Digimon World

Release Date: January 28, 1999

"All my Digimon are hard... I fight first and ask questions later"

The wait is over. PlayStation owners clamouring to have their own brand of little monsters to collect and train will soon be able to get their hands on 113 of the critters. Bandai is releasing Digimon World* based on its successful cartoon series, currently being screened by ITV.

You are given a randomly chosen Digimon, who you name, to begin your quest to rally the inhabitants of Digimon Island. some of whom have mysteriously lost the power of speech, and expose- the evil destroying their society.

‘There are lots of RFG and adventure elements." Bandai & Darrell Jones told us. The idea is to explore the whole world and meet every Digimon. There are puzzles to solve, items to collect and dues and information from all the characters you meet."

Much of the action takes place in training camps outside the island's evil capital, the once-glorious File City You need to pet your creature to keep him happy, ensuring he has food and rest and encouraging and chastising him according to his behaviour. Sometimes he'll take care of himself by dropping a whoopsie in the woods when he feels the need, Right.

You are also able to improve the skills of your monster through a series of passive training exercises. For example, you can improve his strength by having him repeatedly whacked by a giant boxing glove or tweak his attacking skills by making him kick the bell exit of a tree stump in the Green Gym.

'As you explore the Digiworld. you and your Digimon will encounter good and bad monsters." Jones says. You can stand arid fight or run away. If you beat them you can befriend them, though they occasionally leg it r dropping their possessions as they flee.

'All my Digimon are hard as nails," Jones boasts. "I always fight first and as k questions later." However, you also need to pick up key items for when you reach dead ends or need information from other monsters.

Jones also promises strong visuals, The Digimon are 3D characters set against Final fantasy-style backgrounds, which helps when you are trying to find a toilet for your Digimon in a hurry, as spinning camera angles, can be very confusing." The development team also aims to convey a sense of the passage of time. Nightfall gradually Creeps In as the day progresses and your monster has cyclical feeding needs which must be satisfied.

Digimon World is scheduled for release In November. Gotta, erm. collect 'em all.