The most immediate aspect of the game, of course, is the speed. We're talking blistering pace here, with an average of 600mph, and in certain cases, in excess of 1000mph. And, for the most part, frame rates are perfectly respectable, even considering the copious background detail and Expansion Pak-led, hi-res graphics.

Things do tend to fog up a bit - and pop up a bit - in two-player mode, but otherwise, Racer is the very model of technical wonderment. The handling is superb - relying on a three-point physics system (the two hoofing great engines and the vulnerable cockpit trailing behind them), and successfully negotiating the various tortuous tracks in the game requires plenty of practice.

The controls, while superficially simple, provide plenty of room for improvement. The turbo boost, for example, requires a fiddly combination of button-pressing and analogue-twiddling to pull off, thus necessitating a certain amount of tactical nous.

Elsewhere, there's a great emphasis on tweaking and upgrading every component of your racer through the cash you gain from winning races, an aspect of the game that works remarkably well. The game may be initially easy but there's so much to do, and exploring each shortcut-ridden track is such a joy, that you'll forgive this small shortcoming.

Racer, then, is tremendous fun. And, we'll wager, once you've seen The Phantom Menace, the one thing you'll want to do is head straight home and play this game. And if that's not a recommendation, then what is?