Installation
Installation of the Mystique G200 went very smoothly. After opening the elaborately decorated box, a mid-sized card about 6 inches long and 4 inches high greeted my eyes. Once removing the previous PCI graphics card that filled the confines of the computer case, the Mystique gently slid into the awaiting AGP slot. Upon bootup, the system recognized the G200 chip and prompted for the drivers that were included with the bundled Matrox evaluation cd-rom. After that, the system restarted for the second time, and the card began functioning flawlessly.
TV-Out
On the back plate of the Mystique, two TV-Out ports protrude from the card. One of the ports is a standard Video In, the other is for S-Video, which gives a slightly higher quality image. For those who are using small, cramped 14 inch monitors, the TV-Out that Matrox has included with the Mystique is a blessing. Running any game at 1024X768 on a TV is a feast for the eyes. Lush explosions, colored lighting and filtered graphics fill the screen for a very pleasurable experience. However, when browsing the 'net or editing text documents the TV becomes a blurred mess, and is nothing short of useless.
Bundle
When Matrox decided to make the Mystique, they wanted games that truly showed the power of the G200 chip. The software they chose to include is simply amazing to look at, as well as fun to play.
Incoming
Easily one of the most graphically stunning games of its generation, Incoming has captivated many of us with its outstanding use of colored lighting, beautiful explosions and addicting game play. When played on the Mystique, Incoming comes alive with vibrant images and very playable framerates at insanely high resolutions. Incoming is a technological showpiece that no next-generation card should be without, and Matrox has made sure to fully exploit the abilities of the Mystique G200 with the inclusion of the game.
Tonic Trouble
When first starting Tonic Trouble, it is very obvious that it is very similar to Mario 64 in its play mechanics and multiple camera views. However, the similarities stop there, as Tonic Trouble engrosses you in a fully 3-Dimensional world with incredibly detailed graphics that are vastly superior to the once great game. A true showpiece for the Mystique.
Motor Head
Motor Head is a futuristic racer that has outstanding graphics, decent gameplay, and good framerates across the board. Although it isn't much fun to play, the visual quality of Motor Head makes it fun to look at.
Other
Along with the 3 full version games, Matrox has included several demo's that can entertain for hours. The only downside the bundle has is a total lack of applications. While the Mystique G200 is geared toward gamers, Matrox could have added a few useful programs that weren't games.
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