A persistent green arrow advises you of the next checkpoint's general direction, but it's often misleading - indicating as the crow flies, rather than the ground route. Thankfully, a superbly simple-to-read street map can be constantly scanned to get your bearings, and much of your time is consequently spent frantically glancing between map and road - a process that's actually a lot more fun than it sounds.

Because a garage feature is conspicuous only by its absence, choosing your chariot wisely (and avoiding obstacles) is imperative. A single high-speed collision can render your car useless, and thanks to distinctly sensitive handling, judicious use of the brake and handbrake are necessary to finish the courses. Securing victory during the single-player game unlocks extra vehicles (such as coaches and lorries), and if the scenery doesn't differ dramatically throughout the game, the thrill of weaving between lines of gridlocked cars on freeways, ignoring the traffic lights and out-running the cops more than makes up for it.

Naturally there's a price to pay, in visual terms, for the relentless on-screen action. The cars' detail has been kept to a bare minimum, the skyscrapers can seem a little bland, and even on the recommended spec new levels can chug frustratingly before they're cached. The fact remains though, that Midtown Madness is not only a good idea well realised, but a polished, original racer that puts many so-called 'serious' sims to shame.