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California Games, straight from the airhead capital of America, offers you six separate events; half pipe skateboarding, the foot bag, surfing, roller skating, BMX bike racing and the flying disk.

Skateboarding in the half pipe (an upturned one, naturally) means getting up enough speed to perform one of the three stunts available. Become really proficient and you can prolong your balancing until the last minute. The foot bag is like an American version of keepy-uppy, only with a small bag. Keep the bag in the air as long as possibe by kicking it, preferably using some fancy moves - well weird. In surfing, points are scored for stunts and the length of time you can stay out of the water. Roller skating too is quite straightforward. Build up enough speed, jump over the hazards, do a few stunts and try not to end up kissing the concrete. BMX racing is a faster (and harder) version of roller skating, though a few more stunts are available. Finally, the flying disk, or the Frisbee, sees you hurling the disk with the aid of a strength and angle graph. You then have to manoeuvre a girly waiting at the other end of the field and make her catch it.

On the whole the events are enjoyable, though perhaps a little difficult to begin with - there are loads of controls and rules for you to learn. Fortunately, there are also practice events. The graphics aren't spectacular - the bloke doing the foot bag looks like he needs major surgery - but they're up to the job. Sound is predictable and minimal. If you can ignore the trendy and embarrassing comments that continually appear, you're in for a good time with California Games. It's truly a gnarly buy, dudes (aack! it's catching).