Good for gore
Shadow of Rome
PlayStation 2, Rated 18,
£39.99 Capcom, ***
You have to applaud Shadow of Rome's setting. Console videogaming has made little use of Ancient Rome as a backdrop, which is strange considering the amount of violence associated with that era. Shadow of Rome is a sword swinging, gladiatorial hack'n'slash game, both exciting and gory.
Sadly, interspersing the satisfying action sections are mind-numbingly frustrating stealth sequences. But back to the good stuff - the combat. There are some horrendously bloodthirsty moves to use. Fancy skewering your opponent or severing him in half? It is only a bit of nifty joypad manipulation away. The 18 certificate is well earned.
The stealth segments are less exciting. These lengthy and relatively hard sections of the game were obviously created to give the plot time to breathe. Unfortunately, they tend to exasperate, making you desperate to get back to claret spilling. However, there is enough to keep you playing, even if it doesn't reach the heights that the premise and visuals suggest. An above-average plot, with impressive cut-scenes, hint at what might have been. For PS2 owners who fancy donning gladiator garb, there is nothing better on their console.
Greg Howson
Satisfying fun
Donkey Kong: King of Swing
Game Boy Advance,
£39.99 Nintendo/PAON, ***
When it comes to the type of swinging that does not involve suburban housewives in furry mules and M&S negligees, Donkey Kong knows his stuff. In fact, this game has been shaped around the art of swinging gracefully through the air like a Russian acrobat on horizontal bars.
It takes time to master the art, which makes up the majority of the game's movement and is activated through the GBA's left and right shoulder buttons.
In the main adventure mode, DK has to swing through various loosely themed levels, trying to get back medals stolen by token bad guy King K Rool. Thankfully, you also have a few attack options at your disposal, including a power jump and the ability to lob rocks at enemies. Unfortunately, just as you get into the swing of things, the developers suddenly throw in an extra-hard level.
The basic single and multiplayer mini-games are rather bland, and include climbing, obstacle races and a slightly more enjoyable bumper cars battle.
The swinging is a neat and fun gameplay technique, and hugely satisfying when you get it right. Unfortunately, the level pacing is rather off, meaning GBA rage moments are not uncommon.
Rhianna Pratchett
Short but sweet
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
GameCube,
£39.99 Nintendo, ***
Determined not to be outdone by Sony's Eye Toy, Nintendo came up with the bongo-powered Donkey Konga before Christmas and has already produced another game that makes use of its bizarre but fun input device. Unlike Donkey Konga, however, Jungle Beat is not a rhythm game but an old-fashioned, side-scrolling platform game - much in the mould of the Donkey Kong Country franchise.
However, you play it by bashing plastic bongos - hit the left one, for example, to move left (if you bash it more frequently, you will speed up), or clap in the vicinity of the built-in microphone to stun nearby opponents, grab bananas within reach or fire yourself from handy plants.
You can play Jungle Beat with a standard gamepad, but it is more fun with the bongos. And that is the point of the game. When assessed in pure gaming terms, it is flawed - the game is embarrassingly short (you could finish it in a few hours), and side-scrolling platform games hardly represent the future.
But it is full of trademark surreal Nintendo touches, and the ability to play it using bongos elevates it into a must-buy for GameCube owners. Ultimately, it provides a burst of pure gaming joy that doesn't leave you feeling you have experienced it all before.
Steve Boxer
Top 5 games PC
1. Football Manager 2005
2. Half-Life 2
3. The Sims 2
4. Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth
5. Rome: Total War
· Source: Elspa, compiled by ChartTrack
