Previous Next

Verooom! Let me at it. This must be the closest anyone has got to putting that ace arcade game Hang-On onto computer. Max Torque is a pretty straightforward bike racing game - but it's fast and lots of fun.

And you don't have to go through all that boring multi-load business that Super Cycle - the US Gold game - put you through.

You race across varying types of track with different colourful backgrounds, always against the clock. There are six sections of track to complete - finish a section and you'll get a points bonus - as in Enduro Racer and Hang-On.

Fail and the game shows you the complete track with an indication of just how close you were to the finish line - again like the arcade machine.

Other riders aren't very friendly. They try to bump you off the track. You can pull spectacular wheelies off the start line and on the track - but always remember to get your bike into the right gear otherwise you'll end up struggling along and failing to finish.

Watch the top left hand side of the screen for arrows which indicates what sort of corner you're about to encounter - a sharp left or a long right, for example.

But don't take your eyes off the track for too long or you might find yourself running out of road, or being hit by an opponent.

The bike is tricky to control. Small joystick movements are required here - if you are too heavy-handed you'll send up taking a tumble.

Line yourself up and lean into the corners with one jab on the stick, pull out and head down the straight with another. Any more and you'll be weaving all over the road.

Once on the bike animation is excellent. The rider's head moves in time with movement of th bike and little puffs of tyre smoke come from the "tyres" and "Hang On" - all the spur you on to greater speeds.

Programmer Martin Webb has put together an excellently presented and fun-to-play race game. Great graphics, good sound, good game.