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Railroad Tycoon 2 (DC)
by thole09 "Railroad Tycoon II" is a simulation video game. It was first released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000 by Tremor Entertainment. In the United States, the title received a guidance rating of "E" which deemed it appropriate for all ages. Railroad Tycoon tells the tale of the player's journey from a small ... businessman to a wealthy millionaire. The only circumstances standing in his or her way are financial planning and infrastructure construction. Set in locations around the world, players may select either the "campaign" mode to solve complex issues plaguing a developed railroad, "scenario" mode which allows the player to select a certain technological era and freely build a railroad with the intention of becoming profitable, and the "sandbox" mode which allows the player to freely construct any features using unlimited resources. The title also includes a "tutorial" mode which presents the game's functions and requirements in a series of simple interactive lessons. On the surface, Railroad Tycoon is a title yielding to the most basic foundations of simulation titles. One must closely monitor assets in relation to income and accordingly adjust spending to further enhance their net worth. This is primarily accomplished by constructing railroads and train stations which transport passengers and cargo through the various points on the map. Players must also purchase trains to serve as transportation vessels. Each train model has a readable biography which presents its hauling capacity and other notes of interest. After purchasing, trains must then be assigned a route between any number of active train stations. Trains will then automatically execute their designated actions and players may sit back and see their profits roll in if indeed they are profitable. In a pinch, a player may raise money for his or her empire by selling bonds which repay an interest rate over time in exchange for immediate cash flow. The intricate business model presented by the video game is one which is very developed and requires a lot of thought to successfully master. Because of this, gameplay can be incredibly difficult when first starting and I experienced many failures before finally developing a slightly profitable rail network. The graphics are presented from a isometric view which looks down on the game in play. Similar to the computer counterpart, each action is held within a menu button at the bottom of the display whereas the player's creation is seen in action in the upper portion of the display. As this game is dependent on a mouse-like cursor for operation, players must be comfortable in using the game pad's analog joystick. I often found the joystick to be very slow when moving. The image drags along at a cumbersome pace, and while it was responsive to sudden changes I felt the sensitivity was far too low than what I would have expected. Other than this minor shortfall in animation speed, the graphics are three dimensional in their design. Trains gently tug along their specified courses and players may zoom in to observe some of the finer details of stations and other buildings. I did, however, find the maximum zoom setting to be a bit restrictive in its view. When zoomed into a building, there is a distinct "flat" appearance which is difficult to pan around in a three dimensional atmosphere. Players are able to interact with the game's environment from a zoomed out view, but being able to seamlessly observe the finer details of the objects being deployed would have been a nice touch. The soundtrack is otherwise appropriate and what I would have expected going into the video game. Train whistles blow, brakes screech, and a comforting "cha-ching" sound alerts the player as to incoming cash flow. Railroad Tycoon II is something which I would happily recommend to simulation enthusiasts. It is definitely a challenge which has stumped me on a several occasions, though its well refined game mechanics and numerous aspects to watch over make for a captivating gameplay experience. Read the complete review |
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Sno-cross Championship Racing (DC)
by thole09 "Sno-Cross Championship Racing" is a racing video game. It was first released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2001 by Crave Entertainment. In the United States, the game received a guidance rating of "E" which deemed it suitable for all ages. Offroad racing, especially in a snowy or arctic environment, is a real ... jewel in the rough when it surfaces on a home games console. There are very few examples which spring to mind when reflecting on the genre, and Sno-Cross comes across as something which was barely able to skip on the slushy waters. The gameplay of this title is standard to what one may expect from a racing video game. The featured modes include championship, single race exhibition, time trial, and a two player mode for split screen action with another physical player at the same system. The bulk of the game is concentrated in its championship mode where players race through a series of 10 races across three progressive levels of difficulty represented by engine speeds; 500cc, 600cc, and 700cc. Successful completion of this mode will unlock the title's 12 different "Yamaha" licensed snowmobiles which players may then use in single exhibition races. The video game also boasts an in-game track editor, but I find it to be rather limited in its design as computer controlled opponents are not able to race on the player's creations. Players may only use their edited tracks with a friend in the two player mode or on their own in a solo time trial race. While it could be credited to an excellent physics engine driving the video game, I find the controls to be very sensitive to the point of extreme difficulty. The snowmobiles are very responsive to the terrain below and, as the courses are often icy and slippery, players will teeter and slide in all directions while trying to guide their vehicle. Because of this there is a very steep learning curve when first starting out in the video game. I often found myself sliding into barricades and other environmental features of the course when attempting to make a turn as I'm used to a stiffer style of play. My typical "full force" pulls of the analog joystick usually send my vehicle spinning madly out of control, and I remember it taking me a long while to come to terms with this aspect of play. This sensitivity seems to have crossed over into the computer opponents as well. In a seeming lack of testing, I found most opponents simply crashed into a barricade at the first turn or were reduced into a permanent spin after sliding across a patch of ice. That's not to say each level of play sports this hindrance, but a lot of the gameplay experience does come across as a bit too easy due to the poorly programmed computer opponents. The graphics are presented from a trailing view of the player's vehicle. For the most part the game remains consistently smooth and visually responsive to sudden turns; only showing obvious slowdown when several competitors are in the same frame. What is painstakingly apparent, though, is its high level of "blockiness" and pixelation in the environmental features. The snow on the ground resembles a coarse white sand which is accented only by the repetitive images of trees standing proudly in all of their flattened two dimensional glory. Despite the visual shortfalls, Sno-Cross features an excellent soundtrack. Exhilarating and lively musical scores follow the expected engine noise of the snowmobile, and make for a complimentary listen in a race setting. It would be difficult to suggest this video game as worthy of purchase. The combination of several technically flawed instances in gameplay and below par visuals isn't the best showcase for the capabilities of the Sega Dreamcast. It's possible that those seeking a modern snowmobile racing game could forgive these aspects but a casual gaming audience should avoid this title. Read the complete review |
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Blue Stinger (DC)
by thole09 "Blue Stinger" is an action adventure video game. It was first released for the Sega Dreamcast in 1999 by Activision. In the United States, the title received a guidance rating of "M" which deemed it appropriate for ages 17 and above. The year is 2001 and an island has emerged off the coast of the Yucatan ... Peninsula. Believed to be formed of the meteorite which wiped out the dinosaurs, the island is given the nickname "Dinosaur Island" and scientists soon populate it for research. While vacationing near the scientific labs and other faculties, the player's character Mr. Ballad is caught under a strange orb of energy which encapsulates the island and brings forth a horde of organisms and halfling creatures. They soon enslave the personnel on the island and it is up to the player to secure their freedom by obliterating enemy creatures. On the surface, this video game seems to be typical standard fare to the shooting based adventure. Players must guide Mr. Ballad through the local laboratories and deal with an onslaught of creatures while flipping switches and unlocking doors to delve deeper into the scenario. What stands out as an excellent difference in Blue Stinger is its availability of in game cash. Upon eliminating an enemy, the fragmented body will spew a series of coins which players must frantically collect. These coins are then used in exchange at one of the numerous dispenser machines which supply the player with ammunition, health kits, and new weapons. It could also be said that this positive is equally negative. Supplies are in an unlimited amount and one can stock up on a vast amount of kit after venturing into a few infested lab rooms. I found a lot of the game's difficulty which could have been experienced was removed because of this aspect, and players seeking an easier adventure title would be in for a treat in this instance. The graphics are presented from a trailing view of Mr. Ballad. While the frame rate remains consistent in its presentation, I found the human characters to be very poorly animated. Similar to the popular "South Park" programme, humans barely feature any readily noticeable arm or leg movement which gave the impression of the characters floating across the display. The monsters are quite different in comparison. Smooth, well detailed, and generally intimidating could best describe their appearance. The poor attention given to the humans can be forgiven as the player will, for the most part, be looking towards the monsters during confrontations. The soundtrack is otherwise excellent in its delivery. A variety of extended musical scores accent the horror-based atmosphere of the game, and the sound effects were appropriate for their use such as gunshots and doors opening. Overall, Blue Stinger is a passable video game which is hindered by some faults. A newcomer to the adventure genre may find this to be a pleasing release due to its lowered difficulty but more seasoned veterans may want to give this a miss. Read the complete review |
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