Pimp My Ride

Pimp My Ride, as any young hipster knows, is that faintly ridiculous television programme in which lucky viewers' old bangers are taken away by rap star Xzibit and his associates and - for want of a better phrase - tarted up a bit. In modern parlance, that's tricked out, bwoy! Ahem.

In Pimp My Ride, the game, as in the TV show, bling is king. Taking a battered old AMC Pacer and giving it a two-tone metallic paint finish and a change of oil is simply not enough. Xzibit and pals seemingly have no boundaries (in cash outlay, taste - you name it) as far as transforming a vehicle is concerned, and so it is with the game. Of course, to go with the modified motors, you also get the other accoutrements: bangin', bass-heavy chewns, urban yout' representation, and all the sights and sounds that you might expect from a modern, urban take on rags to riches.

Some delightful luxury items are on offer with which to pimp your ride. LCD flat screen TV's, the shiniest of shiny rims, scaled down bucking bronco units.the list goes on. And then there's the racing element of Pimp My Ride. Style matters alright, but doesn't count for everything, and as with any other videogame with motors in it, racing also comes into the equation. You can take your modified monster for a spin through free-roaming environments with evocative names such as New Wave Beach, Hip-Hop Heights and Downtown Metro.