Uno HD

Simple card games work pretty well on mobile phones, as long as they get two things right. The controls and the multiplayer.

Luckily, Gameloft's Uno HD manages to get both of those things pretty much spot on for Xperia Play. But if you're looking for a single-player experience, you'll be better off somewhere else.

Uno HD is a neat and tidy digital representation of the classic card game. At its core, it's a colour- and number-matching game. You have a hand of cards that you want to get rid of, and to do that you discard them in a central pile.

The next player has to discard a card that matches the number or the colour of the one you just put down. First one to be rid of his cards wins.

Some cards change the direction of play, others change colour the next player needs to place, and some even force your opponent to pick up extra cards. Your hand sits at the bottom of the screen, so you can see what you've got at a glance.

The game is fast and fun when you're playing online, and easy enough to pick up that no one has a significant advantage. There's local wireless play and a pass-the-handset mode, both of which are perfectly enjoyable, albeit not as fun as they would be with a real Uno HD deck.

The single-player mode just doesn't capture the frantic, second-guessing nature of the game, though, and that's a real shame. It serves as a tutorial for new players, but not much else.

Playing Uno HD on Xperia Play is an impressive experience, with the D-pad letting you select cards from your hand with ease. It's not a perfect all round package, but the slick multiplayer and improved controls mean this is one of the best versions out there.