CAPCOM GameCube Games

The entirely inconsequential plot forces you to guide the svelte Vanessa through umpteen levels of third person combat. After viewing the intro sequence, where V gracefully jumps and twists between enemy bullets, you assume the control system is going to be all about fluid movement and balletic combos. In actual fact it's a rather clunky system that refuses to let you fire while moving and is actually somewhat reminiscent of Resident Evil's. After a while you get used to it and can start enjoying the game, which is broken up into a number of small rooms where you must destroy a series of extremely dim but nevertheless deadly robots.

Throughout all this the graphics are extremely well designed, if ultimately rather repetitive–-a statement that could be applied to the game in general if you're so inclined. If you enjoy your old-school arcade action though, this soon becomes addictive and is a welcome alternative to the legion of sequels and clones currently clogging up the charts. --David Jenkins

Although films and music are forever being remade, remixed and generally reheated, games never seem to get the same treatment. Resident Evil is bucking that trend, though, and is back with almost another game's worth of extra rooms and puzzles and what are arguably the best graphics ever seen in a video game--we're talking near-photo-realistic characters and a subtle use of light and shadow as has never been seen before.

Ignoring the stodgy control system and incongruous puzzles, the genius of Resident Evil is that you genuinely don't know what'll happen next. Just deciding whether to risk opening a door can be a fearsome and suspenseful experience. The fact that you can only hold half a dozen items at any one time forces you to plan what you're going to do in far more detail than any other action game, deciding which monsters you can afford to shoot and where you can run to if things go pear-shaped. In short, if you're a Resi fan this revamp will be like manna from heaven; if you've yet to experience its dubious delights, you'd better break out the brown trousers right away. --David Jenkins

Unlike previous games in the series Code: Veronica is portrayed entirely in 3-D--although the atmospheric camera maintains an essentially static viewpoint for most of the time. The amazing graphics are obviously the main draw but you'll also find that some of the more irritating foibles of the series have been ironed out--such as the scarcity of ammo and camera angles that make combat unfairly difficult.

The "X" at the end of the game's name indicates that this is a special edition, but the new stuff is limited to a couple of extra camera angles and some new cut scenes with uber-baddy Wesker. In terms of extras the most interesting aspect of the package is actually a demo of the forthcoming Devil May Cry. But unless you've already got the Dreamcast version, buy this for the game and treat the other stuff as a bonus because survival horror doesn't get any better than this. -- David Jenkins

Another welcome change from the usual Resident Evil formula is the absence of item boxes--now you can drop items whenever and wherever you like. In most other areas Resi 0 is business as usual, as you creep around a series of genuinely creepy mansions, trains and underground bases fervently wishing you had enough bullets to deal with all the foul monsters that are out to get you, many of which, without wishing to spoil the surprise, are not technically zombies this time around. If you haven't liked previous Resident Evil games you're unlikely to change your mind now, but such sourpusses are the only ones who will fail to be captivated by this highly entertaining, atmospheric and (at least in comparison to some of its predecessors) innovative game. --David Jenkins

Apart from excellent graphics, the real selling point with Rogue Ops is the vast number of different ways there are to solve every puzzle you come across in the game. Even just sneaking past a guard allows you to simply open fire on him, go for a stealth kill, creep away unseen or even pickpocket him for a security card first.

In the preview we saw a more complex puzzle involved getting past a couple of remote sentry guns and a laser grid on the floor that would set them off. Again you can go for an all out violent attack, or you can attempt something subtler like finding something to block up the lasers or a way to climb onto the roof and take out the guns that way.

The game world has been designed to be as interactive as possible--you should be able to experience it yourself soon enough. --David Jenkins

This preview is based on an incomplete version of the game; features or problems mentioned above may not appear in the finished game.

Viewtiful Joe is a side-scrolling adventure with highly stylised cel-shaded graphics that look literally like a moving comic book. The big gimmick with the gameplay is the "viewpoint" fighting system, which lets you speed up or slow down time whenever you want. The system works beautifully and allows for the kind of balletic, slow-motion fighting that Enter The Matrix utterly failed to deliver.

The viewpoint fighting is more than just a gimmick, as many items in the game, from bad guys to bullets, move too fast for the human eye to see. Slow down time, though, and you can duck and weave your way through a hailstorm of missiles and take down your enemies before they've had a chance to even move.

The only problem with Viewtiful Joe is that it's so unremittingly hard. It's heartily advised you choose the "Kids" difficulty level, because even that is anything but child's play. The various puzzles can also be a bit tricky but they're all internally consistent and don't come anywhere near spoiling this superb game. --David Jenkins