London Racer

There is one letter and two numbers that when put together can strike terror into the heart of any motorist - M25. And now there is a PC experience for those too squeamish or plain sensible to take to the road, as newcomers Davilex bring us London Racer.

Obviously a work of fiction - racing around the capital is impossible due to the density of traffic - the accompanying booklet tells us that the London Racer organisation has been holding illegal races throughout the south for an indeterminate number of years. Traditionally, these races start and finish somewhere on the M25. The other tracks are kept secret until you succeed in the previous races. You have to prove your worth as a London Racer in a total of three leagues, and beating off the competition will earn you upgrades and bigger, better, faster cars.

Despite starting out on the dreaded orbital, you'll discover a dearth of traffic at first, so putting your foot on the gas and blowing away your opponents is fairly easy. It's only when roadworks get in the way, or you get stopped by the police that things begin to get tricky. Be warned, perseverance and the stiffest of stiff upper lips are what's required to make your way through the game.

As its title suggests, London Racer is very Anglo-centric and features only the finest English landmarks such as Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace. Racing from the capital to Oxford and back is a novel twist on the genre, especially if you've seen the scenery for real.