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Star Ocean, Bloody Roar II, Arcade Hits By Chip and Jonathan Carter Tribune Media Services STAR OCEAN: THE SECOND STORY, FOR PLAYSTATION -- Here's a huge, good-looking two-disk game that might be the best role-player since -- dare we say it? -- The Holy Grail of role-playing games (RPGs), Final Fantasy VII. Here's the story: In an ocean of stars, one planet on the very edge of the universe is singled out for a cruel twist from fate. For some reason, the powers that be have seen fit to hurl a devastating meteorite at the planet, creating a whirlwind of chaos and mystery. It's up to you to find out what's happened, and how to put things right again. To do that, you can play separate quests as two different characters, whose intertwined paths lead to 80 different endings! This is a game that'll keep you coming back for hours on end. JONATHAN SAYS : This one's from Enix, the folks who invented RPGs back in the '80s with the Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest series, which has sold more than 22 million copies worldwide. These guys know what they're doing -- Star Ocean's my favorite RPG since VII, and my current favorite game. A+. CHIP SAYS : I don't understand why characters in RPGs can't look like real people instead of Precious Moments figurines -- short, squat bodies, tiny doll limbs, dinner-plate eyes and heads the size of watermelons. How are you supposed to fight like that? You can't even cast a magic spell with dignity: All you can do is "cute" the monsters to death, as in, "Aw, lookit the widdle hewoes -- aren't they cute?" and then you gut them while they're laughing at you. Fortunately the Troll-doll looks don't affect the game play -- the overall trend just annoys me, and I want it to stop. A. OVERALL RATING : A -- BUY IT FOR AGES 8 AND UP. BLOODY ROAR 2, FOR PLAYSTATION -- Here's a game guaranteed to bring out the animal in you. It's also easily one of the best fighters of the year. In the post-millennium world, there's a new breed of fighter. These mutants blend human form with the power, cunning and abilities of animals. You first saw them in the original Bloody Roar -- but we promise you, this game goes so far beyond that one that it's almost hard to believe they're related. Only four combatants return from the original, joining seven new brawlers (there are also a couple of hidden freaks). The new lineup includes brawlers who morph into wolves, tigers, bats, chameleons, bugs and bunnies (don't laugh) among others. The brawling is great whether you're in human or animal form. And the graphics are amazing. This one has the look of a real-time television broadcast, with those clear edges, bright colors and crisp definition that put you right in the moment. The action is fast and hot -- especially once you've warped into animal mode (you have a meter that builds up, then drains after you morph, determining the length of time you can stay in animal mode). The power and speed of the animal characters are stunning. If you're a brawling fan -- or one who's gotten bored with traditional fighting games -- this one's well worth a look. JONATHAN SAYS : It is so cool to morph into the animal characters. They're not just great fighters, they're also hilarious -- seeing a bat and a bunny rabbit going at it is too funny for words. A+. CHIP SAYS : This one's a stunner when it comes to looks and impact. It won't reawaken my dormant interest in brawling games -- I think I'm beaten too far down for anything to do that -- but I have played it more than a few times just to see what's going on with all the various critters. B. OVERALL RATING : A -- BUY IT FOR AGES 12 AND UP. ARCADE HITS: MOON PATROL/SPY HUNTER, FOR GAME BOY COLOR -- Here's a classic arcade combo that brings back the best of the good old days. Moon Patrol is a side-to-side scroller that lets you pilot a buggy across a lunar landscape. You have missiles that fire from the top and front to take out obstacles and enemy attackers. There's also a jump button that lets you clear pits and bad things that go boom. And that's pretty much all there is to Moon Patrol. Spy Hunter's the real star here. This is a classic arcade game that still holds up more than 15 years after it was released. You're a James Bond type in a superbad roadster. Your front end's loaded with machine guns, and there's a munition van that follows you around to provide power-ups like missiles, smoke screens, and oil slicks. You'll need all those, because you're sharing the roads with some unsavory characters. Bad guys are doing their best to take you out, whether they're blasting you, bumping you off the roadway, or coming at you with nasty contraptions like buzz saws that spring from each wheel. You can take them out with weapons -- or just run them off the road! Look out for civilians, though. The action unfolds south-to-north, on single and dual roadways. Eventually, you'll even take to the water for some fast action in a cigarette boat. The GB Color's the perfect medium for this classic. The graphics are the exact same as they were on early arcade machines, and the action's just groovy, baby. JONATHAN SAYS : Moon Patrol's a yawner, but Spy Hunter's da bomb. B+. CHIP SAYS : If I had to pick one old school arcade game (pre-1985) to put in a time machine for future players, Spy Hunter would probably be it. It's been a favorite of mine since back in the day. This is a letter-perfect version of the arcade original, and I'll be logging some serious GB time with it. In fact, they could have left Moon Patrol off this cart and I'd still recommend it heartily. A. OVERALL RATING : A -- BUY IT FOR AGES 6 AND UP. TIPS AND TRICKS CRUIS'N WORLD, FOR N64 -- If you're looking for hidden cars, here's how to find them. You have to beat these tracks in these times or better to win the corresponding car: Australia - 1:49 - Surgeon; China -- 1:14 -- Enforcer; Egypt -- 1:07 -- Skool Bus; England -- 1:46 -- Bulldog; France -- 2:15 -- Tommy; Germany -- 2:27 -- Taxi; Hawaii -- 3:47 Monsta; Japan -- 2:48 Rocket; Kenya -- 2:06 -- Conductor; Mexico -- 1:46 -- Howler; New York -- 2:11 -- Grass Hopper; Russia -- 1.58 -- Rocket. Chip & Jonathan Carter are a father/son gaming team who've been twiddling their thumbs professionally since 1990. For more tips, tricks, reviews and news, check us out on-line at http://vgames.webpoint.com/vid/ecol/mainpage . Or e-mail us at [email protected] . Got a question? An inside tip you'd like to share? Write to Chip and Jonathan Carter in care of this newspaper. While they cannot respond individually, they will answer questions of general interest in their column. (C) 1999 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. Techno file index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA