“Baku Baku”

(Sega)

Many games have tried and failed to add a wortwhile twist to the Tetris concept, but here is one that succeeds. “Baku Baku” is a two player puzzle game where players must match blocks of food with the animal who likes to eat them.

Faces of animals like the monkey, dog and rabbit, and foods like the carrot, bone and banana, fall from the top of the screen in the shape of equally sized blocks. Players must drop these shapes into position so that the animal can get to their favourite chow.

When an animal scoffs their preffered food, the related blocks disappear which leaves the opportunity for other animals to eat food falling from above. It’s all very simple and highly addictive.

The action is complimented by stupid munching noises and barmy music, which leaves players in a deep state of insanity and bliss. This game is recommended to fans of “Tetris”, “Columns” and “Robotnick’s Mean Bean Machine”, and to gamers with a sense of humour.

Rating:8 out of 10

“Nights into Dreams”

(Sonic Team)

If there was ever a real classic on the Sega Saturn, then this was it. Not only was Nights the most original game on the console, it was also the most addictive!

Anyone who played the game and gave it time to show its qualities, will have discovered a totally enchanting and mesmerising piece of software. Some may have been put-off by its unconventional gameplay, but in the end that’s there loss – I’m sure all the Sega fanatics out there will agree.

At the time of its release, Nintendo were pioneering the wonderful “Mario World” on the N64, and Id software were promosing an Internet-revolution in “Quake III Arena” for the PC. The attention drawn by these titles may have overshadowed the arrival of Nights, but many of the world’s top gaming journalists voted Sonic Team’s work as their “game of the year”. From the morphing in-game soundscape, to the developing artificial-life, Nights had originality by the bucket-load.

A concept dubbed as “Cybersound” meant that the soundtrack to each level would change subtely with every session of play. Virtual-musical instruments were rearranged constantly so that sometimes the sound of trumpets or pianos would come to the forefront and lead the rest of the orchestration.

This kind of pioneering left the rest of the gaming world behind, and introduced innovations that havn’t been bettered ever since. “Mario 64” may have set the standard for 3-D platformers, and “Quake III” for first person shooters, but for a totally unique and enjoyable gaming experience, Nights was untouchable.

Rating:9 out of 10