Mini Reviews

Castlevania Double Pack (GBA)
Wisely avoiding the irritating Circle of the Moon, the Castlevania Double Pack places two worthy Castlevania adventures together in one package. However, what initially seems likes a simple two-for-one deal becomes an interesting journey, one game failing where the other succeeds and vice versa.

Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
In its effort to make up for the series' lax degree of difficuly, Zero Mission cranks up the heat. Unfortunately, it becomes so determined in its mission that it comes close to consuming itself from within. Couple this with the game’s new, somewhat lackluster climax and it's easy to see how discontent can set in.

Metroid Fusion (GBA)
While the mission style gameplay and peculiar level design put a cap on the usual feel of exploration, it's not long before the slow and methodical burn of Fusion's story comes screaming out of the darkness, proving that the game is a must-play for anyone that enjoyed the original three game trilogy.

Mega Man X4 (PS1)
Along with Symphony of the Night, MMX4 is one of the finest 2D platformers that can be experienced on the PS1. From the two separate character scenarios that provide different challenges to the gameplay and music, the game delivers on all fronts. Unfortunately, beyond it lies a trail of mediocre and embarrassing follow-ups.

Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB)
When it comes to accolades and affection, Metroid II often falls behind the rest of the pack. This isn't born out of any significant flaw as it's an extremely well crafted title, but more out of stiff competition. While it's story obviously flows into Super Metroid, Metroid II feels more like a precursor to Metroid Fusion than anything else.

Star Fox (SNES)
While it's visuals were quickly surpassed by the consoles that followed, Star Fox has more to offer than many may realize. By not offering many of the refinements seen in it's 64-bit counterpart, the original Star Fox might be a picture perfect case where the original is the superior game by offering less. Still, it's amazing how impressive the game can make a small handful of polygons appear.

Syphon Filter 3 (PS1)
As one would expect, Syphon Filter starts to shows its age with its third installment. Despite such an inevitability, the game turns previous storyline footnotes into full-fledged missions in order to flesh out the characters introduced by its predecessors. Such a ploy works, making the game feel a lot more special than it really is.

Syphon Filter (PS1)
There's one absolute certainty with SF: the comparison to Metal Gear Solid. While it falls short of such a plateau, it’s hardly the dagger some make it out to be. In fact, by sacrificing a little quality for quantity (and indulging in the genre's deep-rooted cheese factor) Syphon Filter manages to carve out a confortable niche for itself.

Syphon Filter 2 (PS1)
Syphon Filter 2 sticks with what it knows and gives fans more of the same with a few tweaks and improvements. While it's not exactly the most inspiring blueprint for a sequel, the strategy's a success until the narrative starts to buckle under its own weight, resulting in a product that feels a little more touch and go than the original.

Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
While there are those that would have you believe Donkey Kong Country's gameplay has survived the years unscathed, there's something below the surface preventing it from being as enjoyable as it once was. A disappointment of this caliber may appear to have no silver lining, but the original's loss in this respect may be the ultimate gain for Diddy's Kong Quest and Dixie's Double Trouble!

Metal Gear Solid (PS1)
A game that's a lot of different things to a lot of different people, Metal Gear Solid is an experience that doesn't quite live up to the legacy its fans have forged for it. With its narrative outgunning its gameplay by a mile it's not long before one realizes these sacrifices aren't without consequence. The game wins the battle but loses the war.