Jampack Winter 2000 (Rating: 8/10)
The Playstation has a lot of interesting games going for it. So what does Sony do to promote the stuff? The company makes a collection of demos for some games. That's not a bad idea, considering that I don't recall another company doing such thing.
This collection consists of 9 demos, 4 of which are demos of sports games. There are also demos of Spider-Man, Crash Bash, Spyro: Year of the Dragon, Army Men, and 102 Dalmations.
The demos provide plenty of different gameplay types. From swinging and beating up bad guys to platforming in 3D to pulling off tricks and stunts.
A few demos can be pretty cheap. For example, in Spider-Man, if you fall off a building, the demo instantly ends, and in Crash Bash, it's likely that you wouldn't always reach the 3rd minigame in Adventure Mode (There are time limits).
Still, unless you own the full versions of some of these games, it's worth a look. It's also worth noting that it never costs a lot. Some copies can be $5. Some may be less. Heck, there are existing copies worth one buck!
This collection consists of 9 demos, 4 of which are demos of sports games. There are also demos of Spider-Man, Crash Bash, Spyro: Year of the Dragon, Army Men, and 102 Dalmations.
The demos provide plenty of different gameplay types. From swinging and beating up bad guys to platforming in 3D to pulling off tricks and stunts.
A few demos can be pretty cheap. For example, in Spider-Man, if you fall off a building, the demo instantly ends, and in Crash Bash, it's likely that you wouldn't always reach the 3rd minigame in Adventure Mode (There are time limits).
Still, unless you own the full versions of some of these games, it's worth a look. It's also worth noting that it never costs a lot. Some copies can be $5. Some may be less. Heck, there are existing copies worth one buck!
Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness (Rating: 9/10)
Maze Madness was released not that long after Pac-Man World showcased a big platforming adventure starring everyone's favorite dot-muncher. Unlike Pac-Man World, though, Ms. Pac-Man: Maze Madness was actually more like the original arcade game, but heavily modified to feature obstacles, items, enemies, and a lot more! Oh, and there are areas where you do eat dots and avoid ghosts.
The graphics are pretty rad, the music is awesome, and the gameplay is Ms. Pac-Man modernized for the better.
The levels have unique designs, and they can actually be pretty challenging. Not in a way that is difficult (Although chances are there could be difficult parts), but there's actually kind of a puzzle-solving feel blended in with everything else. Sometimes, you gotta use your brain to progress forward. I think Namco did a good job with that.
Even without the puzzle-solving, there's all kinds of stuff to toy around with. You've got springs, power pellets and dots, TNT boxes, moving platforms, ice, etc, ETC.
As if Maze Madness wasn't big enough of a treat at this point, Namco also threw in the original Ms. Pac-Man arcade game. Nostalgic fans are welcome to step in and play...Ms. Pac-Man. Like the good ol' days.
Overall, Ms. Pac-Man: Maze Madness is an awesome new take on the Pac-Man formula. Pick this one up if you're a Pac-Man fan.
The graphics are pretty rad, the music is awesome, and the gameplay is Ms. Pac-Man modernized for the better.
The levels have unique designs, and they can actually be pretty challenging. Not in a way that is difficult (Although chances are there could be difficult parts), but there's actually kind of a puzzle-solving feel blended in with everything else. Sometimes, you gotta use your brain to progress forward. I think Namco did a good job with that.
Even without the puzzle-solving, there's all kinds of stuff to toy around with. You've got springs, power pellets and dots, TNT boxes, moving platforms, ice, etc, ETC.
As if Maze Madness wasn't big enough of a treat at this point, Namco also threw in the original Ms. Pac-Man arcade game. Nostalgic fans are welcome to step in and play...Ms. Pac-Man. Like the good ol' days.
Overall, Ms. Pac-Man: Maze Madness is an awesome new take on the Pac-Man formula. Pick this one up if you're a Pac-Man fan.
Pac-Man World (Rating: 10/10)
I've reviewed the later-released Game Boy Advance version of this game a while back, but this is THE real deal. I may have recommended the other version, but this original is infinitely better, making the other one look like crap. My Playstation library certainly isn't big, but I know for a fact that you need this game!
First off, the presentation is top-notch. You are treated to a couple 3D-animated FMV cutscenes. And then, BAM! As soon as the level begins, you wander at the amazingly colorful graphics, catchy lighthearted music, and as you start playing, the gameplay will get you hooked.
The gameplay is somewhat basic. You can run, jump, Rev Roll (Like Sonic 2's spin dash move), and throw the Pac-Dots you eat to create small explosions. Fortunately, it actually makes for a very fun time, especially as you progress through the levels. There are lots of tweaks in each level, filling things up with neat detail and differentiation. It could be a little hard to judge distance for where you would land after jumping, but you'll get used to it quickly.
The bosses are surprisingly VERY HARD! Unless you go onto YouTube or something to see how people beat the bosses, chances are, you'll be wasting a good amount of lives. But let me tell you this: King Galaxian is THE BEST BOSS LEVEL EVER! It changes the whole gameplay, letting you control a spaceship instead (a la Galaxian and Galaga) and shoot rows of alien ships! And then comes the boss itself, which still throws bad guys at ya, but also tries to suck your ship toward it (Galaga). Throughout all that, the music and even just the concept of the level makes up for what may possibly be a little frustrating boss fight.
Overall, this is a true must-have. It's a game with some of the best music, graphics, and gameplay all around that a Pac-Man game could ever offer.
First off, the presentation is top-notch. You are treated to a couple 3D-animated FMV cutscenes. And then, BAM! As soon as the level begins, you wander at the amazingly colorful graphics, catchy lighthearted music, and as you start playing, the gameplay will get you hooked.
The gameplay is somewhat basic. You can run, jump, Rev Roll (Like Sonic 2's spin dash move), and throw the Pac-Dots you eat to create small explosions. Fortunately, it actually makes for a very fun time, especially as you progress through the levels. There are lots of tweaks in each level, filling things up with neat detail and differentiation. It could be a little hard to judge distance for where you would land after jumping, but you'll get used to it quickly.
The bosses are surprisingly VERY HARD! Unless you go onto YouTube or something to see how people beat the bosses, chances are, you'll be wasting a good amount of lives. But let me tell you this: King Galaxian is THE BEST BOSS LEVEL EVER! It changes the whole gameplay, letting you control a spaceship instead (a la Galaxian and Galaga) and shoot rows of alien ships! And then comes the boss itself, which still throws bad guys at ya, but also tries to suck your ship toward it (Galaga). Throughout all that, the music and even just the concept of the level makes up for what may possibly be a little frustrating boss fight.
Overall, this is a true must-have. It's a game with some of the best music, graphics, and gameplay all around that a Pac-Man game could ever offer.
Rayman (Rating: 10/10)
The original Rayman is perhaps one of the finest platformers that ever came out. There's a reason why this game has been re-released for some times (Not as much as Rayman 2, but still). That reason is...everything.
The game has one of the best soundtracks I've ever listened to in a video game. I can tell there were LOTS of effort put into this masterpiece. You can even put the game into a CD player and it would play the music!
Before there was Ly, Lums, Razorbeard, the Rabbids, or even Globox for that matter, there was Rayman, the fairy that created him, and the evil Mr. Dark. This was a platformer that just suddenly improved upon everything people loved about platforming games. It had great gameplay, catchy music (as noted), and amazing graphics that reveal hugely detailed environments.
As you start the game, you only start out with the basics: Running and jumping. But that as you progress through, you get newer powers, such as being able to hang on platforms, THROW your FISTS at enemies (Man, that's cool), and >GASP< being able to fly for a short period of time! Sure, later games have these powers as staples to Rayman's character, but back when this was the only game out, you have to work your way to get these....and you would have fun doing it.
The problem is that younger gamers may be put off by the game's difficulty. Yeah, it is challenging, but some find it to actually be TOO challenging. Nevertheless, this is a gem that you should buy in case you have a Playstation lying around.
The game has one of the best soundtracks I've ever listened to in a video game. I can tell there were LOTS of effort put into this masterpiece. You can even put the game into a CD player and it would play the music!
Before there was Ly, Lums, Razorbeard, the Rabbids, or even Globox for that matter, there was Rayman, the fairy that created him, and the evil Mr. Dark. This was a platformer that just suddenly improved upon everything people loved about platforming games. It had great gameplay, catchy music (as noted), and amazing graphics that reveal hugely detailed environments.
As you start the game, you only start out with the basics: Running and jumping. But that as you progress through, you get newer powers, such as being able to hang on platforms, THROW your FISTS at enemies (Man, that's cool), and >GASP< being able to fly for a short period of time! Sure, later games have these powers as staples to Rayman's character, but back when this was the only game out, you have to work your way to get these....and you would have fun doing it.
The problem is that younger gamers may be put off by the game's difficulty. Yeah, it is challenging, but some find it to actually be TOO challenging. Nevertheless, this is a gem that you should buy in case you have a Playstation lying around.
The Three Stooges (Rating: 8/10)
Despite the fact that the Three Stooges is one the funniest comedy series EVER, it all had a very strange history (Notably Curly and whoever replaces him dies). Believe it or not, the video game based on various Stooges films also had a weird history. It was developed for Amiga and DOS, was later licensed by Activision for NES, and was eventually released onto the Game Boy Advance. Now we have a Playstation version, which is a port (GBA) of a port (DOS/Amiga).
===GAME REVIEW===
This could have been any kind of game, really. It could have been a platformer with the license stapled onto it. But nope. Instead, the developers have taken a more minigame-based approach with said minigames being based off of classic Stooges films! This was what had me curious. And the game itself was certainly no disappointment.
The game involves the Stooges attempting to save an orphanage (Is this where the recent movie had its storyline from?) by getting $5000 dollars. More important than that, it has you participate in a cracker-eating contest, get jobs as doctors or waiters (Pie fight!), etc. All of which are definitely based on Stooges films. However, to play a certain minigame, you have to select one in a Roulette-ish fashion. Do not select the mousetraps!
Although there's sort of a limited number of minigames to play, there is also a trivia game (For hardcore fans only) as well as a chance for Moe to beat the heck out of the other 2 Stooges in that same humorous style as in the original series. There would also be an opportunity to collect bonus money.
Even if you hadn't checked out how the game plays, the mere presentation would totally appeal to you. The first thing that happens on-screen is that the game happens to have a title screen for some other game. Then the Stooges come, and Curly says "Hey! We're in the wrong game!" I cracked up when I saw that! Not to mention, the game throughout has neat comedy bits to stay faithful to the series. The music was a little wonky, but the graphics were pretty neat (Although I'm not sure those that played this version first would say the same), and there's a good amount of voice samples from the trio.
Overall, if you are a Three Stooges fan, or if you like playing solo minigame collections (Such as...Rayman Raving Rabbids??), this is for you.
===GAME REVIEW===
This could have been any kind of game, really. It could have been a platformer with the license stapled onto it. But nope. Instead, the developers have taken a more minigame-based approach with said minigames being based off of classic Stooges films! This was what had me curious. And the game itself was certainly no disappointment.
The game involves the Stooges attempting to save an orphanage (Is this where the recent movie had its storyline from?) by getting $5000 dollars. More important than that, it has you participate in a cracker-eating contest, get jobs as doctors or waiters (Pie fight!), etc. All of which are definitely based on Stooges films. However, to play a certain minigame, you have to select one in a Roulette-ish fashion. Do not select the mousetraps!
Although there's sort of a limited number of minigames to play, there is also a trivia game (For hardcore fans only) as well as a chance for Moe to beat the heck out of the other 2 Stooges in that same humorous style as in the original series. There would also be an opportunity to collect bonus money.
Even if you hadn't checked out how the game plays, the mere presentation would totally appeal to you. The first thing that happens on-screen is that the game happens to have a title screen for some other game. Then the Stooges come, and Curly says "Hey! We're in the wrong game!" I cracked up when I saw that! Not to mention, the game throughout has neat comedy bits to stay faithful to the series. The music was a little wonky, but the graphics were pretty neat (Although I'm not sure those that played this version first would say the same), and there's a good amount of voice samples from the trio.
Overall, if you are a Three Stooges fan, or if you like playing solo minigame collections (Such as...Rayman Raving Rabbids??), this is for you.