Staff reviews, page 198

Genji: Dawn of the Samurai review

Genji: Dawn of the Samurai is special for many reasons, the least of which is its gold foil packaging. Seen as Sony of Japan's response to the US developed God of War, eager gamers have declared it a visual masterpiece with all the sword…

Michael Scott · July 10, 2005

Staff NES HG exclusive

Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti review

At first the explicit violence that Splatterhouse is best known for makes it seem like a pretty unlikely choice for an SD game, but it actually ends up being the best entry in the series.

Sho · July 9, 2005

Staff PC HG exclusive

Half-Life 2 review

Like Half-Life's Black Mesa, it's a place infused with an atmosphere and culture that you can only experience through microcosms. Even more so than VALVe's immortal debut FPS, Half-Life 2 is a single, seamless scripted journey that's not…

Daniel Forbes · July 9, 2005

Staff PlayStation

Star Ocean: The Second Story review

Star Ocean: The Second Story manages to stand out because it still shines so bright.

Gary Hartley · July 9, 2005

Staff SNES

Lagoon review

It’s a shame that the soundtrack is so damn rare or I’d strongly recommend just forgetting the game entirely and enjoying the fantastic score instead.

Sho · July 9, 2005

Staff PlayStation 2 HG exclusive

Death by Degrees review

When I heard about Death By Degrees, I was intrigued. Long story short: it failed. I still don't care about Nina Williams. Actually, it's worse than that — Death By Degrees makes this walking piece of plastic's lack of personality even…

Zigfried · July 4, 2005

Staff PlayStation 2

Killer 7 review

Sadly though, much like its overly complicated story, Killer 7's action comes across as a schizophrenic hodgepodge of ideas, never once living up to the sum of its parts. It's clear that Suda 51 wanted to create something artistic…

Michael Scott · July 2, 2005

Staff Famicom Disk System HG exclusive

Akumajou Dracula review

Creatures of the night, exchanging glances . . .

Sho · June 29, 2005

Staff Sega CD HG exclusive

The Secret of Monkey Island review

Let me make this clear from the beginning: The Secret of Monkey Island is a classic point & click adventure chock full of oddball humor and zesty piratey goodness. The Sega CD translation, however, does a fine job of languishing on a dusty…

Sho · June 29, 2005

Staff Genesis HG exclusive

James Bond 007: The Duel review

It’s difficult to say which side of this battle is the more feebleminded; it’s a close race. Enemy henchmen run on-screen and fire a shot at you within a second of appearing. Because they are unbelievably stupid, they can fire only on a…

K T · June 28, 2005

Staff Xbox HG exclusive

Conker: Live & Reloaded review

Each location contains a few attractions and links to one or two other zones. You’ll have to dash between them throughout your adventure if you want to uncover everything, Metroid-style. This was probably intended to make you feel like…

Jason Venter · June 23, 2005

Staff PlayStation

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars review

The first few scenes of the game will see George, armed with a surprisingly competent voice actor, subtly mock the French authorities before hitting on Nico, a freelance newspaper photographer. This will all, of course, lead to the rather…

Gary Hartley · June 22, 2005

Staff Xbox

Batman Begins review

The question of the day is this: how did a company such as Electronic Arts succeed where so many others have failed? Indeed, if anything their involvement should have been a warning sign, a clear indicator that Batman Begins was destined…

Michael Scott · June 19, 2005

Staff SNES HG exclusive

Choujikuu Yousai Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie review

But do not fail to take advantage of your craft’s second capability. While you fly along idly, perhaps through a rare spot of peacefulness where no foes dwell and your guns lay resting silently, a gold, magnetic electricity will surround…

K T · June 17, 2005

Staff Genesis HG exclusive

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master review

The settings don't just differ from area to area --- they completely change in theme within stages. Your five-minute horseback ride --- during which, as in every level, you battle with a midpoint boss --- is followed by an entry into a…

K T · June 17, 2005

Staff Saturn

FIST review

With such a lackluster assortment of characters, the only solution is to compound the problem with one of the worst assortments of special moves ever envisioned. You know you're in trouble when one of the special moves is literally called…

Zigfried · June 16, 2005

Staff Nintendo 64

Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishousha review

Sin & Punishment was going to be a defining moment for the Nintendo 64... too bad there was nobody left to care. Released exclusively in Japan at a time when most gamers had already moved onto greener pastures, mainstream success seemed to…

Michael Scott · June 14, 2005

Staff NES HG exclusive

Balloon Fight review

Starbuck faces shortcomings in technology that don’t hinder his enemy. When he manages to pop an enemy’s singular balloon (to William J. Starbuck’s advantage, he has two balloons!), they have parachutes that allow them to fall gently…

K T · June 10, 2005

Staff Genesis HG exclusive

Road Rash II review

There’s little you can’t do, and there isn’t much that can’t happen, especially over the course of a full race. Fight off the aptly named WAR HAMMER with your bare fists or with an available weapon; swerve in and out of the lanes, avoiding…

K T · June 10, 2005

Staff NES HG exclusive

Jaws review

Your average encounter with Jaws himself plays out just like any other confrontation; he’ll swim back and forth as you spew rice at him. He’ll swim in your general direction, but unless your deep-sea diver suddenly loses all of his motor…

K T · June 10, 2005