It's like WipEout, then? Yes, and there's a reason for that...

Gamers of a certain age may remember Powerdrome from those duelling machines of yesteryear, the Atari ST and Amiga. The geezer wot done it is now at Argonaut and this is what it looks like when he and his homies have another bash fifteen years later. So of course it looks like WipEout. It inspired WipEout.

Fast? Oh, and then some. The craft are called 'blades' and never mind a knife through butter, these move like Madame Guillotine through a traitor's neck: Whiissh... Whaarrrmm - blink and you miss 'em. It's so fast, in fact, that negotiating more than a handful of turns without ending up with your head up your chuffbox is an achievement worthy of note. There's always the option to slow down, but the other racers are competitive from very early on, and to do so is to limp home last. Unless...

Power-ups. Don't squirm, it's not as if they're littered on the track like ashtray detritus on a council estate. The only form of power-up is a 'boost'. The only way to earn one is to avoid crashing for a while. The only way to use it... well, actually there are two ways: temporarily increase the already cheek-flapping speed of your blade, or repair it if it ails. Like, tactics, yeah?

With its twenty tracks, the championship mode provides plenty of challenge, though the weak split-screen two-player option is a trifle disappointing. (Small area + high speed = blank eyes and foamy mouths.) Little else disappoints, and while Powerdrome may not take PS2 by storm as it did the clunksters of yore, it's game that isn't hard to like.

Graphics 70%
Smooth and fast - a bumper combo.

Sound 50%
Repetitive rider-chat, sounds are weedy.

Gameplay 70%
It'd be harsh to fault simplicity.

Lifespan 70%
Plenty of tracks, races get tough.

Overall 60%
Trails WipEout Fusion in style and substance but is well up in its slipstream. A simple, satisfying, super-speedy racer.