Sony Ericsson Yari

Ever since Apple launched the iPhone and stamped its authority on the mobile gaming landscape we’ve seen a disappointing lack of gaming-centric handsets from rival manufacturers.

Not since Sony Ericsson’s brilliant W550 has there been a phone which has worn its gaming credentials so plainly on its sleeve - but, thankfully, that very same company is once again looking to appeal to portable players with the motion-sensing Yari.

Every new phone needs its own particular spin, and with the Yari it’s blissfully simple - this is essentially the Nintendo Wii in mobile handset form.

Of course, such a selling point requires you to conveniently ignore the fact that we’ve had accelerometer and camera-based gaming in phones for the past few years now, but regardless it’s refreshing to see a manufacturer use interactive entertainment as a solid USP.

With the colourful environs of PSP port LocoRoco emblazoning the phone’s packaging, it’s clear that Sony Ericsson wants this phone to get into the sweaty palms of the PlayStation generation: the Yari even comes pre-loaded with a selection of exclusive titles that take advantage of the device’s unique talents.

Taking a cue from Nintendo’s Wii Sports, Sony Ericsson has supplied a bowling simulation (which naturally requires you to replicate the process of hurling a ball by swinging your phone around) and a tennis game, as well as others.

The latter is possibly the most interesting offering: you place the phone on a flat surface (which is a task in itself given the unit’s rounded edges) and then flail your arms around in the vain hope that your ridiculous gestures will be interpreted as precise swings of your tennis racquet.

Sadly, as we reported in our hands on some time ago, the reality is somewhat different. It’s hard to get the phone to recognise your movements unless you’re in a well-lit room and you’re incredibly close to the camera - so close, in fact, that you risk batting the Yari through the air with a mistimed swipe.

The aforementioned LocoRoco is a far more accomplished example of what the Yari is capable of, with its finely-balance accelerometer-based gameplay proving to be just as enjoyable in this miniaturised form as it was in the PSP original.

The thing is, playing LocoRoco on a phone is hardly a revelation - most handsets feature motion control these days and pretty much any Sony Ericsson model from the past two years features an accelerometer, and is therefore capable of playing host to this particular game.

With the gaming side of things ending up as a damp squib it’s left to the other aspects of the Yari to impress, and to be honest it’s not bad at all.

The rubberised back and glossy plastic front make for a pleasing combination and the sliding mechanism feels measurably solid. The keypad is initially jarring, showcasing a single membrane with contact points underneath, but it’s brilliant for T9 texting.

To round it all off there’s a large circular D-pad which makes the Yari perfect for traditional Java games - somewhat ironic when you consider the phone’s overwhelming focus on motion-based gaming.

Gaming aside, there’s the usual raft of Sony Ericsson features, like the company’s dedicated Walkman media player (no 3.5mm headphone jack, though) and a smattering of applications.

Google Maps makes an appearance but the lack of wi-fi and the low resolution of the display make it a curiosity rather than a dependable way of finding your route home after one-too-many beers.

When you consider that the Yari is aimed at the budget end of the spectrum then it becomes easier to live with its shortcomings. It’s certainly not an attempt to challenge the all-conquering iPhone’s dominance of the mobile gaming sector and nor should it be considered as such, regardless of Sony Ericsson’s protestations.

Casual mobile users who desire a dependable phone that also has the ability to play games will find little to fault here, but more dedicated pleasure-seekers will probably be better off investing in something a little more substantial.