February 1999 Volume 80 Number 2 "serving the protectors"
PC Games
By Colin Hand (chand@picknowl.com.au)

GLOBAL DOMINATION

Global Domination centres on a group of people known as ULTRA (Universal Tactical Response Agency). Its job is to manage theatres of war.

As controller, you have at your disposal an array of weapons. With everything from air attack weapons to sea faring resources, you are in charge of a nation’s government. You may choose to take over any nation you wish. In addition, they may choose to take you over.

The game takes place as if you are looking down on a satellite image of Earth. You choose your theatre of war and by clicking parts of the screen, different options become available depending on the resources of the country you currently control. For more advanced countries, satellite weapons are available. Third world countries allow only basic warfare.

Global Domination is easy and predictable and not likely to keep serious gamers interested. It requires a multimedia Pentium 133 with 32 MB of RAM.

POWERSLIDE

The year is 2020. After an environmental holocaust of devastating proportions, the population hovers slightly above the zero mark. The rich have fled to the underground where they have formed corporate enclaves, leaving the ferals to populate the desolate cities and desert wastelands above.

With 98 per cent of the population dead, there’s a lot of surplus transportation just waiting to be driven into the ground. The ferals started the powersliding competition - the corporates banned it. It’s dangerous; it’s illegal; it kicks butt. Powerslide is extreme off-road racing.

The most notable thing about Powerslide is the fact that it runs so smoothly, while still presenting graphics with exceptional detail and realism. The next best thing is the driving model - it’s very responsive and very true-to-life. Other advantages of this game are the ability to drive at night and on a variety of surfaces.

There are many aspects of Powerslide about which to rave, including the fact that is was developed in Australia. But as with most products, there are some areas of disappointment.

On our Pentium 166MMX with 3D-accelerated graphics, Powerslide is just too slow, even though the minimum requirement is a Pentium 133. Engine sound is also disappointing: when surrounded by more than three cars you can’t hear your own engine to know when to change gears, and the sound becomes a continuous drone.

Powerslide was developed to support Creative’s new Evironmental Audio (Soundblaster Live), but at $499, many PC gamers can’t afford the cost.

Powerslide is still worth looking at, so take a trip to your local PC shop, or visit www.ratbaggames.com to download the demo. You will need a Pentium 166MMX or AMD K6-2 3D-NOW, or better (the faster the processor the smoother and faster gameplay), 32MB RAM, 100 MB of hard disk space and accelerated graphics.