Who would ever think that racing games could be compared to buses? But, just like the double-deckers, you wait ages for one to arrive and then three turn up at once. In the same month that both Sega GT 2002 and Colin McRae Rally 3 roared into the office and did handbrake turns all over our desks, Rally Fusion: Race of Champions nips in just before we wave the chequered flag.

So, another straight laced rally sim that'll put the brakes on anyone who hasn't got an encyclopaedic knowledge of engine oil? Nope. This is an arcade rally racer that's both great to look at, easy to pick up and fun to play.

Rally Fusion is loosely based on the slightly obscure Michelin sponsored Race of Champions event, held annually in the Canary Islands. But that doesn't mean that all tracks are lined with palm trees, bars named after footballers and pink men in pastel shirts eating kebabs. Instead, you have a multitude of both courses and challenges along with a plethora of options to keep you plugging away at the game.

On an eye candy level, Rally Fusion is up there with the best of them. Attention to detail has been lavished on pretty much everything you see during the race. The tracks are varied, ranging from desert to arctic, with city and forest levels in between.

The cars themselves look the business and respond to the environment admirably. Light reflects from bodywork when the sun shines on it, and dirt splashes on the car if you race through muddy patches.

But reflections and mud splatters are the superficial ways in which the cars interact with the tracks. By far the most impressive aspect is just how much damage you can do to your vehicle. You can trash your motor, and indeed those of competitors, on a level almost with the Destruction Derby series of old.

Discarded bumpers and smashed windscreens are the tip of the iceberg. Listen to your co-driver scream in terror as you rip the doors off, wrench off the bonnet, smash big chunks of bodywork and turn a perfectly good tyre into a ball of rubber ribbons before grinding along on three wheels.

In reaction to the damage, the car responds suitably to the pain you inflict upon it. Waste a wheel and get ready to struggle to regain control, damage the gearbox and watch your rate of acceleration drop like a stone. These aspects encourage you to not turn the race into a bout of bumper cars, no matter how tempting that option may be. But, unfortunately, the dodgem effect is one the game's inevitable drawbacks. In creating an arcade rally title, realism and indeed many elements of simulation are sacrificed. Cars can bounce off one another like snooker balls. You can also find yourself driving horizontally along fences and walls and the old chestnut of using an opponent to help you brake around corners (by slamming into him) is in effect here.

Even in the traditional time based rally mode, handling can also be questionable and often feels very light to control. Although you are faced with many variations of track and weather conditions, the driving sensation of navigating different terrain often feels quite similar and results in just a case of braking hard, throwing out the back end and hoofing it forward as quick as you can.

There is also a lack of depth that, regardless of its arcade intentions, does not disguise an area that could have been improved. The Race of Champions Challenge mode is probably the most extensive of the options available as it requires qualification through a series of stages and then progression through a multitude of challenges in order to unlock different classes of cars.

During each specific challenge, damage is carried over to the next stage, yet you are only presented with an extremely basic repair option where credits can be spent on fixing vital components with no scope for any kind of procurement or customisation of parts.

But criticisms aside, Rally Fusion: Race of Champions is a great racing game for people that may not necessarily think of themselves as hardcore racing fans. All the requisite components of a quality racer are present - break-neck speed, tight racing and spectacular crashes. And it's only because the game is so satisfying on an arcade level that many may look for more depth of gameplay to continue enjoying the experience.

In the same vein that Champ Man fans may consider the more accessible LMA Manager 2003 to be beneath them, rally purists may not be going to give much thought to this title. That's a shame because, in terms of pure racing fun, Rally Fusion: Race of Champions is a contender that doesn't deserve to be overshadowed by more established driving titles.

1. Solid, playable arcade race fun
2. Looks very good
3. Easy to play

1. Too arcadey for those that like sim driving games
2. Handling is basic
3. Feeble garage mode

Power
Great looking races and the framerate nips along nicely too. Plenty of detail in every screen.

Style
Damage-heavy and lots of nice weather effects. The handling is a little light though.

Immersion
Getting out of Class C is a big ask. After that prepare for a challenge - if arcade racing is your thing!

Lifespan
Loads of racing options to play through before you even think about challenging a mate.

Summary
Not really a 'proper' rally sim but instead this is a quality arcade racer that looks great and is a ton of fun to play.