Dinosaurs are cool. They were mucking about on this rock we call home long before monkeys jumped up on two legs and made fire. But try and find a good Xbox game dealing with our dino friends and you'll be in for quite a search. The forthcoming Dino Crisis 3 looks ace, but apart from that we've only had the average Turok Evolution. Until now, that is. Enter Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis.

The game doesn't revolve around running away or killing dinosaurs (although if things go wrong you'll need to do both). Instead, you treat them as the main money-spinner in the Jurassic Park tourist attraction that you build from the ground up. Based on the movie licence, this title is a world-builder game along the lines of the Theme Park simulator games of yesteryear. But before you throw the gates of your prehistoric emporium open to Joe Public, you need to build absolutely everything from scratch.

And we do mean everything. First, choose your island, then modify the terrain, then get to work on constructing the considerable number of buildings and amenities required for even the most basic franchise. Sounds daunting? Well, it is to begin with, but thanks to a very useful tutorial mode (that also doubles as additional unlockable exercises), even a novice to this kind of game will grasp the basics in a short time. And then there's a truckload of fun to be had.

For a start, there are 25 different types of dinosaur to create. And it's not just a case of popping down to your dino-shop and picking up a box of T-Rex eggs. There's an involved process in the creation of each dinosaur. You stick to the one park throughout the game, gradually building up its star rating, which in turn unlocks additional excavation sites containing the required DNA of new dinosaurs. So if you want to see the badass carnivores, you need to invest the time.

It's not all point and click either. As the game progresses you'll be able to add cool attractions like jeep safaris and balloon rides where you can plot the waypoints and even drive the car. You can also build a ranger helicopter pad and become an airborne sniper to sedate or kill wayward dinosaurs. The action is varied and keeps the game exciting.

The only disappointment is that, in some places, Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis is not quite as sophisticated as it could be. After getting the hang of the game you can quickly run out of different tourist attractions to research. And the email bombardments announcing routine developments can also interrupt the flow of play.

But above all it really does feel like you're building a dinosaur park. The sense of wonderment and spectacle that was translated so well to cinema audiences worldwide is evident throughout the game. A lump will come to your throat when you hatch your first T-Rex and watch as it takes its initial steps before letting out a roar that's accompanied by the original film's orchestral score. And in equal doses you'll sweat bullets when a storm destroys your fencing and your favourite meat eater is unleashed upon a gaggle of tourists. It's classic Jurassic.

Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis retains an edge over other games of this ilk thanks to its source material. You're not building city blocks or rollercoasters; the attractions are living creatures that have their own personality traits and AI quirkiness. Some species are social and want to stay in groups, others are aggressive and need to hunt, some are shy and may get stressed by too many prying eyes and others are extroverts. They get sick, they panic and they get angry.

You'll need to consider all these factors when building their environments, and it keeps the experience unpredictable and fresh. Combine the animal management aspect with all the other typical theme park issues (like making sure there are enough toilets and souvenir stands) and you've got gameplay that's as deep as a fossil pit. If you like playing god, then this game will make hours pass like minutes and, let's face it, who doesn't like being the boss?

Power
Not technically challenging but you can zoom in to get great close-ups of dinos and 3D visitors.

Style
An exciting mix of strategy and arcade tension. Simple interface and good training exercises.

Immersion
if you enjoy being the master of your own universe then prepare to waste some serious time.

Lifespan
With additional missions and loads of dinos to unlock and create, you will get your money's worth here.

Summary
Dinosaurs with depth! This is the first world-builder we've reviewed and a generally great one to boot.

1. You get to play god with dinosaurs!
2. Absorbing gameplay
3. Good, varied action
4. Simple interface.

1. Lacks some sophistication
2. Limited stuff to build