Zelda: Ocarina Of Time, Nintendo 64, £54.99
This latest piece of work from Shigeru Miyamoto (of Mario fame) has been getting a lot of people excited recently. They have their reasons: the Zelda series has always been a little special. Miyamoto rarely disappoints and the Nintendo 64 has the potential to throw up the odd gem.
Initially Ocarina Of Time is a bit of a let down. The box is just an average rectangular box, without any spectacular artwork, and the cartridge itself is the usual grey cartridge that Nintendo churns out.
Once past these initial stumbling blocks, this is a game that seems as near to perfection as is humanly possible - although it's not easy to explain just why. From the first moment, it is clear that this is something special and its attention to detail borders on the ridiculous. Often in a game, players come up against a difficult puzzle or a task, for example. They hit on a possible solution, only for the restrictions imposed by the game to prevent them from solving it in that particular way. In Ocarina Of Time, however, what common sense recommends is usually the thing to do. This is not video-game common sense, but pure "real world" common sense. It is an indictment of most other video games that they make players think differently when trying to accomplish something. Players have to know the limitations of the game before trying something and find themselves asking "Will it let me do that?". Here, more often than not, it does - and that's a nice feeling.
Of course, there is more to the game than that. It is huge and full of surprises, with a spot-on soundtrack and excellent graphics. There are games within games, and it gradually immerses the player in its world and doesn't let go.
The learning curve is also supremely well done. Shigeru Miyamoto has an uncanny knack of teaching players how to play the game as they go along. What players are doing one minute is often subliminal training for what they will have to do next. N64 owners should buy it. Those who don't own the console won't have a better excuse to buy. And, yes, you do have to learn how to play the ocarina.
V-Rally 99, Nintendo 64, £49.99
Nintendo owners often look in dismay at the wide variety of great driving games on the PlayStation, such as Gran Turismo, Colin McCrae Rally, and Toca. The only game worth mentioning on the N64 is perhaps F1 World Grand Prix, and V-Rally 99 doesn't change the argument much. This is a relatively decent driving game, with all the expected options, including 12 official cars from the World Rally Championship to choose from. However, the handling of the cars is erratic, the graphics are not a lot to shout about and the engine sounds leave a lot to be desired. Except for driving fanatics, this is one to steer well clear of.
F-Zero X, Nintendo 64, £39.99
Futuristic racers have become popular recently. Most notable is Wipeout, which appeared for the PlayStation and PC. Earlier though, in the era of the SNES, Nintendo had its own futuristic racer in F-Zero.
Back then it showed off the power of the SNES - and F-Zero X was expected to do for the same for the N64. To a certain extent, it does. It's a matter of racing around tracks which resemble roller-coasters, at breakneck speeds with 30 or so competitors. It is very fast and with such a large number of competitors, often with the majority on screen, it is impressive.
There is a pay off, though. F- Zero X looks like a PC game being played on an under-specified machine. There is little or no track-side scenery, and everything else is fairly basic. For once, publishers have sacrificed graphics for game-play and that is to be welcomed. It might not look great, but it's a helter skelter ride.
Game Cheats
F-Zero X, Nintendo 64
At the select mode screen press L,Z,R,C-up, C-down C-left, C-right at the select mode screen To get all cars, cups, and tracks.
F-1 World Grand Prix, Nintendo 64
In Exhibition Mode select the Williams Driver and enter:
Chrome - Silver Driver
Pyrite - Gold Driver
Vacation - Bonus Track