MDK 2 - Sega Dreamcast

You begin the adventure as Kurt, a human in a Batman-like suit equipped with some loopy but lethal accessories. Kurt packs a powerful chain gun and a built-in parachute for gliding around levels. Kurt also has access to a simple-to-use sniper mode that allows you to smoothly zoom between multiple magnification levels (1x to 75x) for long-range kills. As the game progresses, you'll eventually be able to control Kurt's six-legged dog, Max. This is no ordinary housebroken pet. This not-so-cuddly creature can carry up to four guns at once for immense firepower. In addition, Max uses a jetpack to fly around (à la Boba Fett of Star Wars fame). Finally, there is Dr. Hawkins, who uses his scientific skills to combine common household objects into weapons of mass destruction. The diversity (and strangeness) of these characters adds a unique twist to the otherwise conventional gameplay.

Most of the environments you'll encounter in MDK2 are rendered in dark colors--perfectly suited for showing off the game's outstanding lighting effects. The graphics overall are crisp, incredibly detailed, and brimming with personality. Numerous cut-scenes are rendered using the game's 3-D engine, which lends much drama (not to mention comedy) to the storyline. This is one of those rare games that is as fun to watch as it is to play, and it belongs in the library of any action fan with a Dreamcast. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:
Impressive 3-D graphics Varied gameplay Intuitive controls Cons:
Very challenging