Ecstatica II
PC CD-ROM minimum system requirements: Pentium 60; 16MB RAM; 40MB hard disk space; Windows 95 or DOS 5.0; Dual speed CD-ROM drive; SVGA £34.99
ECSTATICA II and indeed the original Ecstatica are among a growing band of games which is hard to define. It is not a shoot'em-up, it is not a true adventure game, and it cannot really be called a beat-'em-up either. It is, rather, a combination of all these types of games.
While the original game could be accused of being short, Ecstatica II places you in a vast gaming world that will keep you busy for a long, long time. But some of the faults have not been ironed out.
Combat can be a highly frustrating affair, (even when you get to grips with controlling your character) and some of the gameplay will have you pulling your hair out. For instance, early on in the game there appears to be a few weapons lying around - but you can only pick up the sword. The Alone In The Dark series got over this problem very easily by making available items shimmer a little.
However, in other departments Ectstatica II exudes brilliance. Its unique Ellipsoid technology means its graphics are among the best around. And the stunning and varied locations that open up to you as you progress through the game will make you want see more despite its fundamental faults.
Like its forefather, Ectstatica II can be highly innovative and painfully inept in the same breath. But it is simply gorgeous to look at and if you enjoyed its predecessor then this is, at the very least, a big improvement.
Graphics: 93%, Sound: 90%, Gameplay: 82%
Independence Day
PC CD-ROM minimum system requirements: Pentium 120; 16MB RAM; 35MB hard disk space; Windows 95; Dual speed CD-ROM drive; SVGA £29.99
INDEPENDENCE Day, the movie, was a spectacular success at the box office despite - or possibly because of - the fact that it was not overtaxed by an ingenious or innovative script. Independence Day, the game, seems to have the same philosophy. You get to pilot a variety of planes from the F-18 Hornet to a captured Alien attacker from Area 51. But you won't be worrying about visibility, your landing gear, your wing flaps or the local weather forecast. The game does not want you bothering with such trivial matters and instead places you in cockpit mid-air, where the only thing you have to worry about is where your guns are pointing. A lot of people will sneer at this - but like its silver-screen cousin, Independence Day is fun nonetheless . . . but surely one expects more than a couple of hours of entertainment from a game. Indeed, the measurement is more like weeks or months and in that respect Independence Day definitely fails.
If you are a flight sim fan, then this is most definitely best left on the shelf. On the other hand, if you just want a quick, entertaining blast without having to check page 98 for instructions on performing an elaborate manoeuvre, it just might be your cup of tea.
Graphics: 89%, Sound: 82%, Gameplay: 73%