Without a moment's hesitation, I freely proclaim that this is the toughest review to date. How does one critique such an open-ended design as the Web Link cartridge, with the capability of downloading, uploading files from the Internet or your PC, but with that capabability nowhere near exploited as of yet? Reviewing Web Link is like reviewing a blank canvas - it has nothing but sheer potential, with only a little effort needed to host a true masterpiece. This is a difficult call, folks, so read carefully and consider what I've to say.

WEB LINK

Web Link is one of the two Internet-related titles currently in circulation. Unlike the sister Internet title which provides for a direct connection to the 'net via external modem, the Web Link cartridge "piggybacks" on an existing PC-to-Internet connection. The package includes the cart itself, a CD-ROM which contains a setup program for your internet browser (as well as some neat extras), and a cable to connect your handheld from its Com port to your PC's 25 pin COM port. Web Link allows you to either upload your high scores to Tiger's website for all to see, or to download cheat codes that activate hidden features of other Com titles. Other possible uses for this setup exist, but what new features we can expect to see have not been officially announced by Tiger as of this writing.

Setup of the Web Link was a surprisingly easy task. The included CD-ROM contains a self-extracting executable that automatically seeks out and installs the necessary add-on to either Netscape or Microsoft's reigning browers. Connection of the Com to your PC is similarly easy, just by connecting the bundled cable to your PC's 25pin Com port (word is that later Web Link packages will come with a 9pin connector instead). I would like to note that the cable is rather short, so unless you have a desktop PC you might find yourself hunched over your tower system sitting in the floor :) With setup completed, journey on over to Tiger's website, sign in, and explore what they have to offer. Personally, I managed to complete a high score u/l in my first attempt, altho getting the cheatcode d/l bit to work was somewhat more problematic.

I'm a sucker for freebies. If I purchase a PC game that actually comes with a jewel case and a hardcopy manual, I'm thrilled. Any additional material is a pure joy! Having grown up in the c64 era where more often than not the packaging for a game was far superior to the game itself, I came to expect these extras (all-time winner - the cloth map of Ultima III, with the sticky map of Suspended a close second). Given this, I was jubilant upon opening the Web Link package. Besides being about double the size of normal Com cartridge boxes, there was a connector cable and CD-ROM inside, instead of just the standard cart and manual. The true "secret suprise" is the CD, which contains more than just the required software to get Web Link up and running. Also within is a cool promo executable, with several .avi files of game.com commercials and gameshots. I'm pleased to see that Tiger took advantage of the CD's vast storage space, instead of using it as a vehicle for a mere 3Meg installation program (of which other companies are often guilty).

If there is one weakness in the Web Link chain, its limited usefulness would be it. I personally find uploading high scores to be of dubious utility, and cheat codes can be easily entered without having to connect to a website to acquire them. What I'd like to see is an expansion upon the cart's abilities, perhaps a utility package that would allow us to do more with the cart. If I can upload high scores, is it that much of a stretch to upload, say, a game snapshot? Would it be possible to download an entire game? Not being a full-time programmer, I might be missing the cart's inherent limitations, but it does seem like more potential is there than what we've seen so far. Web Link does its job flawlessly, but what it does might not be enuf for the average Com enthusiast.

RATINGS

No standard rating for this non-game cartridge. Overall I give Web Link a rating of 3, with the potential to reach a 4 or even a 5 if additional utility were to surface later on.