Video game reviews

By ROBB GUIDO

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 1, 2001

Jarrett & Labonte Stock Car Racing

SYSTEM: PlayStation

PRICE: $39.99

MAKER: Codemasters

This stock car game has it all: day and night racing, 40 cars, 23 tracks and damage effects. With 14 cars on the track at once, things can get hairy, but the cars spread out after a while. This one's a definite pleaser for race fans.

Grade: B

Austin Powers: Oh, Behave!

SYSTEM: Game Boy Color

PRICE: $29.99

MAKER: Rockstar

I love Austin Powers as much as anybody, but that's not enough to make me like this non-game. There are a few activities and some funny sound bites, but it takes more than that to be groovy.

Grade: F

Austin Powers: Welcome to My Underground Lair!

SYSTEM: Game Boy Color

PRICE: $29.99

MAKER: Rockstar

This Dr. Evil title features different voices and activities from the Austin version, but there's still not a lot of game play. I'd take it, but only for $1-million.

Grade: F

Unreal Tournament

SYSTEM: PlayStation 2

PRICE: $49.99

MAKER: Infogrames

First-person death matches have never been so dramatic. Loads of weapons, over-the-top demises and several fun modes for up to four players compensate for the simple premise.

Grade: B+

Power Rangers to the Rescue

SYSTEM: Nintendo 64

PRICE: $49.99

MAKER: THQ

This awful action game is repetitive and boring. Players take the Rangers through level after level in search of hostages. "Go, Go, Rangers" is right. Go far away.

Grade: F

Cool Boarders 2001

SYSTEM: PlayStation

PRICE: $39.99

MAKER: 989Sports

I've praised this series for the past two years, but Cool Boarders 2001 is a title I would skip. It has a nice selection of events and one of the more advanced trick systems, but it really doesn't differentiate itself from Cool Boarders 3 and 4. Plus, the graphics seem poor, especially after sampling SSX for the PlayStation 2.

Grade: C

- Robb Guido is an avid gamer who lives in Tampa.

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