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Based on a series of Belgian comic books, Les Tuniques Bleues, North And South is a comic interpretation of the American Civil War. And, although there's a fair dose of strategy involved, this isn't your standard hexagons and blobs affair.

In what's fast becoming a typically French style, Infogrames' approach has plenty of belly laughs thrown in - from the opening options screen to the death of the last soldier. You can choose to play the dozy Yankees or the dumb Confederates, entering the war in any of the four years at any one of three difficulty levels.

North And South is certainly one of the best presented games around at the moment: It's got a genuinely rib-tickling introduction screen, brilliant cartoon sequences and great sound effects, all bolted onto an addictive and playable game... at first.

However, once you've sussed out how to win battles (the core of the gameplay), it's very easy to finish - and after a couple of hours playing time you could find yourself searching for another challenge that just isn't there.

The strategy section is a little redundant, since you find yourself wanting to influence the action in the way the arcade sequences allow. The arcade sequences are, however, all excellent, even if the battles are too easy and the train sequences a tad hard.

Even so, only the two player option rescues North And South from being an expensive two hours of fun - a human opponent creates greater lasting appeal - in fact, it's the only way of enjoying North And South in the long term.