Game Zone reviews

PlayStation 2

The game we've all been waiting for is finally here. The stealth actioner with the hero going by the name of Solid Snake, this isn't a pick-up-and-play, it requires a good few hours of unsullied time to really give this a chance. The look and graphics are the best there's ever been, with Solid's body movements unbelievably realistic and able to do loads more than the previous Metal Gear. Nothing has been spared to make this game a totally immersive experience. The story is reasonably entertaining, if a tad hackneyed, with the cut-scenes pushing at the boundaries of cinema. The controls are intelligent and easy to get to grips with, and Solid's a decently responsive chap. Minus points? Although beautifully realised, the play areas are a bit samey and the game is very short. But they're minor details compared with the fantastic enjoyment you'll get with hooking back up with Solid. It's simply a stunner. (NP)

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Maximo

PlayStation 2

Remember Ghouls'n'Ghosts? Well, Maximo is to all intents and purposes a revamped version of that old-school classic. You're a bloke with a sword who has to smash through skeletons and a whole bunch of unsavoury undead types, in order to save your fair maiden.
Supremely addictive, with easy-on-the-eye graphics, it has instant appeal, with straightforward controls and worlds that suddenly erupt in front of you, forcing enjoyable challenges and obstacles. After a fairly gentle start, once you get stuck in, Maximo isn't as simple as first impressions lead you to believe. A proper good fun game, I just couldn't get enough of it. (NP)

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Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern

Dreamcast

Most RPGs are all about taking on epic quests, rescuing important people and fighting incredible battles with mystical beasts. Dragon Riders has a taste of all of the above, but only a taste as its main focus is the one thing I hate more than Nigel: doing good deeds.
Your job here is to do hundreds of chores for hundreds of strangers, run errands, and get into a few half-hearted battles with the evil critters that roam around Pern. With lengthy loading times, terrible camera angle control, and a slowness of gameplay, this is one of the most disappointing games I have ever played. (HM)

Game Zone reviews archive