Reader reviews, page 250

Reader Xbox

Tetris Worlds review

For the last fifteen teen years, Alexey Pajitnov's classic puzzle game has seen countless remakes and copycats. Most of these renditions fail to even breathe new life into the simple game of tetris and Tetris Worlds is no different. Armed…

evilpoptart937 · September 27, 2004

Reader Game Boy Advance HG exclusive

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga review

What comes to mind when someone says "RPG"? Some may think of the good ol' days playing D&D, while others see colorful Final Fantasy worlds with chocobos, airships and enormous weapons. Still, the picture is generally the same: swords…

eoib · September 27, 2004

Reader Arcade

DoDonPachi review

Do Don Pachi is packed with ecstasy, not the brain rotting drug but the mixed feelings of apprehension, excitement and anger. The three combined create an unknown emotion that seems to be locked inside the human system, until one plays Do…

goldenvortex · September 26, 2004

Reader PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

ESPN NHL 2K5 review

When you say hockey you think of a few things. Fighting, toothless Canadians, and organ music playing the chicken dance are the first things that come to mind. When talking about hockey in terms of video games only one thing comes to mind…

espnking2002 · September 25, 2004

Reader GameCube

Viewtiful Joe review

Superheroes. They're fictional, of course. Only people pretending to be other people, smoke and mirrors and CGI, wrapped up in committee-approved drama, projected from printed celluloid upon glittering silver screen. It's nice, though, to…

autorock · September 25, 2004

Reader Arcade

Guwange review

If you see that the company Atlus has something to do with a videogame, it’s a pretty safe bet that game will be a wee bit out of the ordinary. You might end up bribing monsters to slay the deities of your choice OR you could take control…

overdrive · September 24, 2004

Reader PlayStation 2

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers review

As you sit there waiting for your new Two Towers game to begin, you begin to watch the opening FMV sequence. The first few words out of your mouth are “Ooh, Pretty…” in your most Homer Simpson esque voice possible. Then, to your surprise…

heroofthewinds · September 23, 2004

Reader Sega Master System

Phantasy Star review

Back in the day, Phantasy Star was simply amazing. This shining Star, one of the rare role-playing games for the Sega Master System, dazzled players with gorgeous graphics, monster animations and a huge quest that took brave heroine Alis…

overdrive · September 22, 2004

Reader NES

Ikari Warriors review

I first encountered the plodding Ikari Warriors at the local Spaghetti Warehouse, tucked between Stun Runner and some random football game. In those carefree days, I thought Ikari Warriors was good, and I mean "good" in a sense other than…

lilica · September 21, 2004

Reader Genesis

Contra: Hard Corps review

Contra. Forgive me the mild cliché, but the Nicaragua connection is too good not to bring up first thing, every time. Really now: the Contras were rapists, murderers, and terrorist thugs who plagued the countryside of a hapless Central…

denouement · September 19, 2004

Reader Game Boy

Baseball review

Baseball delivers an experience as generic as its name. Some may view this as a glaring flaw, but this Game Boy launch title revels in its simplistic graphics and arcade style gameplay. However, instead of building on that solid…

woodhouse · September 18, 2004

Reader PlayStation

Einhander review

In an age where mundane RPGs and over-the-top sequels rule the market, it’s rare to even hear the word ‘3D shooter’ out of any gamer’s mouth. The genre that had its golden days back on the Genesis is seldom heard of anymore. When put…

Sclem · September 17, 2004

Reader Sega CD

ESPN Baseball Tonight review

I can imagine the atmosphere at a ball game. The tension as you watch a member of your hopeful team at the bat with the pitcher ready to throw, the smell of this fat guy's hot dog behind you, the organ music booming in the background and…

goldenvortex · September 16, 2004

Reader NES

Contra review

On first glance, Scorpion and Mad Dog, the ultra-violent and oh-so-cool heroes of Contra, are much more studly than I could ever hope to be. While I’m sitting at home, giving new meaning to the term “couch potato”, they are out ridding the…

overdrive · September 15, 2004

Reader Sega Master System

Shinobi review

It’s a well known fact that arcade translations on a console will look like a slight downgrade from the original. It was a lot more so in the 16-bit era of gaming but it started very briefly on the 8-bit Sega Master System and the NES. It…

goldenvortex · September 14, 2004

Reader Sega Master System

Altered Beast review

After playing the 16-bit version of the game Altered Beast almost to death I was eager to see the 8-bit rendition of the game. Of course I wasn’t expecting much, as I knew everything that was good in the 16-bit version would probably be…

goldenvortex · September 14, 2004

Reader Arcade

SonSon review

SonSon is a shooter inspired by the Chinese folktale “Journey to the West”, where cult shows like “Dragonball” and “Monkey Magic” got their ideas from. Basically it followed the adventures of Gokuu, a Monkey God with an array of magical…

goldenvortex · September 14, 2004

Reader SNES

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest review

After the release of the ever-lasting Donkey Kong Country, I was anticipating a sequel. I had a great time swinging through the jungle, creeping through caves and riding on cool animal assists. I wanted to experience it again but with all…

goldenvortex · September 14, 2004

Reader Arcade

Lupin III review

Resolved: That Lupin the 3rd is an excellent manga/animé, and by the same token, his success should therefore translate well to video games. Today I might argue that case, but if someone posited this debate in 1980, when an arcade game…

snowdragon · September 14, 2004

Reader Arcade

Oh My God! review

You may be wondering what kind of game could be called “Oh My God!”. I never thought that they could actually make a game called “Oh My God!” but Atlus seemed to have next to no problem with it. It is an arcade game that didn’t reach…

goldenvortex · September 13, 2004