As a premise, it's fine. Granted, it's hardly world shattering, but had the execution been better, Rat Attack may well have offered many pleasurable hours of gaming. Never, in the history of gaming, though, has 'dull' been an acceptable alternative for 'simple', and with so many classic PlayStation titles now available for £20, it's criminal that a big-name publisher such as Mindscape can offer nothing to justify the extra £15.

Despite Rat Attack's ineptitude, credit must be given to the developers for treading new ground and straying away from the norm, but the harsh reality is that this is one gamble that hasn't paid off. Even the multiplayer mode, where up to four 'cool cats' compete with each other in 'versus' or 'co-op' modes, is a tiresome affair, thanks again to a camera which often thinks nothing of pushing your cat off the screen entirely.

As for the graphics, if you were playing Rat Attack five years ago on a Master System, you might not be disappointed. These days though, they're just not acceptable, despite the game's simple style. Each level throughout the different worlds is essentially the same generic square box. Sure, the furniture switches about and the holes from which the endless stream of rats emerge change position, but it's hardly innovative gaming for the 90s though.

Aimed at children, you say? Even that old chestnut is no excuse. These days, 12-year-olds are demanding the kind of high standards synonymous with Gran Turismo or any other one of the quality releases currently bundled with Sony's console. Simply put, games like Rat Attack are vermin and should be treated as such. Don't let it into your house, let alone your favourite games machine.