Download Games Roundup

AvaGlide

• Xbox Live Indie Games / 80 points (£0.64)

Strange but true: to guarantee instant popularity on the Xbox Live Indie Channel, ensure your game has Avatar support. You'd think people would be wise to this kind of uber-cynical caper by now, but apparently not, and so we must endure some of the most spirit-crushing pieces of crap imaginable.

But what's this? An Avatar-based title that doesn't make you want to rip your own face off and stamp on it? Surely not.

As the helpful title points out, the point of HaikuInteractive's soothing indie effort is to glide your grim-faced avatar around, performing various relaxing deeds for no-one in particular.

To a backdrop of unnerving lift music, you drift woozily around a trio of islands, racing through rings, collecting stars, or dropping parcels onto targets. With various tiers of medals to shoot for, there's a flimsy pretence of challenge, but in reality this is about pure, calming stress relief.

7/10

Pallurikio

• PSN Minis (PSP & PS3) / £3.49
• WiiWare / 1000 Wii Points (£7.00)

Top game design tip: if you want your game to score instant novelty value points with game reviewers, come up with a bizarre control system that they'll spend their whole time fighting with.

Originally released for the Wii at the back-end of last year, Pallurikio's transition to Minis hasn't been especially fruitful. Based around a neat point-and-hold jump mechanic, you have to guide a ball around twisting, turning platform environments to a goal, while avoiding traps and scooping up cards. It's classic cutesy platforming fodder with a pleasing twist.

In its original incarnation, the controls were simple. You pointed the directional arrow where you wanted your ball to jump to with the Wii remote and held down the A button to apply the desired power, then hopped around gingerly, skilfully timing your double-jump to change course and nimbly avoid the many hazards en-route.

Stripped of the slick, instant precision of the remote, though, PlayStos' Minis port is forced to rely on analogue stick control, and the results aren't anywhere near as satisfying.

Manoeuvres that were routine on the WIi (like quick course correction) become an exercise in hand-gnawing annoyance - especially via the PSP's infamous nub (less so if you play on a PS3 pad, it must be noted).

Despite promising around 50 levels, it's hard to imagine all but the most tenacious gamer wanting to slog through Pallurikio on a PSP. If the idea still tweaks your fun dial, you're best to check out the more expensive WiiWare version.

5/10