[Teuthida]

Games giant Radica have now brought Tetris from behind the screen and converted it into a tangible tabletop game that promises to be just as fist-bitingly absorbing as its pixellated partner in fun. Tetris Tower 3D (£24.95), just like the videogame, involves manipulating falling blocks to create a solid row. The difference is you get to play head-to-head with a friend and physically drop the blocks into the playing area - with your hands no less. How retro!

Basically, the next piece to be dropped in is indicated by a light on the side of the tower. Players must pick the corresponding piece out of a pile, manipulate it into the position they want and then drop it into the game. Once you let go, the piece is guided down into the game by rails - a bit like dropping pieces into Connect 4. Once a line has formed you flick a switch on the side of the tower to indicate if it's your line or your opponents. To help keep the little one's attention span for just a little longer, the brain-draining process is accompanied by a 'tension-building' barrage of light and sound.

*waits for Joeiss...