Forty-seven years old now and Doctor Who has managed to retain classic elements of surprise and adventure, and in this latest series featuring Matt Smith and Karen Gillan the suspense and action is more so than before. Doctor Who: The Adventure Games is a five-part episodic download available for both PC and Mac with episode one, City of the Daleks, being free from the BBC's official Doctor Who site. Having just played the first episode I can quite safely say that The Adventure Games manages to sustain the format of the television show we are used to seeing every Saturday night very well. The game initially starts with a brief introduction and the opening titles and that all-important and familiar Doctor Who theme tune. Thus, the game proceeds and over the course of the episode you collect different items, facts about Doctor Who and come across enemies all generations of fans should know about.

Okay, the graphics aren't exactly spectacular, but let's face it, we already knew that - this game is, you have to remember, aimed more towards a younger audience who would probably appreciate the game more for what it is as opposed to what it isn't. The textures can be slightly off at times, which didn't necessarily make me lose interest or appreciation in the game, but it certainly did make me question my expectations. To be honest, I don't know what I was expecting. I did see various trailers for the digital downloads and they gave me a better understanding of what would be in store, but I think in order to gain a proper insight into what's on offer here, downloading and playing the first episode would be wise (which is just as well, considering it's free). 

Protagonists Matt Smith and Karen Gilan provide the voices for the characters they play in the show, which added a really nice touch; it gave a great sense of interaction and realism to the game, as opposed to the BBC using impressionists, which I fear would have killed the atmosphere almost immediately. The controls must be applauded; simple and sweet. I think everybody here at UFO Gamers knows just how much of a PC gamer I am not, so the basic controls proved to be really good for experiencing the maximum enjoyment this game had to offer. In order to move your character you need to press the directional keys and the mouse moves the camera. Esc opens the main menu and the space bar opens your inventory; brilliant and simple!

City of the Daleks includes several mini-games which make up to form part of the overall plot. These are particularly fun and challenging, which adds an element difficulty to the game. Throughout the level also you'll spend a lot of time avoiding Daleks' sensor beams, often crouching behind an obstacle or timing your way past them and their 'all superior logic'. The in-game music is taken from the original Doctor Who series five OST, composed by Murray Gold. Again, this adds to the atmosphere that is conveyed throughout the TV show and succesfully executed in the game.

Overall, I would say The adventure games is good for what it is; a TV show, game tie-in that really brings to life in an interactive vision, of what we have come to know and love as a British institution.