On the negative side, the polygonal graphics are plagued by pixelization and the game is way too short, offering only six levels of quick shoot-em0up action. All told, Elemental Gearbolt may be a just a little too easy for the hardcore shooter, but enthusiasts should definitely rent this commendable game.

A more complex, more fluid, and more attractive game than its plumber predecessor ["Super Mario 64"]. It’s sure to have even the staunchest N64 critics raising their eyebrows.

Turismo rockets to the top with unbelievable depth, raucous arcade action, challenging sim gameplay, and more cars than a mall parking lot. It’s worth every penny.

The foot-tapping techno music tracks accompany each stage perfectly, and the sound effects shine with a plethora of explosions and other sounds of destruction.

A classic case of unrealized potential, Forsaken fails to make significant use of its excellent control and four-player split-screen capability by thrusting you into an endless maze of frustration.

In order to outshine Tekken 3, a game will need to have a ton of moves (T3 has over 100 per character), multi-hit combos (all T3 fighters can pull off 10-hitters), outstanding graphics (T3 has no breakup on the fighters, no "blind spots" where clipping occurs, and no slowdown), and seamless gameplay that includes juggles, counters, and linking moves.

By virtue of simple, solid gameplay, Starcraft has managed to rise above a predictable approach and been-there-done-that mechanics, and the final product (much like "Warcraft II" in 1995) seems fresh and new.

A killer Hot Pursuit mode challenges you to evade marauding cops, and while the two-player split-screen mode suffers from a little slowdown, it's definitely playable.

For newcomers to the series, there's never been a better time to get scared.

Alundra's off-the-hook action and challenging gameplay elevate it to must-have RPG status. Wake up and buy the game... missing out may cause you to have nightmares.[Feb 1998]

Take Diddy for a test drive and you'll be hooked. It's the smoothest ride you can buy this holiday season.

Although enjoyable, Duke could have used more fine-tuning in gameplay and perks. It seems so ordinary without the PC raunchiness - so much like Doom that there's little to separate it from other corridor shooters.

The kind of high-quality game that's worth buying the day it's released.

The kind of inexplicable game that you have to own.

A mandatory addition to any Castlevania fan's game library.

Extreme G will keep N64 racers sated until F-Zero 64 debuts. While it's not the deepest or most original racing, it will still take you on a fun ride.

Despite its flaws, Abe’s delivers a combo of innovative, strategy-filled gameplay and eye-popping graphics that makes tolerating these problems worthwhile.

Play GoldenEye one time and you’ll be jonesin’ for James harder than Grace Jones on a lonely night. It’s one of the best movie-to-game translations ever.

Furious flying, controller-melting action, gorgeous graphics, and weird adversaries launch StarFox 64 into the stratosphere.

Blood's flaws are easily swept aside when your guns start blasting and the bodies start falling. If you crave a good, violent corridor shooter, this is a great addition to your PC library. It's bloody fun--right down to the last drop.

Turok has more fire power more control over its environment, and more gruesome graphics than other corridor shooters. The rest are Doomed to failure.

When it comes to video game destruction for brains and brawn, Blast is definitely the master.

If you’ve experienced Super Mario Kart on the SNES, this game will feel like a grand homecoming. New players of all skill levels will instantly pick up on the fun.

Savage moves enable you to beat, stab, slice, and dice opponents with vicious violence that is sure to excite fight fans to unbelievable heights.

For puzzle action, Puzzle Fighter has the goods - especially in the two-player mode.

If exploration’s your thing, this Raider is for you. Have no fear about entering this Tomb.

Long the lord of Street Fighter, Capcom's clearly taking a new tack with this killer game, and the results are outstanding. Resident Evil stands tall as a topnotch second-generation PlayStation game that's well worth the green.

If you aren't familiar with the Revelations series this is the perfect chance to jump into a deep, exciting new experience.