As a student, you get used to having a few free hours each week, a time when you feel that you can't really be bothered to do anything at all, other than relax in a comfortable chair, maybe have a bud and watch the game...or play on a games console with a couple of friends for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I'm now on a summer break, which is fantastic and oh so very relaxing, but the PlayStation games console has probably kept me sane for the last couple of years!!

It is a brilliant console that is over 6 years old now, but has had some amazing games on it over the years. It does look dated now compared to the newest machines like the PlayStation 2 and the Dreamcast, but in all fairness the PlayStation has been the console to own in the 32bit years. Made by Sony it has seen well over 800 games being released for it, some of which are just superb. It has 2 controller ports, but if you want to play a four player game then you'll have to buy a multi tap, but most games are 1 or 2 player only on the PS.

The graphics from game to game vary - the early titles don't look that great by today's standards, but you can see how they have progressed and improved as the newest titles on the PlayStation all look good - nowhere near PS2 standard, but still good enough, with the game play being the overriding decision making factor - if the game plays well, then irrespective of the visuals, it's a worthy game to buy. I have around 20 games now, I don't play on many - just a couple of football games, but then I have played on my brother's Dreamcast more so in the last week or so, as now I am back at home I can make advantage of free accommodation and food!!! And of course the latest gadgets my siblings have bought...

There are many styles of games on the console, which fall into many different genres - the main being:

Racing - Gran Turismo, Gran Turismo 2, Ridge Racer 1,2,3,4, Colin McRae Rally 1/2, Need fo
r speed - and so on, there are many superb racing games on the PlayStation, my most played is the GT2 game, classic.

Sports - undoubtedly football is the most popular type of sports game on the PlayStation. The best football game is International Superstar Soccer Pro Evolution 2 - what a name, although the Fifa games are pretty good too. There are many NBA games, ice hockey; skateboarding - Tony Hawk's 2 being the best, and of course there is the mighty Track and Field game!!

Fighting games - I am not a huge fan of fighting games, but there are many to choose from on the console - from Tekken 1, 2 and 3, to Soul Blade, Street Fighter and more - the PS has some good fighting games. Ready 2 Rumble, Knockout Kings...

Resident Evil Style - loads of people found the best original PlayStation title was Resident Evil - a stunning game that now has 3 sequels standing by it - Code Veronica is not available for the PS, but you can get RE1, 2, 3 and Survivor... Silent Hill and Alone in the Dark 4 are very similar types of games - very good in my opinion...I love scary games!

RPGs - role-playing games, best ones include Grandia, Final Fantasy - 6, 7, 8 and 9. Some have very intense story lines, but this isn't my favourite genre of game.

Some other top titles include Driver 2, WWF Smackdown 2, Tim Crisis, Brian Lara Cricket and more!

The PlayStation is a top games machine, is around £80 new, but can be bought for £40 second hand, and I would recommend to all.

Thanks for reading.