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Comical caper ahoy! Less than a year after its diabolical debut, Viz has come again. And now the price is as low as the humour.

You get to control either Biffa Bacon, Johnny Fartpants or Buster Gonad in the annual Fulchester 'fun run'. This is split into five horizontally scrolling races: fail to finish first in any and it's game over.

From the moment Roger Mellie steps up to do his filthy (but hilarious) commentary, you know what you're in for: this game isn't recommended for young children, or strict parents!

It is very funny, though, watching all your favourite comic characters in action - even if bumping into them removes one of your three lives. In the first Countryside race there's Bertie Blunt and his parrot, plus the fascist Parkie who beats you up if you dare to step on his grass. Other hazards include fences, trees, crevasses and referee Rodney Rix, who throws a brick if you move out of your lane!

Subsequent levels take you through the Town with Mrs Brady Old Lady and Aldridge Prior making appearances, the Building Site with Shakin' Stevens playing a tune (so bad it reverses your controls!), the Beach with the Pathetic Sharks and, finally, the Disco with the Fat Slags and Sid The Sexist.

To help them over smaller obstacles, each competitor has a special power, units of which are earned in a pre-race sub-game. There's two different ones for each character, including Biffa drinking pints, Buster squashing pizza bases (guess what with!) and Johnny using a unique method to blow up balloons!

Each character also has a Superpower for extra speed: Biffa goes into a fighting frenzy, Johnny does a 'mega pump' while Buster carts his 'assets' along in a wheelbarrow!

It's all good (if not clean) fun, but you won't wet your knickers playing Viz, that's for sure. There's plenty of time to go to the lavvy (after all, that lavatorial humour) due to the chronic multi-load. There's even two separate tapes: one for the sub-games, the other for the levels. In fact, more time is spent loading than playing - it's a shame you can't restart the current race/sub-game.

If you can put up with all the waiting, the game itself is great fun to play. No, it doesn't really use the licence to the full, with most of the characters only making cameo

What a waste! The Viz licence could've been used for a really fabby game, but instead we get this tosh - an ordinary, everyday, seen-it-all-before race offering with a few waggler sub-levels.

Gameplay is extremely frustrating. When you hit the deck, chances are it'll be because you ran into something obscured by scenery, and after your third fall you have to reload almost from scratch - there aren't any continues either!

Viz: The Game reminds me of Viz magazine's competitors - lots of swearing and violence, but none of the humour that made its namesake so fabby. Even on budget, this is one to avoid. 38%

Presentation 40%
Chronic multi-load, choice of three characters.

Graphics 81%
Colourful and detailed, huge sprites in sub-games.

Sound 70%
Cheery bop-along tune, and sparse effects.

Hookability 68%
Simple race action plus amusing sub-games.

Lastability 47%
Multi-load eventually takes its toll on your patience.

Overall 54%