JamPack Summer 2000

"Want 10 games for $5?"

For as long as the PSX has been around, so has the demo disc. Simply a disc with demos, the demo disc provides gamers with a cheap thrill to last a weekend. Many genres are covered on a single disc: usually a sports game, a racing game, a platform game, a horrifically violent game, and then something for the kiddies. I purchased The PlayStation Summer JamPack 2000 a few months ago, and was pleasantly surprised how far my $5 went.

Rating a demo disc is tough, because there are many games to play. However, I've come up with simple way to rate this particular demo disc; and if you find a beter way, ''Well then you've got some nerve, you little punk!''. Enjoy.

Content 6
There's 10 demos on this particular disc. Some of the games include Hot Shots Golf 2, NASCAR Rumble, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and Spider-Man. These are of course, the best games on the disc. Spider-Man is, much like the full version, fun and addictive. The demo here is very short, but allows for 5 minutes of exploration of the first level. THPS2 includes a basic park builder, 1 level, and 2 skaters; allowing for countless hours of skating enjoyment. NASCAR is okay but tough to get used to, but once you get the feel of it, you can have great fun. The golf game is tough, but if an impatient 16 year old like me can master it, then surely a Pokemon freak such as yourself can do it. All 4 of those games have one thing in common: re-playability; a very uncommon trait amoung demos.
The bottom pile of sludge on this toilet bowl includes Grind Session, TOMBA 2, and Legend of Dragoon. (The first few games mentioned would obviously be the toilet seat of the toilet.) The Legend of Dragoon is an RPG, a genre that I don't understand or wish to even try to understand. TOMBA is the PSX sequel to another PSX game, which was a remake of the wicked NES game, TOMBA. TOMBA is cross between a side-scroller and platformer; basically if both genres were humans, this game would be one ugly baby that would end up on a Jenny Jones show called ''My baby has an ugly mug, but his daddy is a thug!''. Finally, there's the Tony Hawk rip-off, ring Session. Actually, Grind Session is such a far cry from THPS that it's like saying peanut butter tastes like chicken. The control is poor, the graphics weak, and the level is small.
The middle ground includes MediEvil 2, Syphon Filter 2, and Speed Punks. Nothing special, very average stuff.

Graphics 7
Of the 10 games, almost all have good graphics; except TOMBA 2. TOMBA (in capitals because that's what it looks like on my jewel case!) looks like a very special SNES game. Playing the game for 10 minutes made me vomit in rage. Stay clear of TOMBA if you are pregnant, have heart problems, suffer from chronic diarrhea, or are allergic to crap.

Navigability 8
A very simple interface, nothing hidden. Everything is where it should be. I like the two opening movies, they give a cool feel to the demo. And yes, the opening movies have nothing to do with the Navigability of a game. Don't state the obvious.

Extras 7
The extras are, well, the extra selling point on a demo disc. This particular demo disc has behind-the-scenes movies of the making of Hot Shots Golf 2 and The Legend of Dragoon. I didn't watch the Dragoon movie, because as I said before, RPGs are odd and viewing the movie would just confuse the hell out of me. There are 2 downloads (files that download to a PSX memory card): a 100% completed Medal of Honor file, and about 10 MTV Music Generator Songs. The Medal of Honor file was especially convenient seeing is how I rented the damn thing 1 week prior to buying the demo disc! Next up, there are 2 movies telling how to beat hard levels in Syphon Filter 2 and Spyro 2. I haven't played either so I don't care. Last but not least, a cool import game called I'm the Chef. You have to cook for these people or they yell at you. This kind of game makes me fear that art imitates life, meaning that Japanese people yell at you while you cook them food; making me apprehensive about ever visiting Japan. But it's a fun game. Chopping garlic so totally beats shooting a gun!

Overall 7
This disc has a lot to offer for $5. If you have an allowance, I suggest you pick it up. Or, search a goodwill bin at Wal Mart.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 08/28/01, Updated 08/28/01