February 2003 Archives

Platform: Game Boy Advance
Reviewed on Game Boy Advance

Occasionally, the eternal battle between Tom and Jerry, of cartoon fame, tilts in favor of one or the other. This time, while in hot pursuit of his rodent nemesis, Tom accidentally pulled an upright piano down a flight of stairs, squashing him flat and dispatching him to the depths of Hell. The prospects for eternity look glum, as Tom is delivered into the tender care of a demonic version of Spike the dog. But even Tom isn't entirely beyond salvation. An angelic (and very feminine) mouse appears to Tom, and offers him a chance to return to his former life if he can perform a series of tasks.

Platform: PlayStation 2
Reviewed on PlayStation 2

The latest installment in the 2D fighting genre is Guilty Gear X2 from Arc System Works and Sammy Studios. Borrowing from the success of their Dreamcast/PlayStation 2/Arcade hit Guilty Gear X and updated with more attacks, characters, and gameplay modes, GGX2 makes all the correct moves for a sequel. It seems then that the question that begs asking before buying is not "Is this a good game?" but instead "Do I like this kind of game?".

Platform: Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube
Reviewed on Xbox

Jump onto an All-Terrain Vehicle for racing action in five styles of off-road tracks filled with pro riders of every stripe.

Platform: PlayStation 2
Reviewed on PlayStation 2

NCAA March Madness 2003 is a marked improvement over previous college basketball games. While flawed, the gameplay is solid, and the inclusion of a dynasty mode adds a wonderful new dimension. This game isn't up to the standards EA Sports has set in its other sports franchises, but is definitely worth renting, so you can see if it satisfies the college hoops junkie in you.

Platform: PC
Reviewed on PC

Windows System Requirements: Pentium II 350 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 4x CD-ROM

Venture into the Spine of the World to face an evil that has surfaced to menace the Ten Towns.

Platform: PC
Reviewed on PC
Windows System Requirements: Pentium II 400 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 16 MB 3D video card, 750 MB HD space, 8x CD ROM

Arrive in a late medieval town with a small inheritance, and use your wits or brawn to rise in status and wealth in this economic and political simulation.

Platform: PlayStation 2
Reviewed on PlayStation 2

During the early 2500s, a powerful artificial intelligence named Dorothy was constructed to serve the residents of Michelangelo City. She was given incredible control over the city and its infrastructure, including the ability to self-replicate. She began to drift out of control. Her chief creator, Dr. Steiner tried to use metaphysical explanations to bring her under control, but Dorothy could not bring herself to be subservient to a higher power. She wanted to be a god. She reasoned that if she were to create a race of superior humanoids – Galerians – she would be creator and god to them.

Dorothy followed this line of reasoning, ultimately developing the Family Program, a systematic program of genetic experimentation on human children, creating the Galerians. The Galerians have vast psychic powers and a friendly relationship with radioactivity. They are also young, impressionable, fiercely loyal to Dorothy, and mostly psychotic. Once Dr. Steiner caught a glimpse of Dorothy's machinations, he developed a virus program to destroy Dorothy. The virus program was implanted in the daughter of a co-worker named Lilia, and the vector, or launch program, was implanted in his own son, Rion.

In Galerians, the first game, Rion discovered that he himself was a Galerian. He nearly died delivering the virus program, with Lilia's help, to Dorothy, undoing the AI, and freeing the city from her tyranny. For the past six years, Rion's body has been kept in a state of suspended animation, his mind battling Dorothy over and over again, trapped in one of her partial backup routines. Six years have passed since Dorothy has been defeated, but humanity is in a sorry state. The Last Galerians, those particularly powerful individuals that Dorothy created late in the Family Program, have cornered humanity and are slowly destroying Michelangelo City. They have the means to resurrect Dorothy, and are led by a Galerian named Ash, who intends to do just that. Rion must stop them at all costs.

Platform: PC, Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube
Reviewed on Xbox

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 offers more players and courses than previous Tiger Woods golf games, adding stellar graphics and an online component. It ends up being as brilliant and fun a golfing experience as you can get short of squeezing into plaid pants, hiking up your argyles, and dropping a hundred bucks in greens fees at your local golf course.