Monsters Inc. Scare Island for the PlayStation 2 lets gamers scare people for fun, an opportunity that does not come along too often.

The game, a spin-off from the Pixar movie Monsters Inc., features its co-stars Mike, the one-eyed monster, and Sully, his big furry pal.

They have been despatched to Scare Island, where H J Waternoose, chief executive of the Monsters Inc., sends his top monsters to learn the scaring trade.

The aim of the game is to guide the two characters through 15 levels to become top scarer.

You can become a scare legend by frightening-off different coloured robotic children, known as Nerves, using a repetoire of 36 tactics.

To scare them off, you have to fill up your fright meter by collecting cans of primordial ooze littered throughout each level.

You can only scare Nerves when the colour of your fright meter matches them. Scaring the Nerves is great fun as you watch the fear gauge build before executing your final scare move . . . boo!

On completion of each level, you are awarded a bronze medal.

Scare Island plays like a standard 3-D platformer. You climb buildings, clamber over crates, jump from platform to platform and avoid or destroy the pesky toys standing between you and a good scare.

The control system is pretty generic and any seasoned platform gamer will recognise the character's basic moves, from jumping and double-jumping to stomp and bounce attacks.

There are power-ups in the form of the bag 'o calories for when you are feeling a bit flat.

The main characters are nicely animated but the game's environments let things down somewhat, especially when compared to Jak And Daxter's amazingly detailed locations.

The sound options are good, especially the voices of the monsters, but it is difficult not to feel an opportunity has been missed to evoke even more spooky vibes.

Although Scare Island seems aimed at the younger generation of gamers, older players will find a fun game under the cute cartoon graphics.

The role-playing aspect of the game, which allows players to unlock items to help reach new areas and search for gold medals, gives it a decent replay value.

Jak and Daxter won't be too scared by Mike and Sully's antics. But if you are looking to buy more than one platformer for the PlayStation 2, Scare Island is well worth a peak - only not from behind the sofa.

Price: £29.99.

Contact: www.scee.com
Feel good factor: 7 out of 10.