Diehard GameFAN

Category: Video Game Reviews

  • Retrograding Advance 01.23.03

    Well, people, a little comment as I get emails about this. My columns are not put up as soon as I write them. I give them to Chris, and when he has time, they go up. So yes, you WILL notice me talking about things over email to you that may seem different from what…

  • Retrograding Advance 01.14.03

    Before I start, let me say with all modesty, I appear to have had a good effect on the 411 staff. I mean, before me, there was NOTHING on the GBA. Now Ron, Chris, Bebito and that other guy are all commenting out. Good for them. And good for all of you supporting GBA news…

  • Retrograding Advance 1.03.03

    Okay, since this is a crazy semi-FAQ/semi-review /semi-comparison to the old SSI version of this game, we’re going to not use the usual 411-review formula. Ratings will be at the end of the column though for you. I simply can’t put everything I’m going to say into the standard form here. Now, the original Eye…

  • Retrograding Mailbag 12.27.02

    Hey everyone. I promised a mailbag edition if a ton of you wrote me, and here it is. I received nearly 100 emails from my RPG column, about two dozen from the Pokemon and Robotech column and about a dozen have come in for Phantasy Star. I’ve decided to mainly go with letter from my…

  • Retrograding Advance 12.24.02

    First I have a few things to say. Thanks to the 2 dozen who emailed me last week. I answered them all and I as very glad and shocked to see how many of you wanted GBA and import news. I’ll be keeping it up. Secondly, thanks to the zillions of you writing in about…

  • Review: Rocky

    Rocky System: Playstation 2 Genre: Boxing Publisher: Rage/UBI Soft Release Date: 11/20/2002 The first Rocky movie was released to an unsuspecting movie audience in late 1976. Its depiction of a down-on-his-luck boxer, Rocky Balboa, who gets the chance to shock the world was a masterpiece and earned the “Best Picture” award for its efforts. Rocky…

  • Retrograding Advance 12.17.02

    Retrograding is going to be about old games, systems and other stuff. The other Columnists like Ron and Bebito are the people you go to for current US releases, news and rumours. I’m the guy who comes off like an old hermit raving about the Neo*Geo and how games are far too easy nowadays and…

  • Review: Rygar

    Rygar System: Sony Playstation 2 Genre: Action Release: November, 2002 Rygar was an enjoyable, if formulaic action platform game for the NES, and actually also appeared in an enjoyable game on the Atari Lynx as well. With the recent wave of remakes of games from 10-15 years ago, Tecmo decided to resurrect the game and…

  • Review: Rachet And Clank

    Ratchet and Clank System: Sony Playstation 2 Genre: Action/Shooter Release: November, 2002 Insomnia made their name by developing the Spyro the Dragon series for PS1, which went on to have two sequels and sell millions of copies worldwide. But like Naughty Dog did with Crash Bandicoot, Insomnia has given away its prized franchise and started…

  • Review: Shinobi

    Shinobi System: Sony Playstation 2 Genre: Action Release: November, 2002 Sega is having some trouble as a third party developer. Some of its big franchises are easing nicely into their new homes on other consoles (Sonic on Gamecube or Crazy Taxi). But many of the niche games are selling poorly, and the Sport line was…

  • Review: Blinx The Time Sweeper

    Blinx The Time Sweeper System: Microsoft Xbox Genre: Action Platform Release: November, 2002 It’s amazing to think that Microsoft has only been in the video game console business for about a year, because its presence in the industry has been so pervasive and the marketing machine is in full effect. But beneath all the hype…

  • Review: Spyro: Enter The Dragonfly

    Spyro Enter The Dragonfly System: Sony Playstation 2 Genre: Action Platform Release: November, 2002 Sony had two major mascots during the lifespan of the first Playstation. While Crash Bandicoot was the more recognizable mascot character, Spyro The Dragon carved out quite a niche for himself as well, with three beautiful, enjoyable adventures that catered to…

  • Review: Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (Microsoft Xbox)

    The latest installment in the now decade-old Mortal Kombat series reinvents the series and gives the give of gore to a whole new generation. Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance System: Microsoft Xbox Genre: Fighting Release: November, 2002 Mortal Kombat burst onto the video game scene in 1992 with motion captured graphics and gory fatalities, giving Street…

  • Review: Ty The Tasmanian Tiger

    Ty The Tasmanian Tiger System: Nintendo Gamecube Genre: Platformer Publisher: EA Games Release: October 2002 Electronic Arts is the biggest third party game publisher in the world today. A good portion of their empire is built on the back of EA Sports, where Madden and NHL sell millions each year and largely dominate the sports…

  • Review: ToeJam & Earl III: Mission To Earth

    ToeJam and Earl 3: Mission To Earth System: Microsoft Xbox Genre: Platform Release: October 2002 When ToeJam and Earl was first released on Sega Genesis in the early 1990s, it was totally new and unique. It followed two aliens, ToeJam and Earl on their quest to find pieces of their broken spaceship. Encompassing a cool…

  • Review: Gungrave

    Gungrave System: Sony Playstation 2 Genre: Shooters Release: October, 2002 Since transitioning into a third party game publisher, Sega has continued its tradition of mixing mainstream games that are guaranteed to sell huge (Sonic, SegaSports) with a strong library of niche games that appeal to hardcore game players. Games like Jet Set Radio Future for…

  • Review: Contra: Shattered Soldier

    Contra: Shattered Soldier System: Playstation 2 Genre: Shooters Release Date: October 2002 2D gameplay died a fast death at the hands of Sony’s Playstation. Sega’s Saturn was built as a 2D machine with 3D capabilities tacked on late in its development, and the inferior 3D games on the Saturn doomed that machine. Since Sony’s rise…

  • Review: NBA 2K3

    Game Title: NBA 2K3 System: Microsoft Xbox Genre: Sports – Basketball Publisher: Sega Sports Release Date: October 8, 2002 Basketball season is right around the corner, and with the new season comes the latest batch of NBA games for your enjoyment. Among the returnees for the new season is Sega Sports’ NBA 2K3, and it…

  • Review: Super Mario Sunshine

    Before I buy any game, I usually get a chance to read a bunch of reviews, either online or in magazines. Oftentimes, the reviews are biased towards one system or genre, and I have to read 5 or more reviews to get a full picture of what the game has to offer. I read a…