Nintendo 64 System from Nintendo

Reviewed by: Callandor, from San Jose, CA

Price Paid: $100

Summary:
Of all the systems I own, I despise myself for getting this one the most. The biggest mistake Nintendo ever made was deciding that cartridges were still a thing of the present. Wrong. All this did was make some games practically impossible to create well on the system, in that I mean RPGs and sports games in particular. Considering the library is many times smaller than that of the PSX and that it is far inferior in capability to the Dreamcast, so I recommend everyone out there buy one of those systems first, before selecting this machine.

Gameplay:
If you look down every genre of gaming, you see the N64 can only tout dominance in one area, 3D platform games. Every other area will find it lagging far, far behind. If you ask teenagers and older what type of games they enjoy the most, they do not say Mario, Banjo, or Donkey as their most memorable gaming experiences. These games are SO kiddie oriented. Even the only game worth playing on the system, Zelda 64, in its own right a magnificent game, was dumbed down a bit by the fact it had childish themes. I think the "cute" factor in gaming has been taken to the extremes by Nintendo. Now, I must admit, if you are purchasing a system for a five year old, this may be the system to go because of the easy to learn platform games and Pokemon. With the combo of Gameboy pokemon games being transferable to the upcoming Pokemon Stadium, that alone makes the system worth buying for young ones. But, for mature gamers, this system is the worst. After Zelda, I dare you to name another RPG worth touching. Quest 64? Earthbound 64? And please don't mention Mario RPG 64, that game is too childish and simple for a true RPGer. Dragon Warrior IV on the NES is better than all those. RPGs are taking the gaming world by force again, what with Baldur's Gate and Ultima Ascension on the PC while on the console side we were presented with FFVIII and Grandia. Nintendo made a huge mistake in letting Square go and driving itself right of this market. The system has a lot of driving games as well, but all are mediocre at best. The PSX has Gran Turismo, RR series, and NFSIII, not to mention many other great ones. Fighting games are completely absent on the N64. I'll mention sports games later on in the review. Mature adventure games are also lacking, with Resident Evil 2 just coming out while we get to enjoy a brand new RE on the PSX. Oh yes, and I can't forget Goldeneye, that magnificent first person shooter. The N64 is da bomb when it comes to these games with Quake, Duke Nukem, Mission Impossible, and countless others. Well, ya know what, you are a sad gamer if those are the first person shooters you play. If you're reading this you must likely have a PC so I suggest go Play Quake III. Heck, Quake I multiplayer is ten times more fun than Goldeneye. Single player first person shooters have almost been completely phased out, with only Half Life to carry the banner. Do yourself a favor and move on from Goldeneye and the rest of those decrepit first person N64 shooters. On and on the list goes, and we still can only come up with one game worth playing, Zelda 64, and one revolutionary game worth renting, Mario 64.

Graphics:
If there was one area this system should have shown superior dominance, it would be this one. The N64 can pump out smoother and more detailed polygons in its 3D environments than all systems. But that was when this system first came out, and now with the Dreamcast, if you are looking for the most eye candy possible in a game you should look towards the Dreamcast or wait for new systems. Also, the lack of FMV hurts many games. Now, I know game intros are not important to the game but it provides them with a spark of brilliance that immediately captivates the gamer. And in a game like FFVIII, where FMV is absolutely essential, the N64 just cannot recreate those lively images. And once again, what good are graphics if the games aren't around for the system to utilize. Just think if Namco had been working with Nintendo and ported the arcade version of Soul Calibur to the N64. It could've been done, except N64 gamers are left with the beautiful and highly memorable Mace and War Gods. Thank you Nintendo for such great games.

Sound:
This area is dismal. There isn't one N64 game with memorable tunes and the sound quality of the system is horrible. Once again, choosing to make this a cartridge based system hurt the N64 in another area, the inability to play CD quality audio. Voices are of bad quality in all the games, and there isn't a lot of it because of the limited data storage capacity of the cartridge compared to CD or DVD. And this is where it hurts sports games. The entire genre of sports games has been lacking innovation for years, so the only way to make a new game worth buying would be extras. Well, colorful play by play commentary is a very important extra and the commentary on N64 sports games stinks because of the limited vocabulary and voice quality.

Ultima Ascension PC by Electronic Arts

Reviewed by: Gargoyle , from Fairfax, VA

Price Paid: $49

Summary:
This game was like watching a gorgeous swan take air. Floating through the wind's breaths and gliding through the heavens. Then getting mashed by a 757 on its way to Jersey.

Such promise, such splendor, such love is all to obvious in this game. It only makes it that much more heartbreaking that the game is so unplayable. I thought Daggerfall has set the benchmark on bugs on release, but Ascension has it beat easy.

Yes, I know. Origin promises that patches are due, and that is the only reason I haven't returned it immediately. I don't care what the game is like patched 4 weeks from now. That's an extra 4 weeks that should have been added onto the release date.

We all bitch and moan about release dates, but how many people think Diablo was unworthy of the delays?? StarCraft?? Blizzard is the prime example that gamers will forgive delays for top-notch games.

Gameplay:
You, the Avatar, have been tasked to return Britannia for a last time to defeat the infamous Guardian and save the land... again. Yet, there is a twist, once embarking, you will never return to earth OR BRITANNIA again. Makes for interesting story.

The gameplay is an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective. The mouse is used to change your view like a first-person shooter, and combat (at least in the beginning) is a one click affair. You simply get your cursor over your target and click to attack if its in range (bow or sword). The intro is also a quick tutorial that very effectively teaches you the basics. Once you're in Britannia, you get another last tutorial on magic and jumping.

While here, I think I will now say that this game is worth the cost just for having such a wonderful jumping interface. Remember the hell puzzles from Pagan (Ultima 8)?? Jumping from here to there, falling into water meaning instant death?? GONE! You point your cursor where to jump and hit the spacebar. You jump there. If it's too far, you don't jump. No guesswork at all! I'm cutting Lord British a lot of slack for this advance.

Swimming is a bit of a hassle though as you are so far back from the character that judging your depth is a pain. Still, swimming has not been a major part of the game.

The inventory is a bit cluttered and complex, but you eventually get the hang of it, with a 10 slot belt that can hold weapons, items, and spells.

Graphics:
This is where the game transcends all other RPGs and looks down upon them as an Angel from 3D gods.

Its also where it falls face first into horse doodie as Baldur's Gate leaves it in the dust.

The imagery in this game is top notch, far and above most action games. Lush terrain, tons of detail, intriguing monster models, beautiful views and lots of period immersity. The castle of Lord British fully feels like a castle of the time. Not only this, but your armor is all modelled onto your character ala Revenant and beats that game in awesome armor models. The leather armor almost looks like plate.

There is a problem though. This game is a hog. How much a hog?? I hear Pentium III 700's have some slowdown on them.

Be prepared to fiddle with the mipmapping, especially in towns. Don't want to bother with that? Than don't even bother buying this game. Framerate in object intensive areas heads right for the crapper and I have reached less than 5 fps. This game was made for the Voodoo 4, 5, and 6's which will not even be released until Feb. (which is when this game should have been released).

Sound:
Great music and period pieces. The voice acting is acceptable (to those who think it sucks, try playing Resident Evil or House of the Dead 2), but I did have a serious problem with the sound. No sound EFFECTS!! I have no idea what the problem was but no sword slashings, creature roars, or anything else. Likely, another bug in the game.