Sony Playstation £44.99
Colin McRae led the 555 Subaru World Rally team to its third consecutive manufacturers championship in 1997 finishing second in the drivers' championship just one point behind Tommi Makinen. He was world champion in 1995 and currently leads the FIA World Rally championship by 36 points.
Apparently McRae didn't just lend his name (as is often the case) to this title but was actively involved with the game's production. And it shows.
This is not a game for the faint hearted or Sunday drivers. If you want to succeed, competing is going to require skill, patience, determination and good luck.
Thankfully there is a tutorial from the man himself to help you get to grips with these cars (there are 12 in all, including the Mitsubishi Lancer €4, VW Golf GTI, Renault Maxi Megane and of course Colin's Subaru Impreza WRC) and some fundamental rallying techniques.
The graphics are excellent and car damage is visible. Other features include full action replay, two-player rally challenge, time trial mode, car set-up and repair options (between stages), night driving, dual shock support, five different views and varying weather conditions.
Graphics:
91% Sound:
84% Gameplay:
91%
Wetrix
Nintendo. £39.99
Wetris would probably have been a more appropriate name as this game's pedigree is of the same line as Tetris, probably the best puzzle game of all. But to say the two games are the same would be a lie. Similarity with Tetris lies in the falling block idea only.
Wetrix is difficult to get to grips with at first and a good scan through the comprehensive manual is essential if you are to progress with any ease. Wetrix's gameplay takes place on a flat isometric playing surface, which can be rotated and the aim of the game is to construct lakes, dams or channels to accommodate the randomly dropping bubbles of water.
Poor workmanship in assembling the pieces to form a sound water barrier will lead to spillage and leaks and your task is to stop this happening.
As water spills from the game area, a water meter fills up - if it reaches its limit, the game is over. You build your dams and lakes by rearranging numerous Tetris-inspired shapes and linking them together. At the start of each level you get so many building blocks before the real action starts. In fact, this is probably the most important part of the game as failure to get these structures right will lead to all sorts of problems later on.
Wetrix has some of the best graphics seen in a puzzle game. It is not easy, but it definitely offers something fresh and different. There are few flaws and it can easily hold its head high in any company. It is probably a little bit tough for younger gameplayers but it should keep the die-hard puzzle fans very happy.
Graphics:
92% Sound:
80% Gameplay:
90%
Top 10 sellers
This week's 10 top-selling Sony Playstaion games at Virgin Mega- store are:
1) Premier Manager 98 - £44.99
2) Colin McRae Rally - £44.99
3) Spice World - £19.99
4) Gran Turismo - £44.99
5) World Cup 98 - £39.99
6) Three Lions - £19.99
7) Resident Evil 2 - £49.99
8) Vigilante 8 - £39.99
9) Everybodys Golf - £34.99
10) Dead or Alive - ££34.99