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Trace Race is a follow-up to Cable's other successes with games based on Walt Disney's Tron. It's another fast action game, mostly in machine code, with speech built into the program. Admittedly, I only came across one word, but it's still impressive.

Two versions are open to you, either a solo game or a two-player option. Solo is you against the computer. You fly along a drawn grid, avoiding the trace gates the computer will put in your path.

Crashing into the grid walls, your own trace line (swift U-turns are out) or a gate ends your life. After your run is over, the time is displayed, allowing you to brush up on your skills before challenging friends and enemies to a duel.

The two player option has no trace gates, but the rules are the same.

The throttles on both bikes are jammed wide open (naturally) so your joystick only allows left/right and up/down movement.

Of the two bikes, red always appeared to go faster, so it's not the one to pick to stay alive.

The program is in Cable's standard video box packaging, i.e. sturdy and smart. A short Basic program is loaded first, which on running loads the machine code.

The instruction sheet is clear, brief and simple. A nice touch at the start of the game is the choice of a fast or normal game. As a Dragon owner who suffered with a machine that crashed at the higher speed of 1.8Hz, there was nothing more infuriating than having to find the POKE that doubles the speed, delete it then start a game. At least with this alternative you don't get an instant crash. Running at the normal speed still gives a fast game in either solo or duo versions.

The graphics are very good in both games, as is the sound. The noise made when the trace gates are drawn on didn't really fit in though. They made a kind of squelchy noise, which I didn't think was very suitable, it needed a more metallic sound.

This is only nitpicking though. If you want an enjoyable, straightforward, and instantly playable game for Christmas, then this is the one.

By far the best of Cable's releases so far. But be warned, the only thing you can't do on bikes is stand still.