Even better than the reel thing...

EIGHT days to go until the big kick-off in Euro 2000, and the vital question remains... which footy game will you be playing in the ad breaks?

Every football game publisher in the market seems to be dusting off their latest offering in time to coincide with the Euro footy-fest, with the biggest name of the lot being EA's official game of the tournament.

It's not that long since EA's last instalment of their FIFA series, FIFA 2000, which looked wonderful but played like a dog because it was just far too easy. A revamp was necessary, including a much better progression of difficulty levels. The game includes commentary by Motson, Lynam and Lawrenceson, and now EA have made the game more difficult, but now the learning curve is too hard. You're either going to torture Germany 8-0 or you're going to spit and curse as they score another goal from a corner on the next difficulty level up.

Sega Worldwide Soccer Euro Edition (SWWS for short) is a much faster-moving game, and with a better difficulty structure than Euro 2000. Decent commentary is provided by Channel 4's Peter Brackley, with Trevor Brooking's tones drifting in now and then. Unfortunately, it shoots itself in the foot with some idiotic artificial intelligence that sees players backheeling the ball to their goalkeeper while he's marked by three men. Pass selection is often bizarre, and the glorious work that's been put into getting the ball-crossing controls working is undone by the complete inability of your players to head sensibly. It's still the best footy game on the Dreamcast by some way, though, and is definitely good for a giggle, especially in multiplayer when your team-mate hacks you down on the edge of your own box.

Ronaldo V Football is the Geri Halliwell of the bunch - looks good, sounds good, with all the razzmatazz - but empty and shallow. Moving at a most un-Brazilian crawling pace, with slick passing moves unlikely to ever appear, it's hard to fathom why Ronaldo would put his name to such a thing. It's also got Barry Davies commentary - so even the voiceover is second rate.

EURO SWWS Ronaldo

Graphics ....5/5 5/5 4/5

Sound 5/5 4/5 4/5

Gameplay 3/5 4/5 2/5

Gamespan 4/5 4/5 3/5

Overall 4/5 4/5 3/5

STEPHEN HUNT

Premier Manager 2000, published by Infogrames for PlayStation

There's something fascinating about football management games that, year after year, has us coming back for more. It's not as if we're going to discover anything new, we just wait to find out what improvements have been made to an old format.

Hiring and firing the backroom staff, ground improvements, dabbling in the transfer market, keeping the players fit and happy with their contracts, looking at the opposition, then selecting a team and formation that will take the three points. Just like real life?

Graphics 3/5

Sound 2/5

Gameplay 3/5

Gamespan 3/5

Overall 3/5

STEVE KELLY

Sega Bass Fishing, published by Sega for Dreamcast

BONKERS. Quite bonkers.

Who would have thought that a game about fishing would not only be rollicking good fun, but would bounce all the way to the top of the sales charts?

Well, Sega Bass Fishing almost too easily performs that feat, and that's despite the fact that Sega haven't produced enough game controllers (yes, a fishing rod controller) to accompany the release. Thankfully, third party controllers are readily available now - we reviewed the game using the well-crafted and sturdy Fission Fishing Controller, made by InterAct.

It's a delight of a game to play - and even lends itself well to after-hours gaming with a gang of mates. Though there is no multiplayer facility, games are short enough to hand the controller around. Oh, and by the way, the controller is also useable with Soul Calibur, the top fighting game. As I said, bonkers.

Overall 4/5

Micro Maniacs, published by Codemasters for PlayStation

AFTER the splendid Micro Machines V3, Micro Maniacs is something of a letdown. Replacing the miniature cars with tiny characters to race around giant-sized dinner tables, kitchens and back gardens, the game has lost a bit of its charm. But, more importantly, the control system isn't as friendly, the game seems a lot slower-moving and it's just not as out-and-out fun as its predecessor. Given the choice between this and Micro Machines V3, stick with the older (and cheaper) title.

Overall 2/5

STEPHEN HUNT