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US Gold released their conversion of Sega's hydraulic arcade driving machine, Outrun, this time two years ago, and although it sold incredibly well, it was generally considered to be a disappointment.

Two years on and history seems to be repeating itself - for what we have here is a conversion of the sequel to Outrun, Turbo Outrun. Is it better than the original? Well, read on and find out.

The aim, as in Outrun, is straightforward enough in that you've got to race across America in your gleaming red Ferrari, with the sun whistling through your shades and your blonde girlie sat by your side. This time round though you have a set route from New York to Los Angeles ahead of you instead of a nameless batch of freeways, and the Testarossa in the first game has been swapped for a considerably more powerful (top speed of 202mph) F40. Gone too is the ability to choose the road you wish to drive on; to compensate, the number of stages has risen from five to sixteen (four states, each containing four stages).

At the end of each state the option is given to customise the F40, making available such extras as a bigger engine, wider tyres and a more powerful turbo boost than the one already fitted. Prowess at the steering wheel is essential to completion of the course, as all the other road users will be doing their damnedest to prevent you from finishing. Don't be tempted to drive recklessly, however, poor handling could mean your fickle girlfriend leaving you at the garage in favour of your arch rival - a hunky guy with a Porsche 959.

Just about everything from the coin-op has been included in this staggering C64 conversion - manual/automatic gear shift, variable weather conditions, the car bouncing when you hit a log, all the roadside objects... the only thing missing are juggernauts on the road and the massive flipover when you crash the car. But you don't really miss them when the gameplay's this fast and exciting.

The graphics are truly excellent, with fast and very convincing 3D and stomach-churning hills, and the sound is truly superb with seven soundtracks, each containing a variety of samples (over 90K in total).

I would never have believed that it was possible to produce such an accurate conversion of Turbo Outrun on the C64 - it's practically a scaled down version of the coin-op. But here it is, and it's incredible.

Outrun is dead. Long live Turbo Outrun!

The speed you need and all the frills you want come together in the most incredible driving game yet seen on the C64. An astounding conversion which shouldn't be missed.