Dreamcast

• Cartoon dimension art style where everything looks like a 2D comic, but moves and controls are in complete 3D.
• Traffic moves with the passing of time and the sidewalks are littered with pedestrians for a completely realistic urban feel.
• Dozens of animations running at 30+ frames per second.

Jet Grind Radio's gameplay has some of the feel of Crazy Taxi. As you skate, you see little floating arrows that indicate where you should go (and where you should be tagging). Also, like in Crazy Taxi, the pace of the game is absolutely nonstop. There is moving traffic in the street, and nearly everything can be jumped, hopped, or ground. Underscoring all of this action is a DJ at the local hip-hop station, who spins cool tunes while you tear up Little Tokyoto.

The game starts out with a training course that's designed to bring you up to speed. Pay good attention to this section; it teaches you the basics, and you're tested on one of the lessons right away. Learning how to hop over obstacles while keeping a rail grind going is particularly helpful.

After graduating into the real game, you have the option of going it cool or easing up and figuring out how to do the flips, splits, and other midair antics that make this game so much fun. Once your skating skills are set, you'll learn the spray-can side of things. You pick up cans of paint as you maneuver around (keep your eyes open--some cans are placed in those hard-to-reach places, so that you'll have to catch serious air to get them). After securing your fill, use the left trigger and the analog to spray as you pass by areas that have been indicated by the arrows.

The game's tunes are right on schedule. Much of the Japanese soundtrack has been

Amazon.com Product Description:
In the 21st century, the Tokyoto city government bans kids from expressing themselves in any way. Only three things keep their spirits alive: Overdriver magnetic-motor skates, graffiti, and a pirate-radio broadcast that's called Jet Grind Radio. Explore and, uh, decorate three fully interactive worlds in which traffic moves at real time and pedestrians wander the streets. Watch out for police who'll want to nab you for breaking the law, and rival crews that want to deface your artwork. The "Cartoon Dimension" art style gives the game the appearance of a 2-D comic, but the characters move through it in complete 3-D. Animations run at 30 frames per second. Ten characters are available at the outset, each of which has its own style and abilities.

• CREATE YOUR OWN CUSTOM SKATERS
• SIGNATURE PRO MOVES INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF NEW TRICKS

Pro Skater 2 is all about customization. You can still play as one of the real-world skaters represented in the game, such as Steve Caballero, Elissa Steamer, and Mr. Hawk himself, but the real fun comes from creating your own skater and rising up through the ranks. As you conquer the massive skate parks included in this release, you rack up cash to be spent on pumping up your stats or adding new tricks to your repertoire. You can specialize in verts, concentrate on your street skills, or take a more balanced approach, and the addition of manuals will let you string together tricks from either category to rack up some amazing scores. The custom options extend to a complete skate-park editor that is easy enough to use that we were creating basic arenas in less than 15 minutes. It's a thoughtful addition to one of the most purely entertaining games ever released. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Create-a-Skater option lets you decide on everything from the tricks you use to the shoes you wear
• Easy-to-use park editor allows for complex creations
• Beautiful graphics and smooth animation make this one of the best-looking sports games on any platform

• Getting the hang of manuals takes some time, but once you do, watch out

• This item comes with no original case, box, sleeve or artwork. Media ONLY. Discs, tapes and games wi

• This item comes with no original case, box, sleeve or artwork. Media ONLY. Discs, tapes and games will ship in clear generic case. This item MAY have been a previous rental.

Thankfully, fielding is back in the game (fielding was automatic in 2K1). Unfortunately, the controls can be very tricky. Ground balls hit within a reasonable range of the player often pass him. The only alternative is diving, which leads to spectacular shots of players diving over and past baseballs. The batting and pitching controls are simpler than in last year's version, but could have used more polishing. Hitting is way too arduous (in the video game sense)--even after dozens of game hours, tracking pitches is far more difficult than in other games. Positives include sharp graphics and a plenitude of modes, such as exhibition, season, playoffs, home run derby, franchise, and online. This is currently the only baseball game on a console that supports Internet play, albeit with some lag and bug issues.

Problems aside, this is as good as baseball gets on this platform. If the Dreamcast is your only system and you're itching for a baseball game, then don't hesitate to pick this one up. Gamers with other consoles should consider EA Sports's and Acclaim's baseball titles. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• The best baseball game on the Dreamcast
• Excellent graphics
• Internet play

• Gameplay could have used a few more months of tweaking
• AI is easily fooled
• Internet play can be buggy

• All new Dreamcast exclusive game modes
• 8 unique fishing locations rendered in gorgeous 3D graphics
• Compatible with Dreamcast fishing controller (sold separately) for the most lifelike experience possible