You can mostly tell from the name if a game's going to be wierd and Chu Chu Rocket is no exception. Quite a hefty amount of Japanese games tend to be wierd and the ones the make it over here tend to be the pick of bunch. Take Bishi Bashi Special by Konami for PlayStation who would have thought that tapping buttons to make a bridegroom run up the aisle to hurl is wife as far a possible could be fun? The same applies here. And of course this is THE first online game for any console in the world EVER.

Gameplay

The basic premise of the game that you have to guide mice around blackholes and cats with the use of arrows that point in directions. For those of you who have sampled the excellent game of Lemmings then the gameplay is somewhat similar, direct the stupid animals to their destination while making sure that they don't walk into danger. The basic one player game is fun enough and prolonged by the 'Edit a Track' option. However it is in multiplayer and online gaming that the game comes alive. You can play with up to 4 players and then the mayhem commences as you have to try and divert the mice, sorry, Chu Chus into your home while diverting them away from everyone elses. Adding to this are the 'Mystery Mice' who when they are saved let spin a wheel, which eventually lands on an option that will change the gameplay. For instance 'All Change' means that your home will swap with another persons' and 'Mouse Mania' where thousands of mice flood the screen. Oh, the fun!

Graphics

These are very simplistic and could easily have been achieved on the PlayStation or possibly the SNES but they easy on the eye and do the job well.

Sound

Very basic although when playing over the internet tapping the L and R trigger buttons can cycle through your range of insults to throw at your opponents. The music, well it isn't up to much and isn't really anything to write home about. The
noise when you rescue a Chu Chu is lovely though and brought happy memories of lemmings being saved flooding back.

This game could have been one of the best ever but it is let down in several small ways. For instance the lack of multi-player options to alter the gameplay and also the simplistic graphics. But overall this an excellent game that any potential DC owner should pressurize the store into given them. Anyway it's free!