16 cert, DTP entertainment, Xbox 360 (also PS3, PC) ***

Veneticais a rough diamond compared with some of its higher profile competitors, but it's not without merit. You play Scarlett, a beautiful woman of mysterious lineage and (of course) "the only one who stands between light and eternal darkness". After tragedy strikes, Scarlett must travel to Venice to undo a great injustice. It's a familiar plot, with clunky dialogue and dated graphics. Still, the game's look is quite charming, and Scarlett appears suitably endearing and heroic. The gameplay, mixing combat with exploration, is for gamers who don't mind a leisurely pace. For example, Scarlett can't even leave her home village until she finds an outfit and gets it altered. Whether this amounts to an immersive adventure or a mundane slog depends on how you feel about RPGs, but Venetica, with its endearing story and setting, will find an audience.