Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System)
What Is It?
At first glance you might think that this is a Sonic the Hedgehog game you have never played. After all, this is a Sega Master System game that never actually made it to these shores. It was released in Europe and Brazil, but never in the United States. But hold on just one moment ... because this Sonic the Hedgehog outing actually was released in the U.S., just not on the Sega Master System. Confused? Don't be, because this 8-bit platformer was released on the Sega Game Gear, and then later on various Sonic the Hedgehog collections on the Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 2. But just because the game has had a storied history, that doesn't mean you shouldn't check out what is actually a really fun Sonic game. Genesis fans going in expecting a game of the same quality as the 16-bit Sonic the Hedgehog 2 should probably look elsewhere, because this 8-bit game can't quite hit the same heights as its bigger brother. But what it can do is offer a fun little adventure that, for a mere five dollars, is just enough Sonic to make you completely forget about how terrible the last ten years have been to Sega's blue mascot.
Does It Still Hold Up?
There's something about the 2D Sonic games that will always hold up, even when they are a slightly floaty 8-bit variation. This Sonic sequel isn't just a dumbed down port of a 16-bit game, it's a fully-fledged adventure that is just as much fun as the bigger console games. Portable, on your TV, no matter where you play it Sonic the Hedgehog 2 holds up remarkably well.
Is It Worth The Money?
It's not just the fact that I'm a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, though I'm sure I'm guilty of that. The reason you should buy this is because it's a cheap way to remind yourself how good this franchise used to be. This 8-bit game isn't nearly as fast or ambitious as its 16-bit counterpart, but at $5 you'll hardly care. Better still, this is a Sonic game you've probably never played before, which makes it all the more worthwhile. There are a few control problems and the game is kind of floaty, but that shouldn't keep you from having a great time playing through Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on the Sega Master System!
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (XBLA/PSN)
What Is It?
The cynic in me wants to say that this is just another Street Fighter II game on the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. But Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is more than just another port ... it's a completely redrawn remake that takes everything you love about the original game and makes it, well, more attractive. The truth is, this $15 release doesn't attempt to rewrite the rules of Street Fighter, it's job is to give you the exact same game, only this time with hand drawn HD graphics. Fans of the series already know that this release has been a long time in the coming; Capcom announced this game two years ago and have only hinted at its release up until now. But now it's here, and it was definitely worth the wait. The gameplay is exactly what you would expect and the graphics are outstanding. It features all of the Street Fighter II characters you love (including the new fighters you hate) and is all presented in gorgeous HD. Without leaping headfirst into a pool of hyperbole, this is by far the best Super Street Fighter II Turbo has looked ... and likely ever will look. Buy this game to see the new graphics and remixed tunes. Buy this game to finally be able to play relatively lag-free online matches. Buy this game to remind yourself why you loved Street Fighter II in the first place. Buy this game to bone up on your moves before Street Fighter IV comes out in a few months. It doesn't matter why you buy this game, just as long as you buy it.
Does It Still Hold Up?
The graphics may be new, but the gameplay is straight out of the 1990s. When it comes to the play mechanics nothing has changed; this is still the same old amazing Street Fighter experience you remember in the arcade. The graphics may not be enough to attract non-fighting game fans to the series, but there's no denying how pretty this game looks. It's worth buying this game just to see how Capcom (and artists, Udon) have updated the game's background graphics.
Is It Worth The Money?
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is more than just a really long name, it's also the best Xbox Live Arcade game since Braid. Fans of Street Fighter already know what they're getting themselves into, however this is the first time in more than a dozen years where those fans will be able to experience the game in a different way. The gameplay and characters are all the same, but you'll be on the edge of your seat wanting to know what each of the game's sixteen levels look like and how Udon has updated the character's graphics and animation. Best of all, you can go in and play the game without all of the cool extra graphics and backgrounds. Couple this with a great online mode and you have one of the best downloadable games of the year. Of course you should buy this game!
This Week in GameTap
Still not satisfied with what you're getting on the Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade? Then maybe you should head on over to
GameTap! With more than 100 free games currently available, GameTap is one of the best places to play classic games! And every week they are adding brand new titles to the service, including old school games for the Genesis, Neo Geo, Commodore 64 and much, much more. Won't you join us as we take a look at what's going on this week over at GameTap!
In the time I was gone I managed to miss talking about several different episodes of American McGee's Grimm. And from the email I received today, this week's episode is the final episode of the season. That's right, the final episode! That means I can stop talking about this series for at least a few months (hopefully longer). For those that care, this week's final episode is a Christmas-themed adventure called A Christmas Carol. And best of all, you can play the game for free from now until the very end of 2008. In case you aren't keeping track, that's two weeks! So what are you waiting for? If you haven't had a chance to check out this series then maybe this will be the game that turns you into a fan.
Moving on, this week we also have a few free games to talk about. That's right, I said free! And I'm not just talking about free to paying members, I'm talking about free games that you can play for free right now. Like what? Well, for one week only you can check out The King of Fighters 2003! Oh, and you can still play the original Fallout for free no matter who you are. While The King of Fighters 2003 is far from my favorite SNK fighting game, it's great to see GameTap add another classic game to their line-up ... even if I have a hard time calling a game from 2003 "classic".
Paying subscribers aren't left out in the cold this week, either. Gold level subscribers will be able to check out Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War: Gold. I know a lot of people who love the Warhammer franchise, so if you're a paying subscriber maybe you should check out this four year old real-time strategy game. Or don't, see if I care. I'm just glad to be back telling you all about GameTap's offerings.
Page 2 of 2
