PlayStation

Primal Rage

The real beneficiaries of this title will be Playstation owners who have never played Primal before (but always wanted to). It's not a bad game for dinosaur lovers and fighting fans looking for a different kind of fighter. Primal roars...gently.

TWI pulled out all the stops with this version, meaning that it's the game it should have been all along on the other systems: a six-button fighting game (with an FMV intro). Considering the landmark addition of an actual six-button option for the six attacks (the auto-specials went sayonara, praise the heavens), I can say this is hands down the best Primal Rage to date. The decision here boils down to whether you thought the coin-op was the greatest thing since the JAMMA harness.

Time Warner could have improved the product by adding new characters instead of the standard animated opening and victory sequences. But if you loved the original, you'll love this one.

For all its motion-captured goodness, Primal Rage is still just a 2D fighter, and pales in comparison to most of the 3D fighters now available. I mean, even Mortal Kombat has gone 3D in the arcades with War Gods. But if you liked the coin-op Primal Rage, chances are you'll like the PSX version too.

This, along with the problems that limited the coin-op version in the area of playability, make this a tedious title. Not worth the money.

At best, Primal Rage is no more than a competent 2D beat 'em up. It's cleverly animated but lacks the sophistication of the major players.