REVIEWS
Tim McGraw: MUSIC Greatest Hits II
For years, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have reigned the country music charts as beloved Nashville royalty. They've been deemed the first couple of country; John Rich even dubbed Faith the modern-day Tammy.
And what's this, like, the eighth greatest hits installment from the other
half of country music's first couple?
Who's buying this stuff?
No. It's just the second installment, but given McGraw's penchant for releasing entire albums as singles, and given radio's inexplicable penchant for playing them, it might as well be the eighth.
Set aside the fact that McGraw can't sing, and his material (not his own, but might as well be) sucks. Greatest Hits // isn't completely horrible. It is one of those records you can pretend to like — it's that something — when there's nothing else on the radio. "Hey! That was
a good song for the first five seconds, then it kind of started."
McGraw's music is a good example of everything that's wrong with country music right now. Just consider Greatest Hits II a condensed, intensified version — the epitome of bad.
McGraw said it himself: "This shit ain't rocket science." It should be a slap in the face for those who actually take country serious. Instead, he slapped himself.
DEVIL MAY CRY 3:
SPECIAL EDITION
Nick Connell
NO STARS
Once upon a time, Devil May Cry 3 stood as arguably the best action/ adventure game on the PS2. That time was a three-week period last year, just before God of War came along and rained on its parade. Now, everybody's favorite bondage-gear-wearing half-demon Dante is back in Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition and it's still not as good as God of War.
That said, DMC3:SE holds up pretty well among the best action/adventure games available and the Special Edition does a great job of adding lots of new content for both new and veteran players.
The most notable addition is a new playable character, Dante's twin brother Virgil. Virgil comes equipped with his own unique weapons, style and moves. Unfortunately, you also have to complete the game with Dante before you can unlock him, so new players will have to play through as Dante at least once.
Of course, that first play-through is considerably easier now, thanks to a new continue mode. Players can elect to use the original Japanese continue mode, which allows you to continue from the nearest checkpoint an unlimited
number of times or purchase Gold Orbs to continue right where the character died. The new mode does a great job of alleviating the sometimes brutal difficulty of the original.
Other new features include a new boss fight, a Very Hard difficulty mode, and an increased game speed option. These features give series veterans further reason to play through again.
For $20, DMC3:SE is an easy recommendation. If nothing else, it will tide you over until the next God of War comes out.
System: Playstation 2
Buy for $19.99 at Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, Hastings, EBGames and other video game dealers.
★★★
Rent at Blockbuster, Hastings, Dillons and other video game rental agencies.
Andrew Campbell