Anna Kournikova's Smash Court Tennis, Sony PlayStation, £34.99
Wimbledon may have ended yesterday, but this timely release from arcade specialists Namco offers a continuing tennis fix. Smash Court Tennis does not pretend to be the most visually stunning game in the world, and there is only so much that can be done with the sound of a tennis ball. Instead, it focuses on creating an accessible, fun to play game.
Just as in Pong, one of the first popular videogames, hitting a ball back and forth can be quite addictive. Unlike Pong, however, this game offers a huge variety of shots, including lobs and smashes, but no backhand shots. Beginners can use auto-serve before tackling the more powerful but more difficult manual serves.
Although Smash Court Tennis is an easy game to get started with, it is not simplistic. The user can choose to play as a character who is good at the net, or a baseline specialist, or an all-rounder. Initial opponents are easy to beat, but competing in the Grand Slam with any success will require a lot of practice.
There is a practice mode, a street tournament for beginners and even a mode where the ball has a timebomb inside. The ball detonates at set times, so the idea is to time returns to ensure the ball is not in your court when it goes off. Smash Court Tennis is an ideal game to play when you only have a few minutes to spare. Its multiplayer mode is excellent and it is a game that should be played and replayed long after the novelty has worn off.
Ape Escape, Sony PlayStation, £34.99
The animals are in control of the zoo, and are about to take over the planet. In Ape Escape, the player takes on the role of Spike and travels back in time to prevent monkeys altering the course of history and becoming the dominant species.
The trouble began when a monkey called Specter escaped from the zoo and used a "peak point helmet" to vastly increase his IQ. He then released every monkey he could, and used a time machine to travel with them back in time. However odd, Ape Escape is not a particularly original game - nonetheless this 3D-platform action adventure game is likely to be a big hit.
One aspect of the game is unique, however. Ape Escape can only be played using the Dual Shock Analog Controller. The left stick controls Spike's movements while the right stick is used to operate all of his gadgets and weapons. The sticks can also be used as buttons and when they are depressed Spike can crawl or dive. It can be slightly difficult to master these new controls but it's not long before it feels like second nature.
There are over 20 levels, across eight worlds. A training room is provided to master all the gadgets, including a Zelda-like slingshot, hula-hoop, monkey-net, underwater propulsion unit, sky-flying propeller and a tank. Ape Escape has obviously taken inspiration from similar games (Spryo the Dragon, Mario 64 and even Zelda) and without monkeying around, mixed them up to create a game any connoisseur will relish.
Konami's eagerly awaited Silent Hill had been due to appear as a demo on the cover CD of the Official UK PlayStation Magazine. However Silent Hill, which resembles Resident Evil in style, is deemed suitable only for players aged over 18. The publisher, who estimates that 30 per cent of its readers are under 16, decided (after consulting Sony) to drop the Silent Hill demo.
The latest driving simulation is not a racer, but an educational title that aims to teach responsible driving in the real world. Driver's Education '99 from Sierra OnLine (www.sierra.com) is aimed at younger drivers and has information on stopping distances, airbags, road rage, defensive driving, driving physics and traffic regulations. It even simulates the adverse effects of drink-driving. Unfortunately it is aimed at the US market, so some of the information and regulations won't be relevant here.
games@irish-times.ie