Astronaut... footballer... goblin commander. What young games player hasn't harboured such desires? That's a lot of hands. Goblin Commander is that most terrifying of concepts, a console real-time strategy game. The Jaleco code crunchers have dispensed with the complications that usually blight such PC-friendly efforts, the result being a streamlined, accessible experience.

Mostly, it's about fighting. There are several goblin clans but rather than fight each other, they work co-operatively under your control for the greater good - collect gold and harvest souls in order to swell their numbers. Each clan has its strengths - scrappers, alchemists, poisoners - but all perform the same basic tasks in wonderfully intuitive fashion thanks to a super-simple control system.

Also nifty is the option to 'go into' your clan at will and control it from the front without using waypoints - often a necessity in the case of Titans. But it's these Titans which serve to highlight the good and bad points of the game. When good, it's RTS with a refreshing, action-driven difference. When bad, movement is clumsy, sound is perfunctory and graphics fall way short of stunning.

While not outstanding in any area, Goblin Commander proves to be more than the sum of its parts. Astronaut... footballer... go on, add that third category and live.

Graphics 60%
Atmospheric but, in the main, functional.

Sound 60%
A disappointing series of grunts and scuffles.

Gameplay 80%
Console-tailored controls for intuitive play.

Lifespan 70%
Not hugely taxing, but worth seeing out.

Overall 70%
A fresh task on an established genre, which really makes it work for PS2. There's a lack of vibrancy but enough fun to warrant a look.