Virtua Striker 2002 is the long-awaited debut on GameCube for the brand which made its first console appearance on Sega's doomed Dreamcast. Virtua Striker was very good then.and now, well, it's a Sega game for Nintendo's brilliant little box. What do you think? Gamers in the know should be getting all excited about Virtua Striker 2002 on GameCube. If you're merely curious, let us try to tell you what's so special about this game. VS originally sprang from the Japanese arcades, and its heritage shines through in this version. Virtua Striker 2002 is immediately accessible to almost anyone, football fan or not, because it's so easy to get to grips with. The controls of the arcade version have been converted superbly for the GC controller, making VS 2002 one of the finest pick-up-and-play football experiences around. That's not to say that Virtua Striker 2002 will give you an easy ride as far as exhibiting your football skills are concerned, oh no. Go up against the computer, and you'll suffer a few disappointing results along the way, such is the AI of the opposition. It's a case of practice, practice and more practice. Playing against a human opponent is, of course, a different experience altogether, and this is where VS 2002 really shines. Most contemporary football games are a gas in multi-player mode, but there's something special about the games that originate from Japan: like Konami's ISS and Pro Evolution titles, Virtua Striker 2002 will not let you rest until the final whistle. It demands your full concentration and attention. There are plenty of modes featured in Virtua Striker 2002 to get your particular ball rolling. Training is the first port of call for the gamer who wants to get the most out of VS 2002. Perfecting your passing/shooting/set-piece techniques is essential if you're going to get anywhere in the competition. Ah yes, the choice of competition: there's International Cup, Tournament, League and, for those who like to get to the nail-biting nitty-gritty part, Penalty mode. Everything you would expect from a modern football classic is contained within Virtua Striker 2002, and then some. It's vibrant colours, fluid player animation, huge choice of teams and all those competitions to enter - it all adds up to the definitive football experience on GameCube.