Buggy

Buggy is a smart little driving game that puts you in charge of a 'radio-controlled' buggy that bounces around any one of a number of groovy tracks. The further you get into the game, the groovier your choice of buggy can get as you stumble across hidden buggies of increasing power or versatility.

The tracks - from urban cityscapes to subterranean grottos - are littered with obstacles which can be avoided or jumped. Jumps propel the buggies high into the air, enabling them to perform stunts as well as overtake their foes. But in order to pick up bonuses, you also need to negotiate the slalom gates littered around the track: short sequences deliver simple bonuses, such as speed bursts, while more complicated sequences deliver extra abilities and surprises.

The more stunts you perform, the more tracks you find to explore, so that as you get to grips with the game you can go back and discover hidden stretches on tracks you've already done.

As well as the standard Championship and single-player modes, Buggy offers split-screen racing with up to four competitors either in the same room or over a LAN. Time Attack mode has you competing against the clock.

As racing games go - and there's a fair amount of shite out there - Buggy is a neat little contender. Your light, little buggies handle well and obey most of the laws of physics, and the added interest provided by the funky power-ups gives the game an extra bit of life. The scenery's pretty cool too. Buggy is no Carmageddon, but as an imaginative and fun little racer it more than holds its own.