Summer Athletics 09 (wii)

But what you do have is a bumper crop of athletic games and olympic disciplines in a very family friendly package that you will spend some time playing.

The game is packed with 28 different events and if you are like me and the kids you will probably get that down to a shortlist of about ten that you will like or find playable to the point that you return to them.

As with most athletic type games you can try and break the records against your family and friends, this gives the game the playability factor in multiplayer mode using the good old-fashioned split-screen.

The gameplay varies immensely from event to event and also varies from the sublime to the ridiculous. Some of the controls on games like the diving etc are awkward and not very natural, other events like running are more straightforward.

Single player mode is fairly good with plenty of scope for customization of your character etc - it keeps you entertained for a while but you will be longing to play a real person.

That gives the ganme a vital element that it misses in 1-player - fun.

The events bond you into the experience when you play in a group and that is the saving grace here for what is otherwise a mediocre and weird feeling game.

The game has a big continental (German) flavour to it and I felt that this was a little alienating at times... something about this game just didn't sit well with me.

Graphics are mediocre, perfectly acceptable but really nothing to write home about.

Attempting to give gamers a good multiplayer experience is a good thing, I just think this game could and should have been more that a 'decent' game with flaws.