Release Date: 11/04/1997 Platform: Playstation 1 Developer: Psygnosis
You know, 1997 doesn’t seem so far away for some people, but popping this game back in my old PlayStation and seeing how some games age makes the time seem as long as it should. Sometimes longer than that even. Colony Wars was a favorite of people who had fallen in love with early space simulations. Wing commander was as close as most people thought they could come. The controls were extremely clunky and the action was more of the ‘waiting for things to happen’ sort (it was pretty cool for the time though). Then comes along Colony Wars. With controls that were far more smooth and fast married to action that would become truly hectic at the drop of a dime it became an almost overnight sensation – which was quite an achievement considering the type of game it was. It was so good in fact that it quickly influenced a generation of new developers and was soon forgotten about almost completely as the Space Shooting genre took off. A clear case of doing a job too well and not having the foresight to run with the results, I’m afraid. Let’s see what you’ve missed, eh?!
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Developer: Sega Publisher: Sega Release Date: January 24, 2000 Platform: Dreamcast
YOU’RE ONE HELL OF A DRIVER!!
I can’t believe that it’s been almost a decade since this came out. Crazy Taxi was one of the games that made me buy a Dreamcast (along with SoulCaliber and Jet Grind Radio). At the time there was nothing like it. In fact, there really hasn’t been much like it since the series dissolved into nothingness (Crazy Taxi 3 failed to impress most gamers on the original Xbox). But to this day I can still pick up the ‘ol DC controller and put in a few hours if I’m looking for some quick arcade satisfaction. No idea what I’m talking about? Never played the game? Shame on you!!
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Developer: Sonic Team Publisher: Sega
Release Date: October 18, 2000 Platform: Dreamcast
DUDE. THIS GAME ROCKS…GOD I WISH THERE WAS A PANTERA COVER IN HERE OR SOMETHING…
You know, I still have the maracas that came with this game. They’re in perfect condition. Know why I still have these maracas in perfect condition? Because when I attempted to use them the first few times, I looked like an idiot and couldn’t find a good spot for the sensors, so I defaulted to using the gamepad instead. Sure, it made the game waaay easier, but at the higher difficulty levels, it was still pretty damn challenging – even impossible for some.
Now that the release is just shy of a decade, I dusted off the old maracas and decided to give it another whirl. Two things I learned: I really need to find some component cables for my Dreamcast, and this game is pretty damn fun when set up properly. Thankfully, growing older has given me much more patience.
Unfortunately, I still look like a goddamn idiot waving those maracas about. Some things don’t change apparently.
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Developer: NaNaOn-Sha Publisher: SCEA Release Date: Oct 31st, 1997 Platform: PlayStation
OVER TEN YEARS LATER AND YOU STILL GOTTA BELIEVE.
I found myself popping this classic in a couple of days ago, and to my surprise, I went back to it again and again, like no time has passed at all. This game is known as the muse for such series as Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. It sounds odd, I know, but not so much when you compare gameplay elements.
So how does this super awesome PS1 game stand up after twelve years? There’s only one way to find out.
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Developer: ATARI INC. Publisher: ATARI INC.
Release Date: June 11th 1982 Platform: ATARI 2600
Some people have told me that this retro-review is redundant, that anyone who knows video games knows exactly what I’m going to write before I write it. And they’re right.
But they can kiss my ass regardless. Just like the people who coded this atrocity of a ‘video game’.
And since everybody seems to know what I’m gonna write you can just go ahead and fill out the rest of this introduction in your little pointy skulls.
Dicks.
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Developer: Point Of View Publisher: Midway
Release Date: 2000 (Various) Platforms: PlayStation, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, Game Boy Advance
When you think about it, the boxing genre has the most hot-or-cold track record. Series such as Punch Out! and Fight Night (previously Knockout Kings) currently represent the upper echelon of efforts. The few barely capable titles (Facebreaker, Victorious Boxer) represent the very thin crust between the awful and the exceptional. The titles that qualify as awful need not be mentioned here. You know who they are.
*AHEM* Don King *
And then of course there is Ready 2 Rumble. It’s been just under ten years since the last release. I had actually written this series off until I heard of the new chapter Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution appearing on the Wii in March. So I felt it fitting to take a look back at what Midway had given us the last time around.
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Developer: Accolade Publisher: Infogrames
Release Date: Oct. 31st, 1999 Platform: Dreamcast (also on PC)
You know, I love doing Retro Reviews for the Dreamcast. Ever since the system died, I just haven’t been playing it as much. And although any excuse is a good one, playing it for work just seems the best reason.
And I’ve been working on this review all week. 
Slave Zero has been labeled as a ‘forgettable’ game. But of course, I beg to differ. At the time, games like SZ showed us how far consoles had come to becoming the home arcade we had all hoped for. And the fact that it still garners a fair bit of chatter online places it firmly in the ‘overlooked’ section of gaming history as far as I’m concerned.
Know what? Hit the link to see what I’m talking about.
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Developer: H20 Entertainment Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo 64 Release Date: August 11th, 1997
It’s a shame that so few people remember this game. But those that do have very fond memories, I’ll tell you what! Don’t forget that this game was originally called Phear by Atari, who lost it in 1995. All you Tetris purists out there probably want to know that if you didn’t already.
The concept is pretty straightforward. Tetris + Layers + Sphere = Awesome. The goal is to reach the core (complete with cute little googly-eyes and everything) by eliminating several layers that surround it. It takes a few minutes to adjust to the sphere aspect of the classic game. But when you do, you have one of the most enjoyable and engaging versions of Tetris ever conceived.
So let’s jump in and show you what you’ve been missing, yeah?
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Developer: Shiny Entertainment Publisher: Interplay
Release Date: Sept. 30th, 1998 Platform: PlayStation
Wow. I wouldn’t want to be that guy…
I used to love Shiny Ent. back in the day. They gave us Earthworm Jim, MDK and RC Stunt Copter. After a couple iffy games (Messiah, Sacrifice and a couple of Matrix games – ’nuff said) they got bought out and that was that.
But I will always thank them for Wild 9.
‘Torture Your Enemies’ was the slogan used. And as protagonist Wex Major, he dealt out the torture like no one else at the time. In today’s conditions, a game that touts torture as a form of entertainment would more than likely be shelved for, you know, forever. But in the late 90’s, it was fair game.
And come on, your enemies are robots with green juice in them (but could strangely feel pain…huh). Regardless, screw those guys.
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Developer: Smilebit Publisher: Sega Release Date: 11/01/2000
As I begin to write this article, I realize how much I miss this series. I was very much into this game when it came out and I am still very much into it today. When this came out I was working at a local bakery and living with a couple friends in town. We were all blown away by two things, the smoothness of the gameplay and the fact that it was a graffiti tagging game. I still think it’s a great concept. It reminds me of the book ‘The Warriors’ written by Sol Yurick. Good shit to say the least.
So for those of you not too well versed on the Dreamcast and it’s games let me give you some insight. You may very well go hunting for the system at your local game store after a few of these retro reviews. Although I believe you should do that anyways.
So let’s go.
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