WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SNOOKER. Publisher: Codemasters. Platform: PS2. Price: £39.99.: THERE can't be many blokes who haven't fancied a snooker table in the spare room at some time in their lives.

Women who enjoy the game seem content to play at their local snooker hall or over a pint at the pub. But men still lust over the idea of their own "games room" at home and no such thing would ever be complete without a snooker table.

Unfortunately, fitting a full-sized snooker table into a two-up two-down isn't the recipe for a long and happy marriage (or even a happy girlfriend) so, for most of us, it remains an unrealised dream

But now there is a somewhat less intrusive alternative to playing snooker at home. It's called World Championship Snooker and it comes on a shiny little disc that you slot into your PS2.

According to Codemasters, World Championship is "the finest snooker simulation available today." Being something of a snooker duffer, I'm not about to argue; certainly the kinetics of the balls seems to be spot on.

I never felt cheated when the PS2 took a shot and the targeting system is excellent, giving a real sense of challenge to the game.

Codemasters have also licensed the game's famous names. Fancy a game against Stephen Hendry or Peter Ebdon? Better get the PS2 out again then. Riveting as it may be, Codemasters has thrown in a lot more than just snooker.

As with previous snooker sims, you'll find a stack of different game modes including a full season championship, eight and nine-ball pool (played to both USA and UK rules), mini games for instant gratification and a fun trick shot mode.

Of course, the real meat 'n potatoes of the game is the championship mode where you battle your way up from smoke-filled snooker halls to the main event itself. It's a long and difficult challenge that pits you against the best players in the world.

Winning matches boosts your bank balance and allows for a skills upgrade. Some of these are quite realistic, others are amusing but ultimately meaningless (like new clothes for your character).

The commentary by Dennis Taylor and John Virgo is spot on - not too intrusive and helpful rather than irritating. Taylor even looks on during the training interlude.

Snooker sims aren't in the same league as first-person shooters when it comes to eye-watering graphics but the sheer detail on offer here is impressive.

A snooker sim may seem a bit sedate to games fans brought up on a diet of adventuring and survival horror but any fan of the sport will find plenty to enjoy here.

TITANS OF STEEL: WARRING SUNS. Publisher: Just Play. Format: PC CD.

AFTER what seems to have been an eternity of mindless shoot 'em ups it seems as though PC gamers have finally got something more cerebral to play.

At first glance, Titans of Steel doesn't soon too promising. Set in a future world where mankind fights battles with soldiers strapped into the cockpits of giant robots, you are the command of a robo squad and it's your job to take them to victory.

If that plot synopsis sounds familiar that's because it is. The idea of giant robot scraps has been around for years and, to be honest, it's been done to death through the Mech-Commander/Mech-Warrior series.

But wait. Titans of Steel isn't a simple-minded "twitch" game that relies on sharp reflexes for success. Boot it up and you're confronted with what looks like a giant hexagonal board that's more reminiscent of those Panzer Commander games your dad probably enjoyed on his IBM 286 (ask him).

To play, you place your mechs on the board and go hunting bad guys. Each hex has a property which can help or hinder; for instance, a deep forest can be used as cover whereas stepping in quicksand can mean a one-way ticket to the breakers' yard.

Your soldiers aren't merely faceless robots a la Command and Conquer. You have to select and name each one before leading them into battle. Succeed and your men (or women) grow in confidence; you can also award skill points to help them become better soldiers.

Money is also on offer to the successful player and it can be used to upgrade your giant battle mechs; spend it wisely and they will be nigh on unbeatable.

Is it successful? Oh yes, indeed. There's enough of a challenge here to keep you occupied for months.