As noble as the inclusion of the multiplayer mode may be, it's hard to see its IPX network races supplanting Quake 3 as the lunchtime or post-office hours game of choice. The split-screen alternative is equally (however lamentably) redundant. We all know you can daisy-chain Sidewinder pads, but who does?

The physics of Beetle Crazy Cup are its best and worst feature. Tap the D-pad or key and your car responds sluggishly. Hold either down for a second and your motor veers wildly in the specified direction. With so many racing games purporting to offer 'real' driving dynamics, it's surprisingly refreshing to encounter such blatantly Mickey Mouse handling mechanics. Steering your car is like crawling with a full bladder, or walking across linoleum in your socks. It's uncomfortable, unwieldy and frustrating, but above all else, it's a challenge - a redeeming aspect of the highest order.

Unfortunately, BCC is occasionally guilty of that most heinous of gaming crimes: it's inconsistent. Hitting a barrier or a rival car sends you bouncing across the road... but then, half the time it doesn't. Your rival cars can hit you from behind, knocking you from the track. Occasionally, though, you'll just lose acceleration momentarily and not know why. You can get stuck, albeit briefly, on certain sections of scenery. In short, BCC doesn't inspire trust. You often feel as if it scuppers your chances through ill-considered design or inadequate polish, rather than providing a healthy contest.

Besides, who exactly is Beetle Crazy Cup aimed at? Who thought, "Hey, everyone's buying first-person shoot 'em ups and C&C clones. Let's release a console-style racing game!" This is no attack on variety or originality - both are, obviously, dear to us at Future Gamer - but we can't see BCC making a dent on the charts. To paraphrase a famous Swansea-baiting poet, it's an ugly, lovely game. It has annoyed and enthralled in comparable measures. It leaves us conflicted. So: vague approbation it is then...