I for one did not play Wave Race 64 a great deal. I played it enough to know I liked it, but I am aware there are those out there that played it religiously and in my eyes for good reason. So the sequel on the GameCube had a lot to live up to, to say the least and comes through with flying colours. Although this was a launch title for the Cube, I was late to pick it up and so may well have missed out on that launch title feeling, but nevertheless I am very pleased with my purchase.

The concept is simple; you choose a racer and take him or her around a water-based course on a jet ski, racing against others of the same persuasion. Riders must navigate between posts much like a skiing slalom so to make sure riders to navigate the course in a way in which it was not supposed to be done. This is obviously a familiar concept to those who played the previous game, but a new addition is the turbo boost where, once you pass through enough posts in succession, you are awarded with a boost with which you can use at any point. This adds another dimension to the game as you could be on the brink of defeat, but manage to get a turbo and just scrape through the victor.

Another way to build up your turbo meter though is through pulling off tricks. Situated around the courses are various ramps with which you can pull of a number of stunts. These range from simple back flips to moves with bizarre names such as the "Can-Can". These moves are fairly easy to pull off, but it\'s worth taking the tutorial just to get the hang of them initially. The only problem I find though is that these moves have really little use in the main game. Yes they do give you extra points on your turbo meter, but usually hitting a ramp slows you down a fair amount and when the other riders are always on your coattails pulling off a move will usually place you down a position or two.

Of course there are other modes than just the normal where you race the other competitors. Along with this arcade mode there are the usual Time Trial, Multiplayer, Free Roam and Stunt Mode. The Stunt Mode however does little to give the stunts much purpose and feels more like a bolt on to give trick junkies such as myself something to do when Arcade mode gets a bit old. However, even myself who usually spends extreme sports game checking out the tricks, didn\'t miss the tricks because the racing experience is so satisfying, adding tricks to this isn\'t necessary.

But I bet you are wondering how I have gotten this far without mentioning the incredible water effects right? There is no denying how much work has gone into this area of the game, and understandably so. The waves are some of the most realistic ever seen in a game, with waves pushing the riders about, and the riders\' wake cutting into the water spraying it up into the face of the rider behind. If you just happen to be one of the riders behind, the water droplets will splash on the screen giving the effect you are watching through an actual camera, rather than just an entity following the character.

But the water effects are not only a graphical pleasantry. The way in which the tides and weather affects your rider is enormous and the game features some of the most realistic physics ever seen. Hitting a wave head on or missing it completely by being two seconds faster or slower could be the difference between first place and last. You really do need to take full control of your rider in order to battle the water and it adds to the realism this game personifies.

This game really is a visual treat in other areas as well though. Often you may find yourself just entering Free Roam mode and losing yourself in the graphical splendour of the courses and weather effects. The courses are expertly crafted and because they each take place in such vastly different locales, all have a different atmosphere and architecture. For instance on the Hong Kong level you may find yourself face to face with an elephant in some ancient ruins, or Dolphin Beach will have dolphins swimming along side you. But of course no two laps are ever the same in the races. Due to the weather the course can completely change the next time around and often places where you felt you had been may now be covered with water and another route is the only viable option.

The learning curve is also finely tuned and it is very easy to pick up and it isn\'t long before you are racing around the basic courses with ease and speed. However it takes a longer commitment to master the later course and faster riders, so it is great for beginners and experts alike, making the replay value worthwhile.

It\'s not often that I have a hard time finding faults with a game, but this game is a real solid buy. The sound may be a little generic, and the music forgettable, but there really isn\'t much that can be done when all you have to work with is engine noises and splashes. That being said though if you take the time to actually stop and take in your surroundings you can hear the chirping of birds and insects in the undergrowth and the faint slosh of the tide on the shore. Nice details for something you wouldn\'t expect the player to be doing too often.

While it may not be for everyone, those who were fans of the original will find this is a must own title. Also, as it was Nintendo who developed this game it is not plastered with advertising (although MacDonalds managed get in there I noticed) and it doesn\'t take itself too seriously. While some of the stunts are slightly unrealistic, they are animated with skill and fluidity, making this game first and foremost centered on having fun, which has always been the basic philosophy behind all of Nintendo\'s games.

Seth Powell