Ultimately though the shallow game play means that this is one present that, unlike the puppy, is just for Christmas.

Put simply Mario Party 5 is nowhere near as good as either of the "Super Monkey Ball" games for single or multiplayer. It's not even in the same league.

Ultimately though the shallow game play means that this is one present that, unlike the puppy, is just for Christmas.

It ticks a number of very basic and previously-defined boxes with unbending efficiency, throwing in a few commendable moments of surprising fun, drenched in the usual superficial fineries (the visuals, recognisable characters, plotlines, set-pieces, et al) with which many an EA game has plied its trade in the past.

The dry humour evident in the cut-scenes is of a high standard not often found in games, and like me, you may find yourself actually looking forward to them.

In the end though you have to consider that when it's good its very very good and when its bad... its just a bit rough, never terrible.

It ticks a number of very basic and previously-defined boxes with unbending efficiency, throwing in a few commendable moments of surprising fun, drenched in the usual superficial fineries (the visuals, recognisable characters, plotlines, set-pieces, et al) with which many an EA game has plied its trade in the past.

In the end though you have to consider that when it's good its very very good and when its bad... its just a bit rough, never terrible.

It comes nowhere near Top Spin or Virtua Tennis, and what with the confusing control-system thrown-in, it can become annoying.

Any hardcore DW fan will be ecstatic to find another billion hours of gameplay to wade through.

Whilst Carve isn't bad in any sense at all, then, it isn't particularly inspiring either and sometimes this can be more disheartening than a daring title gone-awry.

And amidst a rash of horrendously tedious stealth games, it really is a lot more fun to go somersaulting over a couple of incoming missiles, land among the enemy, pull off an outrageous dance move to mock/destroy everything around you, then to leap back and cartwheel off into cover again.

It's a simplistic run and gun gameplay requires less of the spatial awareness and mental agility that the more refined games can dishearten youngsters with.

It's a shame that Playboy relies so heavily on such repetitive gameplay tasks. The setting is interesting even if you have a social life and have seen an actual naked woman.

It's a simplistic run and gun gameplay requires less of the spatial awareness and mental agility that the more refined games can dishearten youngsters with.

Even though I was astonished by the terrible controls, infuriated by gameplay and dismayed at the barrenness of game modes I did find myself playing this game more than was necessary to write this review. It did have a certain pull over me which I am somewhat ashamed to admit, considering the slapdash and cynical nature of the title.

It's not as bad as Shadow the Hedgehog (thank god) and is hopefully a step in the right direction for a character that continues to be stuck in a bit of a rut.

It is not that the game doesn't have its fun moments, because it can be that, it is just that they are very short-lived and don't really go any further than the first level. Disappointing.

It is not that the game doesn't have its fun moments, because it can be that, it is just that they are very short-lived and don't really go any further than the first level. Disappointing.

It's not as bad as Shadow the Hedgehog (thank god) and is hopefully a step in the right direction for a character that continues to be stuck in a bit of a rut.

It's so depressing to complete an exhilarating chase only to face a bland shootout before you can complete a mission.

There's about ten hours of play, much of which is an explanation of the plot, while the rest is a pedestrian and pretty boring romp in terms of game play mechanics, meaning that in the end you'll probably just want to complete the game for completing its sake.