Einhander - PS1 Review

 

This is a shoot em up released in 1998 by Squaresoft.  A very colorful game with polygon sprites.  There is a difficulty select  of easy, normal, and difficult.  The game is pretty challenging on easy mode.  You can choose between 3 ships, each with different attributes (of course).  Weapons upgrades come from blowing up bigger ships that drop the weapons that are attached to them.  You can get cannons, missiles, vulcans, etc.  Gameplay is pretty good, although I got bored in about 15 minutes.  Music is pretty good and ranges from a weird opera at the beginning to rap at the end of the first stage.  One thing I don't like about the game is that is switches automatically from side scrolling to a weird angle view.  It likes to do this view switching for boss fights.  Overall the game is an above average shooter but I don't see myself going back to it for replay.  The game gets a 6 out of 10.

XS Airboat Racing - PS1 Review

Another Mario Kart clone.  Very basic game that doesn't require much skill at all.  I am assuming after playing through this, that it was designed for young kids.  There are 3 main tracks to race on with 6 other recycled tracks.  You pick up power ups like missiles and bombs just like Mario Kart.  The graphics in this game are complete garbage for a late PS1 release.  Music is cheesy, repetitive MIDI style steel drums and bass tracks.  The game play is OK.  I guess it is what is expected.  Overall, I give this game a 2 out of 10.  I really wouldn't waste my time on it.  

Jumping Flash - PS1 Review

This is a first person shooter / 3D puzzle game for the PS1.  My first impression was that the game was absolute garbage.  Once I got the hang of the controls and the weird jumping perspective, I found my self having fun and trying to beat every level.  The point of the game is to collect 3 Jetpod items per level and then go to the exit.  Sound easy in theory, but the game is actually really challenging.  There are moving platforms floating in the sky and lots of little ledges to jump onto.  It gets really frustrating at times trying to figure out how to get up to the super high platforms.  You can fire lasers at the different "bug" type enemies that are roaming around the level.  When you kill an enemy, they will drop coins and sometimes an occasional power up.  Power ups are Acorn bombs, Roman Candles, Snakes, and missiles.  After 2 stages, you get to fight a boss.  The first boss is a giant dragon that shoots fire.  The boss fight is not too tough if you pay attention to what you are doing.  The game play of the game is pretty fun once you get the hang of it.  The graphics and sound are alright and on par with the PS1 for the time.  Overall, I give this game a 6 out of 10.  A fun game to pick up and play from time to time.   

Final Fantasy VIII PS1 Review

Released in 1998 on the PlayStation.  A lot of people dislike this second installment on the PS1.  I don't dislike the game, but it is not one of my favorites either.  The story line in this game is pretty good and the CG animations are awesome for the time.  The characters are alright, nothing special.  Game play is pretty decent, and the battle mode is turn based like all the Final Fantasy games up to this point.  The game is kind of weird though because you mainly use physical attacks in the random battles but rely heavily on Guardian Forces for boss battles.  Boss battles are really easy because of this.  Guardian Forces are summoned and come out and do heavy damage to enemies.  Another strange thing about this game is that you have to use a draw command to draw magic out of enemies, stocking it, and junctioning it to your character.  A lot of elements of this game turn people off due to the tediousness of playing.  That is the beauty of Final Fantasy games though right?  Every game has something different and new to do.  The music and CG animation in this game is extraordinary and the game play is good.  As you get towards the end of the game on the 4th disc, it just seems to wear at you and never end.  Overall, I give the game 7 out of 10 stars.  If you are a RPG gamer, you definitely have to play through it at least once.   

N2O: Nitrous Oxide Playstation Review

Pretty cool game.  The object of the game is to fly your ship through nitrous oxide filled tubes and destroy alien bugs and their eggs.  The game is really challenging on the easiest difficulty setting.  Game play is great as most shooters are.  Music is awesome, it is The Crystal Method that does the music.  Songs from their Vegas album and featured in this game.  Graphics are awesome and very colorful.  There are a few power ups in the game that allow you to shoot projectile weapons or a wall of fire to clear the tube ahead of you.  You can choose from 5 different ships when you first start.  I have not found any difference between the ships except that they look different. The main point of the game is to get the highest score as this is an arcade style shooter.  Fun game to play and definitely worth having in your collection.  Overall, I give this one an 8 out of 10 stars.  

Destruction Derby Playstation Review

This is an early release game for the Playstation.  Came out in 1995.  This game is not as fun as I remember it.  The graphics are not very good as it is an early release and the music is kind of repetitive.  There are a few different modes you can play.  Practice mode, Race mode, Demolition Derby mode, and race wreckin mode.  The mode most fun is probably the race wreckin mode because you get to race around a track and crash into people.  The game play is not that great and the game get pretty boring after a few minutes.  The annoying voice over guy yelling things like "Get outta my way!" is pretty stupid.  Like I said, this game is fun for a few minutes and then it becomes boring.  Overall, I give it a 4 out of 10. 

Jet Moto Playstaion Review

So this game is like a futuristic racing game.  I guess its like a cross between a jet ski and a dirt bike that hovers.  The graphics are what is to be expected from a 1996 Playstation game.  The music is pretty good but the game is not that great overall.  I found it very hard to control even after I got used to its touchiness.  The tracks are really boring and tedious and it just is a boring game overall.  I generally like racing games but not really this one.  Maybe if they threw in some power ups of booster panels on the ground?  I don't know, something is just lacking here.  Overall, it gets a mediocre 5 out of 10 stars.

Putter Golf Playstation Review

This is a putt putt golf game for the Playstation.  The game is actually pretty fun.  You can select from several different modes when you start.  There is regular mode which is just a basic course setup and there is trick mode with ramps and tunnels, and there is a mixed mode with both.  There is also a practice mode.  You can play against the computer or against a human player.  The graphics not great but OK for a PS1 title.  The game play is pretty good though and it doesn't get really frustrating like some golf games.  They kept the interface simple which works great for the game.  The music is pretty decent as with most PS1 titles.  The game also has pretty good re playability and great fun factor.  Overall I give the game 7 out of 10 stars.  Check it out, it is a fun game.  

Galaga Destination Earth PS1 Review

As a fan of the original Galaga for the arcade, I was skeptical about this remade version.  This is obviously a shoot em up.  The game is actually pretty decent.  You switch between 3 modes, vertical, side scrolling, and 3D.  The game play is pretty smooth and the graphics are really good for a PS1 game.  The music is awesome.  The switching between the modes keeps the game fresh and not boring.  OK, there are a few negative things about the game.  In 3D mode it is hard to see where your shots are going even though you have a square target thing to use.  The control is a little weird also.  The ship doesn't seem very responsive in any mode.  It seems sluggish and lethargic.  I am sure this was on purpose to make the ship move like the original arcade version.  Since this is a totally remade game and not a port, I feel the ship should have been faster and more responsive.  Another negative thing is that sometimes there is so much going on in the background that I found my eyes wandering on the background objects instead of the game.  Overall I give the game a 7 out of 10.  Certainly a very playable game that is fun and cool to pop in from time to time.