Video game reviews

By ROBB GUIDO

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 29, 2001


Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits: Volume 1

SYSTEM: Nintendo 64

MAKER: Midway

PRICE: $39.99

For players who remember the games in this anthology and enjoyed them, this may be a worthy pickup. Younger players, however, may want to pass.

Grade: C

Crash Bash

SYSTEM: PlayStation

MAKER: Sony

PRICE: $39.99

Crash Bash is a fun little title, comprised of mini-games, including one that resembles four-way pong. Only the multiplayer mode is disappointing, with a lack of variety.

Grade: B

Sonic Shuffle

SYSTEM: Dreamcast

MAKER: Sega

PRICE: $49.99

Sonic Shuffle is a virtual copy of Mario Party. So why does it come off so bad? Maybe because Nintendo wouldn't design its mini-games for Sega.

Grade: D

Knockout Kings 2001

SYSTEM: PlayStation

MAKER: EASports

PRICE: $39.99

This boxing game has everything a boxing fan could ask for, including numerous combos and counters, corner men and a complete training mode. Even the dirty moves are included.

Grade: B+

Chicken Run

SYSTEM: Game Boy

MAKER: THQ

PRICE: $29.99

Chicken Run is not a bad use of a movie license. Instead of a boring action game, it's more of a strategy game, where players lead escapee chickens to freedom. The levels take some planning to overcome, but the game on the whole is too short.

Grade: B

Surfing H3O

SYSTEM: PlayStation 2

MAKER: Rockstar

PRICE: $49.99

Beautiful graphics can't make up for the rather awkward play control in this one. Staying on the board isn't a problem, but pulling off tricks often ends in disaster. It's not the Tony Hawk of surfing games.

Grade: D

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

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