Cricket 2000 PC CD-Rom £24.99
Cricket games are not nearly as popular as driving or soccer games, and thus there are fewer of them. None of them could be accused of being brilliant, but it is a rather complicated game to simulate.
Cricket 2000 is fun for a few overs but it plays like a game that was rushed out before it was perfected in any way. Bowling and batting are relatively pleasant experiences, and Richie Benaud and David Gower provide suitable commentary but fundamental flaws spoil the fun.
For instance, on bowling a batsman out you can't continue play until he makes his way (extremely) slowly to the clubhouse. And waiting at the beginning of a game for the two teams to assume their positions is another example of this only a lot worse. Commendable at times, but it's just not cricket.
Recommended: Pentium 266mhz/64MB/3D card/Win 9x/
Chu Chu Rocket! Sega DreamCast Free when registered with Dreamarena
A static grid, mice that have to escape on rockets and cats that are pretty nasty doesn't sound like a recipe for success, and neither does the title of this bizarre game. Graphics that would not have looked ahead of their time 10 years ago, and the fact that Sega is giving it away free would suggest a rather dull game.
But it isn't. This is a puzzle game that will melt your brain in minutes, except you don't have a second to decide your next move. By placing directional arrows at certain points on the grid you must guide the mice into your zone and keep the cats away, but it gets complicated very quickly and when you fail a level you will always want to have just one more go.
It is also the first Dreamcast game that can be played online, and a European competition is being run to find the best Chu Chu Rocket! player. If you have a Dreamcast you should certainly avail of this opportunity to get this game free.
Pokemania will continue this Friday when Nintendo release the Yellow Pokemon game. This special Pikachu edition sees Pikachu accompanying the player (trainer) on his quest and you can also see what mood Pikachu is in by talking to him.
For the rest of the year Nintendo almost has a Pokemon release every month.