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Jet Force Gemini, Madden NFL 2000 By Chip and Jonathan Carter Tribune Media Services JET FORCE GEMINI, FOR N64 � Here's Nintendo's latest surefire smash, a vast, engaging intergalactic adventure shooter that'll keep you plugged in for hours. These are dark days for the universe. The tyrant Mizar has thwarted the best efforts of rebellious forces to stop his march toward intergalactic dominance. Now the only remaining threat to his reign are the last three members of Jet Force Gemini. Things don't look so good � one of the JFG members is a dog, even. That's where you come in. You start the game as Juno, a JFG member who's become separated from his remaining teammates. As you blast your way through level after level of bad guys in relentless 3-D action, you eventually cross paths with your twin sister Vela. At that point, you can start switching back and forth between characters. Fight well enough, and you'll soon meet Lupus, the canine member of your team. There is another character, Floyd, a flying droid, who can be controlled in a two-player co-op game if you manage to rescue him from Mizar's grasp. The graphics are gorgeous � you'll find yourself making comparisons with various locales in the Star Wars universe. And the action's nonstop � you're constantly battling to stay apace and reach the next section of your journey. Once you get there, you'll often find it's time to go back and re-explore territory you've been through before. The different characters interact in different ways with each other's worlds, and their abilities open up previously unattainable possibilities in each level. Basically, that means you get three-for-one in each level � it's a great way to max out the potential of a game. JONATHAN SAYS : This is such a great game. I love being able to go through the same levels as different characters � with different objectives. The graphics are great, and the action's just da bomb. A. CHIP SAYS : Over the years I've found that if it says "Nintendo" on it, it's for me. No different here. A. OVERALL RATING: A � BUY IT FOR ALL AGES. MADDEN NFL 2000, FOR PLAYSTATION AND N64 � Here's the latest in a series that is to video football games what the Green Bay Packers are to pro football. Once again, you get all the real NFL teams and players, plus their home stadiums. You also get real NFL playbooks with each team's strong points emphasized. You can play single games, full seasons, or enter a multi-season mode. New this year is the Madden Challenge. Answer trivia questions and complete specific goals � rush for 200 yards in a game, etc. � and you'll earn points toward unlocking game secrets (or you can forget all that and go straight to our tips and tricks below!). The running game is outstanding. It's fascinating to watch the blockers open up holes as designed, then dart through with the ball before the defenders shuck the blocks and close the gap. The passing game is equally realistic, but a little more frustrating. You tap one button to lob the ball, another to fire a bullet. Sometimes, you just flat miss � the QB overthrows or underthrows the receiver. That's where the frustration comes in, but again, it's incredibly realistic. Defensively, this one's tougher than most video gridironers. You can usually drop a linebacker back in coverage and move to one side or another in time to break up passing plays, but no such luck here. The CPU doesn't telegraph what it's doing, and once the ball's in the air it's too late to break. You'll also find it's tougher to break up passes once you do get to the ball than in other games. Graphically, this one's a little chunkier than we think it has to be. There are a lot of short fat players, even wide receivers with shoulders as broad as a barn ... so we guess they really are "wide" receivers. As for the game play, there's sometimes a little something missing. The players don't seem to have any momentum. One second they're standing still, the next they're moving full speed, the next they're stopped cold. Then a defensive player will step up and deliver as big and realistic a hit as you've ever seen in a video game. Go figure. JONATHAN SAYS : Minor complaints aside, it's still Madden, and that means it's great. A. CHIP SAYS : I have some ambivalence about this game. All in all, it's been a real disappointing year for pro football games. Madden's not a disappointment, but it's not as good as it could have been. The momentum thing's a real bugaboo, but I absolutely love the way the running game works. Madden's the best of this year's crop (with the possible exception of NFL 2K for the Dreamcast, but that's like comparing apples and elephants). A. OVERAL RATING : A � BUY IT FOR ALL AGES. TIPS AND TRICKS MADDEN FOOTBALL 2000 � Enter these cheats at the secret codes screen: MINIME � big vs. small; PAINFUL � More injuries; REFISBLIND � fewer penalties; FIRSTIS20 � 1st down is 20 yards; QBISINTHECLUB � no sacks; EXPRESSBALL � no interceptions; MILLENNIUM � extra stadiums; COWBOYS � Marshalls fantasy team; WILDWEST � old west stadium; ITSINTHEGAME � EA sports stadium; XMASGIFT � Xmas stadium; MOJOBABY � all �60s team; LOVEBEADS � all �70s team; GETMEADOCTOR � �72 Raiders; DONTGOFOR2 � �72 Steelers; HACKCHEESE � �76 Patriots; GAMMALIGHT � �76 Raiders; BUILDMONKEYS � �81 Chargers; 15MOREMIN � �81 Dolphins; DOORKNOB � �85 Bears; CHICKIN � �85 Dolphins; BLUESCREEN � �86 Broncos; KAMEHAMEHA � �86 Browns; CALLMESALLY � �88 49ers; PTMOMINFOGET � �88 Bengals; SPOON � �90 Bills; PROFSMOOTH � �90 Giants; PREDATORS � �95 Colts; STEAMPUNK � �95 Steelers; EARTHPEOPLE � �97 Broncos; TUNDRA � �97 Packers 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