Gerry Lopez Surf Riders - PC Games

Gamers can choose from a list of Surf Riders's 16 surfing pros to attack the waves. In Circuit mode, players can enter the competition and work their way up the surfing ranks to compete in a series of four-person, time-specific heats. In the qualifying rounds, players who ride the waves in a big way and rack up plenty of points advance to the semifinals and then on to the finals.

Surfers are scored from one to ten and are awarded points based on their ability to catch a wave within the time limit, as well as the power, size and speed of their manoeuvres. Surfers can tackle the waves of Hawaii, Japan, France, Australia and California.

Just like learning to surf for real, Surf Riders has an intense learning curve. In that respect, we will give this game just a teeny bit of credit. But players should expect a sore thumb from trying to execute the many tricks this game demands. The tricks--cyclones, helicopters, spins, back flips, cutbacks, and tube rides among them--are fun but by no means are they easy. It takes practice and some patience to master Surf Riders's controls. So if patience isn't your thing, pick another game. --Todd Mowatt