Pokemon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum are brilliant, each hooking players of all ages for many hours, but this spin-off series is disappointing.

The latest Explorers, Sky, may have more features than last year's Time and Darkness, but it's still a poor relation to the main Pokemon games.

Younger Pokemon addicts might have fun becoming a Pokemon, visiting Pokemon villages and helping combat evil Pokemon thieves.

On this surface world there is charm and interest, but the story lacks the depth and characterisation of many other role-playing adventures.

And even nippers will tire of frequent trips to randomly-generated dungeons for tedious battles with boring monsters. For diehard Poke-fans only.

David Knights