Ubisoft

The Dreamcast, for example, launched with as many as five racing titles; each offering a suitable showing in both the graphics and speed departments. But, to little surprise, amid the games flashy visuals, there was little in terms of innovation or fun gameplay. Speed Devils, on the other hand, presents us with quite the opposite scenario; the game won't wow you with stunning graphics, but its arcade gameplay may be just deep enough to add up to a good time.

Game Description: Fast-paced, arcade-style driving action hits the Dreamcast in the form of Ubi Soft's Speed Devils—only this time, it's personal. The first thing you'll notice is the game's emphasis on presenting recognizable rivals throughout the races. Instead of competing against faceless "computer" foes, you meet 17 rival drivers with distinct personalities; these defining characteristics come out in their driving tendencies. Yu Kioto's calm demeanor, for example, is reflected in his calculated, mistake-free driving. It's a cool feature that gives the single-player game depth: you not only have to handle wacky obstacles as you roar around the track, but you have to handle each driver differently.

To be perfectly frank, Speed Devils is one of the worst games I've played all year. This thing is ugly from top to bottom. It's not very original or cool (although it thinks it is), the gameplay is weak, the graphics are dull, the music sucks and most of all, it's boring—Speed Devils lacks any kind of excitement whatsoever. High energy is what carried games like Daytona USA and F-Zero X over the edge. High energy even saved San Francisco Rush from being a complete waste of time. Unfortunately, high energy is something Speed Devils doesn't have.

Everything in Evolution emits a charm and sense of humor that is lacking in the RPGs currently garnering industry attention. For one, the lead character, Mag Launcher (all the characters in the game are named after weapons munitions), is not like the standoff-ish Squall from Final Fantasy VIII. Instead, he is a happy-go-lucky kid who goes about his day in a totally upbeat mood. This optimistic and light-hearted nature is further exploited by the games supporting cast.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Animated Violence, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco & Alcohol

Game Description: Evolution is a classic RPG that acts in true RPG style: an engrossing adventure with a story that unfolds as you progress through the game. You play Mag Launcher, the youngest in a family of adventurers, who has a taste for danger and the courage to back it up. Mag and his group of ragtag explorers are in search of an ancient artifact known as Evolutia, and the search will take your party to dungeons, forests, and caves that house some of the deadliest creatures in the land. See if you can lead your party to Evolutia and continue the Launcher family tradition with Evolution.

I agree with Dale that the impressive graphics, relaxed nature, and often-humorous settings of Evolution is what sets it apart from the dozens of other RPGs on the market. At the same time, the goofy antics of the anime-style characters and settings isnt what impressed me most about the game.