BiiBall 3D

Name brands, for all the quality they engender, aren't always what you're looking for. Occasionally, that store-label detergent is good enough. It's slightly cheaper and packs a bit more soap in the box. BiiBall 3D is, essentially, a streamlined entry into the rolling-ball genre, and although it isn't as clean as its competitors, it's cheap and addictive enough to squeak out some recognition.

The object of BiiBall 3D is simple: tilt your handset to direct your striped ball around basic mazes. Along the way, you avoid myriad obstacles and collect bonus stars. Since the ball is more fragile than a suspension bridge made from toothpicks and tissue paper, it's destroyed by the slightest contact. Luckily, the ball is armed, and you can shoot any boxes in your path by tapping the screen in their general direction. You're provided with an infinite supply of projectiles, so you can concentrate on wanton destruction and avoiding collisions, rather than worrying about ammunition.

Although the concept - and, indeed, much of the level design - is basic, its execution pitches it slightly higher than the typical cheapo throwaway game. A good example is the scoring mechanism, which is clearly designed to encourage you to take risks. The moment you begin a stage, your score ticks down with each passing moment. Only by collecting those bonus stars do you manage to restore some of the lost points. Therefore, the quicker you get through the levels, the higher your score becomes. On the flip side, greater speed increases the likelihood of BiiBall death. It's a simple idea, but it adds a welcome layer of basic strategy to proceedings.

Unfortunately, this level of thought hasn't been afforded to the controls, and the steering in this game is awkward. Some levels have too many sharp turns that force you to come to a halt, turn, slowly trundle on, stop, repeat, yawn a bit, and wonder why the controls aren't as finely tuned as the scoring system.

For a genre that lives or dies by its controls, this shortcoming might have killed BiiBall 3D, but once you get used to how everything works it's an enjoyable experience. An old-school arcade sensibility - three lives, no continues, start from scratch each time - comes into play here as well.

Overall, then, this is hardly the kind of game that will be remembered with misty-eyed nostalgia in years from now. But as just over a quid's worth of arcade fun for quickfire two-minute blasts, it hits the spot - at least if you don't expect too much.