Knights of the Round Table they are definitely not, square perhaps, but not round. Nothing is really round in the world of Legos ­ with the exception of the soccer ball.

Legos have a whole new world to conquer, and what a world it is. From medieval castles to outer space, the one constant in the latest Legos PC game is the sport of soccer. Silicon Dreams Studio, Electronic Arts and Lego have teamed up for this game to present a different look at the world of soccer.

Since EA (EASports in particular) has some knowledge of creating soccer games, there was some anticipation in how the game would be translated to the world of Legos. Ok, even the manual states that the game is loosely based on the sport. Each team has six players, the action is fast, there is no out-of-bounds, other elements that slowdown the pacing of the game have been eliminated, and the keeper area is protected from intrusion by offensive players. The ball can also bounce around like a ping-pong ball, bounding off players and goal posts. The game also has an arcade-style set of power-ups to ensure lively game play. Player movement has been kept simple.

Like much of the Lego world, this is a game that should be particularly appealing to younger players. If you are an older soccer fan, it is recommended that you bypass this title.

There are several ways to play the game. You can jump into the Quick Start, which skips the set-up menus and puts players right into the match. The Exhibition mode lets you set up the game options; Story mode has you competing in a variety of tournaments for the Qualifying Cup, which has been stolen by the Brickster; there is also the Lego Cup which features teams from 32 countries. Should you need to work on your game, there are the Skill Zones, which helps players become comfortable with the control elements as well as get the chance to unlock players to expand your roster.

The Skill Zones are quite enjoyable. For example, in the Gate Crasher, you are challenged to test your dribbling skills on a construction site. There are several security gates which open at intervals, and the goal is to dribble through the gates in the order that they open. The challenge gets tougher as you progress. Other environments for the skill drills include a desert fort, a medieval jousting field, a mummy�s tomb, pirate docks and icy plains. Each skill zone passed unlocks a player with increased abilities in the skill you successfully passed.

Graphically the game lives up to the Lego standard. The environments are fun, bright and colorful. The animation is also well done. The sound does a solid job of supporting the graphics. The control elements are kept relatively simple so that younger gamers can play.

When it comes to actually presenting the game of soccer, this title is merely average. The game lacks the sports fundamentals and nuances that make the sport so exciting. There are no age parameters stated on the game�s box, but this game was built for a younger crowd who simply wants to play and enjoy, with little regard for the game�s intricacies.

This game is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 7
The game "loosely" resembles the sport, which can be a let-down for fans of the sport, but the action moves well, and once into a game, the presentation is seamless. The playing pitch is surrounded by a plasma field which keeps the ball in constant play.

Graphics: 7.2
The game has bright, colorful graphical elements that are certain to please younger players, but the lack of animation in regard to the skill levels required by the actual sport may disappoint older players.

Sound: 7
The sound of the game is merely average, and while it does support the graphics, it fails to tantalize with anything new or unique.

Difficulty: Easy
The controls have been configured so younger players can compete with little skill training.

Concept: 6.8
The game simply can�t live up to the title. The options package and skills zones are nicely done, but not enough to entice older players to give the game a whirl.

Multiplayer: 7
The game does feature multiplayer head-to-head competition as well as cooperative game play in the exhibition, story and Lego Cup modes.

Overall: 7
Soccer Mania is probably a cute, fun game if you are under 8 years old, but older players will become bored with the game. It has nice elements, but is overburdened by a name that suggests this is terrific soccer action. In the world of soccer games, this is merely an average outing. For the younger player who might want to play the game, this could be a worthwhile purchase.