Vancouver 2010 (PS3)

Be it a World Cup, Olympics or the Ashes, you'll no doubt find a game coming close behind or before.

The problem is that the only reason the game exists is because of the event, not that it was a good idea in the first place, and can fall foul of rushed development.

So with the Winter Olympics just around the corner, can Vancouver 2010 live up to its billing?

Well the graphics are absolutely top-notch so there's no sign of half a job there.

Gameplay is pretty good and it's not all left to button mashing so you'll need some skill.

Vancouver 2010's biggest issue is the lack of variety provided in the 14 events that are represented in the game. Of them, fully half are of the alpine downhill variety, whether that be downhill skiing, slalom or snowboarding.

There are also three sled-based events, including bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Add to that two speed skating events, ladies aerials and ski jumping and you have the completed list.

The snowboarding half-pipe is a mysterious omission - and where's the curling?

One main feature is that with a click of a button you are given a first-person camera angle of the action. This works well but comes into its own during the undisputed king of Vancouver 2010, the ski jump.

It's fantastic! All played out entirely from a first-person view, the events gives you a real taste of what it must be like to stupidly chuck yourself down a ramp and leave the rest to gravity.

As it's so short, the jumping is tailor-made for multi-player.

Talking of multi-player, there's online play which will greatly increase the life of the game.

It allows for four players to join up and compete in a one-off event or a series of events. It's here that you'll find the only medal tally in the game. As you complete events and head back to the lobby, you'll see a ranking of medals for each of the players.

All in all it's a good game pushed to edge of greatness by the chance to experience the fear Eddie the Eagle must have experienced as he looked down the ski jump.