Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future Sega Dreamcast £44.99
Ecco made his first appearance on the Sega Megadrive many moons ago, and the game helped Sega to shift a few more Megadrives. It certainly was the first underwater animal to be the star of a game.
With the Dreamcast's superior hardware, Ecco was always going to look better, but this is a game that really is beautiful to watch.
Controlling Ecco is relatively intuitive. You control his every move and can make him execute a variety of flips and jumps. The game is not essentially about synchronised swimming, although you will have to become proficient in controlling Ecco. The dolphin is on a mission to save the world and you have to help him, by completing tasks and overcoming challenges. By progressing through the game Ecco can learn songs, which he can then use to communicate with other creatures and thus gain help. You can use his sonar to talk to other dolphins who give you tips and sometimes obscure clues about what you should be doing.
Ecco's latest adventure can be recommended to any Dreamcast owner. It isn't perfect though - certain tasks can be frustrating (such as Ecco's need to rise to the surface for air). Although some might label it Tomb Raider underwater, it must be remembered that Ecco was around long before Ms Croft. Being a dolphin of course means Ecco has to survive without a single round of bullets.
Rating: 89%
Bishi Bashi Special Sony PlayStation
Bishi Bashi is the odd name given to this rather strange game from Konami. The reason behind its strange title is that it requires you to "bish" and "bash" the buttons on a regular basis. Compared to most new games, the graphics are simplistic, the sound isn't great, and there is no depth to the gameplay whatsoever.
But Bishi Bashi is unlike most games of today - it is a compilation of almost 100 games. There is no manual; a five-second demonstration provides you with all the information needed to play.
The games are simple but with this much variety, they can provide fun for a few hours - especially if playing against a friend.
Driving a car down a bowling alley trying to hit all the skittles, spraying insects with your insecticide, or shooting your uncle from a cannon to land him on a plate are just a few of the unorthodox games included. Most last only a couple of minutes, and require you to reach a certain score or encourage you to break new records.
Bishi Bashi is handy when you have only a few minutes to spare. Although, after promising yourself just one more game for the umpteenth time, you might regret ever having started.
Rating: 80%
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