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No commercially-minded software publisher could resist the opportunity to produce a sequel to its most popular game, so it comes as no surprise to see Gremlin continuing to exploit its Lotus licence after the success of Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge.

But this is no run of the mill sequel. Something you certainly don't get in Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 is a half-hearted rehash of the original with different course layouts and maybe some souped-up graphics. What we have here is a completely new approach to the licence, which borrows from its older brother little more than its playability.

If you are wondering why 'Esprit' has been dropped from the title of this sequel then rest assured that it is not because the Esprit does not feature in the game, but because it has now been joined by the Elan. You can choose which car you prefer to drive for each section of the game.

Unlike the original, in which you did a single circuit and had to finish in the top 10 places to qualify for the next round, Lotus 2 puts you on the open road which is divided up into a number of stages in the tradition of OutRun. To continue playing you simply have to reach the next checkpoint before your time runs out. This can often result in some 'skin of your teeth' finishes in which your time runs out just before the checkpoint and your car just about manages to coast over. Which only adds to the tension and excitement of the race.

Also dropped are the pit-stops, but this is more than made up for by the ability to drive in varying conditions from night driving to fog, and even electrical storms. Interest is added by the full-screen view for single player races, the ability to link machines together, and one to four player options.

I must say, it really is satisfying to play a sequel that has had some thought and effort put into it rather than yet another 'rip-u-off extra levels disk at full price'. Because Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 retains all the playability of the first game, fans of that one are definitely going to like this.

The addition of a variety of driving conditions prevents that feeling of 'deja vu' that seems to prevail in so many sequels, as does the provision of a full screen view for single-player games.

The courses are more interesting too, with a greater variety of hazards to avoid. One of the most impressive aspects of both the Lotus games is the speed and smoothness of the screen updates. There are plenty of 3D driving games in which everything moves at a crawl (the conversions of OutRun being a good example), but Lotus 2 actually manages to give the impression of real speed.

The atmosphere is further enhanced by some extremely realistic sampled effects. This is easily the best 3D road driving game on the market and highly recommended whether you're a Lotus fan or not.