Gran Turismo 2: The Real Driving Simulator, Sony PlayStation, £39.99
The original Gran Turismo became an instant classic back in 1998. Never before on a console had a driving game looked and felt so realistic, and people bought it in droves. It had plenty of exotic cars, but also dared to feature some of the more modest models we see on our roads, and some people got the unusual pleasure of racing a model of their own car.
Expectations for Gran Turismo 2 then were extremely high. It doesn't disappoint and, with so little room for improvement, the manufacturers have done an admirable job.
It comes on two CDs for what are essentially two different games. The first disk is for arcade mode while the second is for the main event - Gran Turismo. True fanatics can even scratch 'n' sniff this disk for the smell of the pit lane.
Over 600 cars from 33 manufacturers are available to race, all of which have individual traits and try to behave like the real thing. Tuning the car is a big element of the game (as with the original) and it is only when the player moves up to compete with the heavyweights that the real money comes tumbling in.
The fabled licensing system is back too, bigger but not necessarily bolder. There are now 60 licence tests to complete before the player can even attempt to race in some events. This system means that those who have completed the licensing requirements have at least enough skills to win. A 50-page driving strategy guide is included - worth a glance for improving technique.
There are circuit, road and rally competitions on 28 courses. Although Gran Turismo 2 takes damage to the car into account, it only affects the performance of the car, there is no visual indication. The cars themselves look almost too good - always in showroom condition.
While the graphics are excellent all round, particularly in replay mode, some of the cars tend to suffer from collision-detection problems when they are bunched up together. This is a minor blip on an otherwise excellent game, and it takes the title of the best console racing game over from Gran Turismo.
Re-Volt, Sega Dreamcast, £39.99
Unlike Gran Turismo, the emphasis of other racing games is on fun and Re-Volt is one of these. So there is no need to worry about tyres, suspension settings or anti-roll bars here.
In Re-Volt the cars handle like the real-world remote control cars that they are based on. It could best be described as a cross between Super Mario Kart and Micro Machines. It includes a decent track editor, to make your own tracks and a stunt mode where the player has to do loop-the-loops, jumps and other tricks to unlock bonus items.
There are 42 racers to choose from and the courses are laid out in supermarkets, museums, suburban neighbourhoods, botanical gardens and the like. There are power-ups to collect to inflict damage on your opponents. Re-Volt is enjoyable. The track editor is a nice addition and, although it can be frustrating when the car flips or darts off in the wrong direction, it is only mimicking what racing these remote controlled cars would be like.
Wolfenstein 3D, the game that led the way for Doom, Quake and every other first-person shooter, is expected to have a sequel in the not too distant future. It will, like the new James Bond game The World Is Not Enough, use the Quake III engine.
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Cheat
Armorines, Nintendo 64
SKIPPY - All level access
LOADED - All weapons
GODLY - God mode
SORTED - Infinite ammo