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Get behind the wheel of a souped-up, fuel-injected, four wheel drive - wait for it - ice-cream van. Well, that's what it looks like to me. Exciting stuff, eh? Well, although it looks naff, your car is, in fact, the latest, state-of-the-art, Mad Max-ian mean machine. But is it the ultimate vehicle? Not quite. It gets even more state-of-the-art as the game progresses. Eventually it transforms (with bolt-on goodies such as turbo-chargers, increased traction, speed boosters, missile launchers and shield armour) until it's not a case of, "Oh God, we've just been burned off by a Robin Reliant!" but more like, "Adios, Mr. Lamborghini!"

Races occur between you and two computer drones (if in one-player mode) or between you, one computer drone and another player (if you like losing friends). Each race consists of four laps of the course and there are sixteen different courses of increasing difficulty through which the talented can progress (everybody else is kerb fodder). The last eight courses are in fact the same as the first eight except that they're done in reverse and some sadist has gone and added extra hazards. To continue onto the next race you must always beat the computer opposition (who gradually speed up as the game goes on). And to lure you into a sense of false security, three credits are granted at the start to keep the dreaded 'game over' message at bay.

Hazards take numerous ghastly forms which together definitely do not combine to provide a major contribution to road safety. Pools of water (blue blobs) slow you down drastically to the accompaniment of a super 'vroosh' noise. Oil spills (black blobs), on the other hand, send you into an uncontrollable spin for a couple of hair-raising seconds. Hydraulic bollards which appear or disappear at random change the whole status of the race. Hard-fought-for two-second leads can be lost as precious moments are spent furiously grinding rubber against a seemingly immovable object which has inexplicably sprung up in front of you. These can only be blown away in a waste of valuable missiles or removed at some whim of the game. Other, less stoic but worryingly more explosive, bollards pop-up (and pop-off!) during the later stages of the game.

Explosive bollards are ignited as a result of collisions. These trigger time fuses which fizzle menacingly until the next unfortunate Badlander makes contact and gets barbecued; at which point a chopper flies over to deposit a new car where the old one met its maker. The race continues with only a few seconds lost.

You can get down to some serious spanner work between each race, provided you have the necessary dosh. In this game, wrenches (golden wrenches to be precise) are hard currency. Three wrenches buy you one of the add-ons mentioned at the beginning and, apart from the six you're given to start off with, these wrenches can be collected in three ways. Bonus wrenches are awarded for finishing first and for beating lap records. Two wrenches appear on the track at set points throughout each race and these are collected by being driven over.

Once you've played the game a few times, you get to know when and where wrenches are going to appear. This not only enables you to improve your car more quickly but adds a terrible new dimension to the two player game. The sight of your opponent lurking ominously at a known wrench-dropping spot, trigger-finger at the ready in case you should attempt to steal his bounty, owes less to the Nigel Mansell (Hurrah!) school of motoring fair play than to the Ayrton Senna (Boo!) variety. Not that I'm biased, of course.

In fact, it's in two player mode that the game really comes alive, as these and other subtle tactics develop, especially as cars customise at different rates. There's a definite friend-or-foe decision to be made regarding your non-computer opposition.

For instance, if you're about to cross the finishing line a glorious two laps ahead of the field, do you wait until player two is ahead of the drone - thus enabling him to continue into the next round - or do you just go for it?

The two joystick options both have their faults, largely due to the incorporation of weapons into the game. Both modes use left/right as directional controls and, in mode A, acceleration is provided by the fire button. However, with the fire button occupied, missile launching and general bullet scattering has to be achieved by rapid joystick wiggling. Thus bullets are often fired unnecessarily during tight corners or in sudden manoeuvres.

This isn't a problem with limitless bullets but it's a real waste of precious missiles (three golden wrenches buys you only four of them) - very frustrating indeed. In mode B, the fire button fulfils its traditional role which leaves acceleration down to a forward push of the joystick. This often conflicts with any left/right movement you might attempt and can very easily result in a serious lack of control.

Sound effects and music are both well catered for. Despite the dubious control mechanisms and the dodgy 'ice-cream van' car graphics, Badlands is an excellent game if played with two players. Frustrating, addictive, exciting, challenging, it will turn best friends into arch-enemies - but only on the track, of course.

1. Sixteen different and difficult courses to get to grips with!
2. Unusual hazards make the race more challenging than just 'first over the finishing line'
3. Several continues ensure that your championship hopes aren't prematurely dashed.
4. Excellent choice of custom parts to satisfy most 'tweakers'
5. Really comes into its own when two players are involved.
6. Once you learn the tracks, it becomes much more tactical.
7. Good 'n boppy soundtrack.

1. Awkward control mechanism causes control loss or wasted ammunition
2. Not very original - so obviously the sequel to Super Sprint
3. Course graphics are a tad messy.