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Nintendo Gamecube NFL Quarterback Club 2002 Publisher:
Acclaim
If players have tested “NFL 2K2″ for the Xbox,
they’ll do a double-take at their Gamecubes when beginning to
play “NFL Quarterback Club 2002.” The graphics
are much too reminiscent of N64 (Nintendo’s previous
generation system) to be deserving of the Gamecube
distinction. Acclaim’s QB Club series has always
trailed behind the heavyweight in this genre, such as the Madden
series and the previously mentioned 2K series from Sega, but this
game is lacking in all of the departments ““ graphics,
gameplay, and features. Graphically, the characters are small
and blocky, running in an annoyingly mechanical way as if they were
on tracks. However, a small attempt was made to add realism,
such as realistic shadow effects and the simple articulation of
emotions on players’ faces. The game computer
(aka CPU) has very rudimentary artificial intelligence.
For instance, the computer will often call the same play three
times in a row, repeat the same commentary, or allow the players to
walk into each other after a play, suggesting that they are either
blind, or just very stupid. It’s even more disappointing that
the commentators are often so long-winded that they continue
talking about the previous play after the next one has begun.Â
“QB Club” has requisite play modes such as exhibition,
season, simulation, practice and playoffs, but the best of them is
the quarterback challenge mode. In this mode, players compete
against other quarterbacks in various challenges and tests of
skill. Unfortunately, there is no mode in which players can build
and manage their own teams. The bottom line; those planing on
buying a game that plays like an actual game of football should not
buy this one. If the poor graphics and AI are not turn-offs and the
specialized modes such as quarterback challenge are turn-ons, this
game could warrant a rental or two.
Robert Esposito Â
X-Box Kabuki Warriors Publisher: Crave
Entertainment
If “Kabuki Warriors” were a food, it would be a
plain air-popped rice-cake with nothing on it. It is almost
difficult to criticize the sound, graphics and gameplay of
“Kabuki Warriors” because it has so little of each.
This game is as barren as they come with little more than a basic
tournament mode and a VS mode. Graphically, character models and
backgrounds are very clean, but also very basic. The game makes use
of a single sound effect ““ a garbled Japanese moan that
becomes extremely annoying with time. Players progress from
city to city as they acquire money and new fighters
by defeating easy opponents on an empty wooden stage. The
game has only one action button, while the other buttons cause the
player to roll or jump. A few different moves can be executed if a
jump or roll is combined with the action button. Gameboy games have
more to them than this game. Do not even consider buying or renting
“Kabuki Warriors” unless for use as an instrument of
torture.
Robert Esposito Â
Playstation 2 Legends of Wrestling Publisher:
Acclaim
With “Legends of Wrestling,” Acclaim has created a
very promising game and imbued it with several qualities of an
excellent one. At the same time, however, the game contains an
equal amount of bugs and flaws. Wrestling fanatics will be pleased
with the 42-player cast, including all of the wrestling legends
such as Hulk Hogan and Rob Van Dam. Each legend carries one or two
of his trademark moves and is recreated with attention to clothing
and behavior. The game’s three modes of play are basically
slight variations on each other, including exhibition, career and
tournament. Of these, the career mode is definitely the most
promising and players get to embark upon a cross-country tour,
moving from region to region as they ascend in rankings. However,
gameplay, graphics and ergonomics all disappointing. Simply put,
the control is sloppy. Players move slowly and seem too lazy to
respond to the commands that are entered into the
controller. It is also difficult to position the wrestler, who
must walk in a circle in order to turn around (instead of
pivoting), and end up having horrible turning radii. The
load-times are also frustratingly reminiscent of those of PSOne
(the original Playstation). Not only is there a long load time
before the entrance of the wrestlers to the arena, there is an
equally vexatious wait before the actual fighting begins. In
addition, a glaring omission to the game is commentary ““
there is none of it. Considering this game’s faults,
only wrestling devotees ought to pick this title up. If Acclaim can
improve the gameplay by adding some extras like commentary and
speeding up the interface (smaller load times), it will have a
great game on its hands.
Robert Esposito