Dreamcast

Silent Scope is a port. Nothing more, nothing less. What's more its not a very good one. Based on the arcade game of the same name, it throws you into the role of a sniper for hire. The President and his family have been kidnapped by a generic band of terrorists and it is up to rescue them. Ordinarily, Id jump at the opportunity to play the role of a sniper—many is the time I died in GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark while trying to score nothing but headshots on my targets—but Konamis release is so flawed that I couldn't even enjoy such a base indulgence.

Game Description: With the amount of ammunition players are expected to use in the average shooting game, one could just as well crush enemies under the weight of their spent shells. But not so for Silent Scope, where the plan is to drop the target with one squeeze of the trigger—even at hundreds of yards away. In this game, you're a highly trained sniper with the most advanced long-range weapon available, outfitted with night-vision scope and a laser sight. You'll line your target up while it's just a dot to the naked eye, then put the crosshairs on it in your long-range scope and make the kill.

What really kills me is that this game could have really opened up some new possibilities in narrative and action. Can you imagine if Silent Scope was based on a similar plot device like the Hitchcock classic "Rear Window?"

According to the ESRB, this game contains: Animated Violence

The Sega Smash Pack: Volume 1 is Segas version of the old-time compilation disc trend made popular recently by companies with a rich history of games—such as Namco, Konami and Midway. The disc includes no less than nine certified, triple-A, 16-bit classics out of the Genesis era as well as three other miscellaneous titles to add to the overall value of the purchase. The games listed on the back of the case are practically a "whos who" of the greatest cartridges available for Segas renowned machine.

Like Brad, I have issues with Sega Smash Pack Volume 1. There are some true standouts in Streets Of Rage 2, Shining Force, Sonic The Hedgehog, and Virtua Cop 2 (even without light-gun support); all are shining examples of the Sega at its best in the pre-PlayStation age. The rest, however, are either throwaways like Sega Swirl and Wrestle War or games that do not stand the test of time like Phantasy Star II and Altered Beast. This has always been a sore spot of mine with these compilation releases.

Game Description: If you’re just not getting enough variety in your video game diet, look no further than the all-inclusive Sega Smash Pack Volume 1. You’ll get immediate access to a dozen classic games, including: Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Columns, Sonic the Hedgehog, Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage 2, Shining Force, Wrestle War, Vectorman and Phantasy Star II. The two most modern inclusions are the Dreamcast version of Virtua Cop 2 (previously available only in Japan) and Sega Swirl.

Game Description: An interstellar crime syndicate is financing their nefarious schemes by smuggling space fruits throughout the galaxy. You take the role of Riki and Mami, two members of an elite force sent to stop the illegal activities. Your task is to get into the powerful Bangai-O suit, infiltrate the syndicate's bases, and confiscate the fruit. Naturally, the gangsters will not sit by and let you do this; you will have to take out swarms of enemies along the way. Luckily, the suit has two different firing modes that you can choose from: homing missiles and reflecting laser shots. When the going gets tough, you can also use the super bomb, which destroys every foe on the screen. You are also free to move around the environment, and you can fire in any direction. All of the action takes place in more than 40 levels that will put your fruit-busting skills to the test. Only you can protect the galaxy from the perils of bad fruit in Bangai-O.

Originally released two years ago in Japan for the Nintendo 64 under the title, Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh, the U.S. Dreamcast release of Bangai-O continues a long and excellent Treasure tradition of fast and furious arcade thrills that began with the Sega Genesis game Gunstar Heroes and culminated with Treasures magnum opus, the Sega Saturn import Radiant Silvergun. Bangai-O reunites Treasure with Silvergun collaborator ESP, and not surprisingly, it marks a triumphant return to hardcore shooting madness.

After playing a game like Bangai-O, it really puts a spotlight on the fact that there are some very different types of gamers out there. Extremely rare is the disc that can please all (or even most) gamers, and Bangai-O is a perfect example of the type of title which clearly tells you which type of player you are since it strikes me as a "love it or hate it" type of affair.