Racing pulse
Mashed
Xbox,PS2, £34.99 Supersonic/Empire ***
When you talk of "old skool" gaming, Mashed is exactly what you mean. It is not quite retro because the graphics and sound are up to date. However, the gameplay is rooted firmly in the mid 80s, bringing back memories of the age when hand-eye coordination was king.
The title is misleading, as there is nothing extreme or drug-induced about racing tiny cars round tiny circuits. A forced isometric perspective ensures the cars feel as if they are under radio control, with sweeping turns and silly collisions that will quickly reduce your car to scrap if you're not careful.
With a dozen cars to race across 13 circuits (and up to four on screen at once), the replay value of having one more go with a buggy is compelling. However, Mashed deliberately sacrifices distance for difficulty. All the races are broken into bite-size chunks, some lasting just seconds. While not particularly realistic (and slightly repetitive in the single-player game) it is enormously addictive. Cars can be equipped with weapons and launch attacks from the sidelines even after elimination.
The drawbacks are that it is overpriced, the weapons could be more imaginative and the camera has a habit of losing the leading car off the top of the screen (making crashes impossible to avoid). However, for groups of players seeking boisterous half-time relief, Mashed takes some beating. With more variety and detail, it could have been a classic.
Mike Anderiesz
Shot in the foot
Driv3r
Xbox, PS2, £44.99 Reflections/Atari ***
The third instalment of the popular driving-and-shooting franchise cannot escape the shadow of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Both involve much driving and running around, performing criminal actions. In Driv3r, you play Tanner, an FBI agent/cop, renowned for his driving skills and taking on suicidal missions.
Driv3r starts off in a lovingly reconstructed Miami, which will seem familiar to Vice City fans. It does outclass Vice City in one respect: production values. Tanner, for example, is voiced by Michael Madsen, while Mickey Rourke, Michelle Rodriguez and Iggy Pop add their voices. This enlivens the short cut-scenes, which are among the best seen in a game. Graphically, too, it outdoes Vice City, and the cars are a joy to drive.
Sadly, the stiff targeting sucks out much of the gameplay enjoyment. Inexcusably, you cannot adjust the sensitivity. The driving takes place on realistically populated streets (in Istanbul, Nice and Miami), and you soon learn to drive quickly but with precision. But the clunky shooting engine makes the out-of-car sequences a lottery. It is a shame, because the look and storyline are great.
The Xbox version is Live-enabled but, like the Getaway, Driv3r is let down by its on-foot shooting system.
Steve Boxer
Second division
England International Football
Xbox, PS2, £39.99 Codemasters ***
It may have attracted 1m subscribers worldwide but Xbox Live, the online gaming service for the Xbox, has lacked one thing - a football game.
Stepping belatedly into the fray is England International Football, which allows two players the chance to compete against each other or join forces to play the beautiful game. When it works, EIF plays solidly, better than the Fifa series but inferior to Pro Evolution Soccer. Sadly, the key word is "when". Too many games are prematurely disconnected by a fault in the servers, which is frustrating.
Codemasters is promising an imminent fix, but it's a major surprise that this slipped through the net. This aside, EIF is decent. Passing is fluid and simple and the slow pace allows for measured build-ups. The graphics are slightly blurry but the player likenesses are realistic.
Unfortunately, shooting is flawed, being difficult to direct and aim. Defending, too, is erratic, with attackers able to dribble past far too easily. Longevity is also an issue. While the offline modes include leagues and cups, the online mode - undoubtedly the main reason for purchase - is restricted to single games. The ability to set up online leagues or have access to stats would have been a real clincher.
Greg Howson
