Category: Game Reviews

Developer: Point of View Publisher: Midway Home Entertainment Released: November 16, 1999 Rated: T 6/10 Though it was primarily envisioned as a Dreamcast title, having been released for the system’s 9/9/99 launch date, it’s not difficult to see Ready 2 Rumble Boxing occupying the hole left in the gaming landscape by the absence of a Read more

Developer: Rare, Ltd. Publisher: Nintendo Released: November 13, 2000 Rated: E 6/10 I’m not even going to mince words on this one: Mickey’s Speedway USA is easily the weakest title of Rare, Ltd.’s legendary run on the Nintendo 64. On one hand, this feels like a total given, considering that, aside from perhaps Blast Corps, Read more

Developer: Treyarch Publisher: EA Released: March 22, 1999 Rated: E 6/10 The greatest tragedy of Triple Play 2000, in a problem that persists with EA Sports to this day, is that the “real” version of the game is on PlayStation. Despite both being developed by future powerhouse studio Treyarch, the version of Triple Play 2000 Read more

Developer: Avalanche Software Publisher: THQ Released: November 8, 2000 Rated: E 4/10 The iconic Nickelodeon babies are off to EuroReptarland for their second full-length feature. If you’re not a fan of this early and long-running Nicktoons series, this is your early warning to get off the ride now. Unsurprisingly, this mini-game collection from Avalanche and Read more

Developer: Paradigm Entertainment Publisher: Video System Released: November 21, 1997 Rated: K-A 5/10 Similar to the genre change instituted by Acclaim’s NBA Jam games on the system, Aerofighters Assault’s first demerit comes from an attempt to bring a now classic series into uncharted, 3D-centric territory. Attempting to change with the times, the Aerofighters series, also Read more

Developer: Namco (PlayStation Original) Mass Media (N64 Port) Publisher: Namco Released: November 13, 2000 Rated: E 7/10 With expectations largely tempered by prior examples of classic arcade revivals on the N64, and in the era altogether, Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness and its admittedly goofy title probably doesn’t look like it has much going on. And Read more

Developer: VIZ Interactive Publisher: NewKidCo Released: November 8, 2000 Rated: E 5/10 Although it’s the closest of NewKidCo’s releases on the N64 to something intended for a general audience, Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry is still mostly held back by an oversimplification to market it to NewKidCo’s usual audience. Which, as you might Read more

Developer: Kemco (Port) Ion Storm (PC Original) Publisher: Kemco Released: July 31, 2000 Rated: M 3/10 This is one of only a handful of profiles in this book where I feel I really have to collect myself and hold back some of my thoughts, because they all chip away at the same general failure of Read more

Developer: Ambrella Publisher: Nintendo Released: October 30, 2000 Rated: E 5/10 The last hurrah on the N64 for Nintendo’s love for hardware-based gimmickry, Hey You, Pikachu doesn’t really come through to offer all that much beyond a collection piece for Pokemon fans and completionists. Despite offering an actual start–to-finish experience, what’s contained in the original Read more

Developer: Silicon Dreams Publisher: SouthPeak Interactive Released: November 10, 2000 Rated: E 4/10 This tagalong addition to round out the soccer selection on the N64 can’t make much claim to anything. It’s nowhere near the accessibility of Konami’s International Superstar Soccer, nor the flashiness and brand recognition of EA’s FIFA. In fact, lack of brand Read more