What's it like to play?
Blimmin' weird at the start. You use the analogue on a Dual Shock pad, and the handling is really sensitive. You can find yourself swaying from side to side with even the teensiest of waggles. There are four views to choose from - two from behind the bike, a 'handlebar' view and a 'wheel' one. The handlebar angle is the best because you get a real sense of speed, particularly on tarmac sections. And it's a lot easier to control the bike.

Is it realistic?
No idea. Have you ever hurtled down a mountain at 50mph? There you go then. The developers reckon that it's an arcade game, not a sim. However, you get to tinker with the bike set-up, including tyres, suspension and brakes, so you can pretend you're professionally familiar with the terrain you pedal over. The characters (six to choose from at the start, two more when you get a bit better) are rated out of 10 in terms of balance, power, recovery and stamina, so you inevitably choose the rider with the best stats. And why not? There's also a 'tricks' section where you get to do wheelies. And kick people.

So it's a goer, then?
Hmmm. Not sure about that. Codemasters have produced some of the world's finest driving games in the past couple of years, but No Fear isn't quite up to the standard of, say, Colin McRae. Visually, it's a bit messy and the bike control could be a little more 'obvious'. But, heck, it's not finished yet. (And Colin McRae was seriously realistic and set in a car, so, er, there you go.)

But mountain bikers are bound to like it anyway.
The ones who haven't yet crashed and died, certainly.

*A wealth of circuits, bikes and riders
*You get to ride past the Brontë Sisters' house
*Pretty fast in the 'handlebar' view
*Visually a bit shabby
*Not easy to control the boneshakers