PlayStation 2

Street Fighter Anniversary Collection

December 9, 2004

PlayStation 2 / Reviews / by Elaine Garbarine /

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/sfac/cover.jpg[/floatleft]When I was 10 years old, I would go to the arcade in the mall with one dollar in quarters. I would park myself in front of the newest [i]Street Fighter[/i] machine and would not leave until that dollar was gone. (I could make those four quarters last until my parents dragged me out of the mall.) The game created so many childhood memories for me, especially when I beat the “big kids” round after round. [i]Street Fighter[/i] still remains as my favorite series of video games. The anticipation that I have for each new game in the series matches the excitement [i]Halo 2[/i] created for the thousands of people who stood in line at midnight waiting for its release.

[floatright]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/sfac/ss12_thumb.jpg[/floatright]The [i]Street Fighter Anniversary Collection[/i] from Capcom brings back all my arcade memories and uncovers the [i]Street Fighter[/i] freak that I try so desperately to hide. The disc includes [i]Hyper Street Fighter II[/i] and [i]Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike[/i] on one glorious disc. [i]Hyper Street Fighter II[/i] is a blend of five different [i][i]Street Fighter II[/i] games, complete with all the characters, costume colors, sounds, and battle locations that I still have memorized to this day. Like the old arcade classics, the games play with clean graphics and all the original music and sound effects. The different versions of [i]Street Fighter II[/i] are integrated seamlessly-the creators even kept intact the ability to customize the PlayStation 2 button layout fully to each player’s personal preference.

Despite my affinity towards [i]Street Fighter II[/i], the real jewel of this collection is [i]Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike[/i]. I missed the first console version of this game (released on Dreamcast), so I was thrilled that it was included in the [i]Anniversary Collection[/i]. All the great arcade characters and features are present in [i]3rd Strike[/i], including the excitable (and borderline annoying) announcer. Even though [i]3rd Strike[/i] has the button customization feature just [i]like Street Fighter II[/i], the whole experience would be more complete with a quality joystick instead of the PS2 controller.

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/sfac/ss03_thumb.jpg[/floatleft]Besides more costume colors and a couple of characters, I will acknowledge that there is nothing remarkably new here. The [i]Anniversary Collection[/i] includes a version of [i]Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie[/i]-a nice thought-but the video is really not the best quality, and any fan of the series (like me) probably has a copy already sitting on his or her DVD shelf. Another important thing to note is that while the PS2 version does not support online play, the Xbox version (to be released in February 2005) will. This was not a necessity for me, but I understand that many gamers want online competition.

All in all, despite the lack of bonus material on the new [i]Anniversary Collection[/i] disc, it is still a solid purchase if you are a [i]Street Fighter[/i] fan, or if you simply enjoy video games with 2D fighters. It should be a big incentive to buy this disc if you have a quality joystick, which helps sell the genuine arcade feel of the game. Priced at only $29.99, it is almost like stealing an arcade machine, except not as heavy-and you don’t need four quarters to play.

Street Fighter Anniversary Collection Controller

December 7, 2004

PlayStation 2 / Reviews / by Elaine Garbarine /

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/sfaccontroller/cover.jpg[/floatleft]I am a well-known [i]Street Fighter[/i] nut. I own the games, the anime, the horrible Van Damme movie, the comics, the works. Naturally, when I heard that Sony- and Capcom-licensed special edition controllers were being released in parallel with the PS2 launch of [i]Street Fighter Anniversary Collection[/i], I was already bookmarking funds to purchase at least one controller. So I bought one, indeed, and I was not disappointed.

[floatright]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/sfaccontroller/ss05_thumb.jpg[/floatright]The controller itself will make any 2D fighting fan extraordinarily happy. It has a six-button layout like the Genesis controllers of old with two additional shoulder buttons. Moving two of the buttons onto the face of the pad was brilliant and makes playing any 2D fighter (especially [i]Street Fighter[/i]) a much more enjoyable experience. The D-pad is well-crafted and feels quite responsive and much better than the D-pad on the Dual Shock. The controller is thick but not heavy and honestly feels a bit “cheaper” than I was hoping for. Lastly, on the face of the controller is a three-image lenticular display featuring a three-frame animation of the one of four characters: Akuma, Chun-Li, Ken, or Ryu. My purchase was Ryu, but with the recent price drop from $25 to $20 I will be acquiring the remaining three controllers in short order. Collectors should note that the Akuma version is extremely difficult to find, and you may need to venture online to obtain it.

To be honest, the packaging rather than the controller is the real selling point. The box is absolutely beautiful with special artwork for each character. Opening up the front flap reveals a certificate with a message from Nuby Tech and the familiar seal that has accompanied all of the 15th anniversary goods. Also included is an edition of the [i]new Street Fighter[i/] comic series (currently 12 editions in), which has some of the most beautiful [i]Street Fighter[/i] artwork that I have seen in quite some time.

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/sfaccontroller/ss01_thumb.jpg[/floatleft]All in all, this is a solid controller that will make all of your PS2 2D fighters feel brand new again. The packaging is so exceptional that any collector or fan of the series will appreciate it. With the $20 price point, there really isn’t a strong reason not to snatch one of these up. Be warned, you may never want to take it out of the box.

Jak 3

December 3, 2004

PlayStation 2 / Reviews / by Chris Rasco /

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/jak3/cover.jpg[/floatleft]If you have been a reader of Snackbar Games for any amount of time, then you probably know that I am an absolute fiend for platforming games. You probably also know that I hold the [i]Jak & Daxter[/i] and [i]Ratchet & Clank[/i] series very dear to my heart. The release of [i]Jak 3[/i] marks the end of an era of topnotch platforming games on the PS2. Naughty Dog’s Jason Rubin is departing to pursue other ventures, and both companies (Naughty Dog and Insomniac) have decided to end their respective franchises on a high note. I can’t blame them, but it almost brings a tear to my eye. Does [i]Jak 3[/i] wrap up a fantastic series the way it should? Let’s find out.

Naughty Dog took everyone by surprise with [i]Jak 2[/i] and its GTA-style city hub and mission system. No doubt they ticked off some platforming diehards with the shift from a pure platformer to a mission-based GTA clone with platforming intertwined, but I adapted and pushed forward with it. At the same time, they drew in new fans and redefined the franchise. Looking back, I wish there was a larger number of platforming levels, but the nice variety of missions and levels made the game so much better.

You will probably be slightly confused as you begin [i]Jak 3[/i]. Despite your heroics in [i]Jak 2[/i], the absence of a leader in Haven City has led to a power struggle that has the city in ruins. Unfortunately for you, you have been made the scapegoat due to your exposure to dark eco; thus, you have been banished to the wasteland outside Haven City. That is where the final chapter of this fantastic series begins.

[floatright]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/jak3/ss05_thumb.jpg[/floatright][i]Jak 3[/i] is back with the same great style of gameplay as seen in [i]Jak 2[/i]. Once again, your mini map will be marked with icons denoting the next available mission. In addition to mandatory missions that progress the story, the map is also littered with additional side missions as seen in [i]Jak 2[/i]. The wasteland is also chalked full of these indicators and make additional use of Jak’s vast array of vehicles. Jak’s arsenal of weapons has grown to 12, and the awesome dark eco powers are back. Additional weapons are accessed by an additional push of the d-pad and are essentially powerful add-ons to the guns with which you are already familiar. Also new to the game is the presence of light eco powers such as a heal move. This will come in very handy during tough missions. Light eco powers are largely defensive moves while the dark eco powers are destructive and offensive in nature. Fans of the hoverboard will be glad to know that it has returned as well.

The hunt for precursor stones has once again made a return. Instead of feeling like the stones were not worth collecting, this time around you have the option of spending the stones on a bevy of cool secrets. No longer does the appearance or lack of a goatee make a good secret-Naughty Dog went the extra mile and added weapon upgrades to the mix. Your already massive collection of weaponry can receive a boost in power or even in increase in ammo. Suddenly, collecting those little red stones seems worth all the effort.

While your weapons store certainly has grown, you still have your melee attacks from the previous game. Utilizing these in conjunction with the weapons will make quick work of anyone that crosses your path.

In addition to the platforming and GTA-style missions, you will encounter a whole slew of vehicle-based missions in [i]Jak 3[/i]. The wasteland is a vast place, and the assortment of vehicles is highly impressive. Each vehicle is highly specialized and will come in handy during one of the many wasteland-based missions. I personally love cruising around the dunes and performing high-flying acrobatics while taking out the many roaming bands of wasteland miscreants.

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/jak3/ss01_thumb.jpg[/floatleft]Graphically, [i]Jak 3[/i] is identical to [i]Jak 2[/i]. Along with the absence of loading screens that we are now used to is the same vertical sync issue that I mentioned in the [i]Jak 2[/i] review. While not a common annoyance, it did catch my eye a few times during my time with the game. The bottom line is that Naughty Dog has done some impressive things with the aging PS2 hardware, and impressive graphics coupled with no loading is a feat not often seen on the PS2.

I have really enjoyed every moment of the [i]Jak & Daxter[/i] franchise, and while I have previously been known to go on benders with these games I find myself playing very slowly. It is almost as if I am trying to prolong the inevitable end of something I love so dearly. The completion of the game and story will be a bittersweet moment that will only be surpassed by the completion of Ratchet & Clank’s final game. To answer my own question, [i]Jak 3[/i] certainly does wrap this series up properly. It is an excellent final chapter to one of my fondest gaming memories. Fans of the series will have no reason for not already owning this one, and newcomers should wet their appetite with this and then jump back to the original purely for the story. To me, this one is a no-brainer.

Asterix & Obelix: Kick Buttix

November 30, 2004

PlayStation 2 / Reviews / by Chris Rasco /

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/kickbuttix/cover.jpg[/floatleft][i]Asterix and Obelix[/i] are actually an incredibly old franchise dating back to the late 1950’s. Created by French comic book artists RenA

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

November 23, 2004

PlayStation 2 / Reviews / by Marco Ortega /

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/gtasanandreas/cover.jpg[/floatleft]Most of you know that we here at Snackbar are not huge [i]GTA[/i] fans. I could not stand [i]Vice City[/i] and was hoping that San Andreas would be a total disaster as well; but to my dismay, I found myself getting a copy of San Andreas. After hearing so much about all the new features and the miles upon miles of city blocks, I was really intrigued.

Set in the 1990s, [i]GTA: San Andreas[/i] takes place in the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, Hollywood, Sacramento, and San Francisco, along with parts of Sin City. Your character is Carl Johnson, a.k.a. C.J., and you have returned to San Andreas from [i]Liberty City[/i] to hear quite a bit of disturbing news. Your mother and brother have been murdered. Gangs rule the city streets, and it’s your job to seek your family’s killers and take back the streets. The good thing is that you are not all on your own. Your hood buddies-Big Smoke, OG Loc, Sweet, B-Dup, Ryder, and plenty more-come in to play. These aren’t the only folks you will encounter throughout the game; you will see the colorful “rainbow” of the San Andreas community, from mobsters to actors to rappers to cokeheads to strippers.

Since the [i]Liberty City[/i] version, the graphics in the [i]GTA[/i] series have not changed one bit. Detailed faces and body structure along with bland landscapes and mediocre building textures still remain, making it obvious that graphics were not on Rockstar’s priority list. The story is top priority, with added RPG elements-this was the feature that pulled me into San Andreas. You can choose whether or not you want to be a fat tub of lard or COCK DIESEL! This is all decided on the amount of exercise you do (hitting the weights is a requirement, not eating pizzas, tacos, or chicken buckets). Trust me when I say that there are a lot of those around the city.

[floatright]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/gtasanandreas/ss02_thumb.jpg[/floatright]Another feature I enjoyed was the amount of XP you receive the more you use a certain weapon. The more missions you accomplish, the more respect you get on the street. It’s all about street credibility when you “wanna roll with the right peeps.” Rockstar does a great job in breaking down your stats in order for you to manage your character. Several types of stats are represented, including sexual appeal, style, stamina, fat, muscle, bank account, property value, and even girlfriends. Yes, you get girlfriends! The days of having to honk your horn to get some action are over. Now you can just woo her into the bedroom. Remember, in order to get a girlfriend you have to dress the part, which means going to the clothing store and buying some nice threads is a must.

I was impressed to learn about the wide variety of voice talent that participated in [i]San Andreas[/i]. Chris Penn, James Woods, Ice-T, and Kid Frost are among some of the voice actors in [i]San Andreas[/i]. My favorite is Samuel L. Jackson as the corrupt cop, Officer Tenpenny.

While cruising in your vehicles, listening to the radio is always entertaining. This is obviously no surprise to [i]GTA[/i] lovers, as the music is always top-notch with a variety of stations to choose from. Let’s not forget the crazy commercials and obnoxious disc jockeys. Playing [i]San Andreas[/i], I found myself laughing most of the time, mainly because of the dialogue that you have with your buddies and the people on the streets. I also enjoyed the low-riding contests; it pretty much uses the same directional controlling system as [i]DDR[/i]. Missions aren’t just run-and-gun anymore-you have to use your social skills, stealth, and even your dancing skills in order to complete them. Stealth missions resemble the style of gameplay present in the game [i]Manhunt[/i], which is no surprise.

[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/gtasanandreas/ss05_thumb.jpg[/floatleft]Overall, the variety of missions and gameplay in [i]San Andreas[/i] really changes the pace of the series. Especially with the addition of RPG elements, this is by far the best [i]GTA[/i] of the series. I am still playing [i]San Andreas[/i] and enjoying every minute of it. If you’re not a big [i]GTA[/i] fan, I would say that you should rent it and give it a shot. Since you don’t have just one set path to choose from, you will be amazed at the difference in gameplay. This is definitely a keeper for those of you who like involving games with a lot of variety.

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