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Playstation 2 Game Reviews

By Ches

Index:

Burnout
Grand Theft Auto 3
Dave Mirra BMX 2
Time Crisis 2
Gran Turismo 3
SSX

Burnout

Comments:

Built around the now clichéd street racing theme, Burnout involves beating three opponents around a street course, complete with traffic. The draw-card here is speed. This is the fastest PS2 game yet (though hopefully it will soon be eclipsed by Wipeout: Fusion), and the Burnout effect, a reward for dangerous driving which sees your car's top speed increased significantly, is wickedly fast. Burnout also claims to have some of the most realistic crash physics yet seen, and for the most part the crashes are quite convincing, with reasonably accurately modelled momentum and collision detection. The graphics here leave a little to be desired however. There are an incredible number of cars on-screen, and the sense of speed is excellent, but bland textures, and shocking shimmering problems mar the visuals to such an extent that they actually detract from the gameplay. Thumbs up for a 60Hz mode though! Lastability is also an issue here, it wouldn't be inconceivable to finish this game in one (marathon) sitting.

None of this really conveys how much fun this game is to play however. Rocketing between oncoming traffic and ramming your opponents into the back of slow movers has never been so much fun. Overall, a welcome change from the seriousness of Gran Turismo 3.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Comments:

Everyone I know who played the first two Grand Theft Auto games absolutely loved them. Nothing has changed. This is the ultimate pick-up-and-play game. Yet, it's also one of the longest games yet on PS2, with over 70 missions, three huge play areas and a plethora of vehicles and weapons. The real kicker here is the complete freedom you have, you're more than welcome to simply drive around the city all day, or beat up passers-by and steal their cash, or drive a taxi for money, or pick up hookers, or a thousand other things you can think of. You can, of course, do the missions too, and they're great, but they're only one part f this brilliant game.

The graphics here aren't super-realistic, but they are stylish and they more than do the job. The sound is excellent, each car has its own engine note, pedestrians curse at you and the selectable radio-stations are mind-blowingly cool. The artificial intelligence is also superb. Pedestrians will run from danger, or flock to a spectacle, cars stop at traffic lights, gang-members shoot at rival gang-members. It all adds up to the most convincingly 'alive' city in a videogame ever. Brilliant.

I could rave about this game all day. Stop reading this tripe and buy it. You won't regret it.

Dave Mirra BMX 2

Comments:

It ain't quite Tony Hawk, but it'll do til he gets here. :)

Time Crisis 2

Comments:

What can I say? It's Time Crisis 2. If you played it on the arcade, or the original on PSX, you know what I'm talking about. The gun included with the bundle is of the usual excellent Namco quality, the gameplay is standard arcade, on-rails, shoot-the-hell-out-of-the-baddies fun, and the length of the game is as short as the arcade version. If that appeals, get it. If not, don't. Simple :)

Gran Turismo 3

Comments:

No comments necessary, the best racer on the system. Get it. Hopefully the stunning visuals will disguise the fact the the AI is as poor as ever.

SSX

Comments:

This is a brilliant game, eclipsed only by it's soon to be released sequal, SSX: Tricky.

One goddamned thing leads to another goddamned thing.