GT Concept
PS2 £29.99 Sony *** Tomb Raider
Compaq iPaq £29.99 Eidos **
Do you dream about spoilers, exhausts and that shiny limited-edition hubcap? Perhaps you also own a PlayStation 2? Then it's inevitable you'll have played Gran Turismo 3. The peerless driving simulator that lets you win money to tinker with your car, making it go faster and win more races, is an arduous, but addictive undertaking.
Unfortunately, Concept - a new side-project for the GT development team - removes the GT mode, effectively ripping the heart from the game by allowing beginners to play with most of the best cars straight away. The impeccably modelled cars and picturesque backdrops retain their effect, but the tracks are dull retreads from older games. Then there are the opponent cars and their lack of artificial intelligence.
Sticking to the same perfect racing line, they barely seem to notice you; in fact, if they weren't driving such flashy cars you could imagine them hunched over the wheel, holding up Sunday traffic. Petrol-heads will appreciate the inclusion of several concept cars, whose warped designs add flavour, while the basic arcade racing is enjoyable.
Nevertheless, Concept is a short-lived thrill: racing fans are better off with GT3. Another big name re-appearing this week is Lara Croft. While the next proper instalment of Tomb Raider is not out until November, owners of Compaq's iPaq can install a version. It is graphically marvellous, but marred by clumsy controls and the need to hold it sideways to play. This makes a surreptitious go in dull meetings practically impossible, surely negating the point of any PDA game. (GH)
Sid Meier's Sim Golf
PC £29.99 Firaxis/Maxis/EA ****
Apparently, Sid Meier, God-game guru and creator of the Civilization franchise, and Will Wright, the man behind The Sims and Sim City are not only pals, but also avid golfing partners. Which explains the existence of this bizarre but charming game in which you take a piece of land, build a golf course and attempt to make as much money as you can out of it. This may sound dull but, in practice, it turns out to be absorbing, even if, like me, you loathe and despise golf.
This is no dry, intellectual sim. It oozes personality and is well structured, setting you simple targets at first (such as building a par-five hole), then increasing in complexity as your membership rises. What sets it apart is the ability to descend from your God-like isolation and play your own course. Not, it must be said, from the traditional first-person golf game view, but from an isometric perspective, where you can control your resident pro as he takes up challenges from visiting pros, or enters full-blown tournaments in search of prize money.
Aficionados of The Sims will be glad to note that you can also import your Sims into Sim Golf, and watch them bond or throw tantrums along with other punters. Sid Meier's Sim Golf is a rarity: a game that appears deeply unpromising but turns out to be gently amusing, addictive and more responsive than the average sim. (SP)
Zoocube
GameCube £34.99 Puzzle Kings/Nintendo ***
Puzzle games have always been Nintendo's bag, and credit to them for keeping the genre alive. Nevertheless, following Tetris and Mario Party is no easy trick, and it takes an ingenious idea to take off. So is this it? Zoocube was invented by 30-something whizzkid Nalin Sharma, who has apparently staked a promising career in the City on the success of this 3D puzzle-fest. The idea is simple.
Each cube has six sides, on which various animal shapes are displayed. Rotate the cubes (using the analogue pads) until you have matching shapes, whereupon the animal is released in a charming animation, usually dropping a bonus item to help you as the game continues. Naturally, things get more complicated and time limits more challenging as you progress, forcing you to use smart bombs and the accelerator button to reach the required number of freed animals before the clock counts down.
Like all puzzle games, it's a lot easier to play than describe. And yes, with more than 40 animal shapes to match, a variety of different bombs, hidden bonuses and two play modes, there is plenty here to keep you occupied. It almost has that magic appeal of everlasting gameplay, but not quite as, after a while it all becomes a little too hectic. Also, you get the feeling that pseudo 3D has less to offer puzzle games than most other genres, although the graphics are colourful enough. Still, with Nintendo in its traditional quandary of not having enough quality software to support a promising format, every quality new title is to be welcomed and this is certainly one of them. (MA)
