ChuChu Rocket!

"Crazy! But that's how it goes..."

And so history books shall record the following - that the first ever online compatible console video game was this game, Chu Chu Rocket. And what a bizarre little game it is! Made by Sonic Team (the makers of the Sonic Series and of course, NiGHTS), you must direct hundreds of fleeing space mice into an escape rocket, across a board using directional arrows, whilst taking great care to avoid the evil space cats. Sound bizarre? Oh yeah!

A standard game consists of four human and/or computer opponents competing to get the most mice to their rocket within the time limit. As well as being able to play it with up to four players on one console, this can also be played online against as players from anywhere in your continent. Also included is the quite fiendish puzzle mode where you have a set selection of pieces (usually around 3) with which you must guide the mice to their destination. There's absolutely loads of these puzzles (and users can make their own too) and some of them will really tax your mind to the limits. Hell, Mensa ought to use the damn thing!

Graphically it's understandably basic. The whole thing is viewed from overhead, except when a match is won, at which point it briefly switches to a rather cool isometric view. The sound is quite cool in a cheesy kind of way. The plinky plonky tune which plays during battles is annoyingly catchy and the in-game noises are suitably bizarre.

For such a quirky game, Chu Chu Rocket is surprisingly ace. Single players and geniuses will lap up the puzzle mode and for some quite insane multi-player shenanigans, it can't be beaten. And to top it all off... this game is free! Yes, anyone who signs up to the Dreamcast online service gets this game absolutely free and delivered straight to the door. And even if you don't sign up, it comes free with most Dreamcast's anyway. Rejoice, for the simplicity of bizarre puzzle games! Whilst it's never going to be a one to show off to your mates with and after a while the gameplay does get repetitive, Chu Chu Rocket is a rather ace breath of fresh air!

GRAPHICS - 7/10 - They may be remarkably simple (the Gameboy Advance version looks identical!), but they work and the mouse/cat sprites are kinda cool.

SOUND - 7/10 - Absolutely mental sound effects and some top quirky tunes. They do kinda grate after a while though...

GAMEPLAY - 7/10 - A great puzzle mode and some furious and barmy multi-player battles await... although it does get repetitive after a while.

LASTABILITY - 7/10 - Tonnes of puzzles and the online/multi-player aspect ensure there's always going to be plenty to do.

OVERALL - 7/10 - It's free, it's weird, by Sonic Team. What more could you want? It may be a tad limited, but for plain bizarreness there's nothing quite like it.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/08/02, Updated 12/08/02