Hot Wheels Turbo Racing zooms to your heart

The worst mistake a gamer could make is to dismiss this game as just for kids and take a pass on it. While the game holds all the standard fare for a racing game, the nostaglia involved in playing, not to mention the pure fun you have makes this offering from Stormfront Studios (published by EA) one of the best games in the racing genre. Let’s face facts — we all played with Hot Wheels cars growing up. We had the funny cars, the buggys, and of course the Scooby Doo lookin’ Mystery Machine van. One of the best parts … Continue reading Hot Wheels Turbo Racing zooms to your heart

Populous: The Beginning is a devine rebirth

A standard refrain in any industry is that "everything old is new again." Old movies get remade, old songs get covered by new bands, and old cars always have a chance at a comeback. This year a classic was re-released. Still using the same familiar lines as the old model, the new version is peppier, cooler looking, has bright new colors, and lots of little extras. No, I’m not talking about the new Volkswagen Beetle, I’m talking about Populous: The Beginning. Oh, the hours I used to waste playing the original of this game! Back before StarCraft, Civilization, and Alpha-Centauri … Continue reading Populous: The Beginning is a devine rebirth

Lands of Lore III is a worthy sequel

When I first picked up the box I was not sure how I was going to like Lands of Lore 3. The original Lands of Lore rates as one of my all time favorites, but LoL2, while not bad, did not measure up to the original. My first impression of LoL3 was good. The box was visually impressive and based on the pictures, the graphics looked awesome to say the least. A quick look at the box told me that there were the four standard guilds or classes to choose from, and something new — a guild familiar for each … Continue reading Lands of Lore III is a worthy sequel

Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun misses StarCraft’s mark

Command and Conquer’s release back in 1995 was the start of a gaming empire the likes of which we have never seen. For a game that started as an upgrade to Westwood’s last strategy masterpiece, Dune 2, it inspired a whole new gaming genre that has seen numerous clones and spin-offs. And even C & C itself promoted its own sequel, called Tiberian Sun. Now we’ve been waiting for almost 4 years for this sequel, and aside from a pseudo-sequel, Red Alert, and a mulitplayer action title called Sole Survivor, Tiberian Sun still was on the top of every C … Continue reading Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun misses StarCraft’s mark

Dungeon Keeper 2 makes evil oh so good

I know we’ve all been through those games where a hero goes through a dungeon in search of treasure, only to have the most vile, insidious monsters lurking at every corner. But how many of us wanted to take on the other side? We all really wanted to be the most evil dungeon creator ever known, setting up the most hideous traps and recruiting the lowest of the low to patrol our dank, dark corridors. Bullfrog took this idea and ran with their original Dungeon Keeper, and now with the sequel, it looks like Bullfrog is still doing what it … Continue reading Dungeon Keeper 2 makes evil oh so good

System Shock 2

Almost five years ago, Looking Glass Technologies took the idea of the typical first person shooter, and implemented it into a futuristic role-playing style environment. The role-playing theme worked successfully in their past games Ultima Underworld I and II. And their futuristic version, System Shock, was just as successful. In fact, System Shock has been rated by certain publications as one of the greatest games of all time. It was almost inevitable for a sequel to arrive, and now that sequel is here. And just like its predecessor, it is something to remember. Taking place 30 years after the first … Continue reading System Shock 2

SimCity 3000 builds on a familiar favorite

Listen up, this is the Mayor speaking! What you haven’t heard of me before? Why, I’ve been the mayor (read "dictator") of several successful towns, some with populations of almost two million people. My least whim can topple enterprises, my slightest fancy can cause a freeway to be built next to your house. This is the fantasy that Maxis has been offering control freaks like myself for years. You get put in as mayor of your own town. No election, no campaign, you merely appoint yourself for life. Of course, it does help that you are also the town founder. … Continue reading SimCity 3000 builds on a familiar favorite

Alpha Centauri is A+ all the way

When I first started college, I was exposed to a game that was unlike any other; a game that took the concept of playing a world leader and enhanced it deeply. It was also a game that was responsible for me spending many sleepless hours just trying to conquer one more city. That game was Sid Meier’s Civilization, considered by many as the greatest game of all time. That was, until Civilization 2 came out in 1995. With an easier to operate interface and a multimedia facelift, Civ 2 resurrected all those factors that I loved about the original Civilization. … Continue reading Alpha Centauri is A+ all the way

ReBoot

Reboot is a very enjoyable game, whether you’re a fan of the television series or not. For those who have not seen the show, it’s about a group of people who live inside a computer and have to protect the mainframe from intrusions like viruses and people playing games. The main character is the guardian of the mainframe, Bob. In the PlayStation version of the game, Bob moves effortlessly aboard his Zipboard, trying to rid the mainframe of tears that sap it of its energy. Control is accurate as you get the hang of the physics of the zipboard, sort … Continue reading ReBoot

Run and Gun with Electronic Art’s Need For Speed III

We can usually expect a good game from Electronic Arts, and Need for Speed III is on the right track. Compared to other racing games-Need for Speed 1,2, and Ridge Racer, this is by far the best example of a really fun car racing package. The graphics and flexibility in this game are what make it so entertaining and it delivers heart racing action. In our test kitchens, we examined the handling, excitement and options of this game, and it came up a winner. The handling of the cars is great, much improved over the sluggish handling of earlier versions. … Continue reading Run and Gun with Electronic Art’s Need For Speed III