Dreamcast

• Addictive action puzzle game
• Over 75 challenging levels

• Dreamcast

Maze Madness is a bit of a misleading title, because while the game does involve mazes, it's the puzzles that will stop your progress. Most of the puzzles aren't that hard, but a few will stump you for a bit. There are blocks to push, TNT to explode, and springboards that propel you upward.

Players are awarded stars for completing different tasks, such as finding all the fruit in a level, munching all the pellets in a level, or beating the level in time-trial mode. Initially, earning one star per level will get you to the next stage, but you must go back and earn more stars to unlock later levels.

Maze Madness' graphics are smooth and crisp, but they aren't very detailed. The game has the look and feel of a cartoon's minimal lighting effects. Ms. Pac-Man herself is just a round polygonal sphere with some textures, arms, and legs glued on. There are a few particle effects in the title that look very good, but Namco didn't do too much else to tax the Dreamcast's graphics abilities.

Where this game excels is in the level design. A puzzle game like this is made or broken on the ingenuity of the levels. Also, Maze Madness features some multiplayer options, which, combined with its simple, family-friendly gameplay, makes it an excellent choice for a party game. --Todd Mowatt

Pros:

• Extremely simple yet addicting gameplay

• Graphics are a little too simple

Graphically, Caesars Palace 2000 takes full advantage of the Dreamcast's capabilities, with tables so sharp you can feel the felt, excellently animated shuffles and deals, and authentically marked chips and cards.

The odds at this casino were verified by math analyst William Bertram, and are as realistic as in any physical gambling hall. For this reason, if you don't usually leave Las Vegas overflowing with winnings, don't expect to be winning every hand at Caesars Palace 2000. On the other hand, this realism makes the game a perfect practice ground for gambling in the real world. The game's tutorial advice, although offered usually only after a goof, is accurate and precise--a perfect primer for learning new games.

The only major drawback to the game is its speed. As devotees of computer solitaire know, the beauty of card games on a video system is that there's no need for shuffling or actually dealing the cards. That said, Caesars Palace 2000 maintains realism by showing shuffles and deals, but these detract from gameplay by slowing the time between hands. This slowness is particularly obvious in the slot machines. --Benjamin Reese

Pros:

• Highly realistic casino gambling environment
• Realistic odds, verified by math analyst William Bertram
• Excellent graphics and sound
• High replayability

• Realistic animation slows game pace, sometimes to point of boredom

In order to form parties, the game's People Finder option allows players to locate each other on giant servers. Once inside the Virtual Lobby, players can choose up to three other team members. Language barriers between players are broken down by a communication system featuring a universal icon system, preset phrases, and keyword translations. Players can create their own character by modifying their physical appearance and personality traits. Real-time combat features many of the original weapons and enemies from previous Phantasy Star games. Gamers can play completely online, completely offline, or a combination of the two.