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So, according to the press release that accompanies the game, if you really "Want to burn some rubber? Feel the need for speed? Then take on hot rod". Well, I'm a bit of a car racing fan so I decided that enough was enough and after being excited by the press release, it was time to load up the game and give it my best shot.

Hot Rod is a multi load game, so you will need to load in each section as you proceed. Each section of the game pits your skills against two other hot rods, or if you wish to play two player mode, you and a pal against the computer-controlled hot rod. Gameplay is quite easy, as there are only three controls you will need to use. Accelerate to gain speed and left and right to allow you to control your steering wheel once you have put your foot down hard on the acceleration pad. In order to hinder you in the quest to become Hot Rockier numero uno, there are a number of obstacles and weather conditions which will slow you down. These will range from rock slides and slipper sand which may lead onto fatal results if you are unable to control your hot rod, through to adverse weather conditions such as snowdrifts, rain and ice.

Then of course you have to be careful to make sure you don't run out of fuel, because if you do, you can't complete the course. So, it becomes a must to keep control of the amount of fuel being burnt up. Other problems you will encounter are construction crews and police cars who will try and hinder your progress.

So once you have managed to win a race, you will then have the option to make your hot rod bigger, badder and faster and do even better against the other hot rodders in your forthcoming games.

It's been several months coming, but Activision has managed to deliver a fast and furious racing game. The graphics may be a bit on the small side and not very well defined, but they are effective and you do get a sense of action when they are moving. Sound and music are good, being not too much, nor too little. The only problem is the multi load, especially if you are a 464 owner, having to load section by section does get a bit boring, especially when you want to replay the current screen you have just lost out in against the computer controlled hot rodders.

For what it is, Hot Rod is not too bad, for its price, a bit over the top. My advice, wait a month or so until you see it appear on a compilation and then go out and get it as part of one.