In this week's Game File column, we take a look at why the games market is flooded by sequels and at the latest Playstation hit: Legacy of Kain - Soul Reaver.

JUST why is the games market flooded by so many sequels?

The answer is obvious really: money.

Developers such as Electronic Arts and churn out new versions of sports titles year after year.

They justify the move by updating statistics and tweaking the game engine very slightly, usually to cater for criticisms in the press.

But hardened players and fans of specific titles will stream to the shops to pay £30+ for the games.

As far as this game fan is concerned, that is unfair. Wh y not be slightly untrendy and wait for a new version of John Madden's American Football to be published - and buy the previous year's for a knock-down price. You'll save a small fortune.

Thankfully, there is a new trend to significantly improve the original game in many sequels due to appear anytime soon.

Dungeon Keeper 2 should be released by the time you read this. More characters and options are available and the engine employed by the game is a vast improvement over the original, which was a groundbreaking title when released.

Populous III is another game which has benefited from a complete reworking. It's a true classic with visuals and a game world to die for.

Age of Empires II:The Age of Kings, Gran Turismo II and Theme Park World all look worthy of publication as well. We'll be taking a closer look when they are released.

Keep an eye out for SoulFighter in an arcade near you...if it ever gets there. The game resembles a 3D version of Golden Axe and has been released in Japan and Asia. If it doesn't reach these shores via the arcades, it has been highlighted as a European Dreamcast launch title.

Metal Gear Solid's revamp looks set to hit British shores soon. Boasting 300 extra VR levels and the chance to play the game in first-person perspective, Metal Gear Solid: Integral looks worth investing in for novelty value alone.

Legend of Kain: Soul Reaver (Playstation) scores 9/10.

Who needs Playstation II when titles of this quality are still forthcoming for Sony's original little grey box?

As Raziel, a vampire, you commit the cardinal sin of evolving and sprouting wings before your boss, and find yourself thrown into a dark dimension, a battered kingdom on the verge of implosion.

Here, grossly mutated, you must take on the role of Raziel and fight your way out of this hellish world, tackling vampires and zombies alike.

Fighting with the bad guys is intuitive and there are nice touches - throw a vampire into water or put them in the path of sunlight and they are instantly destroyed and objects from around the levels can be used as weapons against enemies.

Defeating a boss gives Raziel extra powers, adding depth to the game.

The sprawling levels can look a bit samey at times but the game's wonderful graphics engine combined with a lack of loading times and an engaging plot all work in Soul Reaver's favour.

For third-person adventure thrills, the buxom Lara Croft is no longer the only option.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.