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It's here. Few jewels shone as bright in Sega's crown as the Daytona coin-op. It is to Virtua Racing what Virtua Racing was itself to Super Monaco GP. And its arrival on the Saturn was anticipated for many reasons.

First, it's the ultimate benchmark test for the machine: replicating £16,000 worth of custom arcade RAM technology within a flexible, £400 CD-based home machine. The comparison is also with Sony's Playstation, competing in price and spec, the Playstation showed it could handle Namco's Ridge Racer arcade game with credit - indeed, many prefer the Playstation version to the coin-op. Fortunate: as it is the only half-decent game for the machine to date. The Saturn's task is greater - a larger and faster game, and one where the details seem almost as important as the main game itself.

But Daytona has been anticipated for altogether better reasons - it's an excellent game. Everything comes together in a feast of speed, a timely reminder that video games can still occasionally astound, even move, their players.

The same principle as any other racing game. Complete the course in the fastest time possible (against 39 other racers!).

Races are set underway by a series of lights, grand prix style, apart from Short Oval's notorious 'Rolling Start!'. Prior to the race you see the field zoom into the final straight, with an enthusiastic Sting imitator singing in the rolling start, allowing you to begin the race at top whack.

In common with other Sega polygon games, there are a choice of four 'Virtua' viewing positions. Like Virtua Racing, these range from Driver's eye positions to well behind the car. However, the furthest of these is not quite as high as the spectacular panoramic viewpoint of Virtua Racing. Playing close-up is by far the most pant-wetting.

Swerve into any of the three courses' pit lanes, and you're treated to a marvellous display of precision mechanics. The view pans over the crew as they change your tyres. In the arcade this was all pretty superfluous, but the new Grand Prix and Endurance options in Saturn mode introduce much longer races of up to 80 laps, where pit technique becomes important. Spectacular crashes will also reduce your spanking lovemobile into a jittering wreck.

The biggest matter of debate surrounding Daytona is its clipping, a phenomenon you won't pick up from the screenshots. Clipping occurs where elements of the background that are not yet meant to be in view are hidden.

The problem is when large objects appear noticeably late, or worse, where large features, e.g. the Sonic Wall, appear in bits.

There's been a lot of comment over Daytona since it arrived, both good and bad. For some, it's not as they had hoped, with some poor presentational details, and the major let-down of the background clipping.

However, let's get this into perspective - £16,000 of kit more than successfully shrunk into a single CD. Daytona still looks fabulous, runs faster than anyone can easily handle, and gamely incorporates most of the features of the coin-op.

Minor gripes aside, Daytona is a fantastic package, and the second purchase to get with your Saturn after Virtua Fighter.

Right, first of all, no this isn't arcade-perfect. However, the Saturn version of Daytona plays every bit as well as the coin-op, and has all the tracks and features of the original.

Graphics 92%
P. Fully textured, incredibly fast 3D creates the most convincing racing atmosphere ever.
N. Larger elements of complex background are badly handled by the Saturn.

Sound 86%
P. The sound effects are mostly brilliant and the first music is thumpin'.
N. Listening to the other manic warblings is a trial.

Lastability 91%
P. Dayton's classic status is assured. People will be queuing up to play it for weeks to come.

Value For Money 81%
P. If you gotta have it, you gotta have it.
N. The import price is still scandalous and it's not a flawless conversion.

Overall 92%
Daytona USA is Daytona USA. Don't let the doubters put you off a stunning conversion of the world's greatest racer.