Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee

The Dukes of Hazzard series of games, particularly popular with nostalgic fans of the 1980s TV classic, brought with it an almost retro breed of mission-based driving. Famed for its sense of humour and authenticity over realism and technical merit, the series is finally moving into current generation territory in Return of the General Lee.

Set in Hazzard County, players step into the shoes of Bo and Luke Duke as they race to win prize money in order to save a local orphanage from Boss Hogg's latest crooked scheme. With the help of the ever-popular Daisy Duke, Uncle Jesse and Cooter, the good old boys go up against the villainous Boss Hogg and his bumbling cohorts Sheriff Rosco and Deputy Enos in order to win the Hazzard County Derby. Like the TV show, Return of the General Lee is filled with wild off-road action, gravity-defying stunts and adrenaline-pumping car chases.

Getting into the game proper, mission-based driving makes itself apparent as you are issued goals, objectives and requests from your fellow countrymen in this brand new story-driven racer. Races, chases and even stunt missions bring plenty of variety to the proceedings, and players can also drive any number of familiar country vehicles, such as the Black Charger, Cooter's Tow Truck and Daisy's Pickup.

15 missions and a split-screen multiplayer game help to boost the longevity of this quirky racer, boasting head-to-head destruction derby battles and even co-operative play - something very rare to the driving genre.

Return to the General Lee is very much like the first two games from Ubisoft, but that much-needed graphical update seen in this latest offering is a welcome improvement. It's most certainly the best in the series.