Todays game haul!

Got some more packages in the post today, one of which was a redelivary. I opened a case for the game on ebay, but it turns out that it required a signature, and said that a card was left.There is a sign on the door for such occasions, the postman was obviously retarded as he ignored the sign, and he didn't even leave a card at all; so the text on the royal mail website was a complete lie. A complaint is going through for this, as this is not the first time (or even the first complaint) about cards not being left.

Here is what I got today!

 'Shox' is an interesting racing game under the 'EA Sports big' label. This game actually surprised me in that case; as it is actually really good! This is an arcade rally racing game, with offical cars and some really nice looking tracks. You start off with a free choice of your first car, and from then on you have to earn money to buy more cars. There are about four sets of races and with in each of those sets you have tracks to complete.

An interesting feature of this game is with in the courses you have 'shox zones' in which you have to get from the start of the zone to the end of it and then you are graded from bronze to silver to gold depending on the time you take. This earns you extra money as well as other bonuses if you get all golds.

The game is quite challenging with the AI always on your arse all the way through the race. It is unfortunate that some of the AI cheat the game phsyics a bit in order to get around the track which makes it a little unfair to the player.

In order to unlock the other sets of races, you need to earn enough in order to afford to pay for a car type to use. That is all, you don't have to come first in al lthe previous sets of races, you just need the money to buy the cars.

I really enjoyed this game, but it does have its flaws. The AI isn't flawed par-say, but it is a bit of a bugger. There is a gambling system in the game in which you use to buy cars cheaper than buying them out right. You gamble a set amount on the car, then you have to race that car in a 1-2-1 race; beating it gets you the car. The flaw though? that car gets a head start and is away with the clouds before you even know what is going on, you don't really have a chance at all. So you loose your money and you are buggered. It really makes me wonder what sorts of morons come up with these ideas in games companies.

I give this game 4 out of 5.


'Gumball 3000' is a racing from A to B through various courses through traffic. Not a great car selection at the begining, AI is ok I suppose, controls are ok-ish, but the game isn't fun! kind of boring, and the time limit makes it next to impossible to get any where.

I recommend starting with the Porsche or anything that is not the hummer, as it is seriously slow and will not win you anything. Getting busted doesn't stop the clock so makes it even more annoying. Bah.

2 out of 5!


'Motor Mayhem' is a vehicular combat game, in the same vain as the 'Twisted metal' series. There are various modes, a main story type mode, quick battle etc etc. An interesting selection of characers/vehicles to choose from; all looking like a cross between something from 'mad max' and 'hot wheels' cars.

Not a huge selection of levels to choose from, but about average for this sort of game. Small, medium and large levels to choose from with varing terrain types. From jungles, to aircraft carriers, to temples; it is quite an interesting selection.You then choose what opponants to face, choose weapons and kill limits and things and off you go. I recomend changing the controller type to 4 as the default setting has the accelearation on the up left stick which is really not natural at all.

I like the game, it is very similar to 'twisted metal', vehicles are easy to steer, plenty of weapon pickups and such. Fun!

4 out of 5!


'Star Wars Racer: Revenge' is the PlayStation 2 version of the Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 game; 'pod racer'. Similar sort of thing to 'wipeout' hover vehicles racing around futuristic courses, on other planets.

This is of course based on the horrible 'Star Wars: Episode 1' movie, which unfortunatly I sat through. I am not a Star Wars fan at all, I consider the original ones boring, I could never get into the world of it all. I do however like some of the games, such as this one.

You race, earn, and use your earnings to upgrade your pods. Couldn't be more simpler than that really. Various folks to choose from, from the annoying little turd Skywalker, to a bunch of alien guys.

It's fast, it's furious; and all without Vin Diesel. Now even though the PS2 is actually less powerful than the Dreamcast; this version seems to look better. This could be due to the fact I am using a HD componant cable on the PS2 though, and just a scart on the Dreamcast.

Watch out though, if you hit too much stuff and your pod blows up, the race is over!

A classic game in my books! I give it 4 out of 5!


'Wipeout pure' - The wipeout games are the daddies of all anti gravity type racing games, game series developed in Liverpool from the days of the playstation/sega saturn to last year when Sony closed the game studio down. Now why they did this stupid thing I do not know.

Sony should not have been allowed to buy the license in the first place; the wipeout series used to be cross platform, Sega Saturn, Playstation, Nintendo 64 and the PC where all given the greatness that is wipeout. That is until Sony baught the licence from the dead Psygnosis game studio. Then games made after only came out of sony consoles. Then they killed it off. Bastards.

Anyway, you race your craft around courses; shoot at your opponents, and kick some ass. That is all really, fun stuff.

This game uses the loyalty points system, where if you keep using the same craft, you earn points for using it, earn more for winning, and unlock stuff. Not that great of a system, but it's there.

This one is quite challenging, so make use of everything! get used to those air brake controls, you're gonna need em.



This game was also released on the Playstation 2 (which I also have in the collection).

4 out of 5!