Diehard GameFAN

Author: Widro

  • Review: Ape Escape: On The Loose (Sony PSP)

    Genre: Sports Platform: Sony Playstation Portable Rating: E (Everyone) Publisher: Namco Release Date: 03/16/2005 The Dual Shock controller is now the standard Playstation controller, but some fans may have forgotten the PS1 actually shipped with a Digital pad, and it was only after Nintendo 64 was released that Sony upgraded the controller. One of the…

  • Review: Ridge Racer (Sony PSP)

    Genre: Racing Platform: Sony Playstation Portable Rating: E (Everyone) Publisher: Namco Release Date: 03/22/2005 Sony has launched every system to date with a Ridge Racer game, and the PSP will be no exception. On PS1, the original Ridge Racer was part of Namco’s 1-2 punch to power Sony’s early dominance, and it was followed by…

  • Review: Need for Speed Underground: Rivals (Sony PSP)

    Genre: Racing Platform: Sony Playstation Portable Rating: T (Teen) Publisher: EA Release Date: 03/16/2005 I remember years ago playing the original Need for Speed on 3DO – it was unique and fun, but who could have predicted that the series become as big as it has. The latest incarnations of the series are the Underground…

  • Review: Spider-Man 2 (Sony PSP)

    Genre: Action/Adventure Platform: Sony Playstation Portable Rating: E (Everyone) Publisher: Activision Release Date: 03/16/2005 Spiderman has seen a renaissance in the world of video games with the latest titles on consoles. Spiderman 1 was a great action title, but Spider-man 2 busted everything wide open, allowing Spider-man to travel throughout New York City, combining a…

  • First Impressions: Oddworld Stranger (XB)

    The fourth title in the Oddworld series was released this week, and Oddworld: Stranger certainly lives up to the namesake. From my first few hours with the game, Oddworld Stranger is a well produced, polished adventure/shooter that breaks down genre barriers and is a fitting and incredible addition to the Oddworld universe. The first three…

  • Review: Tork: Prehistoric Punk (XB)

    Genre: Action Platform Platform: Microsoft Xbox Rating: E (Everyone) Publisher: Ubi-Soft Release Date: 01/18/2005 Once upon a time in the world of video gamedom, the action platform game ruled the land. Halfway through the first decade of the 21st century has seen the once mighty genre head the way of the 2d side scrolling shooter…

  • 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: 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…