Auto Destruct

All hell brakes loose on this mission-based combat driving game when the player witnesses the murder of his wife and daughter by a fanatical cult called the Disciples of Lazarus. As a former race car driver, the player is recruited by another well-meaning organization to hunt down and destroy the bad boy cult and avenge the crime.

Looking reminiscent of both Quarantine and Twisted Metal. Auto Destruct requires players to cruise cities (London. San Francisco. New Yoik) destroying enemy cars and buildings, replenishing weapons and gathering clues. Transport people safely, escort potential targets and find those power ups all in an effort to locate and crush the evil cult.

Mission-based combat racing is the name of the game in Auto Destruct, a crafty little action title that mixes elements of Twisted Metal and Nuclear Strike. While it's not a perfect game, trigger-happy racers will enjoy the destruction they can do on these streets.

Gunnin' for Revenge

A group called the Temple has enlisted your services to take down a cult called the Disciples of Lazarus. While racing through cities such as San Francisco and London, you complete objective-based missions, such as searching for and destroying enemy vehicles and driving people to specific places within a time limit. Throughout, you'll have to manage your car and ammo resources (refuel, repair, and replenish).

Auto Destruct's graphics, control, and sound all prove adequate. The vehicles are rendered in polygonal fashion but sport modest detail. And even though a lot of clipping is apparent on road and hillside surfaces, the buildings are smoothly rendered with little pixelization, even when you're close to 'em.

As for control, once you get used to how your car handles, you'll have no problem whipping around corners or blast ing enemy vehicles. The sound is probably the weakest link in AD: Some of the effects, such as the rocking explosions, are right on, but other sounds, such as the monotonous droning of the 70s funk background music, will drive you bonkers after a while.

Master of Disaster

If you liked Felony 11-79, but were disappointed that it lacked variety in its missions, Auto Destruct will definitely fill your combat-racing void. Those of you who are mildly curious should give it a spin as a rental.