After Hours Athlete, PS3 (with Move)

Back in the mists of the 1970s, there was a programme aired on ITV called The Indoor League.

Cricketing legend and professional Yorkshireman Fred Trueman hosted the show and would poke his pipe at the camera as he introduced beer-bellied Northerners battling it out on such classic pub games as Shove Ha'penny, table football and arm wrestling, whilst old Fred swigged bitter from a pint pot. I promise I'm not making this up.

Darts and pool were also regulars on the show and both feature in this thoroughly modern mangling of the concept. They should work well with Sony's motion-sensing Move controllers. Instead, darts feels like you're pushing a fat cigar through a letterbox, pool plays like you're poking the fire and all the fancy options on offer can't hide this awkwardness.

Bowling completes the trio and is much better, precisely because the controls feel natural.

It's a little too easy to throw a foul ball but this would warrant some attention if we hadn't all been playing Wii Bowling for the last six years.

If only the developers had opted for digital versions of bar billiards and Northamptonshire cheese skittles. That would have gotten them noticed. Until then, as Fred would say, I'll see thee.

★★

Soul Calibur V, Xbox 360

It's a tough sell for another fighter to crack the bond that I have with Street Fighter, yet the Soul series has always managed, its slick weapons-based combat and 3-dimensional movement entrancing since the days of the PS1.

Returning with a fresh focus on revising its core mechanics, SCV keeps itself relevant with big changes and greater complexity, mostly delivered through its new Critical Gauge system.

Set 17 years after SCIV, the roster of characters has changed somewhat, swapping out fan favourites for younger fighters with similar fighting styles, and introducing unique new characters such as the orb wielding Viola, and Ezio from Assassins Creed.

Single player content is a touch lacking, the hammy story mode proving far less expansive than adventure modes of old.

SCV's focus is on multiplayer though, bouts between friends the greatest testament to its prowess, while strong netcode and innovative online tournaments bolster its competitive nature.

No matter the package, Soul Calibur has always won on strength of gameplay, and here it is stronger than ever – the clangs of sword against shield bound by fast, fluid combat that, as always, makes it a delight to fight.

★★★★