Sports Reviews

This game is really loads of fun to play! EA did a great job in developing it. The matches are fast paced, and this game can be played by any gamer due to four difficulty levels. The tutorial-like challenges and easier games at Hogwarts help prepare you for the World Cup, which is more like an entire season of quidditch. The Hogwarts challenges were kind of easy at first, but they gave me quite a lot of practice on 2 or 3 challenges with school records that were pretty hard to beat.

The addition of special moves and combos was a great idea, because they add plenty of excitement to the gameplay. Before I bought the game I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle playing all of the different positions at the same time, but the quidditch games flow seamlessly. You mainly use your chasers to play, and when the option comes up, your beaters may help you regain possesion of the quaffle. The important boosting power of your seeker depends on how well you play as your chasers, and how many combos you pull off. It sounds weird, but it becomes almost subconcious if you practice a lot.

The only problems I have is the inability to control your goal keeper while the enemy team is trying to score, and the lack of fouls. I guess I can understand why there are no fouls though-- the games would take way too long. It already takes me 3-4 hours to complete the 16 match World cup with one team, and that's only on Comet 260 level...

I like the instrumental opening theme, but the sound could be better-- hearing Ludo Bagman say "I'm sorry to cut you off there, but that was an amazing tackle!" over and over again can get a bit tedious... but the visuals are amazing! My personal favorite stadium is The Nordic Team stadium, as there is an Auroroa Borealis display! I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it!

I recommend this game as a must buy! There's alot to do, especially because of the quidditch cards to collect for completing certain objectives, so you're not likely to get bored with this soon!

In my head, I've been clamoring for this game since I first read through the Potter books in 2001. Quidditch is simply too well-realized a sport not to enjoy a video game incarnation; now, finally, we Muggles can play it whenever we wish.

From the first tutorial training challenges, Quidditch World Cup is immensely satisfying. The character animations and special effects are breathtaking, always worth the brief cutscene following any special move. Controlling the three chasers (the only position over which you have direct control until the end of a match) is simple and intuitive, though passing can get tricky at times. Whacking a bludger at an opposing chaser is always a sadisitic good time, and chasing down the snitch at the end of the match is appropriately exciting.

Are there problems with Quidditch World Cup? Absolutely. Most glaring is the utter lack of customization options, a staple for any respectable sports title. There is no way to slow down or speed up the snitch meter (when the meter fills up, the snitch chase begins, thus ending the match), and no storage of team or player statistics. These are minor gripes, and EA has plenty of time to resolve them in a sequel. All in all, these problems would probably only be an issue to non-Potter fans, who won't buy the game anyway.

All said and done, Quidditch World Cup is a charming and addictive realization of the fictional sport. And seeing as it's the only way any of us is ever going to get to take a turn on a Firebolt, it's at the very least a must-rent for Potter fans.

I am almost sure that you will love this game, weather you are a die-hard Harry Potter fan or just looking for a enjoyable game.

Ah, Virtua Tennis. It provided so many hours of fun - and easy-to-learn, hard-to-master pick-up-and-play classic, with amazing graphics and a masterful 4-player mode. And here is the sequel, Tennis 2K2, which takes the basic formula of the first game and expands upon it, and the result is not only an improvement, but an altogether better game.

Sega added the game to its already excellent Sega Sports line, and as a result, the gameplay is more of a simulation than the arcadey Virtua Tennis. In addition, there are now sixteen licensed players, from Patrick Rafter to Jelena Dokic. The players look unbelievably realistic, down to the smallest detail. Monica Seles makes her trademark grunts, Tim Henman hitches his shoulders while he serves, Lindsay Davenport has her familiar racket windup, etc etc. It's almost eerie how true to life the players are - a vast improvement over the rather grotesque characters from the first game. There are now 28 courts, a HUGE addition over Virtua Tennis, and some of them are just gorgeous. The Rio court at dusk is particularly wonderous, giving the court and players a glow that's magnificent to behold.

The gameplay, while similar to VT, has undergone a few changes, making the game much more challenging. You now have three types of shots: topspin, slice, and lob. There is also much more attention paid to how powerful the shots are in relation to how close the player is to the ball, i.e. if the ball is close to you when you swing, you're not going to hit it very hard. Positioning your player in order to get maximum shot power and control is vital, adding a whole layer of strategy to the game. Thankfully, the too-often diving of the first game has been practically eliminated, as players lunge for balls just out of reach. If you should dive, however, you jump back to your feet in no time - a much-welcome improvement. You can also return serves with much more power, if you're in the right place. This makes the game more balanced, as the server was usually victorious in Virtua Tennis. The players have much more range now, which results in longer, more strategic matches. You cannot jump into Tennis 2K2 and expect victory right away if you've mastered VT - it's necessary to learn the subtle details all over again. Despite these new complexities, the game still retains the same charm and playability of the original. Credit Sega for not just re-releasing Virtua Tennis with new graphics - T2K2 is a much different, but no less enjoyable game. The best thing about the improved gameplay is it gives you more control over your player and his/her shots.

Tournament (arcade) and Exhibition modes are, in fact, set up the same as VT: pick a player (or players) and hit the courts. There is a mixed doubles option, as you cannot play two males against two females. However, the World Circuit Mode has seen some pretty drastic changes. You create a male and female player using rather limited options, and start training in your quest to become #1 in the world (you start ranked at 300th). You follow a 12-month calendar, on which different singles and doubles matches are displayed for you to enter. In between matches, you train your players using different trials, much like the first game, but instead of winning money, you improve your player's statistics in various categories (forehand power, foot speed, serve control, etc.). These training matches have the same unusual charm as VT's: you'll try to knock items off a conveyer belt to improve your serve, try to catch flags while avoiding being hit by balls fired from tennis machines, and even play a strange tennis version of Othello. These quirky minigames are just as wonderful and addictive as before, and Bulls' Eye and Pin Crasher make repeat appearances. It's very necessary to train, as your players begin basically at zero and will lose matches immediately unless you train. When you think you're ready, you can enter a match. If you win, you get money, which you can then spend in the various shops for doubles partners, additional outfits, racket upgrades, and more arenas for Exhibition Mode. You also improve your rank, imperative as you must have a certain rank in order to enter higher tournaments. These changes are, again, intended to make the game more of a simulation than an arcade experience, but it's set up in such an intuitive and compelling way that it's more enjoyable. You'll get attached to your created players quickly, and you can even use them in the game's other modes.

Tennis 2K2 is a gorgeous-to-look-at masterpiece that has even deeper gameplay than the original, and is unmatched as a multiplayer party game and as a single-player experience. It is a must-own classic that is the final hurrah for the dying Dreamcast, and is one of the system's top three games. Enthusiastically recommended!

A big improvement over Virtua Tennis. This has smother graphics and better playbility with swinging volleys, and trick shots between the legs. Starting out the world tour has a training mode where you create your own player. You can pick the look, hair style everything. My player looks just like me and I get to name him. You have a calender and you decide whether you play a tournament or train. You have to earn your ranking to get into a tournament. The playing is awesome. The negatives are the women are weak and not as fun to play as men. The whole women side is a waste. The second thing is that the ranking of a man player is based on singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. So You have to play all three to move up in the rankings. Training and playing slow matches with the women is sufferingOther than that the playability is awesome. I can't imagine a better tennis game on any console unless it had a better ranking set up on the world tour mode.

This is the best tennis game I have ever played...wait its the only tennis game i've played! Why? Because I don't like tennis but TENNIS 2K2 is SO GOOD it drew me in! This game has KILLER GRAPHICS, SMOOTH ANIMATION and LOTS OF REPLAY VALUE! If you own a Dreamcast (best system that never made it) then do yourself a favor and get this, its THAT GOOD. Its easy to pick up and play and is fun with friends...get it now!

Here it is: NBA 2K (the series) has been the best B-Ball action on the market since it debuted on the Dreamcast. Trust me - as a basketball fan, and owner of both series' titles - 'Live' has just run its course. Not bad for a series that started way back in '94. But just as 'Live' was such a huge step ahead of its predecessors,... NBA 2K3 is way past the EA flagship... NBA Live (and Madden, for that matter) hasn't done annthing past changing the rosters/uniforms, beefing up the graphics a bit yearly, and adding a new feature here and there. EA, or someone else, will have to come from an entirely new and innovative angle to catch SEGA. ...Okay, now the game.

This game can be a bit too real at times. ...The juggling of passes when they're caught is a good idea in itself - and realistic - but it happens too often in this game. Also, players tend to stop to catch a pass rather than catching on the fly. It's not as bad as earlier versions, but not as flowing as last year's game. That's about all the gripes I have. ...The gameplay is phenomenal. The animation and realism - from the collisions to the dunking/rim-hanging... to the reaction after getting the ball ripped in traffic - nice. Diving out of bounds to try and keep the ball in play, altering your shot/layup/dunk in mid-air ...makes the game just too much fun - especially when playing with another player as opposed to the CPU. ... Rebounding has been drastically improved, and ...players actually play up to their real-life counterparts, when you're playing against them or simulating the game. If you're playing the Lakers, you know which 2 you need to constantly watch...

I played this game a couple of times. My cousin in one of the producers and he has an early version of this game. The gameplay pretty much is the same as last year, however, the graphics are not. The graphics have been improved in many ways, the faces of the payers, the animations, the commentary, and more! Unlike NBA Live 2003, NBA 2K3 has become the best basketball game right now. EA Sports is going down the drain because Sega Sports are listening to their fans and doing what their fans want, which is better gameplay and better graphics. In other words, if you liked NBA 2K2, you will definitely will like 2K3. NBA 2K3 is worth buying it, you won't be dissapointed, I guarantee it!

If you want a great NBA basketball game for Xbox that's affordable and fun, then look no further. NBA 2K3 is a full-fledged NBA game and has all the features that you'd expect in a quality basketball game-great gameplay, nice graphics, and nice sound effects.

This game is also a really cool multi-player game. On my XBox I play with my brothers and you can play 4-players. This game is very comprehensize and there are a plethora of options. You can pick any team in the NBA, and play any way you want. You can make up your own players and play streetball. You can play a practice game or practice free throws (which are kind of hard, you need to press both triggers). You can turn off all the rules like backcourt violations and 3-second violations.

The graphics in this game are excellent. The use of lighting effects is really nice, and the game movements are very lifelike. This game definitely shows off the power of the Xbox graphics engine.

Overall this is a great basketball game for Xbox. It's a very good choice compared to the other basketball games for Xbox.

I took the advice of a Video Game Store employee and waited out til 2K3 came out, instead of buying NHL 2003, as he claimed it was much more realistic. He was right, and so far I am glad I waited. I agree with some other reviewers that there are some glaring errors including: replay cam from wrong net, lame announcing (sometimes you'll hear "what a save!" when the shot clearly rang off a post), and the player faces don't look like them at all, very generic. Otherwise, this game is great. Realistic play, tonnes of player ranking catagories, so that the only ones that matter aren't just shot, speed, and checking, like in other games. Personally I think the AI is pretty good, as good defensive teams, like NJ, are indeed hard to score on. I would recommend this game for anyone looking to buy the best, realistic hockey game out there, but maybe not for your 7 year old cousin, who wants the "arcade" style of play. NHL 2K4 should fix these small glitches, and should rock even more.

For those wanting a true simulation hockey game, look no further than NHL 2K3 by Sega Sports. This game will simply amaze you on how realistic its gameplay and game physics are. It may take you a game or two to get used to the controls and gameplay, but once you get used to all this, you will agree that this game is the best hockey game made to date.

Graphically, it's above average in the player models (EA's are better), but everything else looks absolutely stunning. As expected these days, the rinks are true to real-life arenas. The ice at the start of every period has that wet, resmoothed surface--whereas during the periods, you see that wet look disappear as you see skate marks and snow. The crowd looks rather dull, but the action takes place on the ice, not in the stands. Player animation is great in some areas (like during the board pinning), but choppy at times (some body checks).

Sound is really good, but there is room for improvement here. The sounds of the game are well done, but the play-by-play/color commentary is very weak. It's slow, unresponsive, and the color man hardly interacts with the play-by-play man as he ignores 90% of his questions. My question here is: Why did ESPN sanction a hockey game without Gary Thorne and Bill Clement doing the play-by-play/color commentary? The only other flaw with the sound is the lack of crowd sounds--chants for their home team are non-existant and there are only a few general crowd reactions to the action on the ice. The public address announcer is done very well (your starting lineup is even announced in the pregame intro and his voice stresses enthusiasm to home team goals/assists). Also, each arena has its own authentic goal horns for home team goals. The game has a true ESPN presentation feel, but the lack of menu and option music is a minor problem as you will spend quite some time at these game option menus.

The gameplay and game physics are what will really grab your attention if you are looking for a realistic hockey game. Goals, saves, checks, penalties, board pinning, you name it, are so realistic you'd swear you were watching a game on ESPN. Remember that this is a true sim hockey game. (Tip: If your player goes out and makes dozens of hits every game, he could very well get injured early in the season.) As in EA's NHL 2003, you can tweek certain options to your liking (and most of these options are similiar to NHL 2003). Let's not forget the fighting--they are over rather quick, but it looks a lot better than the poor fighting engine in NHL 2003.

I mentioned that you will spend a bit of time on NHL 2K3's off-ice menus. This, believe me, isn't a bad thing. If you play the franchise mode, you get to do the GM's work of trading and releasing players that you are accustomed to in today's hockey games. However, Sega Sports has gone far beyond that and also lets you send/recall players to and from the minors (for development as some do actually get better), put players on injured reserve, assign who you want to wear the "C" and "A"'s on the jerseys. You are also given a certain amount of "budget" points (similiar to a salary-cap idea) to sign free agents and draft picks (you start out with around ten selected picks at the beginning--sign who you want and send them to the minors and watch their development increase), or you can resign players already under contract to avoid free agency (star players, of course, eat up more budget points) by signing them to multi-year deals.

If you have to find an obvious thing missing, it's the lack of online play for the Psx2 (I hear the xBox version WILL support online gaming). However, with all the great things to do in this game, you will probably not even miss it.

This game is a ton of fun on and off the ice. It's a total simulation/role-playing hockey game. If you want an arcade style game--buy NHL Hitz 2003, if you want a arcade/sim mix--buy NHL 2003 (by EA Sports), but if you want a complete hockey simulation experience--buy NHL 2K3 by Sega Sports, the new king of hockey.

THE BEST HOCKEY GAME EVER MADE.

Ok i love the madden games. the difference between 2001 and 2002 was huge but this year it is almost the same. The modes and features are compleatly the same except in 2003 there is create a playbook witch is azsome for advance players. Also there is a new training camp mode witch isnt as good as it sounds. there are some slight modifications in the controls and stadium detail but thats about it. I was expecting a whole lot more from ea sports on this title. if you dont have 2002 start by buying 2003. if you own 2002 dont get it unless you are a hard core nfl or madden fan. Dont get me wrong its a great game but it still could of been better.

Madden is back and making his second appearence on GameCube. This is a better overall game compared to last year's model. Some people say that this game is hard to play due to the Nintendo GameCube Controller. Let's just say after you figure out all the buttons, it can be an easy transition from PS2.
One new feature is the mini-camp. I just bought the game yesterday and let me tell you this feature is fun. I've been a veteran of the Madden Series since the beginning on SNES. I thought I new how to play the game well. The mini-camp proved me wrong. The first couple difficulty settings are pretty easy, but once you go beyond that good luck.
The only negative thing that comes to mind is the commentary. Being a big fan of NCAA Football, it would be nice to get someone else in the booth with Madden and Michaels. It is refreshing however to see that Summeral is gone. Michaels does a decent job, but you can still tell that some words are previously spoken and strung together, example. SAPP on the tackle. That is his FIFTH tackle today. Nother makes me more mad then that. But I'm not playing the game for the commentary.
One other new feature is this TRAX idea. They made an album for this game and it consists of 11 tracks, ranging from hed(PE), to Bon Jovi. Two words for you readers, GETS OLD. Not only does it get old but when the songs change a menu flashes on the screen and tells you what song you're listening to, often messing your play up, due to concentration.
Overall Good Game, just some minor tweeking.

Madden NFL 2003 probably has the best sound and graphics in all the gamecube games. You can make your own team, make their uniform, select their stadium, select how long you want the game to last, and much more.

Also, the teams have realistic stats and many gameplays to choose from. You can also design your own gameplays for all of the positions. Not to mension... you can also play tournements. Their also are 2-minute drills for throwing, reciving, intercepting, tackling, kicking, and much much more. You have to try to defeat as much of the levels as you can. The more you defeat, the more madden cards you get. (You can trade madden cards, sell them, and buy them. To buy them, you must do tasks which include throw a 30 yard pass, intercept a pass, recover a fumble ball. But since these are such easy tasks, you get less points then you would to complete do the folowing tasks. Run 60-80 yard in one play, or when your opponent kicks the ball you run the whole way without being tackled, complete 20 consecutive passes, and much more tougher stuff. Levels range from 1-5, 5 being the most difficult. This is probably the best sport game on gamecube.

OUT OF 10

Sound-10

Graphics-10

Gameplay-9.5

The fith installment in the tony hawk saga. This game there are new tricks, new skaters, and a new story mode into playing as yourself. Finally in this game your character can talk, not just have subtitles. There is a great story mode, and showing the life of a true skater. The real funny thing in this game is when your guy walks he looks like he is going to take a dump. But I really must comment on the graphics. Activision really did an amazing job developing this game. Also this game is a little more challanging than the other Tony Hawks. But I still think Tony Hawk 4 is the most challanging.

If you haven't played this game, basically where have you been for the past 7 months?

Don't get me wrong - this is a good game. I just think some of the "ground-breaking" elements it's supposed to contain aren't really that ground-breaking.

In Underground you are to progress through a story mode by which you start with nothing and end up as king of the skating world, all the while battling your once-friend-turned-enemy Eric. Throughout the story you complete several goals and missions to progress on to the next level. Once completing the story mode you unlock a secret level, a Kiss Concert arena, which is one of the coolest levels, by the way.

At this point you can return to previous levels and search for all the hidden goodies, learn new tricks, create your own tricks, or create a park for that matter. It's definitely an improvement over Tony Hawk 4 and is clearly the definitive skateboarding simulator.

First I'll give you the positives. The game has a great deal of online features allowing you to share parks, tricks, etc. online, as well as compete in online tournaments. It also seems to be very faithful to presenting a real simulation of skating and doesn't allow you to defy physics too much, except for the rail rides and surviving horrific falls.

Now the hype.

Underground is lauded as a game that let's you "get off your board and walk around." Um...have you ever played a game called "Grand Theft Auto?" You can walk around - and do a whole lot more. I'm sorry, I don't really find the fact that you can "walk" to be earth-shattering.

I also feel the game is a little *too* real. For example, take SSX. This is a game that gives you a real sense of controlling a snowboarder careening down a mountain, but at the same time let's you completely disobey gravity at your will. Underground isn't really like this. If you are actually a skater I'm sure that compared to reality the Tony Hawk games are awe-inspiring, but to a non-skater the air tricks are rather underwhelming and don't look all that different from what you see on ESPN2. While this is in some ways good I suppose, it leaves me wanting to be able to do more spectacular stunts.

The controls are pretty jerky. One thing I've never liked about the Tony Hawk series is the erratic control and Underground doesn't fix it. One little move and suddenly you're facing the other direction.

Lastly, the story-mode is pretty short. The only game in the series I've played is Tony Hawk 4 (so I'm not a hardened veteran) and I finished the game in only a few days with moderate playing.

I gave the game 4 stars so obviously I liked it, and yes, it's a good game. But game of year? No way. I'm not sure I get all the hype. Sorry to all the diehards of the Tony Hawk franchise.

Tony Hawk games started to get REALLY boring after the 2nd one. They were all the same, with the exception of some new levels, a trick or two, or a new skater. Then along came Underground. This totally turns upside-down all that was boring. There's thousands of ways to make your custom skater, and the stat system is unbelievable. Instead of making you assign stats to different things, the game assigns points based on what tricks you do (eg., if you grind a lot, then your rail balance will get high). Another awesome thing is that you can GET OFF YOUR BOARD! This enables you to climb to otherwise un-reachable areas, and shimmy along power lines and other structures to reach that perfect spot. But by far the best addition is the create-a-trick mode. I was always frustrated with the specials and how dumb most of the tricks were in all the other skating games, but when I saw this, I was blown away. The tricks in this game are already uncompareable to all the others, but you can make your own, complete with sound effects, flag-holding, and guitar-playing. I highly recommend this game, but be warned, it's addicting!

This is a great game. Whre else could you have UConn be the defending champions? I've now won tha national championship with them 7 years in a row. I've also won tha Heisman Trophy 6 years in a row, and I've gone undefeated 7 years in a row. That shows that u can be any team in this game and still b a champ. You can even win with my favorit team, Army. GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY! But after a while, it gets kind of boring. One of tha best parts in tha game is tha Create A School. U can make any school and even made up ones, with any color uniforms. The only bad part is the limited number of original logos, and the fact that u cant put any logos on tha helmets. It would be so cool if you could make your school's jerseys like Miami's or UCLA's. At least the players are faster than NCAA Football 2000.

Like a lot of people, I look forward to the new football games every summer and fall hoping that they will make improvements on the past years offerings. In NCAA 2001, what you have is an update of last year's version with some gameplay changes and some changes to the dynasty mode.

We'll start with what is the same. Basicly the game looks just like it did last year. There are some new tackling animations, but other than that, graphically it is the same game. Of course, for the most part, sports' titles have maxed out the potential for the PSX so there's not much we can do about this. The sound remains fantastic with just the stadium announcer telling us what is going on in the game. There is no play-by-play, but when added to the fantastic crowd noise, the sound is the best for a sports title on the playstation.

Now, the changes. The gameplay has been tweaked a little, giving the offense a bit of an advantage. There is an actual speed burst, and if you have a fast running back or wide receiver in the open, they won't get caught. The running game is easier than in previous years and you are finally able to run the ball up the middle. Unfortunately, the computer still passes the ball way too often, but if the game is close, the computer will play a pretty realistic style of offense. The dynasty mode is the best "season-style" mode in any sports game period. Recruiting is fantastic, and unlike last year, freshman will actually come to school with some speed, and as they go through their four years, things like their awareness will improve a lot, not their raw physical attributes.

Overall, this game is great. It is fun to play, and does a fantastic job of capturing the feel of college football. Now if only we could get EA to make the computer play a more realistic style of offense...

ok, here's the deal: ncaa 2001 is great. but then again, so was ncaa 2000, and that is essentially the game you are getting when you pop that beautiful CD into your overused Playstation.

there are some added features that definately add to the hours upon hours of enjoyment, but all in all, if you're happy with ncaa 2000, ncaa 2001 may be a purchase you might want to skip. could i skip it? no way! EA Sports is a company that always brings forth perfection to the gamer's table. the hard thing for EA Sports to look at while creating ncaa 2001 was that ncaa 2000 was pretty much the most amazing football sim (pro or college) ever made. why try and fix something that ain't broke? i agree with the direction EA Sports took with 2001...they added some cool new features (expanded create a school, expanded recruiting system, expanded the ranking system, improved the running game, and strengthened the AI) but they kept the basic core of what made ncaa 2000 so freakin' great.

One thing that was added that i hate is the momentum meter. there's no need for it...the crowd is your momentum meter. the meter apparently is supposed to give more "power and finesse" to what ever team has the meter in their favor. nah...doesn't really work out that way. i just turn mine off. i let my playcalling make or break my momentum, then i feed off the crowd's enthusiasm or rage. whichever their offering at the time.

the running game was improved and given a curve in favor of the gamer. unfortunately, running can sometimes be too easy. gaining a 50 to 60 yard run off a HB-TOSS is not out of the ordinary. and that's on skill level All-American. don't get me wrong, i love the running attack, but sometimes it can get ridiculous. oh, and by the way, the turbo button really kicks in this year. those HB-Toss plays really come through with that turbo button bein' tapped like there's no tomorrow.

the passing game is still great, but man, getting picked off happens way too much. one of the main reasons it happens so much is that when your QB tosses a pass to a receiver, about 4 or 5 defenders just swarm all over your intended target. now i'm all for defense, but let's cut down on the univited guests, shall we?

all in all, i do love this game. but i think i love 2000 just a smidge more. 2001, for all of its new additions and elements is sure to please any college football fan for hours and hours...whether it's in your dorm room, or your living room after the two year old and the wife have finally fallen asleep.

that's all i have to say. EA Sports has come through with another winner. besides, i don't think EA is putting out ncaa 2002 for the PS2. this may be your last offering for a while.

see ya on the gridiron.

This was the second 3D wrestling game I've seen after THQ's "WCW vs. The World," and I thought it blew its predecessor out of its socks. Despite a '97 brand on the back of the CD case, WCW Nitro was the 1st most admirable vie for "best PSX wrestling game of the decade" before other WCW kin games like "Thunder" & "Mayhem" came along. You can't beat the vast selection of wrestlers (available & hidden) and not to mention... creative design team members that this gem has to offer. There are made-up characters such as Santa Claus, Frankenstein and T-Rex along with the old Sting, Hogan, & Macho Man. The downfall is that the secret characters have no special moves. Oh, and the rings... you can battle in a graveyard, a jungle, a Western showdown set, a mirror room, a reck room, a quirk/atomical setting, a spaceship, and in outer space without the spaceship! And I didn't even name 'em all. Can WWF games beat that? I don't think so. The controls are feasible, the resemblance to their counterparts are remarkable, and the overall subliminal glee in manipulating some of wrestling's most popular personas is something to hold fast to. Not to mention pulling off death-defying maneuvers. Not straying to far from its predecessor, "Thunder" follows along with the same make-up, but with less limitations. For all its graphic "glitz & glamour," a calvacade of secret players/rings, & boundless wrestling moves/tolerable controls, this is the game to put into your PSX when the nostalgia beckons you to retreat the olden days of trend-setting wrestling video games.

I know this will sound crazy, but the main reason I finally broke down and purchased a Playstation several years ago was because I wanted to play some of the wrestling games available for this particular console. For whatever reason, no one has ever come close to producing a decent wrestling game for the PC. At the time, I was a serious wrestling fan, having been drawn back to the fold by the brilliant internal division in WCW between the good guys and the evil NOW. WCW Thunder came out while the WCW was at its peak of popularity, and I just had to have it. While the game has naturally lost some of its luster as time has passed and gaming hardware improved, it had all sorts of enticing features then and remains a fun diversion even now.

WCW Thunder had a lot to offer fans when it was released. For starters, you had some 60 superstars to choose from, including the biggest names around such as Goldberg and Hogan; all kinds of other hidden wrestlers also lay buried inside the game, waiting for you to win with certain characters (or use the handy dandy cheat codes) to unlock them-everything from made-up goofy characters to the wrestlers who got beat up for a living every week to announcers to members of the Nitro Girls (including the luscious Kimberly). While certain basic moves worked for all wrestlers, each individual wrestler, including the hidden ones, had their own signature moves. Thus, you could have Goldberg take his opponent out with the Spear followed by the Jack Hammer, or have Lex Luger turn a man into a little baby while hoisted up in the Torture Rack. Each wrestler came with his own theme music and personal allegiance, but you had the option of changing a guy's alliance. This could become important in terms of one of my favorite features of the game, the ability to have an ally come to the ring to help you avoid a loss or just to help you beat the heck out of your opponent.

The game offers a number of game types for one or two players. You can fight an exhibition match or go for the TV Title, US Heavyweight Title or walk that aisle in pursuit of the World Heavyweight belt. If you get tired of one-on-one action, you can choose tag-team play or battle it out with 29 other wrestlers in a Battle Royal. You can even get down to brass tacks and battle it out in a cage match. The only bad thing about a cage match is the fact that it does not allow you access to any weapons. In normal game play, there are a number of weapons outside the ring (you control how many) that you can pick up and use to beat the fool out of everybody that gets in your way; you can even just keep wailing on your opponent after he hits the ground.

WCW Thunder is and never was perfect, though. For one thing, the game quickly becomes rather easy. You can just pile drive your opponent over and over again into oblivion if you like or take a stop sign upside a guy's head a dozen or more times and pin him easily. The clumsy combination moves actually become a good thing here because it is sometimes a challenge to perform that special killer move your wrestler is famous for and end the match in style. The graphics are decent but not great, and my Playstation seems to have a few hitches in its gitty-up when it tries to render large numbers of wrestlers all at once in Battle Royal mode. I still enjoy playing WCW Thunder, though. It looks a lot like the earlier WCW Nitro game, but it plays a lot better in my opinion. There are better games available now, even for the Playstation, but I have a feeling that I'll be enjoying this game on and off for many years to come.

ok first off I want to state I am a wrestling fan. and well this get does have most entriance music for everyone (where is Jericho's?) and the graphics are nice and the video is cool. With that said.. this game's controls are non exsitant. It takes forever to figure out a move (played a rented one no instuctions) and it's not a game anyone cna pick up. once I got the move off the net they were still hard to do. also the ring is way to small it should have been bigger with more room to run around in. The range of a punch and kick looks dumb and it plays way to slow. The moves are a real pain to pull off. The run Ins are cool the first few times but get annoying and dumb. Get WWF Warzone it is a better game easy to play (even if you just mash the punch button all day)the graphics and music on that one are great and it makes this look worse than it already is. I hope a GOOD WCW Playstation game will come out sometime.

This has to be my favorite game. And i have 25 games. SSX 3 has a total of 3 peaks and all of them will keep you playing them until you have to go to bed. Especially if you play as Elise and get to the 3rd peak so you can put her in a swimsuit!! haha. - best part. I've played this game for 3 weeks straight right after i got home from school, and i have unlocked all of about 20 secret characters and....again....the swimsuit for Elise. So, if you want to see A hot woman tear up the mountain and stay airborn for about 10 seconds so you can see all of her body.......then get the game. I guess you could play as a bunch of other people....but i haven't tried out them yet.SSX 3 TOTALLY OUTSCORES SSX TRICKY!!

if ypou havw ever played the former ssx games you know that this is the game to rule all snowboarding games. If you haven't themn you should pr-order it right now or buy it because it will be the bomb. Since there will be roughly 3 times as may tracks as in tricky or the first ssx, it will blow your mind how everything is going to be colossal and there will be unlimited off road exploration. There will also be 4 new players inthe game as well as six returning characters available to you at the very beginning of the game and unlockables goalore. along with new characters to unlock, there will be 300+ unlockable things such as music, outfits, and new lift tickets available for each character! Oh well, buy the game and get hours of enjoyment out of it;>

SSX 3: Out of Bounds Review

*Sound 5/5

Ok, with so many songs, and the ability to make your own playlist, this soundtrack rocks!
Here are a few of the artists who make a great appearance on the soundtrack:

Red Hot Chili Peppers (remixed)
Fatboy Slim
Andy Hunter
Yellowcard
Finger Eleven
N.E.R.D.S.
X-ecutioners
....and more!

Also, the sound is great. When you're riding down the mountain, you'll be immersed.

Voice-acting is top-notch, although in the cutscenes after a race when your rival approaches, you can't really hear them talk; the music is drowning them out. However, this is one flaw in an otherwise perfect sound category.

**Replay Value 4.5/5

Ok, SSX 3 can be played in a lot of different ways. While Peak 1 somewhat resembles the SSX Tricky courses, Peak 2 and Peak 3 are very unique. You'll be even more glad you bought this game once you try the freestyle mode on Peak 3---lightning, rockslides, and high winds make the gameplay explosive.

There are many different characters, all with a different feel to them, although it's not terribly noticeable. There are also tons of cheat characters, so the roster is quite large. However, the cheat characters are freeride only, and you can't change their clothes or gear. The cheat characters don't seem to have gotten the same graphic overhaul either; but since they're more of a fun addition, this factor doesn't detract from the game.

I would say that you have an unlimited amount of replay value, as you can try to go a different course with your character, or try beating the game with all the characters. Or just simply try to get a better race Medal or a better Freestyle score. You've also got the 2 player mode, which allows you to ride an unlocked course with a friend.

There are also tons of toys, posters, art, trophies to collect/earn. This adds more replay value, and it gives it a SSBM/SC II sort of feel. However, the trophies are for accomplishments, so there aren't too many, but there is a reasonable trophy count.

***Graphics 5/5

This game has great graphics. The characters look great, the courses look great, and the lightning and special effects are clear and awesome. I'd say the visuals are in the same league as Metroid Prime, and that's a major compliment.

****Control 4.5/5

The controls are tight, and although they're loose at first, they tighten up as you buy experience. The trick system is the same as SSX Tricky, except for the Uber-tricks. You can buy tons of new uber tricks for each trick category, and assign one to the required button combinations.

The tricks are easy to pull off, but timing is crucial to rack up major points. This game very challenging for all you hardcore gamers, but a casual gamer can still enjoy it.

*****The Final Score: 5/5

SSX 3 is a ton of fun. It's cool to customize your rider from head to toe, and it adds to the gameplay experience a lot. You can receive messages from other riders and your rival, making you feel more immersed in the gameplay. You can't send messages, but hey, this isn't Animal Crossing.

The effects are great, especially on Peak 3---I love the lightning, wind, and snow effects. Even if you have Tricky (like I do), you'll be glad you have it. If you're somewhat cautious about buying it, at least rent it. SSX 3 is the best snowboarding game I've played, and a great game for everyone.

A while back I really wanted a Nintendo Gamecube. But, it was [expensive]! Just for the system and a controller. I saved up my Birthday money, christmas money and allowence and only came up to [not enough money]. Darn! I was short [money]! Then I looked in EGM's "Holiday Game Guide 2002" and compared the DC to the GC. I figured that they were almost the same. Luckly, my friend down the street hd th DC so i went over to his house and played on it for a while. Finally, i mady choice. DC it is! Compared to the GC they practically have the same graphics, some of he same games(Craxy Taxi, Sonic 2 which is slightly better than the DC version) the DC had cooler pheriphals(microphone, keyboard, mouse, gun, VMU, Rumble back, go online right out of the box) and some cooler games(Seaman,Sonic Adventure, Vutra Tennis, Marvel vs.Capcom 1&2). So instead i bought a black limited edition DC at a store and bought Vutra Tennis and a VMU. And still had [money] left over. What a Bargan! Months passed and the GC went don to [less money]. And I had 5 games, 2 VMU's, 1 Rumble pack, a web browser and a keyboard. I could have waited for the GC to go down [in cost] and get only the console and the controller or i could have gotten theDC 3 games 2 vmu's and a rumble pack....i'll stick with the DC. Who knows? The GC might even come down [in price].

Dream cast has to be the worst system ever made it overheats and takes too much power. The controller was really poorly made and can leave your hands hurting. The game library is very low and the only good games are sonic and jet grind ratio in which you can get on gamecube and x box I can't say I like x box either because of it's bulkyness. the gamecube controller looks like a vigina and it is too small more for little kids. What else can we get but a good old playstation 2! Sega stopped making dreamcast for a reason and it was because it sucks so get over it dreamcast lovers!

I've played both systems and I honestly like and play dreamcast more than playstation 2. This system is awesome. Awesome graphics(in most games it is better than PS2.) It comes with 2 of the best games ever invented. It's not even so much more expensive than the system without any games. Don't waste your money on PS2. Just get Dreamcast and trust me you will be happy you did so. What are you doing reading? Go out and buy it! SEGA DREAMCAST NFL 2K NBA 2K