 16-bit Madden titles. The graphics can be hard to discern at times, with pixelated players, grainy grass, and a crowd that looks like colored bricks. The player animation is stiff, so you'll see funny things like the ball bouncing square off a receiver's back. The stadiums are fair renditions and you can make out the turtle statue in College Park (barely). The old-school gameplay is remarkably solid. Play-calling screens are simple to navigate, although it can be difficult to determine how deep your receivers will run. It's easy to scan the field for an open receiver, and you can really wing the ball. The running game is no slouch either, as you can usually burrow up the middle for a couple of yards. Executing option plays (press R1 to lateral) is great fun, and the kicking meter is the most sensible I've seen in decades. Defensive controls include the ability to leap high into the air to bat down passes. A slick replay feature allows you to view plays from multiple angles. There's a PA announcer but no color commentator, and where is the halftime show? I have to laugh when I see the players remain in the huddle after the game clock expires - as if they need to be informed the game is over! But what really won me over was the brisk pacing. You only need to wait for is the referee to return the ball to the line after each play. Do they only have one ball in this game? Unintentional humor aside, NCAA Football 98 delivers first-rate college action with old school charm to burn. © Copyright 2018 The Video Game Critic.

After several disappointing years the NCAA GameBreaker series finally broke through with this surprisingly strong 2000 edition. I'm pleased to report all of the major flaws have been addressed. First and foremost, the game moves a lot faster. Before each play a prompt is displayed to press X to hurry, and you'll hit it every time. The action on the field is remarkably fluid with running backs that slice through the line and fight for yardage while dragging tacklers. The passing game has improved so much I can't believe it. Open receivers are easy to find and the passes are crisp and accurate. Sometimes a receiver catching the ball on a sideline will magically stay in-bounds and zip right up the sideline. On defense the triangle is used to break up passes and the dive button is effective. Some tackles can be pretty brutal, like when players are picked up and body-slammed! After certain plays the game will prompt you to "celebrate" (triangle) or "show off" (circle). When I tried the show off button my player performed some kind of break-dance spin on the field! It looked hilarious, but guess what? I was awarded with a 15-yard personal foul penalty! The kicking meter is slick - a model of elegance and simplicity. Keith Jackson's commentary is entertaining, but I wouldn't describe a running back as being "stopped cold" if he just picked up nine yards. The lack of a halftime show is disappointing (*sad face*) but I like how the band pipes in sporadically during the game. NCAA GameBreaker 2000 is the real deal. If you've had a love/hate relationship with the GameBreaker franchise, this is sure to put it back into your good graces. © Copyright 2016 The Video Game Critic.

Playing this 20-year-old college football game can be pretty enjoyable provided you know what you're getting yourself into. If you're looking for realism and pinpoint control, you might hate this. But if you're looking for some fast arcade-style football action, you won't be disappointed. NCAA Gamebreaker was one of the last football games to use sprite graphics, and the players appear small and pixelated. The surface of the field is textured but in this case it appears grainy and not particularly pleasing to the eye. The opening kickoff meter comes up really quick so be ready for it! The camera is pulled way back, giving you a nice wide angle for passing plays. During running plays you might get lost in what looks like pixel soup. The players appear to move slowly but advancing just an inch up the screen will effectively pick up a few yards. The so-called "speed burst" move is lame but the stiff-arm is no joke! I enjoyed running the wishbone offense and executing various option plays. Open receivers usually catch the ball but defenders often dive in and jar the ball loose. That dive move is lethal. If you take control of a safety on defense you'll be able to break up all sorts of plays. One negative about the game is how if you don't take control of your player, the CPU immediately assumes control (why?). The play selection is limited but that "flip" option sure comes in handy. The crowd looks like a splotchy wallpaper but I like the fact that there are cheerleaders and a chain gang. There's even a real halftime show with a band marching in letter formations. There's no play-by-play but you do get a PA announcer. The season mode incluces extensive statistic tracking. What makes Gamebreaker appealing to me is its pacing. It's one break-neck play after another with few lulls in the action. Gamebreaker's graphics may not have aged very well but gamers with short attention spans will appreciate it. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.

The second edition of Gamebreaker made the big leap from flat sprites to 3D polygons, and the results are visually appealing. The menus look stylish, the player models clean, and the field surface smooth. Before each game a camera pans around the stadium and really gets you psyched up. The marching band music sounds crisp and those thumping drums really put you in a college state of mind. Close camera angles let you get up close and personal with the players, but they look extremely boxy. The animation is smooth at least, with quarterbacks motioning at the line and defenders executing wrap tackles. Sadly the gameplay feels like an afterthought. The still arm control was moved from R1/L1 to R2, so now when I try to stiff-arm a defender I end up pitching the ball backwards (to no one)! And even when I do hit the correct button my player will often use his wrong arm. The close camera angles prove a real liability. Prior to each snap you can preview the receiver icons, but this causes the camera to slowly rotate to the side, which is a useless, disorienting view. When handing off the ball the game pauses briefly for no discernable reason. Oversized pass icons make it hard to locate an open receiver and the CPU defenders are tenacious! On defense the player select button rarely puts you in control of a player in proper position to make a play. When you score your player stops at the goal line like he just hit a brick wall. There's no fanfare over a touchdown, so you might not even realize you scored! And what happened to the cheerleaders and halftime show? NCAA Gamebreaker 98 is a case of a franchise going through some major growing pains. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.

If the goal of Gamebreaker 99 was to upgrade the blocky visuals of 98, they did a pretty decent job. The players are more well rounded (literally) and exhibit slick new animations. Players shake hands before the game, signal first downs after a catch, and celebrate in the end zone. Devastating hits give receivers virtual whiplash and runningbacks drag defenders down the field. The play selection screen is a lot clearer, limiting the number of plays to three at a time. The kick-off animation is amazing because it looks like the ball is headed right towards you! Keith Jackson provides serviceable play-by-play and text displays the result of each play. Referees now make calls on the field for penalities like pass interference, although these are rare occurrances. Despite its visual pizzazz Gamebreaker 99's gameplay stagnates badly. Before each play the quarterback slowly approaches the line, and while it looks dramatic it's very time consuming and annoying. You can hold the shoulder button to preview your receiver icons, but the camera zooms back so slowly you won't even want to bother! The close camera angles makes it hard to tell what's going on during running plays and passing is ridiculously hard. Throws hang in the air forever, giving defenders ample time to dive and knock the ball loose. Adding insult to injury, the referee often blows passes incomplete before the ball even reaches the receiver! Perhaps most annoying aspect of the game is the crowd noise. Once they begin to boo in the early stages of a game they will continue the boo nonstop for the entire remainder of the game! I guess they know a bad game when they see one. © Copyright 2015 The Video Game Critic.

As the first football game to grace the Playstation, NFL GameDay is a pretty sweet! It was certainly a step up from the 16-bit football games of the time. Ironically, what makes this game so cool is its 2D sprite graphics, which seem refreshing compared to today's polygon-based games. GameDay took the tried and true Madden formula and elevated it to the next level. Players on the field look pixelated up close but perfectly fine with the default camera view. The action on the field unfolds slowly but that gives you more time to survey the field. Unfortunately passes tend to be soft and floaty - you can't just zip it in there. Passes can be tipped, and I was amazed when I saw a defender dive after a tipped pass and pick it off! The extra buttons on the Playstation controller are effectively used to facilitate directional stiff arms and jukes, adding a new dimension to the running game. The triangle is the "catch" button. I don't know if it makes any difference on offense, but on defense it's very useful for breaking up passes. Diving is incredibly effective on defense, as you can often "pop" the ball out of a receiver's hand. The kicking meter moves up and down too fast, which is likely to frustrate beginners. Contests tend to be quiet affairs except for the understated crowd noise and crisp player grunts. When someone finally scores and that official NFL music booms out of your TV speaker, it will scare the hell out of you. I love the halftime show that features dancing cheerleaders and a helmet-shaped car that putts around the field. Thanks to a fast-moving clock and minimal lulls in the action, a game can be played in under a half hour. Surprisingly fun and oozing with old-school charm, NFL Gameday has held up extremely well over the years. © Copyright 2012 The Video Game Critic.

I'm not sure what the developers had in mind, but they wrecked this game. The intro gets you psyched by showing real footage of bone-crunching hits, but the actual game is disappointing. The first thing you'll notice is the graphics, which are severely degraded from the previous year. The animation is smoother and faster, but everything is lower in resolution. It doesn't help that the game zooms in very close, exposing you to an alarming degree of pixelation. The "total control passing" needlessly complicates the controls, and the "improved" AI can be obnoxious. Defenders blanket receivers so closely that you really need to get rid of the ball extra early to complete a pass. The play selection screen now shows four plays at a time (instead of three) but looks ugly and it's hard to make out the symbols. Diving tackles are still fun on defense, and the running game is easier so you're bound to pick up a yard or two even after being stacked up at the line. The stiff-arm works great in the open field, and during one play I effectively punched out a would-be tackler. Two issues they really needed to address were left unchanged, namely the touchy kicking meter and the inability to throw a hard pass. The PA announcer is new, but he's very dull and sometimes wrong ("A 10 yard gain on the play. Second down and one.") There are a few new cosmetic tweaks like nets behind the goalposts, banners in the stands, and cheerleaders on the sidelines. GameDay 97 made a lot of changes to the original game, but most were not for the better. © Copyright 2012 The Video Game Critic.

Unlike the previous edition, GameDay 99 made substantial improvements to the series. The players look ten times better, with polygons that look more rounded and less angular. Actual player photos are displayed between plays, and I was surprised to see Jim Harbaugh quarterbacking my Ravens. The two-man play-by-play is a terrific new feature. Dick Enberg and Phil Simms provide interesting dialogue that can be unintentionally funny. Phil: "You know Dick, I get the feeling that any moment now they're going to bust a big one." Quick - cut to commercial!! Other welcome additions include drive summaries, celebrations after big plays, and support for analog control. Penalties like pass interference are called, but they are few and far between. The kicking meter is much easier to use, and I love the new camera angle that gives you a clear view of the ball sailing through the uprights. GameDay 99 isn't without its growing pains however. The confusing new play selection screen displays two plays in the foreground and two in the background. Before each snap the quarterback moves slowly up to the line, so you'll need to hold in X to get his lazy ass moving. Stadiums like Mile High have plain blue backdrops that make them look as if they're floating in the sky. The game tends to cut away from passing plays too early - sometimes before you even know what happened. Despite its flaws, GameDay 99 is a well-rounded football game that gave Madden a run for the money. © Copyright 2012 The Video Game Critic.

GameDay 2000 delivers fast-moving, hard-hitting pigskin action, but often at the expense of realism. There are some interesting new features, but many come across as annoying or even comical. The new coin toss sequence takes forever to get started as the players slowly drag their asses to the center of the field. Does anybody want to play football around here?! The game's engine has been tinkered with, and I'm not sure it was for the better. The players look chunkier and collision detection is loose. The runningbacks appear to be sliding on ice at times. It's easy to break away for the big run, but when stopped short the game fails to account for forward progress! One new feature that rocked my world was the use of the "telestrator" during instant replays. It's so awesome that I wondered why it wasn't in Madden, considering John Madden pioneered the freakin' thing. I also enjoyed GameDay's first-down chain measurements, which are inexplicably missing from most football games. Vibration is supported, but your controller buzzes too often and frequently for no good reason. GameDay 2000 has its share of unintentionally funny moments. A lot of passes are tipped, and the commentator is always astounded that these aren't interceptions. The triangle button can be used to initiate a celebration animation after any play. Yes, only in GameDay 2000 can you make your quarterback perform an elaborate break-dance move after throwing an incomplete pass. During one play my kick returner pulled up lame, and it looked like he was trying to pull a monkey out of his butt as he struggled up the field. Some of the new tackle animations look more like body slams! What is this, professional wrestling? During a two-minute warning, my quarterback remained in place under center even after his teammates had walked away. The two-man commentating team is back, but this year they sound like crap! Not only is the dialogue filled with static, but the volume is all over the place. It's really irritating. Music was licensed for this game, but it's mainly a bunch of tired oldies like "Wooly Bully", "Respect", and "Working for a Living". That rendition of Moni Moni sounds awful. GameDay 2000 has a lot of entertainment value, but the franchise seemed to be slipping into mediocrity. © Copyright 2012 The Video Game Critic.

I wasn't expecting much from GameDay 2002, but this is probably the most satisfying edition since the original 1995 title. It's definitely the best looking. The screens are clean and attractive, sporting a new "glossy" look. On the field the player animation has been tightened up so there's less sliding around. The game has good balance, so both running and passing are equally fun. I like how runningbacks will sometimes fall forward for that extra yard instead of being stopped dead in their tracks. I noticed that if you hold in R1 before the snap, you now get a nice wide view of all of your receivers. Another notable improvement is the ability to call a timeout by simply pressing the select button. When the clock is ticking down, the last thing you want to do is fiddle with the menus! I love how in Ravens stadium you can see Jumbo-trons on each end which reflect the action on the field. One change I have mixed feelings about is the new kicking meter. It's a lot harder to use than the previous one, but it does add to the challenge. Speaking of kicking, why is it that the CPU always nails his field goals with perfect accuracy and power? Bogus! During one game the "chain gang" was called in after a third-down for a measurement, and the tip of the ball was clearly past the chain. You can imagine my dismay when my quarterback lined up for fourth and inches! I guess no football game is perfect, but on the Playstation, this is close enough. The GameDay series would continue through 2005. © Copyright 2012 The Video Game Critic.

This game generated some incredibly favorable reviews in its time, including some of the highest ratings ever awarded to a sports title. In retrospect, it's hard to argue. NHL 2000 has a polished, arcade style that anybody can pick up and enjoy. Its motion-captured animation appears smooth and natural, and the action moves at a break-neck pace. This may be the fastest hockey game I've ever played! The analog controls are responsive, but you can't pass the puck through a crowd as you can in other hockey games, which limits your one-timer opportunities. The "world famous" wrap-around-the-goal shot seems especially effective though. NHL 2000 has a few special features that make it more exciting that your garden-variety hockey game. The highlighted puck is easy to follow, and hard shots leave dramatic streaks behind them. When holding down the shoot button, a nifty "power meter" appears under your player. You can deliver some serious blows on defense, and it's even possible to knock an opponent through the glass! The play-by-play commentator has got to be the most enthusiastic I've ever heard ("Great save!") This guy gets so worked up that he sounds like he's going to have a heart attack! It's pretty hilarious. The color commentator, on the other hand, is so quiet you might not even notice him. The energetic music soundtrack features the hit "Push It" by Garbage. NHL 2000 is definitely a good time, but some may find it too chaotic. Also, the rink is wider than most hockey games, and your limited view makes it hard to keep track of your teammates. The instant replay system is awfully choppy, which is surprising considering how smooth the game moves at normal speed. You'll want to turn the fighting off, because these idiotic brawls consist of both players simply throwing lightning-fast jabs at each other with exaggerated sound effects. It's like a bad martial arts flick! The loading screen takes a while, but at least you get to view a photo of the arena you'll be playing in. It's easy to nit-pick, but pound for pound NHL 2000 is probably the best hockey game you'll find for the Playstation. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

Despite its age, NHL FaceOff delivers some seriously intense arcade-style hockey action. Much like NFL Gameday (Sony, 1995), FaceOff dishes out the sports action the old-fashioned way - with beautiful, pixilated 2D sprites. Okay, maybe it's not the best-looking hockey game for the Playstation, but it plays as good as any with fast, non-stop action. In terms of pure fun, this even compares favorably to those stellar NHL titles for the Genesis. The players are not very distinct and the animation is a bit choppy, but a smooth frame-rate makes it easy to follow the puck (although the action can get muddled in front of the net). FaceOff's use of sprites was once considered a liability, yet now it's part of the game's charm. There's no analog stick support, but you can still make pinpoint passes and quickly switch defenders. The CPU opponent is remarkably aggressive and even skillfully executes one-timers. Despite what the title would suggest, there are minimal faceoffs, thanks to CPU-controlled goalies that kick out the puck right away. There's no audio commentary, but the organ music, grunts, expressive crowd, and sound of scraping ice are very clear. The rich option menu includes a season mode, a create-a-player feature, and player "cards" with photos and statistics. As the very first hockey game for the Playstation, NHL Face is a remarkably strong effort that should not be overlooked by hockey fans. Some may even prefer this to the highly acclaimed NHL 2000 (Electronic Arts, 1999). © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

To be honest, I didn't expect the original Need For Speed (NFS) to age nearly as well as it has. When first released, NFS set a new standard for realism in a driving game. Granted, this was before Gran Turismo came along! NFS incorporates eight real-life "super cars", including the Lamborghini Diablo, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Ferrari 512TR, Acura NSX, Porche 911 Carrera, and Toyota Supra Turbo. The game emulates the cars' performance characteristics (allegedly) and there's an interesting "showcase" for each car, composed of narrated slides and stylish videos. I've never been a car nut, but a few of my friends were absolutely enthralled with all of this. Need For Speed earns an "A" for presentation. The attractive menu screens are well organized, and crystal clear photos of the cars are displayed during loads. One dead giveaway that NFS is an "older" game is the fact that almost all of the tracks are unlocked from the start (yes!). In most modern racers, you begin with only one lousy track and have to painstakingly unlock the rest! Need For Speed's locales range from a desert road, to snowy mountains, to my personal favorite, a gorgeous coastal highway. The races are exciting, and even the two-player split-screen mode is respectable. There are no CPU racers in the split screen mode, but at least there's oncoming traffic to spice things up. For the solo player there's a challenging tournament mode, and unlike modern racers with their "rubber band AI", if you fall too far behind the CPU cars you're not likely to catch up! The CPU drivers are aggressive too, running you off the road at every opportunity. One area where Need For Speed suffers is its stiff control, and it doesn't help that the analog stick is not supported. The frame-rate is fair, but in terms of sheer velocity, the game falls short of its title. Also, the boxy cars and seams in the scenery never let you forget you're playing a 1996 game. The audio consists of generic beats and guitar jams - nothing to get excited about, but still preferable to the "extreme" soundtracks of more recent games. In the end, Need For Speed isn't the showpiece it once was, but it's still worth pulling off the shelf every now and then. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

It's true - you can't stop Mr. Domino - that little bastard just keeps going and going! This game stirred quite a few emotions in me, from confusion, to frustration, to obsession. When first released in 1998, Mr. Domino was overrated by game magazines who were desperately searching for something original. Mr. Domino is certainly one of a kind, but it's also gratuitously difficult and frustrating. It's a puzzle game in constant motion. You guide a running domino man around a "track" strewn with obstacles and targets, leaving other dominos in your wake. The idea is to situate your dominos strategically so during the next lap you can knock them down onto target squares, triggering amusing (and often bizarre) animations. The problem is, if you don't set a domino in front of a target during one lap, you know it'll take at least two more laps to hit it, and that's demoralizing. Mr. Domino turns gray in color over time, and he'll eventually die unless you can refresh him by moving over a health square. If it sounds complicated so far, you also have to factor in a demanding obstacle course of barriers and moving hazards that spell cheap hits galore. But by far the worst part of the game is those "reset" squares that completely wipe out all of the progress you've made. It's very easy to accidentally run over these things, especially after hitting a speed boost. The control is responsive, but there's little room for error. The stages are interesting in a Micro Machines kind of way, and highlights include a convenience store and an amusement park. The electronic music is nothing short of amazing, and the game saves your current stage and high score. As tedious and maddening as Mr. Domino can be, I can't deny that I was intrigued enough to play for several hours straight. Once you "get it", it's an absorbing experience. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

This version of Novastorm is a different animal than the 3DO edition (1994), and it really doesn't compare well. The intro mixes live actors with grainy CGI graphics, which is par for the course for an early PS1 title. Apparently your character is the last hope of humanity against the evil Scarab forces or whatever. The grainy cutscenes are a lot less impressive than those in the 3DO version. Even the in-game graphics look a little rough, although the frame-rate is far smoother than anything the 3DO could pump out. The action is "on rails" as you view your ship from behind and enemies scale in from the horizon. The colorful landscapes you skim across look nice, especially the glacier stage with its flying ice sharks (not a typo). In addition to blasting enemies with rapid-fire weapons, you must avoid surface hazards like volcanic eruptions. Unfortunately, the swinging camera and lousy collision detection makes it almost impossible to skillfully navigate these areas (unless you memorize the patterns). It's hard to tell when you're taking damage, and by the time you hear the "shield low" warning it's usually too late. Your smart bombs will not protect you from enemy fire, so never let your guard down. Destroyed enemies occasionally drop gold icons that give you a major (but short lived) firepower boost. A few of the bosses look amazing due to good use of smooth textures and lighting effects. My biggest gripe with Novastorm is the poorly-tuned difficulty. Under the normal difficulty it's hard to advance far enough to enjoy the good power-ups, but on easy you can breeze through the game. High scores are not recorded. Novastorm could have been a decent arcade-style shooter, but it feels a little undercooked. © Copyright 2014 The Video Game Critic.