Sega AM2

The Virtua Fighter series has always presented itself with a greater sense of dignity and realism than other fighting games that usually take the anime-fantasy theme route, but the latest sequel of the series exposes the hand-to-hand martial arts simulator label to be more hyperbole than substance.

Virtua Fighter 4 is the latest in the series evolution, and it is the deepest, most beautiful and most balanced of the series, and maybe of the entire 3D fighting genre. The game focuses on one-on-one martial arts matches achieving victory by knocking the opponent out cold or out of the ring.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Violence

Game Description: This new version of the definitive hand-to-hand martial arts sim features fully optimized graphics designed to harness the power of the PlayStation 2. Virtua Fighter 4 also delivers an extremely deep fighting system, highly tuned AI, and two new characters hungry for their place at the top. If you are new to the Virtua Fighter series, the in-depth training system will teach you the art of combat, move by move. Rewards await those who master every move, and you can expect to unlock a few secret techniques along the way.

With the international success of Crazy Taxi, it only seemed natural that its developer, Sega, would follow up the smash hit with 18-Wheeler, another arcade-style occupational theme videogame. As the title implies, the difference this time around is the switch from driving a limber and high-flying car that cabbied passengers around town to driving a massive truck that transports goods from one location to another. This might sound like a good idea and loads of fun on the surface, but the execution of the title is so dreadful that the loads of fun ended up being just plain crap.

I have a couple of theories about Sega. I believe that either Sega does not possess the ability to meld innovation with entertainment or it has just been on autopilot since the launch of the Dreamcast.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Violence

Game Description: Even if you're not the type to bleat out the 1975 hit "Convoy" over a CB radio, you'll probably still get the sweats thinking about racing with 20 tons of cargo pushing your rig. Choose between four 18-wheel trucks, and then ride against rival truckers and the clock as you try to deliver your payload intact and on time. The game offers 20 stages on the way from New York to San Francisco, as well as four play modes: Arcade, Parking Challenge, Score Attack, and Versus. Eighteen Wheeler is compatible with separately sold steering-wheel controllers.

Sega seems to have a theme going lately consisting of games which are extremely original and challenging on many levels, yet strangely, they aren't very much fun to play. Seaman was the first game in the recent trend, and Shenmue is definitely another.

So does the final release of Shenmue live up to all the hype of being the most expensive game ever made and deliver Dreamcast owners onto the promised land of gaming bliss? The answer is yes and no. Shenmue is the Bill Clinton of videogames; extremely ambitious, arguably successful, and yet undoubtedly flawed.