Links steps into 3D

Mario made the jump from 2D to 3D and so did Link in The Legend of Zelda The Ocarina of Time. It also is available on the Wii Virtual Console now. Zelda is once again in trouble in this adventure game. This time everything else is different. This game is set in a 3D world. From the start of the game you are left in awe of the spectacular graphics. Link travels in a vast open world in Hyrule. You can go from Hyrule field into the castle and town to Death Mountain to Lake Hylia. Helping you along the way is your new friend a horse name Epona. You also get to travel through time with the enchanted ocarina. You start off as the child link and then as you work your way to getting the Master Sword (yes this finding the sword is part of the game here too) you become adult link when you travel to the future. You are allowed to travel back and forward in time. Ganon returns as well as the villain. He is given a more human look than past Zelda games. The story is unoriginal but that is a minor flaw with this amazing game. The gameplay is extraordinary. Link is given a breathtaking array of moves. He can backflip, crouch, block with his shield, and use many other moves. His ability with the sword is very pretty as well. The spin attack is also here. This colorful sword attack is a joy to look at and perform. The z targeting system for distance weapons is so good. The sound compliments the action splendidly. Link's shout as he swings his sword is perfect. The music is brings the classic Hyrule feel back to you as if it never left. The game offers many side adventures to do apart from the main quest and provides many hours of fun.

This game does everything so well and has earned itself legendary status.

One of many versions of a legend

There are some games that stand above all others . Capcom's Street Fighter 2 is one of those games. This action packed fighting game first made its appearance in the arcades and changed video gaming forever. It offered unequaled fast paced two player combat. Players were given excellent gameplay and nice visuals. The gameplay was out of this world. Each fighter had several punches and kicks. Though what really made the gameplay stand out were the special moves. Most of the fighters were given a spectacular arsenal of special moves (sorry Zangief). So good were the controls that the 6 buttons and the joystick could be like a painter's brush in the hands of a skilled player. Or the joystick could be like a using tree limb to write with in the hands of an unskilled player. This game was smash hit. Players lined up in the arcades for a chance to lose to the great ones. The game eventually arrived on the Super Nintendo and other consoles. Now Street Fighter Turbo comes to the Virtual Console. It is the second version of Street Fighter 2 to be included here. It is almost the same as Street Fighter 2, the first one to arrive on the Virtual Console. It only adds the Bison, Sagat, Vega, and Balrog- the four bosses. The game is almost an exact copy of the arcade game. The graphics are good for its time. The player models look nice. The fireballs, hurricane kicks, sonic booms, dragon punch, and other special moves make the transition from the arcade joystick to the controller very well. The sound that go with these moves is captured well. The "hadouken" fireball is unforgettable to SF2 fans everywhere. The quick movements of the joypad deliver sweet special moves and quick combinations to your opponents. The difficulty in performing the special moves might be a turn off to some players but after a while they are easily done. the Players familiar with the Street Fighter 2 series know that the 12 or so characters are not balanced. Ken and Ryu are the two most powerful combatants. Two player mode brings out the best in the game. Otherwise it can get dull playing against the computer after a while. The biggest weakness of the game is the competition it faces from the better versions of the SF2 series like Super Street Fighter 2 that are available now or will come out on the Virtual Console later.

Street Fighter Turbo for the Virtual Console is a joy to play.
But when there are surely better versions of this game series to be available on the Virtual Console it just doesn't compare to well with them.

Mario finally speaks and more

Mario has been the one of the icons of gaming. He returns in Super Mario 64 in 3D. When you see the title screen a voice says "it's a Mario". Super Mario 64 quickly takes your breath away to see and hear Mario. This is a Mario game like never before. Mario's 3D face can also be stretched in many ways. This gives you a hint of the visuals to come. The environments are wonderful to look at. The Mushroom Kingdom is gorgeous 3D. Mario is full 3D. The camera does a great job following Mario around. It can also be adjusted for different views according to your wishes. The water is lifelike as Mario plunges in. Enemies are well done also. The goombas and koopas never looked better. The bosses look large and are a sight to behold. The first boss you fight is a giant boob-omb. The game follows the classic Mario game story. Princess Peach is captured by the villain Bowser again. You have to find stars to open up the way to the Bowser. You open up the game outside the castle and are free to travel about. The castle acts a gateway to each of the many levels. The basement to the top floor is filled of paintings that you jump into to enter. Each level takes place in a different environment. In each level there are stars to be found. You travel to deserts to mountains looking for the stars which unlock more levels to enter. Mario not only looks different in 3D, he is given a set of moves that allow him to do some amazing things. He can also gain power ups in the form of hats that give him abilities like flight for a short time. The controls are great. He has several jumps. He can somersault. He can crawl, kick, and jump and drop down hard. Mario can go at many speeds. From a tip toe to a full sprint. The sound is very good in this game as well. Mario makes a variety of sounds as he long jumps or kicks his way across the many obstacles he meets. This game offers so much to do and so many stars to find that you will be busy playing this for a while after you complete it.

This wonderful adventure sets the standard of how 3D games should be made and is a classic.

Welcome Mr. Bond

Attempting to use a movie license in a game often leads to disaster. Rare attempts to convert the movie Goldeneye into a video game successfully. This movie is a part of the secret agent James Bond series. He is also known as agent 007. Here his mission is to stop a rogue agent from using a deadly space weapon that had belonged to the Soviets. Goldeneye 007 also throws in many villains from other bond films too. This game has many extraordinary features. It starts with the graphics of this first person shooter. All of the elements of this game are gorgeous. The enemies all collapse in and shiver when they fall to you bullets in a horrible but rewarding way. Their guns smoke after they send a series of bullets your way. The player models are detailed and look like they really are based on the films. The game offers many missions to complete. In each you are given objectives to finish in order to finish the level. The number of objectives rise with each difficulty mode. The gameplay is where also the game shines. You control Bond with great precision. You can strafe to mow down a series of enemies or duck to avoid gun fire. You are also given an arsenal befitting the suave secret agent. From his trusty hand gun to rocket launchers and mines. Bond is well armed. The sound is also top notch. The classic James Bond music is beautifully captured on the N64 here. Your foes let out a groan as the fall to your gunfire. There is the sound of bullets hitting the wall and just missing. There has never sound better in a video game from this era. After you complete the single player adventure there is the multiplayer mode. This offers endless fun. It gives you many maps to play and also lets you choose what weapons are allowed. This one of the best parts of this game. This game only lacks Moneypenny.

Rare has skillfully made a great game that is worthy of the James Bond franchise.

Rockstar welcomes you to the California

The same spectacular wide open gameplay returns to Grand Theft Auto San Andreas from the previous games. This time the action game is set in California in the early 1990's. You play Carl Johnson or CJ. He is a young man caught up in a web of crime, gangs, drugs, crooked police, violence and then some more violence for good measure. The game consists of many missions and optional missions. These take place in a sprawling three city area with many towns along the way. The game is populated with people walking, driving, and riding. They react to CJ's presence if he nears them. The story follows CJ as he returns to his hometown and find himself blackmailed by renegade police officers while being caught in gang warfare. It is up to you navigate your way through the dangers of Los Santos and the surroundings. The many twists and turns in the story are told with excellent dialogue. The gameplay is improved from earlier GTA games. It is easier to lock on to a target with your many guns this time. The assortment of vehicles to operate is nearly endless. You get cars, boats, and planes. The game offers up a great selection popular music from that time period. You can play your own custom soundtrack too. The graphics are average in quality. There is pop in as you near far away objects. Also the character models have mittens for hands. But the visuals are made up for with unmatched quantity. You are put in a very large world where you can go anywhere you like. It is a marvelous task that Rockstar has managed to pull off. You cross large bridges, swim in rivers, go through woods and much more. Walking and driving about exploring is a game itself here.

Almost everything in GTA San Andreas is designed so well. This game is a marvel, a great game.