It is the season to be casual, especially when it comes to casual games and like just before Christmas last year, the world of gaming is about be inundated with casual games.

Unfortunately as with the Kinect, the PlayStation Move has never really found its footing and although it tried to imitate the Nintendo Wii, games just felt flat and unfortunately a little lifeless.

Sure, there have been some interesting Move titles but nothing with the wow factor. Sports Champions fell somewhere in between.

The answer to Wii Sports for Sony was Sports Championship that gave gamers a more realistic casual sporting experience and with the current instalment being Sports Champion 2.

Thankfully things are looking better for the Move system. In essence, it is still a collection of mini-games but this time, Sports Champion features the following games skiing, tennis, boxing, golf, bowling and updated archery.

Best of all, the control system of Sports Champions 2 works very well on the Move. The developers should be applauded on tweaking the interface with the Move as everything feels almost right.

The game supports a variety of gameplay modes such as Free Mode, Champion Mode and Party Mode but to get the most out of this game, I would recommend that you play this title with other people.

It's considerable more entertaining. When playing solo, you need to beat 6 levels of each event, including a sometimes challenging boss battle.

However like all mini-game collections, not all the sports on this release will be everyone's cup of tea but if you're looking for a relatively fun family game, than Sports Champions 2 ticks all the right boxes.

The worst game for me was probably skiing as it felt quite boring. Games however like boxing which was quite complex and golf definitely paved the enjoyment path.

With that said, my favourite game on Sports Champions 2 is tennis which actually feels like the most realistic tennis game on any console in terms of Kinect, Wiimote or Move.

The PlayStation 3 does a good job at interpreting your various moves and because of the increased accuracy of this sequel, it makes playing the game a much more entertaining experience. Boxing on the other hand does give you a good workout and it allows you to do a variety of moves such as upper cuts and strikes, even the ability to dodge and block.

As mentioned, the game does support a multiplayer mode through a party play mode that basically allows you to play all the various sports in this game with other people. Although there is no online options, this technology (Kinect included) is still a little raw to justify online acceptance.

Graphics/Audio

Graphically, Sports Champions 2 looks a little bland and lifeless on the PS3 due to the realistic graphics and non-comedic avatars. You can however spice up your Avatars which does create some ownership to the gamer as they embark on the various sports. It's quite a colourful game and the characters are animated well with some nice backgrounds.

Music and sound effects go hand in hand with the graphics and gameplay to create another good casual sports game. The game also supports 3D support but generally this doesn't work too well with all the movement you will be doing. All in all, Sports Champions 2 is one of the better Move games available.

Final Level

In the end, Sports Champion 2 is a fun game that definitely targets the casual/family audience. Solo is okay but where the game shines is through local multiplayer as you play golf, ski and box your way to victory. If you're after a good PlayStation Move game, than this is it probably it for 2012!

Key Features

• Reign supreme as the ultimate sports champion as you crush, spike and smoke the competition in this ultimate sports showdown.

• Sports Champions introduces players to six sports challenges that leverage the PlayStation Move’s precise gameplay and 1-to-1 control.

• Whether you’re tossing a disc toward a target, spiking a ball, or perfecting your serve, Sports Champions precisely simulates your exact movement, delivering a realistic and ultra-sensory experience.

• Casual gamers will enjoy Sports Champions’ intuitive pick-up and play gameplay, while core gamers will find the game’s precision and accuracy challenging as they strive to perfect their athletic techniques and take home the win.