TOCA World Touring Cars Sony PlayStation
While the PlayStation doesn't have a sublime Formula One game, it does extremely well in other motor-racing formats. Colin McCrae Rally is the ultimate rally sim; Gran Turismo is every motor head's dream, and the TOCA series does to touring car racing what Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix 3 (on PC only) does for Formula One.
This is the third in the series, and it is every bit as enjoyable as the first two - and then some. This time, it has action from 23 real tracks over five continents. Monza, Hockenheim, Suzuka and the A1-Ring in Austria are some of the better-known tracks, and there are over 40 car models to race on them .
TOCA prides itself on its realism, and justifiably so. Realistic real-time damage effects, real world weather conditions, intelligent driver opposition and the ability to have 14 cars on screen at any one time are testament to that.
PlayStation owners are spoilt for choice when it comes to motorracing simulations, but it is still hard to find excuses not to have this in your collection.
Sydney 2000 Sony PlayStation
With the Olympics so close, it was inevitable that a game bearing the official logo of the games would appear sooner or later - and here it is. Games of this nature have always required you to tap alternate buttons on your gamepad repeatedly to enable your athlete to run faster, jump higher or cycle harder, and Sydney 2000 is no different.
There are 12 Olympic events in the game, including the obligatory 100-metre sprint, the 110-metre hurdles, hammer throw, javelin, triple jump, high jump, 100-metre freestyle swimming, platform diving, kayak K1 slalom, super heavyweight lifting, sprint cycling and skeet shooting.
Sydney 2000 features a training mode which allows you to train your virtual athlete and this is about the most original concept. Average graphics, so-so sound and slow loading make it tedious at times.
Tapping buttons as fast as possible in order to win isn't the most exciting way to play a videogame, but it's difficult to see any other way of making a sprinter sprint or a high jumper jump.
Don't expect to see Sydney 2000 on a medal rostrum any time soon.