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Despite the name, Turbo Esprit is not a game for the speed merchant. Instead, you are faced with the task of preventing urban drug smugglers from delivering their consignments.

An armoured supply car is transporting the drugs to the city centre where it will be met by four cars that will take the narcotics to secret locations. You have been equipped with a Lotus Turbo Esprit and must round them up.

Even though your car is capable of a simulated speed of 150mph, this is no joyride and even in hot pursuit you must stop at pedestrian crossings if someone is on them. Points are knocked off for moving down innocent pedestrians.

Information on the smugglers' location is given via a map which can be called up at any time and marks your position and that of the smugglers with flashing circles. Messages from HQ also flash up on-screen to keep you up to date, such as "Drugs exchanged". Stopping the smuggers can be done in two ways. Firstly, shoot at them or secondly, 'bump' them which requires a little more subtlety but gets you extra points. Bumping into the smugglers' car at high speeds seems to have a demoralising effect on the occupants and eventually they stop and surrender.

The smugglers of course are not just cruising around waiting to be picked up and they have 'hit cars' which can speed past you at any time and blast you which may mean curtains or a brief visit to the garage if they hit the car. There are four skill levels and you are allocated four cars per game.

Turbo Esprit is best enjoyed using a joystick as the keyboard controls are cumbersome at best. The gameplay is not immediately addictive but does grow on you with time. And the graphics of the urban landscape make a fittingly stark scenario for your mission.