CT Special Forces
Game Boy Advance £29.99 LSP ***
Until recently, Game Boy Advance owners have had options. They could either employ a team of highly skilled operatives, trained to ensure optimum lighting conditions, or squint painfully at the inadequately lit screen, hoping that the rotund character shown was Mario and not the snoring commuter opposite. Thankfully, Portablegamer.co.uk has shown the way with a marvellous built-in lighting system that even allows you to play in a darkened room. This is just in time for some late summer releases, one of which is CT Special Forces.
This counter-terrorism blaster is a game like they used to make 'em - minimal lives, maximum frustration and intermittent satisfaction. Be in no doubt: this is a very tricky challenge, with plenty of precise jumping and blasting required if the world is going to breathe easier again.
Younger gamers will be surprised that you can only save your progress every three levels; die at the end of the third level and you're back to the first again. If you can cope with this, then the straightforward action - reminiscent of classic retro title Metal Slug - should appeal. At least your aim is simple - reach the left end of the side-scrolling terrain, destroying anything that gets in your way.
There's a lot to be said for completing a treacherous leap while blasting at enemy soldiers and this is certainly a good-looking title. Snowy mountains and barren deserts are nicely drawn, as are the hero and his assailants. Airborne combat, sniping and parachuting sections add variety and, if you can take the pace, CT Special Forces comes recommended. Especially now that you can see exactly what you're doing. (GH)
Aggressive Inline
PS2 £29.99 GameCube £39.99 Xbox £44.99 Z-Axis/Acclaim ***
Acclaim has clearly been eye ing the success of Activision's extreme sports games enviously, and has paid it the ultimate compliment by copying them. Aggressive Inline could not be simpler to describe: it is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on inline skates rather than a skateboard.
Despite being as original as a karaoke rendition of My Way, it at least has the decency to be a well-executed, playable game. The use of inline skates rather than a skateboard brings a few bells and whistles to the party: you can, for example, perform vaults over objects or spin around horizontal poles, as well as perform tricks while skating backwards.
As with Pro Skater, the key to high-scoring tricks is to chain moves together and, in that respect, being able to vault and pole-spin enhances one's enjoyment. But the mid-air trick engine is less responsive and varied than that of any of the Tony Hawk's games.
The format of the game most closely resembles the forthcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, as it boasts huge levels, no time limits when you play in career mode and challenges set up by bystanders.
Graphically, Aggressive Inline is up to scratch, and it is great fun to play. If you liked the Tony Hawk's games, you will undoubtedly find it very enjoyable - and if you are a keen inline skater, then it is something of a must.
But if its sheer derivativeness nags away at you, you would be better advised to wait for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. (SB)
Valhalla Chronicles
PC £14.99 Paradox Entertainment/ Koch Media * Valhalla
Chronicles comes riding in on the wake of some great role-playing game titles such as Neverwinter Nights and Morrowind but, unfortunately, it's a game no self-respecting RPG fan would want washing up on their PC.
The initial premise is to take one of four Viking warriors through a hack and slash adventure set in the rich world of Norse mythology. Going by the opening movie, you'd be forgiven for thinking your money had been well spent. Sadly, it's all downhill from there
. The in-game graphics are very poor and minuscule, and the gameplay is laughable, with your character bashing enemies with an arm up, arm down movement until a) they actually notice, or b) they respond with the same wind-up toy movement until it looks like a miniature scene from The Three Stooges.
Your character has a basic inventory, a quest log and that's about it. New weapons and armour can be purchased from various merchants: that is, if you haven't accidentally got into a fight with them because of the game's insistence on having the default left mouse click assigned to combat, and not differentiating between enemies and those you might not want to kill as soon as you meet them.
Thus, an accidental click on the wrong person and soon you're running for the hills. It's a farce. The one bright side is the price, and there are worse ways of spending £14.99. Unfortunately for Valhalla Chronicles, there are better ways, too. (RP)
