In this word, we're constantly told that you get what you pay for - and that's doubly true when it comes to games. Games don't grow on trees - they take countless man hours to make and it's not unusual for a game to take three years from start to finish. Which is why games aren't going to get cheaper anytime soon.

But here comes Ford Racing 2, a brand new racing game for under 20 notes. Surely if Empire can do it, anyone can. Or so the argument goes. So, how has Empire done it? Well, it claims to be making a reduced profit on each game sold as well as taking advantage of Microsoft's multi-layered publishing model. The thinking behind this bold move is that people will see the unbelievable price and buy it on impulse, thinking "Well, it's not even the price of a night out/DVD/takeaway/massage". It's the gaming equivalent of a supermarket's "sell 'em cheap and stack 'em high" philosophy. Which begs the question: is this a cheapo tin of beans or an altruistic shot in the arm for Joe Punter?

In truth, it's a bit of both. There's no way this can stand comparisons with the likes of Project Gotham Racing 2, but at the same time it's not a complete dog. It's pointedly aimed at casual gamers, who in the makers' opinion, won't recognise that this isn't in the same league as the Xbox's premier racing games. What they'll see is a stack of instantly recognisable Ford motors from the last 60 years and a package that screams "Pick me up and play, I'm a friendly game!"

And just as soon as play starts it becomes evident how they conjured up this game for the price. It's not that it looks hideous, it's more a case of it looking bland and uninspiring. The game world looks solid enough but it's all reliant on things seen a hundred times before, whether it's a helicopter buzzing over the track or a sweep past a fairground.

Nothing sticks out, even after hours of play, and the same can be said for the actual track layout. Yes, there are comers and stuff, but if you asked us to pick out a stand-out moment of racing beauty we'd be hard pressed to think of one.

The same could be said for the cars. They look exactly as they should, with a bog-standard reflective sheen that's as generic and familiar to this type of game as wheels on all four corners of a car. And you can't damage them, or even crash them. Nor can you tweak them or change their colour. And once at the wheel it's apparent there's a one-size-fits-all approach to handling.

There are minor differences to how the various cars feel, but nothing that would make an inexperienced gamer struggle to adapt. Careless cornering is seldom punished, in fact, everything conspires to keep you in the race, making you feel for a brief moment like a racing god. That is until you rumble the ruse and drive like a paralytic joyrider, intent on self-defeating stupidity, only to find that a Ford is indeed the safest place to be.

But there are plus points - notably the number of racing challenges and the way they're fed to the player. It's not just first past the post races, although you can fill a cavernous pair of boots with that style of race if you want. There are also challenges that ask you to keep a racing line, to stay in the slipstream of a twitchy opponent, to avoid being in the last two places by the end of a lap and many other worthwhile tests of vehicular skill.

Success is always rewarded with a new car, type of match-up or track, and this is to be applauded, as is the way you can dip in and out of the different car classes. Basically, short of blindfolding yourself or tying one hand behind your back, you're never going to get to a point where you can't progress any further.

And in the end, that's what the makers probably intended. This is a game that anyone can excel at, especially someone who breaks into a cold, gibbering sweat at the merest mention of 'learning curves' or 'realistic handling'. So whether Razor Works intended it or not, the fact is this game plays like most Ford cars - safely and predictably. This is perhaps what you want for the daily schlep to work, but in a racing game it's far from a winning formula.

1. It's only £20!
2. Lots of different cars and race types

1. Unchallenging gameplay
2. Looks like any number of racers
3. Some of the cars are just plain crap

Power
At least there isn't any slowdown, but then again, you never feel as if you're really motoring.

Style
As undistinguished and derivative as an entry-level Fiesta. Identikit tracks and plain car models.

Immersion
The level of difficulty and the lacklustre track design means you'll never be truly engaged.

Lifespan
It's highly unlikely you'll ever be bothered to unlock every car, track or match-up.

Summary
Aimed at casual gamers after cheap racing fun, but it has predictable tracks, simpleton challenges and dull graphics.