We tend to be cynical about any game with a 'hip twist'. Titles including the words 'mania', 'crazy' or 'street' are usually attempting to hide lame games and smack of something painfully out of touch trying to be "down with the kids". Surprise for us, then, that Motocross Mania 3 isn't lame at all, but a decent, violent bike racer with some good looks and outlandish cursing.

The key to this modest success is a direct, no-nonsense approach. Your objective is simple: speed through the game's 20-odd circuits, using your racing flair to keep one step ahead of your opponents. Or, if that fails, maim them into second place with your weapon of choice, selected from the game's offering of golf clubs, crowbars, cricket bats and so on. The courses range from staple motocross dirt tracks to mountains and city blocks, with just enough sharp turns and jumps to keep you interested in-between batterings. The game's biggest strength, though, is the feel of the racing itself. Unlike a small army of other budget racing titles we could mention, the weight, balance, and feel of the bike here is spot-on.

True, it's not that much better than grabbing a dirt-bike in GTA: San Andreas and jumping off the top of a mountain, but this lets you smack people round the chops with a cricket bat. This pleases us. And for that, Motocross Mania 3 earns itself a shiny 'just above average' medal.

Graphics 60%
Soft-focus but reasonable.

Sound 60%
Appropriately crunchy crash effects.

Gameplay 60%
Good feel to the driving and weapons.

Lifespan 50%
Nothing more than a novelty.

Overall 60%
Not likely to break into your top ten, but the visuals, driving and weapons make this a budget game that's value for money.