Category: Game Reviews

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

Developer: Eurocom (Port), Midway (Arcade Original) Publisher: Nintendo Released: September 30, 1998 Rated: E 6/10 N64 port specialists Eurocom take the wheel on this second Cruis’n release on the N64. The natural progression of “first the United States, then the world” is no surprise, but with more variety in the tracks, more cars to choose… Read more

Developer: Nintendo EAD Publisher: Nintendo Released: October 26th, 2000 Rated: E 10/10 Majora’s Mask is like the game Eiji Aonuma sold his soul to make. I play it and I just think of him and the other project leaders standing out at the crossroads, wracked with anxiety on how to follow up possibly the greatest… Read more

Developer: Eurocom Publisher: EA Games Released: October 17, 2000 Rated: T 8/10 It’s tough to tell if we’re past the point where we can call The World is Not Enough the “forgotten” Bond title for the N64. Obviously, when we’re talking about 007 games for the system, any old sense of shorthand for a Bond… Read more

Developer: DokiDenki Studio Publisher: NewKidCo Released: November 1, 2000 Rated: E 4/10 Man, those Hundred Acre Wood folk can throw one helluva party! It’s Tigger’s job to scrounge for “hunny pots” along all of the 2D planes in the forest and bring back as much as he can find. Reminds me of the Christmas episode… Read more

Developer: Williams Entertainment (Port) TV Games Inc. (Arcade Original) Publisher: Nintendo Released: December 3, 1996 Rated: K-A 5/10 Few titles were as indicative of the perception of the N64 and its status as underwhelming or disappointing amongst its contemporaries as Cruis’n USA, the arcade racer shown off early and often in hype packages and previews… Read more

Developer: Gratuitous Games (Port), Midway Games (Arcade Original) Publisher: Midway/Nintendo Released: October 17, 2000 Rated: E 6/10 Cruis’n Exotica closes out our trilogy/quadrilogy of N64 Cruis’n ports (it all depends if you count California Speed). From what was once a crucial and keynote part of the console’s early lineup, we arrive, somewhat unfortunately, at what… Read more

Developer: Midway Games (Port), Atari Games (Arcade Original) Publisher: Midway Games Released: March 18, 1999 Rated: E 6/10 California Speed, like its cousin, Off Road Challenge, is a Midway racing title that is best not referred to as another Cruis’n game because five Cruis’n releases would seem excessive, both on one console and in arcades… Read more