Games: Theme Park World; The Emperor's New Groove; World Championship Snooker

'You'll find it difficult to shake off the intoxicating allure of running your own empire'

Theme Park World

PlayStation 2

*****

You're not going to get the same visceral thrill that you would get from actually going to a theme park playing this game, but there is no denying that satisfaction can be had from wielding power to rake in the readies. The game isn't new. It has just had a tickle and a polish for the new console. The graphics have been improved, but the rudiments are the same - build up your own theme park from nothing but a bank account and patch of land to attract enough customers to proceed to the following level.

It's not simply a question of constructing the biggest white-knuckle ride in the county, you've also got to keep the customer happy. In the world of the theme park, the customer is king and the customer wants clean loos. The customer doesn't want to queue, the customer wants hamburgers and a tidy environment. But in order to keep the customer happy, you've got to keep the staff on message.

To keep the staff from going on strike you've got to pay them enough and not work them too hard - lavatory attendants have never had it so good and bean-counting becomes bean-juggling as you weigh up the price of an extra park sweeper against the cost of repairs to a small crack in the roller-coaster. Like any self-respecting sim, the game needs attention lavished on it, but once you've struggled through the tutorials and mastered the control panel, you'll find it difficult to shake off the intoxicating allure of running your own empire.

(Electronic Arts, £39.99)

The Emperor's New Groove

PlayStation

*****

You've read the book, seen the movie, bought the T-shirt and eaten the burger. Now buy the game. The novelty of the cash-in computer game hasn't waned in the slightest and publishers and movie execs carry on conspiring to meet consumer demand and shovel tatty tie-in after tatty tie-in onto the shelves. What a surprise, then, to come across a follow-up game that's really rather good.

The Emperor's New Groove is a 3-D platform game for kids - so adjust your expectations accordingly - that features a camp llama with attitude as the main character. There's nothing staggeringly impressive about the game, but it's nicely put together, colourful and even witty. The usual platform puzzles, races, secrets and collectables are in evidence and you explore the levels, unlock doors and spit pips while absorbing the Disney message - be good to one another.

Despite the repetitive gameplay and faint saccharine after-taste, it's still refreshing to play a pre-teen game that's even slightly engrossing.

(SCEE, £19.99)

World Championship Snooker

PC

*****

You can run, but you can't hide - it seems there is no escape from the onslaught of the snooker game. The inexplicably successful PlayStation game of the same name has now been released for the PC.

Master classes, hints and mouse practice is supposed to help the snooker loopy hone their cue techniques, but it's all about as exciting as discussing the colour of baize with Steve Davis. The gameplay and control system are straightforward, but, as with most games of this ilk, the graphics are embarrassingly bad. It's been said before, if you really want to play virtual snooker, play Jimmy White's Cueballs: 2 - this is a poor imitation.

(Codemasters, £29.99)

s.chatterton@independent.co.uk