Crash Nitro Kart (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Vicarious Visions
Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games
Released: 2004

Crash Nitro Kart is a racing game that was also released on the Game Boy Advance in 2003.

+ Similar to Diddy Kong Racing (1997, N64), there's an immersive Adventure mode, along with side challenges and multiplayer.

+ Decent course design, timing-based powerslide mechanic is rewarding, and some of the non-racing collecting tasks are fun.

- Camera is excessively zoomed in, which doesn't allow you to see fellow opponents and item boxes with any degree of certainty.

- Likewise, the portrait screen limits visibility, making it alarmingly difficult to see upcoming turns and actually stay on the track.

- Has an enormous amount of over-steer when trying to turn corners, which leaves you disorientated and scrambling to correct.

- Drifting doesn't feel as natural as on the GBA due to the lack of shoulder buttons, and using multiple face buttons is convoluted.

- There's nothing here that advances the kart racing genre, and the Arcade cup mode only allows for singular laps.

Glimmerati (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Bugbear Entertainment
Publisher: Nokia
Released: 2005

Glimmerati is a racing game that's exclusive to the Nokia N-Gage.

+ Solid racing, good frame-rate, and the amazing track design tests your skills in nighttime Paris streets and narrow lanes in The Alps.

+ Usually has multiple missions open at once, and the branching paths provide impetus to replay the Story mode to see everything.

+ Challenges are a neat incentive to take on bite-sized races, as you can unlock faster cars that will benefit you in the championship.

+ Has a few non-racing objectives, such as timed quests and a fun mission involving launching over a draw bridge to start a TV show!

+ Includes an enormous amount of voice clips, and the gorgeous graphics have impressive lighting effects and detailed scenery.

- Doesn't always give enough notice of upcoming turns, the voice acting is atrocious, and the in-game characters lack personality.

- Brutally hard finale strips away your unlockable cars in favour of a rickety speedboat that's infuriatingly tough to control.

NCAA Football 2004 (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Exient Entertainment
Publisher: Jack Of All Games, Electronic Arts
Released: 2003

NCAA Football 2004 is a sports game that was also released on the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2003.

+ Boasts a deep playbook, along with over 100 Division 1 schools, head-to-head multiplayer, and adjustable depth charts.

+ Running game is excellent with competent blocking from teammates, and the intuitive kicking game resembles early Madden titles.

- Passing game is an abomination, as it's tough to see players when the screen zooms out and receivers don't always try to catch.

- Portrait screen means those who enjoy controlling wide receivers or defensive backs are out of luck due to the limited field view.

- CPU takes control of your player if the d-pad is left untouched, and the game doesn't remember your preferred defender after each snap.

- Graphics are super ugly with pixelated sprites and broken player animations that are clearly missing multiple frames.

- Info regarding injuries only appears for a split-second, teammates take forever to get to the line, and there's no post-game stats.

FIFA Football 2005 (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Electronic Arts Canada, Exient Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: 2004

FIFA Football 2005 is a sports game and the follow-up to FIFA Football 2004 (2003, Nokia N-Gage).

+ Has an impressive wealth of content (including a fun Challenge mode) and there's 5,000 more player licenses than the previous game.

+ Prestige Points are an inspired and addictive idea to encourage better play and team management in order to advance your career.

+ Addition of a through ball and 1-2 passes are meaningful improvements that open up the attack game and keep opponents guessing.

+ While still not perfect, teammate A.I. is more refined and they actually make a competent effort to mark rival players on and off the ball.

+ Slicker presentation all around, as you can choose camera angles, save replays, and there's more licensed music tracks in menus.

- Action is noticeably choppier than the 2004 edition, and teammates occasionally stand motionless next to a free ball.

- Radar is still too small for locating teammates, and simulating games is more cumbersome due to extra menu clicks.

FIFA Football 2004 (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Electronic Arts Canada, Exient Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: 2003

FIFA Football 2004 is a sports game that was also released on the Game Boy Advance (2003).

+ Includes an enormous amount of competitions, teams and player licenses, and there's even a Bluetooth multiplayer mode.

+ Gameplay is much faster and more fluid than Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer (2004, Nokia N-Gage), with no player animation lag.

+ Action is easy to pick-up-and-play, button placement is well implemented, and the game engine is terrifically optimised.

+ Plenty of customisation options for managing your team, such as in-game statistics, performance charts and key players.

+ Has better presentation than Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer, including replays after goals and highlights at the end of each match.

- Teammates prefer to stand around, so you'll constantly have to switch over to control them when the ball approaches.

- No commentary during matches, and the tiny on-screen radar makes finding neighbouring teammates a guessing game.

N-Gage Freestyle (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: StormBASIC Games
Publisher: Nokia, Technobubble Entertainment
Released: 2005

N-Gage Freestyle is an extreme sports game that's exclusive to the handheld.

+ Method of unlocking jumps is clever, as some require you to reach certain criteria (e.g. beat three stages in order without failing).

+ Tricks are well animated, load times are fast, and there is mild enjoyment from finally nailing a problematic jump.

- Your sole interactivity takes place on static ground (prior to moving), yet mid-air adjustments would have been more engaging.

- Game engine isn't up to the task, as it often skips frames or stutters while you're trying to input precise button commands.

- Diagonals don't always register correctly and it's the main reason you'll fail stages despite seemingly inputting the right prompt.

- Shockingly low on content, as there's only 15 jumps available in the entire game, with each lasting mere seconds.

- Despite being a score-based title, there's no option to play against a friend or versus the CPU in competitions.

Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: G Artist
Publisher: Gameloft
Released: 2004

Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer is a sports game that was also released on the Sony PlayStation (2002) and Sony PlayStation 2 (2002).

+ Good range of modes on offer, along with lots of tactical formations and a decent selection of club / international teams.

+ Coaching aspect of managing team fitness levels during matches is fun, and your progress is saved in cups and leagues.

+ SFX do an excellent job of creating a raucous atmosphere, and there's some humorous animations when you score a goal.

- Sprites are incredibly tiny and the minuscule map of your teammates is all but useless for locating their whereabouts on the pitch.

- Suffers from the occasional animation delay whereby button inputs will eventually register a few seconds after being pressed.

- A.I. is dumb, as your teammates rarely put in the effort to tackle and opponents sometimes dribble the ball out of bounds.

- Presentation lacks flair and excitement, and the game doesn't even have the decency to show you replays of your goals.