Sega

Game Description: No dungeon is every the same and nothing is what it seems in the high-fantasy world of Time Stalkers for the Dreamcast. You are Sword, an unlikely hero stolen from his home by powerful magic. It's your task to explore dank catacombs and battle fearsome creatures in a quest to unite with fellow heroes, right what has gone wrong, and return home safely. Time Stalkers will keep you hacking and slashing your way through role-playing adventures of magic and mighty steel.

I never played any of the original Landers games, so I'll leave Ben to speak on the merits of this RPG as it pertains to its Landers lineage. What I can talk about is Time Stalkers as an RPG, and more specifically, a Dreamcast RPG. It's obvious that the Dreamcast needs RPGs, but it's really telling when even Sega can't get its hand on one that is really worthwhile.

I agree with Chi on the issue of Ulalas sex appeal and the unusual style of the game. From first glance, Space Channel 5 is unlike anything Ive seen before and the overall design gives it the feel of an interactive American Bandstand or Soul Train -- or MTVs The Grind for our younger readers. Granted some of her dancing and gyrations can best be described as "suggestive," it is all in keeping with the direction the designers are heading. The character and level designs are perfect for this type of game and the mannerisms and animations of the supporting characters are hilarious. Combined with the catchy music, all of these elements come together to add personality and flare to a game already ripe with individuality.

And so it pleases me greatly to see that in Sega's latest music/rhythm genre release, Space Channel 5, 'sexiness' isn't something the game merely wears on its sleeve, but rather something that is ingrained into the very fabric of the gameplay. Most of Space Channel 5's sex appeal is attributed to one thing—or, rather, character—its knockout bombshell of a protagonist, appropriately named Ulala (pronounced Ooh-la-la).

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

Game Description: Meet Ulala (pronounced ooh-la-la), a rookie reporter assigned to cover a breaking dance news story. Pudgy dancing aliens (resembling futuristic gummy bears) have beamed down and are zapping human inhabitants into an offbeat dance step. More than just watch from the sidelines, Ulala must free fellow earthlings from the spell by matching the aliens' dance moves step for step. Unlike when playing previous move-memorization games such as Simon and Concentration, players of Space Channel 5 will need to feel the rhythm—the tempo, pauses, and idiosyncrasies of the beat—as well as the sequence of steps to get it right.

Game Description: After several years in video game retirement, Sonic the Hedgehog returns as the star of a graphically stunning 3D adventure game that blows away every other game in the genre. Sonic is joined by five of his friends in a massive quest that spans over 50 game levels filled with remarkable visuals and a pulsating soundtrack. Taking full advantage of the unprecedented processing power of the Dreamcast, Sega's development crew, Sonic Team, has designed several gravity-defying game levels that will keep gamers hooked.

Having never totally experienced Sonic in all his 16-Bit glory, I was eager to get my hands on his first journey in the world of 3D. It may have taken almost a decade and millions of angry letters from disgruntled Saturn fans, but Sega has finally unleashed Sonic and friends into a 3D world. Unfortunately, Sonics blazing speeds and developer inexperience have him tripping over his own feet throughout the entire game.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Animated Violence

For sheer spectacle, this is a game that would be difficult to top. However, it's downright disappointing that it couldn't be a more worthwhile playing experience. To say that Sonic Adventure is a treat for the senses would be an understatement, but that doesn't automatically translate into "fun game." Don't get me wrong, the game certainly has its moments, but the prevailing feeling here is that Sonic Team spent too much time trying to make the game look cool (no doubt the result of the pressure to make up for lost time) and not enough time thinking of ways to make it play better.