October 2002 Volume 83 Number 10 "serving the protectors"
Edited By John Ballantyne

Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter X

Format: Xbox, PC.

In this Star Wars game you play a Jedi, Adi Gallia, dispatched by top Jedi, Mace Windu, on perilous missions which lead into the events depicted in the Star Wars: Episode II film.

Pitted against you are the massive fleet of the evil Captain Toth and a sinister figure who threatens to undermine the entire Galactic Republic system.

As Adi Gallia, you pilot a new experimental ship and wage battle with waves of fast ships, countless enemies, and smart AI.

The special effects are outstanding, especially on the Xbox version. Fire and explosions are ultra-authentic.

Different environments, such as the wasted deserts of TK and the deep space battlefields of Karthakk, are vividly brought to life, with hives of ships cluttering the skies in true serial adventure fashion.

Vessels voyaging across water generate realistic wakes which spray you when you get too close.

The ships themselves are substantial and detailed.

The sound effects – be they laser blasts or droid beeps – are all that you would expect from the Star Wars franchise. Topping off the epic experience nicely is the rousing John Williams score from Phantom and Clones.

For new players there is an excellent game tutorial to guide you through the basics.

The objective of the game is straightforward – wipe out the enemy before the enemy wipes out you!

As your ability to fly your ship improves, so does the enemy AI.

Smash Court Tennis: Pro Tournament

Format: PS2.

Smash Court was once only an arcade game with no connection with real-life tennis aces, but this has now been changed totally.

Today’s PS2 version of the game features eight of the top-ranking tennis professionals: Patrick Rafter, André Agassi, Pete Sampras, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Anna Kournikova and Lindsey Davenport.

All of the characters resemble their real-life originals, even down to their characteristic poses and facial expressions.

The courts on which you play are based on real courts from the major tournaments around the world, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

There are four game modes: Arcade, Exhibition, Tournament and Training.

The new game is easy to pick up and play and enables you to deploy a full range of shots, including the sort of sneaky moves you can do in real life.

The game can accommodate one to four players.

Scooby Doo: Night of 100 Frights

Format: GameCube, PS2.

An evil villain, Mastermind, has kidnapped the kids of Mystery, Inc.

It’s up to Scooby-Doo to search for his lost friends and save the day using all his wits (plus some ingenious inventions he finds along the way).

You take Scooby through 12 detailed levels, which include the predictable creepy mansion and haunted graveyard, as well as a spooky cave and a smuggler’s cove.

Scooby Snacks are available to give you “courage” (and life points) as you tackle 20 creepy monsters.

There are also cool gadgets, such as an umbrella (to enable you to stay airborne longer during jumps), boots (to help you cross tricky surfaces), and springs (for higher jumps).

When you want to “hide-’n’-sneak”, you can don a lampshade and bunny slippers.

You can bounce off beds and swing from the chandeliers in the best Scooby fashion.

This game captures the fun and humour of the original cartoon series, complete with spooky sound effects and cartoon mayhem music.

It even features the familiar voices of some of the original cartoon voice characters.

And, best of all, there’s no Scrappy!

ZooCube

Format: GameCube

This bizarre and brain-teasing game is a sort of three-dimensional, next-generation reworking of Tetris.

ZooCube is a hypnotically absorbing advanced puzzle game, based on fast-paced, reflex action.

It is simple to learn, but tricky to master, and will provide players with hours of challenging action.

The game plot goes like this:

Around the world, animals have been transformed by shape-altering science experiments and need help in returning to their natural state.

Players use their ZooCube to rescue and return the animals to the flying ark.

Body parts come floating towards you from all directions and you have to sort them out so that the right part is joined to the right creature in the right place.

The pace rapidly becomes frenetic.

Features include:

• Twelve different modes of play, providing more than 100 hours of fun.
• A unique experience every time: no two games are ever the same.
• Special power-ups, bonuses and mind-bending three-axis rotation.
• A choice of co-operative play with a friend or head-to-head battle.

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