Freelancer

Platform: PC

This sensational game, which has been six years in the making, has everything a space combat fan could want. Its special effects are spectacular, the gameplay is easy to pick up, and its multi-player mode gives outstanding enjoyment.

You play freelancer Edison Trent, an intergalactic jack-of-all-trades, who roams through 48 known star systems, dodging through asteroid fields and blasting enemies with futuristic weapons.

You can choose your own mission and whether you want to be a hero, trader, smuggler or ruthless space thug.

You can set your course for any destination in the universe. However, you need to earn some money along the way in order to move up the ranks and acquire larger and more sophisticated ships and equipment.

Fortunately, there is plenty of contract work available. There are always important consignments needing to be transported, intercepted or blown up. And you can find work merely by calling in at a space station or planetary inn to learn the latest news.

No matter what you choose, however, you must still help the Liberty Security Force investigate a mysterious new criminal organization which threatens the safety of the whole system.

The game evolves according to the decisions you make.

The controls are easy to operate. Your mouse controls your ship’s movements and gives you remarkable flexibility.

Shox
Platform: PlayStation 2

This is a fun arcade-style rally racing title which enables you to perform some outlandish stunts.

You get behind the wheel of one of 24 cars and earn cash rewards by achieving rapid speeds which are recorded at assorted “Shox Zones”. With the money earned you can afford to buy new and swifter models and race on better and more challenging tracks.

Races range from beginners’ to advanced level. Extra points can be earned by performing stunts such as power-sliding and skilled cornering.

Game features include:

• 24 licensed cars to acquire, divided into five classes – Compact, Sports, Turbo, Power and Shox.
• Three distinct locales: Arctic Tundra, Arid Desert and Asian Jungle (each with a diversity of courses).
• Single- or multi-player mode. Up to four players can compete simultaneously on a split-screen and review their performances through instant replay.
• Up to six computer-controlled drivers on each circuit.

Chessmaster
PlayStation 2

Since its launch more than a decade ago, Chessmaster has sold over four million copies and won numerous awards.

The game features play modes which can accommodate anyone from beginners to grandmasters. This latest version now boasts a revamped chess engine capable of playing at the highest level.

There is a new revised Kids’ Room to get children launched into playing chess.

A special quick mode pits you against one of Chessmaster’s many AI opponents. In this mode you can bend the rules, undo previous moves and even switch sides mid-game.

For the more adventurous, you can take lessons ranging from tutorials for absolute beginners to advanced master-classes written and narrated by players such as Bruce Pandolfini, Larry Evans and Josh Waitzkin.

You can then test your chess skills against opponents of every skill level and earn yourself a chess rating.

Chessmaster has a wealth of attractive visual features, including 3D high-resolution graphics with real-time zoom and rotation.

There are 24 different, cleverly conceived chess sets on which you can play, such as dogs and dessert dishes, a chess battlefield mode (a medieval scene in which animated knights and others engage in combat whenever they take another piece), and a special fantasy chess board.

NHL 2003
Platform: GameCube

NHS 2003 is an ice hockey sim, based on many of the teams and players from the US National Hockey League (NHL).

It is also a great arcade-style game that any novice, with only a basic grasp, can enjoy in single- and multi-player modes.

Other game modes include franchise and playoff modes, and a special create-a-player feature.

Intermediate and advanced modes enable you to play at more complex levels.

The visuals are first-class, thanks to dynamic camera work and a new graphics and animation engine.

At key moments of action, the game goes into slow motion, Matrix-style.

The sound effects include real ice sounds and authentic crowd reactions.

To get optimal performance, you need to do quite a bit of tweaking. Once you have adjusted your options, however, the pace quickens.

The game allows effective manual control of the puck, although you need a certain amount of practice to gain proficiency in this.

One thing that would improve this game would be a practice mode in which you could try out on your own various routines on the rink, such as skating between pylons.

Nonetheless, NHL 2003 is still an outstanding hockey sim.