The latest games reviewed

PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF ***
12 cert, Activision, Nintendo DS

Based on the book and now the film, Percy Jackson takes you into a world where ancient gods are alive and one is the father of hero Percy Jackson. You and your band of demigods must travel across the US seeking out Zeus' master lightning bolt, which Percy is suspected of stealing.
Turn-based battling is the order of the day. Every battle you win boosts your fighter's strength and abilities as you face increasingly powerful enemies and some of the gods themselves.
The game is not simply about blasting your way through the levels and using brute force; there is a certain amount of strategy involved.
Attackers won't survive without healers, and healers won't make it without attackers. The
trick is getting the balance of your warriors right. This element saves a rather run-of-the mill movie spin-off, making you consider each and every move, and the possible consequences.

CIARA O’BRIEN

DANTE'S INFERNO****
18 cert, EA, PS3, also Xbox 360

Loosely based on the first book of The Divine Comedy, Dante's Inferno is a typical action adventure game with a hellish slant. It's not the most original of storylines (hero fights to save the woman he loves, or her soul at least) but it's a richly detailed game world, with gameplay elements that
skirt the boundaries of taste at times. Armed with a death's scythe and a Holy Cross, Dante must fight his way to the depths of hell and rescue the love of his life, Beatrice, after she is murdered and her soul snatched before his eyes. It's not exactly true to the book, but you won't care once you're in the thick of the action. As Dante, you must fight legions of demons before facing the source of all evil itself, collecting souls along the way to gain new weapons and upgrades.

Any game based on battling the armies of hell is going to have its moments, and Dante’s Inferno earns its mature rating. The graphics are breathtaking and the combat fast-paced.

CIARA O'BRIEN

STAR TREK ONLINE ****
12 cert, Cryptic Studios, PC

Explore strange new worlds , seek out new life and new civilisations . . . You know the drill. Now you can step into the Star Trek universe and experience it for yourself in this massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Set in the 25th century, Star Trek Online puts you right in
the centre of an ongoing war between the Federation and the Klingons. You choose your own
path – will it be starship captain or Klingon warlord? There are some nice touches, such as the ability to choose your own species or even create a whole new one.

At the heart of the game is combat, both in space and on the ground, which can get a little tedious. However, the inclusion of some iconic Star Trek locations will keep fans pleased, and the episode
missions give you a starring role. And because the game is available only online, there is
also a built-in community of people to fight alongside or against, which keeps things fresh.

CIARA O’BRIEN