Grand National

The graphics are a little lacklustre and the excellent animation does mean the horses, although realistic, move somewhat slowly. More of an amble than a gallop, one might say. The frustration of falling off your horse at the first fence 25 times in a row is off-putting, but you will eventually find it possible to complete at least one lap before your nag finally flops to the ground in total exhaustion.

This is a pretty safe bet. It could be a touch faster in the race sequence but the horsey graphics are well observed and the betting side of it adds just the right amour of excitement. Go on, 'ave a flutter!

The graphics are not bad, by any standard, but they are little too functional. And for the most part the same applies to the sound. But that said, I like the sampled speech which announces the winners, although the jingly tunes that plays on the options screen grates slightly. It is fun, there is no doubt about that, but I do feel that it could do with a steroid or two in both gameplay and variety, and probably falters in the lastability stakes.

Insgesamt glänzt Grand National durch kaum vorhandenen Spielspaß: Das strategische Element beschränkt sich auf die Auswahl des richtigen Pferdes, und der Action-Teil ist so langweilig, daß er die Bezeichnung eigentlich gar nicht verdient. Wie so oft beim richtigen Pferderennen: außer Spesen nix gewesen!
(page 44)