The Guinness Book of World Records was first created in 1954, following an argument between the owner of the Guinness Brewery, and a friend of his, over which was the fastest game bird. Twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter were commissioned to compile the first edition and, by 1972, its popularity gave birth to one of the UK's longest running TV shows - Record Breakers - presented for many years by British athlete Kriss Akabusi, who ironically had a great deal of trouble saying "Record Breakers".

For a total of twenty-nine years we watched people spin plates, flip beer mats and hang from planes, often trying to replicate any record in school the following day; had we had Nintendo Wiis in those days, my old school's roof would still be intact and I wouldn't struggle to bend my left knee on cold days, because with the latest release from Travellers Tales, Guinness World Records are available to be broken from our very own sofas.

The first point to make regarding this title, is that it's clearly aimed at the younger gamer. If you're looking for complex actions close to the kind of ability you need to break a world record then this isn't the game for you - and while we all take an interest in some world records (I am particularly fascinated by the world's largest poo), most of find that our fascination with someone who is too lazy to cut their finger nails has somewhat died out. As a result of the demographic that Travellers Tales is shooting for, the games are very simple, mostly involving some waving of the Wiimote and occasionally requiring a button press - but that's not to say that they aren't enjoyable; even the most stringent of adult gamers will probably find some addictive elements, be it from shaving a sheep or popping balloons. The menus are also simplistic, although at times they can be a little tedious to navigate, not so much complicated as much as they are poorly organised, requiring lengthy navigation when a few minor movements would have sufficed.

Again remembering who this game is intended for, the graphics are very well conceived. They are unlikely to be up against God of War or Call of Duty for their complexity or realism, but they fit the party game genre well and add an amusing element to each mini-game. The customisable avatar is fun and kids will enjoy seeing a representation of themselves attempting the records. Another highlight is that you use this avatar to navigate the mini-game menu, which centres around a free roaming cartoon of Earth, complete with some beautifully sculpted caricatures of famous landmarks. Around each landmark you'll find facts about a record held in that area and the accompanying mini-games involve attempting to break this record in some way.

Like many mini-game genre titles, the games themselves are a mixed bag; while some are played once and never revisited, others could stand the test of time as Wii game in their own right, given some further development. For example, "World's best videogame score" allows you to play a superbly well produced version of Asteroids, which contains sounds that cast your mind back to the golden era when it was the height of technology. Also, "World's tallest skyscraper" requires you to complete a Tetris-style game to build up a huge skyscraper. On the flipside, games like "World's fastest Sheep Shearer" lack substance and once you've whizzed the Wiimote around the screen a couple of times, it quickly becomes clear that not every game will require more than one attempt. Although the graphics on these games are cute, they seem static at times and remind me of the kind of visuals found on the early PS2 Eye-Toy titles; however, I can't fault the sound effects on any of the titles and it's almost worth having this particular mini-game just to approach sleeping friends with the Wiimote and pretending to shave their head.

The online aspect is limited; you can't take people on for records simultaneously but you can compare records with other players and there's even a "Virtual World Record" title up for grabs - not the most sophisticated of online components but with so many party games not even bothering with the Wii's Internet capabilities, you have to credit Travellers Tales for at least attempting some kind of community integration.

I am relatively split down the middle with Guinness World Records: The Videogame; some of the thirty-six games on offer feel like padding but some are genuinely excellent and the online Virtual Record feature will have you constantly trying to beat others' scores, which may bring you back to check that your record hasn't been broken. Unfortunately, too many of the games involve frantic waving rather than any skill and this is just annoying enough that many adults won't continue playing after working their way through the good games. However, if you're looking for something to keep your children occupied then this is the game for you - just make sure that there's nothing valuable within swiping range, or world records won't be the only thing getting broken.

Reviewed by Rob Byron for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).