Judge Dredd: Dredd Vs Death Xbox, £39.99 VU Games/Rebellion ****
The third decade of the 22nd century is a bleak place indeed, with unemployment and crime rife, and a legal system of judges who summarily dispense justice and punishment from beneath their armour-clad bulks. The most famous is Dredd, who has become the figurehead of the 2000AD comic-franchise since it was launched in 1977.
Although he's had a couple of videogame outings, Dredd Vs. Death is the most anticipated appearance of the chisel-jawed one. There's no messing around with stealth - Dredd doesn't sneak anywhere. This is an out and out shooter.
The main story mode, which comprises 11 missions, revolves around Dredd's arch enemy Judge Death and his cronies, the Dark Judges, who are stirring up trouble in the form of a nasty bout of the undead, who are chomping down on the residents of Mega-City One.
Dredd's "lawgiver" gun, with its six types of ammunition, comes in handy - especially the incendiary bullets that reduce enemies to a satisfying pile of blackened bones.
But it's not all about shooting people. A large percentage of your time will be spent disarming and arresting perps, which increases your law meter and adds points to your score, which in turn allows you to unlock different arcade levels. Dredd Vs Death offers lots of gory fun, with some innovative touches, a beautiful comic book-style graphics engine and plenty of nods to 2000AD fans.
Rhianna Pratchett
ESC Charity Pack: SSX Tricky, Commandos 2, WRC II Extreme
PlayStation 2, £29.99, ESC, ***
Three PS2 games for £30, with all proceeds to charity. What could possibly go wrong? Not a lot actually, as this Entertainment Software Charity pack would be worth the money, good causes or not. The pick of the bunch is SSX Tricky, the snowboarding game that is both relaxing and invigorating.
As the title suggests, the emphasis is more on tricks, with some over-the-top stunts. But it's the crunchy feeling of snow, the simple yet expressive controls and the sheer panache that makes SSX Tricky a treat.
Slowing the pace down is Commandos 2. This is the second world war strategy romp that starts off tough and gets harder. The challenges for your team of Allied heroes range from infiltration to destruction. Unfortunately, the top-down graphics and relatively complex controls mean Commandos 2 is better suited to PC monitors than the TV. Still, this is recommended for strategy aficionados.
Last, and least, is rally game WRC II Extreme. This fails to match the majesty of the Colin McRae series but because it is easier to get into, offers junior rally drivers a good run on the PS2. With one great game in SSX Tricky and two solid performers, the pack is worthy of its charitable status.
Greg Howson
Rugby 2004
PlayStation 2, PC, £39.99 EA Sports **
For once, a sports game has arrived at a propitious time: the rugby World Cup gets under way tomorrow. Bizarrely, considering this game is published by EA Sports, the master of the pricey sports licence, it is not an officially licensed game, although Jonny Wilkinson's god-like form adorns the packaging.
Rugby has always been a sport whose complexity complicates any attempt to shoe-horn it into a videogame, and hard as Rugby 2004 tries, it fails to provide an instant, compelling gameplay experience.
The control system owes much to EA Sports' John Madden NFL games. You can, for example, pick different set plays at line-outs and scrums before launching into the set-piece.
But glaring flaws abound. Without the ball, it is virtually impossible to stay onside. The graphics are dreadful. Over-fiddly controls make it very difficult to win a clean ball from line-outs. There is an annoying wait between triggering a pass and it taking place. And the training ground tutorial is lacking in useful advice.
On the plus side, you can pull off some surprisingly sophisticated moves such as killing the ball in rucks. And you can play through an entire World Cup. Dedicated, patient rugby fanatics will find enjoyment, but the rest will do well to ignore it.
Steve Boxer
