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Many aeons ago, before the Earth cooled properly, a software company called Thalamus produced Summer Camp. Well-loved by the first mammals, it's only now that a sequel has appeared. Is it an evolutionary step forward or does it belong in the land that time forgot?

Winter Camp is a slightly different kettle of worms to your average game. For a start, the weather is colder, there's snow around and you're wrapped up warmly, with jumpers, scarves [Oh, get to the point - Ed].

Right. The game is divided into seven levels. In all of them you play a little mouse called Maximus (Max to his pals). The first is to see whether you're good enough to enrol in the Nice 'n Icy winter sports club (as a rescuer), based at the camp. All you have to do is beat three competitors is a straight skating race. Well, it starts off pretty straight.

The attitude of two of the competitors sets the atmosphere for the whole game - they cheat, but in a most amusing way. As you race them (in different lanes), they lob obstacles at you, or bum holes in the ice for you to fall through. This turns level one into something far more exciting than just a joystick-waggler - which, to be fair, it otherwise is.

Level two sees you still with skates on, but this time you've got to beat the clock (well, an avalanche-starting eagle in fact). You've got to avoid all manner of characters skating in the opposite direction, whilst trying to rescue as many fallen skaters as possible. Strangely, everybody in the camp is some form of animal as well. Ducks, dogs and cockerels are everywhere but, as you're a mouse yourself, it doesn't seem to matter.

Get through level two and you start a snowball fight. A crowd of bears have taken refuge in some treetops, and you've got to dislodge them whilst avoiding their return fire. You control a set of cross-hairs, and it's point-and-shoot time. If you don't knock out enough, a huge snowball crushes you.

Next, after you've recovered, you have to do a river patrol. This involves paddling a canoe along and colliding with anyone who's drowning (this game gets better and better). There are loads of collectables to give you more time but there are more obstacles to get past.

Level five is another weird one. You fall into an ice caver under the ground (a single screen). As you lie there stunned, a yeti appears, and you embark upon a 'Simon Says'-style game. Get it right and you'll proceed to level six.

Here you've got to carry out a ski patrol. This involves swishing along (with much joystick-waggling) until you come to someone with their feet sticking up out of the snow. As you reach them, they pull themselves free.

During all this, you've still got the eagle/pebble-related time limit, and there are loads of snowballs, errant skiers and other obstacles. So, obviously you need a balloon. This balloon allows you to rise over any potential collidees. Hooray for that, then.

Finally, level seven sees Max caught in a giant snowball. It rolls down the mountain and you've got to get down to the bottom in one piece.

Okay, what do I reckon? Well, Winter Camp is immensely stylish. The games aren't particularly spectacular, but they're presented with fab graphics and there are some lovely animated effects. Cartoon-like is the word I'm struggling for.

The winter-wonderland music is cheerful, the characters are dead sweet and the whole thing raises your spirits. If you're in need of a bit of cuteness, this could well be for you. Whether you'll want to play all through the summer is a different question altogether.

1. Not a great deal of taxing gameplay, and rather too much waggling.

1. Beautifully drawn sprites with bags of character.
2. They're all animated really nicely as well.
3. Seven rather different levels will keep you playing for ages as you try to see what the next one will be.
4. Winter Camp has got bags of style. It's a little like watching a cartoon-strip featuring the antics of Max and friends.
5. Lots of nice tunes and spot effects keep you ears happy whilst your ears are busy having fun.