Kids' zone

By Jason Hill
October 7, 2004

Playstation 2

Shark Tale

Activision, G, RRP $79.95. Also Xbox, GameCube, * * *

Children should have a whale of a time with this approachable and enjoyable adventure, which offers a tasty smorgasbord of game styles served in bite-sized chunks. Activities include dancing contests, taxi fish races, collection duties, exploring Reef City, shark dodging and boxing-style "Fish Fu" fights.

Locations include the Whale Wash, Seahorse Race Track and the Sunken Liner, while a fabulously funky soundtrack keeps your tail tapping. There are tips so children do not get stuck, although some of the maze-like sections may prove tricky for youngsters. The stealth sections can also frustrate and do not work well.

The 25 missions will take adults only a few hours to complete but there are difficult bonus challenges for unlocking extra goodies. It is a pity there is no multiplayer action to bolster long-term appeal.


Star Wars Battlefront

LucasArts, M15+, RRP $89.95. Also PlayStation2, PC, * * * *

If Star Wars fans can drag themselves away from their trilogy DVDs, they should discover another dream has come true. Battlefront allows devotees to play out Star Wars fantasies, faithfully replicating many chaotic battles from the films. The various combatants are well-balanced and there is a huge variety of vehicles and aircraft to pilot, including X-wings, TIE fighters, speeder bikes and hulking AT-STs.

Games are a fluctuating tug-of-war for territory, featuring hundreds of adversaries. Online action is the most fun, thanks to teamwork-built camaraderie and because the computer-controlled characters are dim-witted. The historical solo campaigns are reasonably lengthy but the appeal fades quickly, and randomly switching between the forces of good and evil is jarring. Detailed environments include Hoth, Cloud City, Tatooine, Naboo and Endor.

Playstation 2

V8 Supercars 2

Codemasters, G, RRP $99.95, * * * *

PS2 owners have been forced to wait for this captivating racer. The Xbox version was released in April but developer Codemasters was unsure whether it could shoehorn the game into Sony's ageing console. But Supercars 2 provides no evidence that Xbox is more powerful than PS2. When battling 20 opponents around Mount Panorama, the graphics and speed are just as impressive as on Microsoft's machine.

Additions include a bonus track (Catalunya, site of the Spanish GP) plus a challenging Professional simulation mode and the option of driving any car on any track. Online races can be enjoyed by up to eight players. Far from just a V8 simulation, this is a celebration of all motor sport, featuring an amazing 15 racing styles, 32 championships and 49 tracks from around the globe. It has something for everyone.

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