Mini-Review
Darkstone
PC	From: EA

If you enjoyed Blizzard's wonderful Diablo, you're going to like this because it borrows a lot of ideas from that game. It does, however, offer some new features - most noticeable the ability to control two characters at once (which isn't easy to start with). The game's interface is nice, especially the ability to send your characters to previously visited locations at the click of a button. The game's main quests are enjoyable but most of the sub-quests tend to follow a familiar 'go and find this' theme. Think wizards, think dragons, think ranged weapons and think Diablo and you're about there. Not half bad but not causing a revolution in the genre either.

FG verdict

79%

Mini-Review
Outcast
PC	From: Infogrames

Despite the game being driven by a voxel graphics engine (which should negate your need for hardware acceleration), you're still going to need a zippy machine to get the most from Outcast's glorious graphics, so bear that in mind. However, it is a great action adventure game with some excellent NPCs who can be either extremely friendly and helpful or extremely hostile. It's not perfect - aiming and shooting isn't the most satisfying of experiences and the fighting's not tremendous either - but those aside it's enormously deep and complex and should keep action adventurers very happy for many a dull day. The less dedicated adventurer may well find it all a bit too tedious and arduous though, so be prepared to put the effort in.

FG verdict

82%

Spy Hunter/Moon Patrol / Antz