Foosball, also known as table football might just be one of the most addictive games I've ever come accross. I've played it in common rooms, arcades and even one or two pubs around the country, my grandad also used to have a table where I used to delight in whooping my brother everytime we went to visit.

The idea is a simple one, a large sturdy box housing a scaled down footie pitch, two goals, 22 wooden or plastic players organised in rows, mounted on a metal bar that can be twisted round and a little mini football.

On the tables I'm used to playing on the mini players are arranged on four different poles per side, that being one for the goalie, one for the defence (2 mounted players), one for midfield (5 players) and one for the strikers (3 players). The action is very fast paced as the only time the ball leaves the playing area is when a goal is scored.

Most tables have a goal counter above each goal, in the old days these would be changed manually, the table I played most often only went upto 10 goals per side, as anyone who's had a proper session on a foosball table knows this makes for a rather short game. Now though it's possible to get more sophisticated tables that keep track of the score electronically, as well as adding crowd noises and a digital timer.

Games can become quite heated and the table will take a lot of battering, it's important to remember this and make sure you buy a well made table that can take the occasional punch of frustration as well as keeping it's nobs from being ripped off during a frantic attack on goal.

Other than the optional digital scoring systems and electronic add ons there are also more practical differences between game units. Most obviously is the size, a full size table can be quite large (around 6 by 3 feet) so make sure you've got enough space to fit it, although if not there are smaller tables available, right down to a diminutive 2 feet by 1 foot.

There are also differences in the distribution of players, some tables have a weaker midfield but a stronger defence and some of the older tables even have multiple goal keepers, these changes can have dramatic effects on how each game plays out.

If they weren't so expensive (expect to pay in the region of £200 for a good table) I'd buy one today, I will be asking my grandad if he still has the old table though as writing this review has rekindled my love affair with the game, not to mention my love affair of beating my sibling into annihilation.

A Foosball table is at it's best when there are a load of mates (or family) all having a big knockout tournament, winner stays on, loser makes the tea I find works particularly well ; )

You will definately find yourself over using the phrase "just one more game" and "next goal wins....no, NEXT goal wins".

If you don't own a table and are put off by the high prices don't despair, it is really easy to find a table near you. Any arcade will have one, most bowling alleys as well as the very occasional pub, and I'm sure if you go to enough car boot sales you should find a second hand table for a fraction of it's original price.