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Portal Runner Review (PS2)

October 20, 2001

3DO brings us a 3D platformer called Portal Runner. You'll assume the role of one tough lady, Vikki, and her lion, Leo, which isn't half bad. The story revolves around a tie-in to 3DO's venerable Army Men series, and for a game directed at kids, there sure is a lot of cleavage. Click here for the scoop.
Woody Woodpecker Review (GBC)
We've played this game a thousand times on the GBC, and so have you. Woody Woodpecker is another side-scrolling platform adventure. It does have some vibrant colors and graphics going for it, but otherwise relies on Woodpecker appeal. We hear he's big in Europe. Click here for the word on the bird.

Frequency Preview (PS2)

October 16, 2001

frequency_4-01.jpg (11451 bytes)Club kids and trip-hop techno DJ wanna-bes, here is your chance. Frequency is the latest music mixing game from SCEA, and, well, it's a music game. Lacking any cute characters to make it interesting, this is a blur of colors and sound, probably greatly enhanced with copius amounts of Robitussin. Click here.
Dragon Warrior Monsters: Tara's Journey Review (GBC)
Tara-25-copy.jpg (12535 bytes)Enix brings us another incarnation of their well-loved Dragon Warrior series. Dragon Warrior Monsters: Tara's Journey is a Pokemon-esque title that will have you capturing monsters and saving the world. Sound like the same old monster game? Sure, but with an Enix flair this one is a blast. Click here.

Typing of the Dead Review (PC)

October 14, 2001

The latest addition to the GF! ranks is Paul Cockeram. We asked him to give us something good about Typing of the Dead and he gave us something phenomenal. Whether you like your typing tutors with or without gore, this review will remind you why you love GF! Click.
Silent Hill 2 Review (PS2)
It is October, and the spooky games are coming out of the woodwork. Konami's long-awaited Silent Hill 2 is one not to miss. Nasty monsters, a psychotic storyline, and healty doses of gore make this title a true survival horror thriller. Click here or pay the price.

Emperor: Battle for Dune Review (PC)

October 11, 2001

Westwood and EA bring us another installment of Dune-y goodness. Emperor: Battle for Dune is a great real-time strategy game, especially for those fans who know the books and film by heart. And one copy will stoke a LAN bash. Click here -- Fear is the Mindkiller.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within Review (DVD)
Given that two of the three big console systems this year feature DVD capabilities, and just about every PC you run across, we think it's time for GF! to start covering cool DVDs. Plus, we like movies as well as games. What better way to kick it off than with Jason's stellar write-up of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within? This two-disc deluxe edition features a ton of, well, features. Click!

Arc the Lad Collection Review (PSX)

October 8, 2001

Working Designs offers up another phenomenal import RPG. The Arc the Lad Collection is a whopping package that includes four titles: Arc the Lad I, II, III, and Monster Arena. We've got full coverage of Arc the Lad I, and are working on the rest. Click here.
Dark Arena Screens
Check out these latest screens of Dark Arena, one of the wave of first person shooters to hit the GBA. Dark Arena is the title that reminds us a lot of Half-Life or the early Quake titles -- kill those aliens before they kill you. It sounds fun. Portable deathmatch sounds good, too.  Click here.

Shattered Galaxies Review (PC)

October 6, 2001

battle3-01.jpg (9245 bytes)Nexon's innovative MMORTS has been causing waves. Lauded at the Independent Games Festival, Shattered Galaxy has become an online hit. With insane battles, a great system of incorporating new players, and damn fine structure and design, this is it. Click here.
What Gamers Got
Valve and Speakeasy.net partnered for a massive survey of PC gamers. They wanted to find out what kind of systems gamers use -- RAM, video card, processor speed, etc. The results are a bit shocking if you don't expect PC gamers to have super beefy systems. If you do, then it's maybe not as interesting. Either way, click here to read our writeup about What Gamers Got.

The bleem! Is Back

October 5, 2001

bleem! has just notified us of their plans to distribute their product through their new e-commerce site, bleemDIRECT!. After encountering all kinds of resistance to emulation programs in the retail world, bleem! has decided to go it alone online. Click here to read all about it.
Star Wars Starfighter Bound for PC and Xbox
LucasArts has just announced that Star Wars Starfighter will make an appearance on PC and Xbox. We can get behind that. The real question is if LucasArts can make it look half as nice as Rogue Squadron 2? Click here to get the skinny on the ports.

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within DVD Preview

October 3, 2001

These DVD things have really taken off. The latest gratuitous use of extra features comes on the Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within DVD, due this month in rental and retail outlets all over. Following an underwhelming theatrical performance, the DVD promises to be something to behold. Get the skinny on the next big DVD of the fall here.
Art Is Not a Crime
Sega has announced that Michael Jordan will appear in Sega's NBA 2K2 for all platforms. We just thought you might like to know. In other Sega news, the Jet Set Radio Future Art Contest is now open. You can submit your best graff tag to be featured in the upcoming Jet Set Radio Future, the preview of which is available here.

GF! 3.0

October 1, 2001

For the past three years, GF! has been run by Rick Fehrenbacher and Al Wildey. They gave the site a direction (quality game coverage) and a style (fun and intelligent). Now they've sold out, but not in the good way that nets you millions of dollars and screaming fans. They've sold the site to us: Shawn Rider, Sarah Wichlacz, and Jeff Luther. What are we gonna do with it? To find out, you'll have to read all about GamesFirst! Three Point Oh-So-Good. What are you waiting for?
Empire Earth Preview (PC)
ee4.jpg (3376 bytes)Just to prove that with the changes in GF! things will stay basically the same, Al has whipped up this preview of the highly anticipated Empire Earth. This is a huge strategy game that spans some 500,000 years of human development. Click here.

Mario Kart Super Circuit Review (GBA)

September 29, 2001

Kart racers are a dime a dozen, and for some reason none have quite surpassed the glory of the Mario Kart franchise. Mario Kart Super Circuit for  GBA is no exception. Amazing graphics, robust gameplay, and absolute perfection make it clearly one of the best games ever. EVER! Click here.
WWF With Authority Review (PC)
Collectible card games have moved online. The concept is definitely not for everyone. But hardcore fans of the WWF may get into WWF With Authority, an online, multiplayer, collectible game that relies on strategy not button mashing. Check it out here.
WWF Betrayal Review (GBC)
Another THQ title based on their WWF franchise, WWF Betrayal brings back the side-scrolling brawler action of old classics like Final Fight or Double Dragon. Kick and punch your way through level after level, defeating the baddies to rescue Stephanie. Ain't it sweet?
Fortress Review (GBA)
A radical revision of the Tetris-based puzzler, Majesco's Fortress is a sleeper hit on GBA. It's addictive and innovative, rounded out nicely by some sweet graphics and just plain fun gameplay. Click.

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