by Ken Gagne

Video games can be serious business, especially when it comes to making sense of the myriad choices available this holiday season. 

The video game market is currently supporting more systems successfully than any other single time in its history. The Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, and Sony PlayStation 2 are all competing for consumer televisions, while the Game Boy Advance offers portable pocket gaming. Each system has its own strengths and unique library of entertainment titles. Though the hardware varies in capability and expansion opportunities, the best criterion for any console purchase is the selection of appropriate software. Some games exist for all systems, while others are exclusive to one or two systems. The following games are some of the best titles released for each system this year. 

The perennial party favorite returns in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! for Nintendo GameCube. This racing game sports multiplayer mayhem as popular Nintendo characters team up to drive tandem karts, with one person behind the wheel and another acting as gunner, launching turtle shells and banana peels at opponents. Up to four players can race or battle, or eight people can network multiple GameCubes and televisions for massive tournaments. 

Another Nintendo series returns on the GameCube in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. A young boy, a wicked warlock, and a princess in distress are elements of this 3D adventure set in a watery world. The hero Link must sail the seas and recover magical artifacts to defeat the villain Ganon. The cartoonish art style may dissuade more mature gamers who can't see past the surface into the involving gameplay, while younger gamers will need patience for both problem-solving and the long journeys between islands. 

For an aquatic adventures with less action, try Everblue 2, a PlayStation 2 game from Capcom. Players become scuba divers and salvagers, collecting junk, lost personal possessions, and legendary treasures from sunken cruise ships, planes, submarines, and pirate ships. The sale of recovered items funds the purchase of better equipment, allowing gamers to dive deeper and longer; otherwise, if they run out of air or health, or are carrying too much luggage, it's game over. Though the occasional shark or man-o-war will strike, evasion is the only option, as Everblue is entirely non-combative. With so many tasks and treasures, the game is both relaxing and addictive. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the not-so-relaxing PlayStation 2 and PC perversity known as Silent Hill 3, the biennial installment in Konami's survivor horror series. The resort town of Silent Hill has intersected with a dark dimension possessed by demons and unnatural monstrosities. Heroine Heather must discern her connection to this nightmare while surviving brutal onslaughts and mysterious encounters. The story connects directly with the first Silent Hill game, rewarding players who have previously experienced the series. Disturbing images and a pervasively profane atmosphere render this game for adults only. 

It's less frightening to take up arms against the underworld in Konami's other gothic game, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, for the Game Boy Advance. Castlevania, the home of the ancient and evil Dracula, has reappeared in the year 2029. Trapped among its evil inhabitants, young Soma Cruz must employ both the classic armaments of swords and axes with futuristic weaponry to escape the vampire lord's domain. This action-adventure game challenges players to collect the souls of Soma's enemies, each which increases his range of moves. Fatalistic fiends will try the skills and souls of even the hardiest vampire hunter. 

From dungeons and demons to dragons, take to the skies in Panzer Dragoon Orta, an Xbox game from Sega. A highly advanced civilization long ago wrought its own destruction; now, an age of unearthed technology clashes with fantastical creatures. A young girl of unknown origin is chosen by a dragon, a creature thought extinct, to help overthrow the draconian Empire currently enslaving the world. This flying game moves airborne gamers along a set path, but allows them the freedom to combat hostiles from 360 degrees, as the both the dragon and its foes can circle to any of each other's sides, calling for swift decision-making and button-pushing as players sweat and tear over its extreme difficulty. 

Remain airborne in Skies of Arcadia Legends, a GameCube role-playing game (RPG) by Sega. Air pirates inhabit this fantasy world of floating islands and endless skies, where ancient crystals are being revived to threaten the six kingdoms. With all the vibrancy and enjoyable storytelling of the early Final Fantasy games, Skies of Arcadia has aged well since its original release for the Sega Dreamcast some years ago. 

Technology and fantasy are combined in another galaxy far, far, away in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, published by LucasArts for both the Xbox and Windows. Set 4,000 years before the events of the films, this Star Wars role-playing game lets players tailor their own protagonist with which to venture forth and defeat a Dark Jedi uprising. Gamers will converse with hundreds of people, spanning hours of spoken dialogue, and will be presented with decisions that will determine whether they fall to the Light or Dark side of the Force. The massive inventory and complex gameplay system isn't for people looking for a simple, fast-paced time, but Knights draws fans in as few Star Wars games do. 

You needn't travel to the stars to find conflict. Nintendo's Advance Wars 2 for the Game Boy Advance offers strategic struggles as players plot against the imperialistic Black Hole army. Using a gridded map, players move units representing tanks, bombers, infantry, and batteries, while managing resources to produce new units in the fight. Two Game Boys can be connected for players to battle against each other, or to swap terrain maps they've created for custom campaigns. The animated setting and lack of demonstrated violence make this game appropriate for any age of gamer willing to think through her moves. 

More frantic but no less calculating is the combat in Soul Calibur II, a fighting game for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube. Published by Namco, Soul Calibur pits two fighters wielding swords, nunchakus, polearms, staves, and whips against each other in 3D arenas. Each warrior has a vast repertoire of detailed maneuvers to master, elevating combat to an art style. Exclusive to each version of this game is a unique character: the comic book character Spawn on Xbox; on PlayStation 2, Tekken's unarmed Heihachi; and best of all, Link, the hero of Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series, on GameCube. 

Soul Calibur II is a worthy sequel, as are many of the best games of 2003. With decades of franchises under its belt, the electronic entertainment industry has made an art of resurrecting old licenses and preserving their heritage while updating them for a new generation of consumers. This remodeling doesn't always succeed, but the above nine sequels are proof that, this holiday season, what's old is often worth being new again.

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This article is copyright (c) 2003, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Gamebits, 01-Dec-03

by Ken Gagne

There's nothing cooler than video games, especially in the face of summer heat. These ten computer and video games will keep you entertained, no matter the weather. They can be purchased or preordered at any software or electronics store, and will ship to consumers and retailers on the given dates, which are subject to change at the publisher's discretion.

Title	: WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$
Platform	: Game Boy Advance
ESRB Rating	: Everyone
Available	: Now

Nintendo dominates the handheld market with the Game Boy Advance, which is the perfect system for long journey or a passing moment. WarioWare is suited to shorter attention spans, containing over 200 mini-games that require more reflexes than brains. Though some challenges may seem simple or absurd, such as brushing one's teeth or shaking a dog's paw, others games are based on Nintendo classics, including Metroid and the boxing game Punch-Out! The frenetic activity will accommodate many anxious gamers

Title	: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Platform	: Xbox
ESRB Rating	: Teen
Available	: 6/17

Though nearly 60 games have been spun off from George Lucas' handful of movies, LucasArts continues to take new angles on the Star Wars universe. One of the latest offerings is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, a role-playing game (RPG) set 4,000 years before any of the films' events in an era when Jedi and Sith numbered hundreds, if not thousands, more than in Luke Skywalker's time. Technology hasn't changed, but worlds and people have, creating an almost blank slate in which players can play as humans, droids, Wookies, and more, as they strive to defeat the practitioners of the dark side of the Force. A PC version is due in the fall

Title	: Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness
Platform	: PlayStation 2, PC
ESRB Rating	: Teen
Available	: 6/18

Indiana Jones' female counterpart, Lara Croft, has been beset by innumerable delays in this game, originally due long ago. Subtitled "Angel of Darkness", the game will finally be released this summer alongside Angelina Jolie's "The Cradle of Life", the movie sequel to her 2001 film. The movie may prove the better of the two, as Angel of Darkness's development has been hampered by graphical issues and uninspired gameplay. Though this Tomb Raider may not be an improvement over its predecessors, fans of the series will nonetheless enjoy slinking through shadows of this dark adventure with Lara and new playable character Curtis

Title	: Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
Platform	: Game Boy Advance
ESRB Rating	: Everyone
Available	: 6/24

Advance Wars 2 is a game of military strategy. Using a gridded map, players move units representing tanks, bombers, infantry, and batteries, while managing resources to produce new units in the fight against the imperialistic Black Hole army. Two Game Boys can be connected for players to battle against each other, or to swap terrain maps they've created for custom campaigns. The animated setting and lack of demonstrated violence make this game appropriate for any age of gamer willing to think through her moves

Title	: Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
Platform	: PC
ESRB Rating	: Teen
Available	: 6/26

LucasArts' other summer title is Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided, the first massively-multiplayer online RPG (MMORPG) in the tradition of EverQuest. That means almost every person you meet in this galaxy is controlled by another person, not the computer. You and everyone else can choose occupations and alliances for your avatars, such as a Rebel smuggler, Imperial bounty hunter, a merchant or bartender, or other resident. With several planets to explore, this galaxy will not seem so far away once you're living there. Xbox and PlayStation 2 versions are being considered

Title	: Dino Crisis 3
Platform	: Xbox
ESRB Rating	: Mature
Available	: 8/6

Capcom gives their Jurassic Park series a new spin its first incarnation on a modern game console. In the year 2548, a long-lost spaceship reappears, populated with voracious velociraptors and other ravenous reptiles. As part of a special ops team, players are equipped with laser guns and jet packs, allowing for 3D exploration of the ship. This series was originally tagged as "Resident Evil with dinosaurs" but is progressively differentiating itself, and with this leap forward, will be unique among other, similar games

Title	: Silent Hill 3
Platform	: PlayStation 2
ESRB Rating	: Mature
Available	: 8/6

Silent Hill 3's predecessors each warn players, "There are violent and disturbing images in this game." This sequel puts players in the role of Heather, a young woman caught in the psychological nightmare of Silent Hill, a town rent between reality and a darker world of grotesque monsters and impossible mysteries. New creatures and strangers will plague gamers as they unravel a plot which unveils both Heather's secret past and the town's. Adults may be unsettled; kids shouldn't be allowed near this perversity

Title	: F-Zero GX
Platform	: GameCube
ESRB Rating	: Everyone
Available	: 8/26

If Honda's Insight isn't futuristic enough for you, then skip ahead to the 30th century in F-Zero GX. This racer, developed by Sega, may not have any gimmicks or weapons to separate it from other sci-fi racing games, but brilliantly executes all the basic characteristics of a good game: tight control, extreme speed, fierce competition, and plenty of options, including a host of vehicles. The "GX" in the title distinguishes the GameCube game from its arcade counterpart, F-Zero AX; gamers can share and combine data between the two using a GameCube memory card

Title	: Soul Calibur II
Platform	: PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox
ESRB Rating	: Mature
Available	: 8/27

Though the fighting genre has been glutted since the success of Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat a decade ago, there is always room for exceptional quality. Namco's Soul Calibur has so far lived up to that distinction, and for the first time, all platforms will be able to enjoy the series with Soul Calibur II. Each version will have an exclusive, hidden character: the comic book character Spawn on Xbox; Link, the hero of Nintendo's "Legend of Zelda" series, on GameCube; and on PlayStation 2, Tekken's Heihachi. An arsenal of 200 historical weapons provides a deep one-on-one fighting game, be it against the computer or a friend

Title	: TRON 2.0
Platform	: PC
ESRB Rating	: Teen
Available	: 8/27

Yes, the Eighties are back — which means not only Transformers and G.I. Joe, but also TRON, Disney's magnum opus (ask any diehard geek) of computer animation. The 2.0 is for 20 years after the original story. Bruce Boxleitner reprises the role of programmer Alan Bradley, who has disappeared, leaving son Jet to go digital and enter a corrupt mainframe in search of his father. This first-person-perspective game should be more adventure- and less action-oriented than other first-person games like DOOM or Quake. And, of course, you can count on there being plenty of light cycles, discs, and Journey tunes.

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This article is copyright (c) 2003, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Worcester Magazine, 12-Jun-03

by Ken Gagne

Some kids never grow up — even if their toys do. 

The electronic entertainment industry has grown phenomenally and quickly this past year. Last Christmas, Microsoft entered the fray when they launched their Xbox console, which was followed days later by Nintendo's latest game machine, the GameCube. Both joined Sony's PlayStation 2 on store shelves for an aggressive holiday season. 

A year later, all three systems have dropped in price — Nintendo's to $150, the others to $200, with various rebates and bundles being offered both nationally and locally. Each hardware has its strengths and weaknesses, but each is only as good as its software. The following titles are some of the "killer apps" that not only will drive console sales this season, but also serve as the perfect gift for you or the gamer in your family. 

Though there are exclusive titles intended to sway consumers to one platform or another, there are also games published for all three systems. For example, gamers can cut loose the power of today's next-generation consoles in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, a racing title published by Electronic Arts for the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2. In this high-speed action game, players hit the road in a variety of sleek dream vehicles, from Porsches to Lamborghinis. Their mission: to go as fast as possible through deserts, forests, and coasts, outracing both the competition and the cops. Gamers can also play on the side of the law, using road blocks and aerial backup to nail speedsters — or two people can play together in cops-and-robbers fashion. Cars cannot be customized or fine-tuned, but this simplicity adds to the ease of play and outright fun. 

If you prefer to soak up the sun at a slower pace, join the world's most famous plumber, who's back in Super Mario Sunshine, for the Nintendo GameCube. Mario's getaway to the tropical Isle Delfino is spoiled by a mysterious marauder intent on polluting the paradise. Armed with a water-shooting backpack, Mario begins his quest to clean up the island and his reputation. His new apparatus gives Mario several new tricks as he hops from platform to precipice, avoiding turtles and collecting coins in 3D. Though his repertoire may've changed, the classic action of the Mario series has not — good news for those who've missed Nintendo's mascot, but not so good for those wanting something new. 

With games like Super Mario Sunshine, Nintendo hasn't forgotten its historically core family audience. But with the survival horror game Eternal Darkness, Nintendo has also stated its intention to capture the mature market as well. College student Alexandra Roivas becomes embroiled in a family secret when her grandfather is suddenly murdered. Through his tome of Eternal Darkness, players will control more than a dozen characters in various times and places including a World War II photographer, a Persian prince, and an Inquisition-era monk. The monstrosities each accidental hero will encounter is likely to push them over the edge, decreasing their "sanity meter". An insane protagonist may hallucinate bleeding walls or sudden dismemberment, leaving the player to also question reality. Eternal Darkness is rated 'M' for mature audiences. 

For an evil assailant that's less a flesh-eating zombie and more a megalomaniac villain in an outlandish costume, take to the skies in Spider-Man, for all three consoles. Based on the film that made a splash at the box office earlier this year, Spider-Man puts players in control of the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler as he battles such venerable foes as Green Goblin, Shocker, and Scorpion. As Peter Parker's alter ego, players spend much time aloft, slinging webs and fighting airborne enemies. Spidey's abilities are captured and finely presented in this superhero action game which may prove too short an experience for veteran gamers. 

While many video games are based on movies, other games are cinematic experiences in their own right. The Microsoft Xbox has a valuable exclusive in Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance, from Konami. This title includes in its entirety the original Metal Gear Solid 2, one of last year's best-selling games for the PlayStation 2. Super secret spy Solid Snake has stumbled across plans for a weapon of global destruction; his history with such plots gives only him the experience necessary to arrest the conspiracy. The Xbox edition includes five additional "what-if" stories for Snake to experience, as well as hundreds of secondary and virtual reality training missions. This cinematic experience has expanded to include humor, drama, stealth, action, and skateboarding, though the main game is a complicated tale for mature audiences only. 

Today's successful Metal Gear Solid is based on an old Nintendo game from the Eighties. Similarly, Maximo: Ghosts to Glory is an update on the popular Ghosts 'n Goblins series from Capcom. This 3D action game for PlayStation 2 sends the good knight Sir Maximo on a quest across five different worlds to save his kingdom and princess from the villain Achille. His sword and shield can be upgraded to be inflamed, encase enemies in ice, or be thrown great distances. Maximo spends as much time fighting the hordes of the undead as he does leaping gulfs, though; one wrong step or misjudged distance can plummet the protagonist to his peril. 

Another legendary icon is resurrected, this time on the Nintendo GameCube. Metroid Prime is the first game in the Metroid series in nearly a decade. In this futuristic conflict against space pirates, bounty hunter Samus Aran returns to eradicate the titular energy-draining organism. Her adventure will have gamers exploring deep into an exotic planet and mastering many tools, weapons, and techniques. Pundits of the series criticize the new first-person perspective, but the game retains the essence of what has made Metroid a popular (yet strangely scarce) series. 

Just as familiar games are being revamped for today's new home consoles, handheld gamers will also find that what's old is new again. Samus Aran also surfaces on the Game Boy Advance in the game Metroid Fusion. Taking a cue from Sigourney Weaver, Samus has been injected with alien DNA. She must now explore a strange planet to find the cure for her condition while fighting off a mysterious imposter. This 2D, side-scrolling game is a more traditional Metroid adventure, and offers a suitable alternative to Metroid Prime. Gamers who purchase both titles can connect their Game Boy Advance and GameCube systems to unlock additional features. 

With gameplay similar to Metroid Fusion, Castlevania, a series spanning nearly two decades, continues in Harmony of Dissonance, a Game Boy Advance game. Juste Belmont, a descendant of the legendary Belmont clan of vampire hunters, finds himself lost in Dracula's castle. Players must explore the intimidating mansion, infested with bats, werewolves, living suits of armor, and more, to find Juste's missing childhood friend. 

Harmony of Dissonance boasts bright graphics, making it easy to see on the Game Boy's small screen. Gamers can save their progress any time, making Castlevania perfect for both long sittings of exploration or quick pick-up-and-play sessions. 

Metroid could be considered a science fiction take on Castlevania. For handheld games that are similar to neither, try two classic Super Nintendo games that Nintendo has re-released for Game Boy Advance. Super Mario World 3: Yoshi's Island stars Mario's dinosaur companion. Though gamers do not play as Mario in this 2D adventure, they do get to morph Yoshi into various vehicles on their way to save Mario's brother, Luigi, from the evil Bowser. 

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is Nintendo's other reissued classic. The Princess Zelda has been kidnapped, leaving a young lad named Link to journey throughout the land of Hyrule, into palaces and dungeons, and into another world to find the power to restore peace. New to this handheld adaptation is a four-player mode that lets friends cooperate and compete for victory. 

Every cycle of game consoles brings with it something new, including an opportunity for a new generation of gamers to experience the latest in age-old franchises. With myriad options of both hardware and software, such fierce competition for consumers' dollars will ultimately benefit the gamers — no matter their age.

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This article is copyright (c) 2002, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 02-Dec-02

by Ken Gagne

This holiday season, don't waste time playing games, wading through choices and making guesses. With so many gifts available, it's important to choose the right one. 

When it comes to video games, your choices are plenty. Hundreds of new games are released annually, each competing for a spot under the Christmas tree. It may not be easy to tell the Street Fighters from the Syphon Filters, or to distinguish such shape-inspired names as Xbox, GameCube, and Squaresoft. 

But with the following highlights from the 2001 gaming lineup, chances are there's something to please you or the gamer close to your heart. 

A vast amount of electronic entertainment software is occupied by popular, non-violent sports games, of which there are many for all systems. But few publishers offer the variety and quality of the Sega Sports line. NBA 2K2, World Series Baseball 2K2, and football games NFL 2K2 and NCAA 2K2 are all not only affordably priced, but are the only sports games this Christmas to feature online Internet play. For great graphics and a global selection of opponents, the Sega Dreamcast system is the way to go. 

An online Dreamcast offers more than sports to play with. Phantasy Star Online is the first ever online console role-playing game (RPG). Gamers can create heroic personas with which to explore a futuristic world of science and fantasy. Other adventurers are also online gamers, with whom to talk, exchange tips and equipment, partner for a dangerous mission, or kill time with a round of soccer. Numerous offline missions give the single player plenty to do while developing her character. 

If you prefer your RPGs a bit more whimsical, try Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64. Princess Peach has been kidnapped, and it's up to the world's most famous plumber, Mario, to save the day. This game adds a new dimension to storytelling by making its figures completely flat, and placing them in a world of pop-up storybook quality. Such graphical gimmickry combines with a fresh take on a familiar character to make an RPG that's fun for all ages. 

The last recommended RPG is Dragon Warrior III, for Game Boy Color. Publisher Enix brings the "Legend of Loto" trilogy to a close with this final installment of games that first appeared on the original Nintendo system a decade ago. Gamers can create their own adventuring party, consisting of fighters, thieves, merchants, and jesters, before setting off to find the world-threatening Demon Lord who defeated the hero's father years ago. Gameplay is executed with simplicity and finesse, making Dragon Warrior III a winner. 

Another popular series continues on the Game Boy Advance with Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, from Konami. The portentously-named Nathan Graves is the latest to take up the whip in the battle against the vampire Dracula. Like all good Castlevania games, Circle of the Moon is a side-scrolling action game, with some role-playing elements. Nathan can explore Dracula's castle freely, but he'll need to find certain items to acquire the ability to reach new areas and defeat monstrous henchmen. Magical cards can be collected and combined for special effects. Again, classic gameplay and new features blend together in this great title. 

Castlevania may be gothic, but it's not horrific. If you enjoy unpleasant things, then try Silent Hill 2, also from Konami. James Sunderland receives a letter from his wife, inviting him to the resort town of Silent Hill… even though his wife died three years ago. Our confused protagonist is quickly mired in shifting realities and strange happenings, where only insanity is a given. Violence and mature themes make Silent Hill 2 not for kids. This survival horror game is available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. 

The mysterious machinations are more political, but no less deadly, in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, for PlayStation 2. Terrorist forces have acquired the plans for the nuclear tank known as Metal Gear, and only soldier-spy Solid Snake can stop them. Old enemies with new secrets return to taunt the lethal loner. Stealth and action complement an intriguing storyline, creating a cinematic gameplay experience for mature audiences. 

The PlayStation 2 propagates another franchise with Gran Turismo 3. This simulation racer allows players to compete with cars they could never otherwise afford, from makers such as Ford, Dodge, and Shelby. These high-powered machines come with an appropriate price tag, requiring gamers to work their way up through smaller races, earning the cash to purchase and customize better cars. GT3 features some of the best graphics of any racing title with gameplay that's largely unchanged since the first Gran Turismo. 

Too realistic for you? Add some vehicular weaponry and mission-based gameplay to get Midway's Spy Hunter, also for PlayStation 2. The G-6155 Interceptor vehicle, with its oil slicks and missile launchers, is the only tool equipped to stop the Nostra crime syndicate from plunging the world into darkness. This game only slightly resembles its 1983 predecessor of the same name, but is a lot of fun in its own right. 

It may seem like the PlayStation 2 has most of the good games — but that's about to be challenged by two new video game systems that launched just in time for Christmas. Though lacking the extensive software library of retail veterans PlayStation 2 and Sega Dreamcast, the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube still have some excellent games from which to choose. 

Nintendo's software includes their gallery of popular characters. In Luigi's Mansion, Mario is the one in need of saving by his brother, who's equipped with a vacuum in the role of ghostbuster. It's a lighthearted romp through a spooky manor in the GameCube flagship title. 

If you'd rather engage something more solid than spirits, grab three friends and duke it out in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Starring practically the entire Nintendo lineup, including Mario, Pikachu, Donkey Kong, and Link, Super Smash Bros. features a simple control scheme that anyone can master without practicing for hours. 

The Microsoft Xbox also has its share of exclusive titles. Dead or Alive 3 by Tecmo is a gorgeous 3D fighting game. Incredibly detailed, interactive environments and a smooth fighting system make DOA3 one of the first reasons to own an Xbox. 

Halo is the long-awaited first-person shooter by Bungie. Set on a distant planet where humanity fights for survival against the Covenant alien race, Halo combines the best elements of action games such as Quake and Rainbow Six. 

There will be plenty of game manufacturers fighting for survival this Christmas as well, but gamers need not go hungry. Nintendo, Sony, Sega, and Microsoft have provided holiday shoppers with ample choices that will suit all tastes and gamers, young and old.

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This article is copyright (c) 2001, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 03-Dec-01

by Ken Gagne

Every five years or so, the video game market sheds its skin and asks consumers to evolve with it. In exchange, gamers can play the latest video games with better graphics, more involving plots, and longer replay value. 

With so many new systems available, it's important to choose the right one for you. 

For the first time ever, the war of the consoles will not be fought on some abstract battlefield of pixels and polygons. Our four competitors this Christmas — the Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft Xbox, and Sega Dreamcast — are all powered by 128-bit processors, making them nearly each other's match. And with four equal fronts on which to program, video game publishers are releasing their most popular titles, such as Madden NFL and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, for many or all of the above systems. 

The strengths of each system will be found in what exclusive software and extra hardware they can offer. 

For example, Sony's PlayStation 2, a $299 piece of hardware, is the only system that plays DVD movies out of the box. It is also compatible with the vast library of PlayStation One software that began in 1995, giving the PS2 a software library in the hundreds, if not thousands. 

With this backward compatibility, the PS2 is home to an astonishing number of quality games. Players can engage in high tales of sword and sorcery in Final Fantasy X or Dragon Warrior VII, the latest installments in the most popular role-playing game series ever. Take to the track in the real-life dream car of your choice in Gran Turismo 3, or realize your worst nightmares in the horrific Silent Hill 2. 

The original 32-bit PlayStation One is still available for $99, but support for this system will end in 2002 as developers fully transition to the more powerful PS2. 

Meanwhile, the Sega Dreamcast may be the best deal in the history of video games. Priced at a mere $49, it features some of the best software to come out of Sega in years, much of it priced at $20. 

The downside to the Dreamcast is that it has been abandoned by practically all publishers. Sega has exited the hardware business and will not be producing more Dreamcast units, nor any future systems. The company is now solely a software publisher, with signature titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Shenmue arriving soon on what were once competing platforms, including Nintendo and Microsoft. 

But in its short life, the Dreamcast accomplished much, and has many excellent titles from which to choose. 

The Dreamcast is also the only console to have a built-in 56K modem, by which users can connect to the Internet over standard phone lines. Though this brings email and the World Wide Web to the gamer's fingertips, the more exciting opportunities lie in online gaming. Through Sega's worldwide network, opponents can be found in the entire line of Sega Sports games, from NFL 2K2 to NBA 2K2 and World Series Baseball 2K2. Players are also invited to share the world of Phantasy Star Online, the first online console role-playing game. 

The Dreamcast is an affordable choice with no future. On the other end of the spectrum is the PlayStation 2, a known quantity with a bright future. Somewhere in the middle are two new competitors: the Nintendo GameCube and the Microsoft Xbox, both to be released in mid-November. 

Microsoft, the software giant best known for the Windows computer operating system (and related court battles), will enjoy its first Christmas as a console developer. Like the Dreamcast, the $299 Xbox has some additional hardware features: a built-in eight gigabyte hard drive, and a broadband adaptor. The adaptor can be used for Internet connectivity, but only by the minority of people equipped with high-speed cable or DSL modems, and only once Microsoft's online network is established sometime in 2002. With the purchase of a separate movie kit, the Xbox can also play DVD movies. 

Microsoft's system is accompanied by many exclusive titles. Players travel across an alien vista solving puzzles to free slaves in Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, a game that doesn't move as fast as the slick Project Gotham Racing. 

Despite this new contender, don't forget about the once-champ of the gaming ring, Nintendo, who's moving to reclaim the title with the launch of the GameCube. This system eschews the fancy movie and hardware features of its competitors, allowing it the relatively low price tag of $199. Unlike the versatile PlayStation 2 and Xbox, the GameCube has only one function, and is advertised as being the best at what it does: games. 

Nintendo has traditionally carried an immature image, publishing games appropriate only for young audiences. True or not, Nintendo hopes to capitalize on that market while also appealing to the key young adult gamers. 

The GameCube will be Nintendo's first console to use discs — a proprietary DVD format — which will allow for more advanced games and better publisher support than Nintendo's earlier, cartridge-based consoles. Software publisher Capcom has already devoted their existing and future line of Resident Evil survival-horror games as GameCube exclusives, a move sure to please fans of the mature games. 

Nintendo's popular icons will also appear solely on GameCube. Their flagship title is Luigi's Mansion, putting Mario's brother in the role of ghostbuster. Players can also take to the beach in Wave Race Blue Storm, or explore a mysterious dinosaur planet in Starfox Adventures. Nintendo's entire cast of characters can be found engaging in hand-to-hand combat in the highly-anticipated Super Smash Bros. Melee, a fighting game with a simple control system that lets anyone play. 

When considering what console to put in your living room, don't forget that idle hands can be equally satisfied with handheld games. The newest and only contestant in this market is the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, a 32-bit system. Despite a screen that is dark and difficult to view, the $99 portable is a monumental upgrade from its Game Boy Color predecessor, while retaining compatibility with all previous Game Boy games. 

Advance games can cost anywhere from $25 to $45. Whereas earlier Game Boy games required each player to have his own copy of a game, up to four players can connect their Game Boy Advances and play with only one game cartridge. 

The Game Boy Advance is receiving reissues of older games, such as Street Fighter II and Super Mario World. New games in familiar series, including Castlevania and Pokemon, are also sure to please. 

The previous generation of video game consoles has fallen to the wayside. While old games can still be fun games, gamers wishing to enjoy the industry's latest and future offerings will need to choose one (or several) of the above systems.

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This article is copyright (c) 2001, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Quincy Patriot Ledger, 01-Dec-01

by Ken Gagne

If your child wants for G.I. Joe or Barbie for Christmas, you better ask what system that's for. 

With the recent release of the PlayStation 2, video games are on everyone's mind. Hundreds of software titles have been released for all systems this year, with a deluge of sequels and multiplayer games. 

The following greatest hits will be sure to please any gamers who finds them under their Christmas tree. 

Nintendo's Pokemon has endured several years on the market, and is still a popular title among kids and adults. Short for "Pocket Monster," Pokemon challenges players to capture many varieties of wild creatures. Captured Pokemon can evolve into higher forms, or bred with other Pokemon to create entirely new species. 

Pokemon Silver & Gold are two games for the Game Boy Color. Each game has a unique set of Pokemon to collect; only by connecting two Game Boys and trading between the different versions can all the Pokemon be collected. 

If you prefer your virtual pets a bit more on the real side, consider Sega's Seaman, for the Dreamcast. A fish with a human face, Seaman lets its caretaker know in no unclear terms how good a job she's doing. Thanks to the included microphone peripheral, players can converse with their Seaman, who talks back. Seaman understands an impressive range of words, and is extremely inquisitive (some might say prying) about his owner. Due to the sometimes adult conversations, Seaman may not be suitable for young children. 

Seaman is one of many offbeat games the Sega Dreamcast offers. Though more traditional fare is available, nobody makes classics like Nintendo does. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, for Nintendo 64, is one such title. 

Majora's Mask is the latest in a best-selling series that originated 13 years ago. In this latest Zelda game, gamers become the young hero Link, who has 72 hours to stop the moon from crashing into the world. Those three days repeat in Groundhog Day fashion until Link has accomplished all the tasks set before him. Link must traverse fields, swamps, and mountains to enter sacred temples and revive the guardians who have the power to save the land in this 3D, over-the-shoulder adventure game. 

If Zelda sounds appealing, but your audience is more mature, consider Resident Evil: Code Veronica, a Sega Dreamcast game from Capcom. Resident Evil defined the survival horror genre, setting players against zombies, mutants, and other unspeakable horrors. Code Veronica sends Claire Redfield to Europe to determine the whereabouts of her brother Chris, who was lost in the war against the amoral biotech corporation, Umbrella. The first Resident Evil on the Sega Dreamcast, this title offers lifelike graphics and gameplay. 

Another popular series makes its return in Final Fantasy IX, a Squaresoft game for the Sony PlayStation. Final Fantasy is the quintessential role-playing game series. RPGs feature story-driven gameplay, menu-driven combat, character building, and long hours. In FFIX, which is more lighthearted than its predecessors, the thief Zidane and his willing captive, Princess Garnet, set out to discover who is manipulating the peaceful land of Alexandria into preparing for war. Beautiful music and full-motion videos pull players into this four-disc epic quest. 

Maybe zombies and dragons are too fantastical for gifts. Many games have the same fun factor in a real world setting. The PlayStation game Syphon Filter 2, from 989 Studios, sends Gabriel Logan and Lian Xing to find a cure for the bio-engineered Syphon Filter virus. The realistic gameplay (big guns, head shots, etc.) gives this game a rating for Mature audiences only. 

As good as Syphon Filter 2 is, no spy game can hold a candle to Perfect Dark, Nintendo's first-person perspective shooter for the Nintendo 64. An unofficial sequel to the popular James Bond shooting game Goldeneye, Perfect Dark stars Joanna Dark, who uncovers a dangerous alien conspiracy. Each mission has a set of goals; players will need to master many weapons and accessories to get past the enemies that keep Joanna from her tasks. 

Four-player competitive and cooperative modes can be engaged, with enemy robots, or "simulants," added into the mix. Rules such as Capture the Flag, Hacker Central, and Free For All ensure almost endless replay value. 

If the gamer close to your heart enjoys games of a competitive nature, but Perfect Dark sounds a bit too fatal, these two sports games for the Sega Dreamcast might fit the bill. NFL 2K1 features four-player games and Internet play, using the Dreamcast's built-in modem. The included 50 free hours of Sega.net, an Internet service provider, opens a world of opponents. 

Virtua Tennis is a simpler game, but no less addictive. Up to four players can compete in singles or doubles. Or, solo players can enter a world tour, with computer opponents and teammates and many unique mini-games that test different tennis skills, earning money to purchase new courts, players, and uniforms. 

If mini-games are your thing, then Mario Party 2 for Nintendo 64 is nothing but. This board game, suitable for all ages, brings Nintendo icons Mario, Luigi, and others together to win coins and gain stars. Victory is earned in contests that try players' agility, timing, and luck. 

Another Nintendo game that all ages can enjoy is Banjo-Tooie, the sequel to Banjo-Kazooie. Banjo the bear and Kazooie, the bird who lives in his backpack, are out to stop the wicked witch Gruntilda from sucking all life from the world. Players can search eight worlds, from factories to amusement parks, for musical notes, jiggy birds, and other items. The range of moves gamers must learn is paralleled only by how much fun they'll have with this wry pair of heroes. 

Speaking of wry, few games exhibit the sense of humor Spider-Man does. The comic book wall crawler leaps into one of the finest superhero video games ever that pits him against the Lizard, Doctor Octopus, Venom, and a host of other nemeses. The game perfectly captures the feel of the comic book, from the web-slinging action to Peter Parker's witty retorts. A "kid mode" simplifies the controls so anyone can play. Published by Activision, this game is available for Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. 

The games listed so far have been for the Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation, and Nintendo 64. Recently, a new system arrived on the scene: the PlayStation 2. 

The PS2, which plays PlayStation games, PlayStation 2 games, and DVD movies, is a rare find this holiday season. If you're one of the lucky few who will be putting or getting one under the Christmas tree, you'll want some games to go with it. 

Two games from Namco are sure to please. Ridge Racer V is a racing game that can be enjoyed by veterans and newcomers alike, while Tekken Tag Tournament is a fighter with much depth and many hidden secrets. 

SSX, from Electronic Arts, is a snowboarding game that demonstrates the graphical power of Sony's new machine. 

Whether you're shopping for a kid or an adult with a Nintendo or Sony who likes fantasy or reality, the Christmas 2000 season offers a wide selection of games for all systems and tastes, with the above games being some of the best. 

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This article is copyright (c) 2000, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 04-Dec-00

Ken Gagne

Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Crash Bandicoot. The names of these video games may be familiar, but they won't be found together on one system. 

Nintendo, Sega, and Sony are all vying to place their products under Christmas trees this holiday season. Each one offers unique hardware and software features that makes for a difficult buying decision. Holiday shoppers would do well to choose the console that suits both a gamer's tastes and the buyer's budget. 

Several factors should be considered when making a purchasing decision. Some systems have more games available, but they may not appeal to all types or ages of gamers. The number of players a system can support is important if the gamer enjoys playing with others. Additional features, such as Internet connectivity or DVD movie playback, can add value to the package, in both enjoyment and price. 

Some systems are more powerful than others, but it's not an abstract concept of polygon-pushing power that sells systems. Beyond the initial investment, it's what games you put into it that count. A strong combination of capable hardware and diverse, entertaining software is what makes gamers happiest. 

The power of a video game console is rated in bits. The more bits a system has, the more data it can compute. This translates into better graphics and sound, and bigger and more complex games. 

The Nintendo Game Boy, the core of which is more than a decade old, is only 8-bit. The Sony PlayStation is 32-bit, and the Nintendo 64 is, naturally, 64-bit. The Sega Dreamcast is a 128-bit video game system, as is the hottest console on today's market, the Sony PlayStation 2. 

The PS2 offers a range of capabilities, but is a scarce item this holiday season. Released in October with a retail price of $299, the PS2 can play new PS2 games, thousands of original PlayStation games, and DVD movies. All this capability rolled into a single box is very convenient. 

Finding a PS2 is not so easy. Sony's initial shipment was only 500,000 units, which hardly fulfilled the massive quantities of preorders most stores had by then. Many video game retail outlets aren't guaranteeing PS2's to walk-in customers until March 2001. The average price of a PS2 on eBay, an online auction house, is $1,000. 

However, most stores are well-stocked of other systems, including the Sega Dreamcast. The Dreamcast rings in at $149, which includes a built-in modem. By connecting Sega's system to the Internet, gamers can surf the web, send email, and play games online. The current library of games that support online play is small, but is rapidly growing. With online games like NFL2K1 and Quake III Arena, and offline titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Soul Calibur, there are plenty of great games to choose from. 

The Dreamcast also has a penchant for offbeat games. Players can raise Seaman, a virtual pet they talk with using a microphone. Drive around town delivering passengers to their destinations in Crazy Taxi. Or grab a pair of maracas and dance up a storm in Samba de Amigo. 

Compared with the Sony PlayStation 2, the Sega Dreamcast has the advantage of maturity. The Dreamcast has used its year on the market to come down in price, build an online network, and establish a library of 200 games. By this time next year, the Sony PlayStation 2 will likely have enjoyed similar growths. This season, for less than the same price as a PS2, a Christmas shopper can purchase a different game system and DVD player separately. 

The PS2 and Dreamcast are part of what is considered the current generation of 128-bit systems. Previous systems are still available, and offer an excellent range of software for a lower price. New games will become infrequent as these older systems are phased out in favor of the next generation of systems. 

The original Sony PlayStation, nicknamed the PSX, is affordably priced at $99. Its games run the gamut of genres. Dozens of sports titles, including hockey, soccer, football, and basketball, are released almost annually from EA Sports and Sony's 989 Studios. Final Fantasy, one of the finest role-playing games ever, and Resident Evil, which defined the survival horror genre, are some of best-known PSX games. Many of these games are rated for teenage or mature audiences. 

The Nintendo 64 also costs $99. Nintendo's trademark characters, such as Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon, can be found exclusively on the N64. Many of Nintendo's games are aimed at younger audiences and are non-violent, though most appeal to all ages. Plus, while PSX games are stored on CDs, which are easily scratched, Nintendo games are durable cartridges. For this reason, a N64 game can cost $10-$20 more than a similar CD game. 

The N64 also has the built-in capability for four-player games, including the fighting game Super Smash Brothers, board game Mario Party 2, or shooters like Perfect Dark and Goldeneye 007. Games such as these have made the N64 the ultimate party machine. 

Nintendo's Game Boy Color also has a wide range of games, but since the system is old, none of the games are very sophisticated. Multiplayer games are rare, and require each player to have a Game Boy and a copy of the game. 

But when that game is Pokemon, it's hard to find someone who doesn't have it. Nintendo's phenomenon has spanned television shows, movies, card games, and multiple video games, most of them on Game Boy. The game encourages players to "link up" and share monsters they've caught, trained, and bred. 

The Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64, with their four controller ports, turn spectators into players. The Sony PlayStation offers something for every taste, while the more powerful PlayStation 2 is aimed at gamers and movie fans alike — if you can find one. The Game Boy Color has tons of popular games, despite their age, and is practically the only handheld system on the market. 

The hardcore gamer's solution is simply to own all the systems. Everyone else should consider their gaming needs, and purchase a system that offers the most and best-suited hardware and software for their dollar. 

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This article is copyright (c) 2000, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 06-Nov-00

by Ken Gagne

Forget "Tickle Me Elmo": most shoppers this Christmas want a gold cartridge Zelda. 

Video games, an industry that has swelled to over $5 billion annually, does most of its business in these winter months. If you're doing some last-minute shopping, chances are some people on your list are gamers themselves. Consider these ten titles, some of the best of 1998, when doing your shopping. 

3D platformers have become a staple of the industry since Nintendo launched Super Mario 64 with their Nintendo 64 console. One of the best implementations of this game engine is in Banjo-Kazooie, which teams up a goofy bear (Banjo) and the irate bird (Kazooie) living in his backpack as they try to save the bear's kid sister from an evil witch. 

Smooth, colorful graphics create a fun world for gamers of all ages. The theme and goals, such as collecting Jingo birds and musical notes, may turn off older players, but the gameplay is unaffected by these tones. 

More mature gamers would enjoy Metal Gear Solid, a PlayStation game from Konami. This title revives a decade-old series as Solid Snake attempts to infiltrate an Alaskan military base threatening a nuclear strike on the world. 

Death, betrayal, and sex, plus a phenomenally-realistic game engine and hours of spoken dialogue, make Metal Gear not only a great game, but a great movie, as well. It must be experienced to be believed. 

Competing with Metal Gear for Game of the Year is Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, for Nintendo 64. The latest entry in one of the longest-running, most successful series in gaming history, Zelda has gameplay enough for many dozen hours of play, with many quests and side quests. 

Players control Link as both an adult and child as he fights to free the land of Hyrule from the evil Ganon. The over-the-shoulder perspective and difficult puzzles outperform Tomb Raider, though the solutions to some challenges may be obscure enough to frustrate younger gamers. Consider investing in a strategy guide as well. 

Another mature title for the PlayStation is Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, from Activision. Also 3D like Mario and Tomb Raider, this game takes place in an accurate representation of feudal Japan. Players control a pair of ninja as they fight through many missions, accomplishing honorable goals for Lord Godha. 

As the game rewards stealth over aggressiveness, gamers are encouraged to sneak up on opponents and slit their throats, disembowel them, or visit upon them similarly-violent fates. An excellent action title not for the young or weak of heart. 

If its sports you're shopping for, consider Acclaim's WWF Warzone, for both Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation. The game features many of WWF's best wrestlers, including Undertaker, Mankind, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Four-player action (N64 version only), a multitude of battle modes, digitized wrestling graphics, and an authentic wrestling atmosphere (thanks to the outspoken crowd) create an exciting game with many hours of replay value. 

Or try Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr., Nintendo's own sports game for the Nintendo 64. This game includes exhibition, season, World Series, and Home Run Derby modes featuring all of 1998's teams and players. A simplistic control setup, unusual among sports games, makes Griffey easy to pick up, while realistic graphics and a soundtrack that makes you feel like you're at a real ballgame makes it hard to put down. 

Several good racing titles were released this year. On the PlayStation, the best has to be Sony's Gran Turismo, game that has its strength in numbers: there are over 140 new, used, and hidden cars with which to race, available from manufacturers such as Mazda, Toyota, and Chevrolet. Actual statistics for these cars and the most realistic models and graphics ever create a pinnacle racing experience. 

Although in an entirely different category of racing, Nintendo's closest answer to Gran Turismo is F-Zero X. This title takes racing into the future, pitting 30 cars in aggressive races on courses that curve, twist, loop, and tunnel. F-Zero is fast, but lacks any real detail in graphics. Four-player modes and a random track generator, plus a good sense of speed and many difficulty levels, round off this great title. 

Few quality fighting titles were released this year. The best was Tekken 3, Namco's arcade game now for the PlayStation. This game achieved a new high in graphic quality on a home system, but matches it with deep gameplay. Gamers must master many hidden characters and level upon level of combo attacks to win. These attacks are realistic and do not feature the fireballs and other moves popular among the Street Fighter crowd; Tekken 3 may not be for the casual gamer. 

Finally, 1998 was a fruitful year for both role-playing games (RPGs) and the Sega Saturn, which had its last releases before losing support from Sega this year. The best game of either category is Panzer Dragoon Saga, for the Saturn. The game is short — only about 20 hours — but features many excellent full-motion video sequences, an innovative battle system, and a moving storyline. Gamers looking to support their dead Saturn, or role-players who want the best of the best, can't go wrong with this title. 

With video games growing in popularity among older gamers while remaining a favorite with kids, it's hard to go wrong with any of the above titles if there's a gamer close to your heart this holiday season.

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This article is copyright (c) 1998, 2007 by Ken Gagne. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed without permission.

Original publication: Sentinel & Enterprise, 23-Dec-98