Namco Bandai

The most surprising thing about Side Story 0079 is the way it looks. While being based on one of the most popular anime of all-time, it doesn't look anything like its animated counterpart. Colors aren't typically bold and vibrant. Also missing-in-action are anime trademarks like physics-defying hairstyles and wide-eyed facial features in the character designs.

Well, this isn't going to be much of a review on my part because I agree with Chi completely. Gundam Side Story 0079 is a cool game that could have been great had it just lasted longer. I must say though—while I was playing, I truly felt like a part of the war effort against the Zeon forces. I thought the developers missed an opportunity to make the missions more interesting (which of course would have made the game longer and more involving). In fact, the game never really pushes the envelope conceptually, but it's hard to complain about a game that does so many things right. And as Chi stated in his review, the best part of Gundam Side Story is the authenticity of piloting the Mobile Suits. Being a part of the White Dingo team, the war-torn environments, the awesome weaponry—it's all so beautifully realized. It's for this reason I keep playing the game over and over again.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Violence

Game Description: Step into the giant, mechanized suit of the Gundam. There, across battlefields of a war-beaten Earth, you'll command your forces against units of the Zeon army. You'll need to master every move in your suit—and weapon in your arsenal—to outflank the Zeon and complete each mission. And although you've got armored vehicles and ant-sized infantry on your side, the battle will be lost or won by your ability to jump, hover, and fly into battle while zooming in your weapons on the enemy. A cross between first-person shooter and strategy game, Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the Ashes comes from a series that originated on the Sega Saturn. This title features such enhancements as detailed 3D mobile suits, cinematic interstitial scenes, a dramatic soundtrack, and actual sound effects from the anime TV series, Gundam.

Game Description: In the gorgeous follow-up to Soul Blade, players will choose from a roster of 20 determined warriors, all trying to gain possession of the mysterious Soul Edge a weapon of untold power. In Soul Calibur, players will fight through all opponents, using their chosen character's unique martial arts style and weaponry, leading up to the final battle with the Soul Edge's current owner. There are many ways to play beyond Arcade and Versus modes, however including a journey across the land where your victories will be won against difficult opponents, which will unlock hidden characters and items while honing your skills.

Soul Calibur is simply a joy to watch, but thankfully, it's even more fun to play. The moves are easy to pull off (that scores big with me every time) and look great while they are being performed. And they all flow into each other without much any interruption in the animation (my personal thanks to the motion capture people and programmers).

Already widely praised by critics and fans alike as the main reason to own a Sega Dreamcast system, I was extremely looking forward to continuing my 'education' with the home translation of the two-player competitive arcade fighter. But much like the first day at any new school, I didn't get off to such a good start. I had some serious reservations and what appeared promising at first was starting to look an 'incomplete' grade.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Violence, Suggestive Themes 

When the original Ridge Racer was released on the then newborn PlayStation, it impressed me as a graphical wonder and was an excellent showcase for the system. However, I was then a Nintendo loyalist so I didn't admit my opinion of the game too loudly. In fact, I avoided the game and the PlayStation like the plague. But fortunately now in 1999, I have outgrown my devout system loyalty and it seems only fitting that I am reviewing R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (R4) since it may be the last installation of the series on the PlayStation. The next one is expected to migrate to the yet-to-be-named next generation Sony system.