Review: Sega Rally game

Fast and furious arcade racing

Since it appeared in the arcades back in 1995, Sega Rally has gained a loyal following, and now it has made a comeback on the PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and even the PSP.

On the PC version, controlling the car using the keyboard is pretty much impossible, so you'll need to invest in a controller if you don't already have one.

As soon as you slam your car into gear for the first time, you'll instantly be reminded that Sega Rally is primarily an arcade game, not a racing simulator.

The cars look great and handle realistically, but the game's prime aim is to keep you thundering along the various tracks as fast as possible. Hit a tree, rock or wayward spectator and you'll simply bounce back onto the track, losing very little speed in the process.

You won't veer off into a forest and be left hopelessly lost while your rivals race off into the distance, nor will you plunge over the edge of a cliff. While this makes the game easy to pick up and play, it doesn't really put your skills to the test.

An interesting touch is Sega's track deformation feature, which means the surface will cut up and deteriorate after each lap, ultimately affecting the control of the car. The graphics are also impressive - mud splatters over the car as you speed around, with a quick splash through a puddle to wash the dirt off.

There are over 30 cars to choose from and various game modes, including Championship, Time Attack and, of course, online Multiplayer.

Those who enjoy the challenge of negotiating corners perfectly while running the risk of slapping head-on into a tree will no doubt be left frustrated at the arcade nature of Sega Rally, but if you're after a game you can leap into without any prior experience itís terrific fun.