Although rumours abound concerning the possibility of a modem for the Nintendo 64, more tangible accessories are definitely on their way. Indeed, the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak is already available priced around £30. The Pak inserts into the removable panel on top of the console and increases the RAM available to the console from 4MB to 8MB. This enables developers to improve games with larger worlds, better graphics or more complex gameplay. It's most common purpose though is likely to increase screen resolution from 320 X 240 pixels to 640 X 480. It is only compatible with games programmed to accommodate the Pak so you won't see any improvements in older games. Among the games set to support it are Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Turok 2 and you can expect a lot more in the future.
The Nintendo 64 Disk Drive is not with us yet. This conveniently sized (64MB) disk drive will be the first write enabled bulk storage device on a modern video game console. It will be used to store stats on sports games, or in a role playing game, every detail about the world and your character. The disk drive is planned to include the 4MB RAM expansion, so it might be worth waiting for.
Asteroids PC CD-ROM,34.99. Required Pentium 90/ 16MB/Win95-98.
It seems most games around today are either sequels or remakes of old classics. Where is the genuinely new material? Aster]oids, however, is undoubtedly one of the best excuses for a makeover. Anyone under the age of 20 has probably never played it, but is certainly one of the all-time greats.
The idea is simple: put a spaceship in the middle of an asteroid field, allow the player to take control of it, and then you either obliterate it - or it obliterates you. It might seem monotonous nowadays when variety of gameplay is an important attribute, but it was highly addictive and the silverlike graphics on a black background made it stand out from the crowd. Exponents of the Art of Asteroids were highly respected individuals.
Activision have obviously recognised there are a lot of 20-30 somethings out there who would like to take a nostalgia trip back to the 1980s and have reinvented the game Rock the new Millennium.
However it might just rock your PC. Although the minimum spec is a Pentium 90, it really requires a 133 with a 3D accelerator! But although the game remains true to it's ancestry the graphics are from a different world. You can still use your trusty thrust, shield and hyperspace, but with added enemies you can now pick up extra weapons like smart bombs, ramming shields, mines and gun satellites.
It's still good fun and worth a look, but whether its worth the asking price is a different matter. Some will love it - while others might think it sacrilegious to tamper with this classic. Perhaps to tame this argument Activision have "hidden" the original game within.
TOCA 2: Touring Cars Sony PlayStation 44.99
The first instalment of this series was a surprisingly big hit for Codematers. Selling around 600,000 copies in Europe TOCA was only beaten by FIFA: Road to the World Cup and Tomb Raider 2 last Christmas.
As expected, TOCA 2 features updated cars and drivers - all the real ones of course, including Nigel Mansell. It also incorporates new features from the 1998 season into the gameplay including the addition of pit stops, and all cars are now front wheel drive. Unless you're a fan of touring car racing, motor sport in general or someone in need of a grave challenge, TOCA 2 is probably not for you. From the first corner of the first race you will end up with a smashed windscreen and a dent in your pride, by the end of the first lap your pride will be smashed and your car severely dented.
It's a testament to the game's realism. You wouldn't expect to jump into one of these saloons and immediately start braking the lap record without breaking your leg first, would you?
There are small improvements in almost every area over TOCA. And little touches like having your own name emblazoned on the back windscreen of your car, and the ability to be able to see other drivers in their cars is nice. Another notable feature in TOCA 2 is the Support Car Championships.
Mirroring the events which run alongside the British Touring Car Championships (BTCC) you can now take part in one of these specialised races with cars of the same make and model. Initially only two of these races, one of which is the Ford Fiesta, are available but as you progress you can race in the Jaguar XJ220, TVR12, AC Cobra and others. There is something special in racing the Fiestas, though.