Help 2001 - PlayStation

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Help 2001 (PlayStation)
Viewed: Combination Combination Genre:
Compilation
Arcade origin:No
Soft. Co.: ESC
Publishers: Sony (GB)
Released: 6 Jul 2000 (GB)
Ratings: 11+
Connectivity: Link Cable
Accessories: Memory Card, Multi Tap, Steering Wheel, NegCon

Summary

Help 2001 is a compilation of four well established PlayStation titles (Ridge Racer Revolution, Tomb Raider, TOCA Touring Car Championship and WWF Warzone) available for just under £20. All profits from sales of Help 2001 go to disadvantaged children, so dig deep and relive some golden moments from Sony’s recent past.

Ridge Racer Revolution is an arcade classic, and is lots of fun in an ‘old skool’ way. A genuine revolution was never on the cards with this game, but the mix of loud graphics, an excitable commentator, overly elaborate instrumental music and dizzyingly fast cars makes for many hours of gameplay. Two copies of the game, two consoles, a link cable and two TV’s is the only way to get into a two-player game, which is a bit of a shame.

WWF Warzone features top stars from the over-the-top theatre of pain: Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, they’re all here. You can even create your own wrestling star, male or female. There are over 300 motion-captured moves from the WWF’s finest, and 8 game modes including Challenge, Tag Team, Steel Cage, Weapons, Co-op Tag Team, Tornado, 3 and 4 player War Mode and Training Mode.

Tomb Raider is a bonafide classic and the most famous title in the box. Lara Croft (what do you mean, ‘Who?’) is hired to recover the pieces of an ancient artefact known as the Scion. With her fearless, acrobatic style, she runs, jumps, swims and climbs her way toward the truth of its origins and powers. Throughout Tomb Raider, there are some breathtaking sights to see. The 3D worlds are impressive enough on their own, but the fact that they’re fully explorable and interactive is a huge bonus. It’s a puzzler, a platformer and a legend in its own real-time environment.

The second driving game in Help 2001 is the first TOCA title. Real cars, drivers, tracks and teams are this game’s loudest boast. It’s quite the opposite of Ridge Racer Revolution in its quest for authenticity. Prang your car in RRR and you get away with it. Do the same in TOCA and you will struggle to finish the race. There are 8 real-life tracks and many familiar makes of car to choose from. For those of you not ‘au fait avec les parlances de voitures’ a touring car is your regular four or five door saloon, beefed up a little, and covered in all kinds of sponsors’ liveries. The gameplay in TOCA is semi-legendary: those with a penchant for simulation like it a lot. Less attentive driving gamers tend to find it too difficult to play and therefore give it a wide berth. To these people, I say ‘Pah! Practice makes (near) perfect’. TOCA was the start of a great series of games, and for less than £20, you can drive yourself silly, spend hours guiding a tightly-shorted young lady around the darkest caverns, and assume the role of a bad tempered musclebound meathead, all for a good cause.