Batman: The Brave And The Bold

12 cert, Warner Bros Games, Nintendo DS (also Wii)

GAME OF THE WEEK:Anyone who thinks Batman has been taking himself too seriously will be happy to play Batman: The Brave and the Bold. This is the groovy Batman of the Adam West era, the Batman who wears light- blue tights and says lines such as "Catwoman's got the upper claw!"

With colourful graphics and a snazzy score (all surf guitars and brazen brass), this is an enjoyable, humorous though conventional side-scrolling action game. As Batman, you jump, grapple and punch your way out of various scrapes with numerous villains both familiar and obscure. You also play as different DC characters, alternating between Batman and whichever colleague he has on a mission.

Each superhero is more old-school than the last: Plastic Man is like Mr Fantastic from Fantastic 4, all shape- changing and elastic limbs. Aquaman (sporting a new, flattering beard) is amphibious and can summon fish to help him (natch). Red Tornado is a robot who can levitate, Blue Beetle can fly, and so on.

While not as famous as Marvel Comics, DC has a huge stable of superheroes and villains, many of whom are bizarre and dated, such as Clock King and Gentleman Ghost. The developers use this to their advantage and embraced the kitsch, eccentric Batman of the 1960s with wit and imagination. The superpowers are extraordinary and the storylines rather absurd. (In one adventure Batman is turned into an ape!)

Graphically it resembles the old Batman comics (no Frank Miller gothic visuals here) crossed with the recent cartoon incarnation, a perfect fit for the relatively limited Nintendo consoles and a sharp contrast to the recent Arkham Asylum.

The gameplay could be more taxing but it’s undeniably fun. Side-scrolling platform and combat make up most of it, but there is some variety, including a lively flying sequence and a handful of basic puzzles.

I only wish the difficulty level was more variable, because the game is rather short and really not very challenging. Still, this should prove especially entertaining for young and new Bat-fans.

If you only play one game this year in which a superhero punches a shark in the face, make it this one.