Choosing which games machine is best is never simple. This year, the choices are the Sony PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, PC, iMac and the handheld Gameboy. Unlike a few years ago, when machines like the Atari Jaguar or Panasonic 3DO were available, there is no real clunker on that list. They are all well supported and each does a good job of its type of gaming.
Price is a major factor, and the PC and iMac are by far the most costly at around £1,000. They are, of course, capable of doing much more than playing games and are rarely purchased solely for games. The PC is a better games machine than the iMac, not because it is technically superior, but simply because the library of games to choose from is much bigger.
When choosing any games machine a good barometer of its worthiness is the number of games available. If there are over 100 games available for it then it is safe to assume that the machine is a worthy game player.
The Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation, retailing under £100, both represent very good value despite the fact that they are showing a few grey hairs. The Nintendo 64 has the top games, classics like Zelda, Mario and Goldeneye, but the PlayStation more than makes up for this with a huge selection of very good games. One other distinction between the two consoles is that the Nintendo 64 tends to appeal slightly more to the younger gameplayer. There are, however, games for all ages on both consoles.
The new kid on the block is the Dreamcast from Sega. It is the most powerful console currently available and at £249 the most expensive. Over half a million have been sold in Europe since its launch less than two months ago. Combined with good sales in the US, this suggests that the Dreamcast has a bright future.
There are only about 40 titles available for the Dreamcast, but at this early stage that seems more than reasonable. As would be expected, the graphics in Dreamcast games are much better than those on the Nintendo 64 or Sony PlayStation.
The Dreamcast also comes with a built-in modem, giving console users the ability to play against other players throughout the world via a special Internet service. Unfortunately, Sega has been slow to implement this feature in Ireland and it is expected in the coming weeks. In Britain, on the other hand, where the service was available from the beginning, a user can even order a pizza when connected up to the Dreamcast site.
The handheld Gameboy (around £70) has many games available, lots of them scaleddown versions of games that have appeared on the consoles. Occasionally the handheld versions resemble the original in name only. One big seller available only on the Gameboy is the Pokemon game. Extremely popular in Japan and the US before being launched recently in Europe, these pocket monsters are rather scarce due to huge demand.
The best games this year were, rather predictably, sequels to previously successful games. That doesn't stop them being extremely good, though. On the PC, British Rally Championship is a great game for fans of the sport. If realism is not a priority then Driver might be more entertaining. Age of Empires II, Civilisation 2, Alpha Centauri and Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun are excellent strategy games while Hidden and Dangerous puts you in charge of a group of soldiers during the second world war.
Lara Croft and Indiana Jones have often been compared to each other and both of their latest (Tomb Raider IV and Infernal Machine) adventures are worth checking out. Quake III, Unreal Tournament, System Shock 2 and Thief: The Dark Project are all first-person 3D shooters of the highest calibre. The gameplay varies from sniping around diligently in Thief to going out all guns blazing in Quake III. Mech Warrior III and Outcast are slightly more complicated affairs, but at times more rewarding as a result.
FIFA 2000, like Tomb Raider IV, Civilisation 2 and Driver are also available for the PlayStation. FIFA 2000 on either platform will delight fans of the beautiful game. Elsewhere on the PlayStation Final Fantasy VIII doesn't provide instant gratification but this epic game will provide months of entertainment to the die-hard gamer. Spyro the Dragon 2 will entertain almost everyone and Wip3out will appease thrill seekers while Silent Hill (over-18s) is ideal for those who like to be spooked.
Gran Turismo is not so new, but is certainly worth having for anybody interested in driving games and the latest Ridge Racer will keep arcade fans happy. GTA2 is hardly a driving game, but if quick getaways in stolen cars are a large part of it. Toca Touring Cars and Colin McCrae Rally are a little more cerebral in their approach to driving. Metal Gear Solid has nothing to do with driving, but is a game that should be in every self-respecting PlayStation owner's library.
For the Nintendo 64 Zelda, Goldeneye, Banjo Kazooie, Turok 2 and the recently released Donkey Kong 64 are all superb games that can be enjoyed by almost anyone, regardless of age. On Sega's Dreamcast Soul Calibur, Ready to Rumble and the effervescent Sonic in his latest adventure are among the best games. For the Gameboy, Tarzan is quite good and Pokemon is a must, if you can catch a copy.
games@irish-times.ie