AT ABOUT THE AGE of seven I spent hour after hour playing Zork, one of the first computer games. Zork took me through a secret underground world, populated by all sorts of magical creatures ... and all without pictures. Zork was a text-only game. So if people ask whether Microsoft's Xbox video-game console really has the best graphics around, I say, 'Who cares?' A compelling game is what matters, and with that in mind I determined to investigate several on the market.
Blinx is a Japanese game involving a cartoon cat trying to rescue a princess while averting a time disaster, or something. If Hello Kitty brings a smile to your face this might be up your alley. Otherwise, it is a colourful, non-violent game for children.
Another good title for younger players is Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, which uses many locations, characters and ideas from the Potter novels. I can't say I'm a fan, but I did have a lot of fun in the 'hammer' throw, using a garden gnome. The action and exploration are unstinting and should keep junior Potterites entertained for hours.
Mechassault involves steering something that looks like a huge, two-legged walking tank around a distant planet and blowing things up. The game is easy to learn and just the sort of thing you want when you're ready for a quick session of mindless violence. Although the controls lacked the customisation I would have liked, this was one of my preferred games.
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a plot-driven game in which the player is a retired assassin who goes back into the business to save a friend. It requires more subtlety than I have the patience for. I just want to shoot guns and blow things up.
You can do a lot of shooting in Medal Of Honor, Frontline, a game all about teamwork and saving your buddies. But after 30 minutes of shooting blindly at bunkers so others could reach safety, I was bored.