Ridge Racer Revolution is the game Ridge Racer should have been. And this game's a revelation as much as a revolution. The game ooooozes pure PlayStation power, and really shows what our wonder machine is capable of. Just about all the criticisms that were levelled at their first racer have been addressed in this sequel. Before you all get carried away, this game is not Rave Racer, Namco's latest arcade smash, but rather a step in-between to keep all you punters happy. And happy-material it certainly is.

Ridge Racer Revolution unfortunately still has only one track, but what a track it is. There are the obligatory three variations on it, all changing the route somewhat for each difficulty level, but this time, the variety in route and scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Apart from the stunning visuals, all of which flow along incredibly smoothly with no slowdown, the tracks are devious little buggers, with some incredibly challenging sections to negotiate. It's sure to take even the most adept racing fiends a good long while to perfect some of the sharp corners and narrow strips on this course!

Like the original, these courses are played backwards when you complete the first three variants, but unlike the original, there are a couple of new players in Revolution. The first is very simply the Angel car. Where the black Devil car took the piss in Ridge Racer by caning it past you in Time Trial, in Revolution there is a spanking new white Angel car that does exactly the same. Cheers.

But more importantly there is another new player, a human one. Yes, Revolution has a link-up option, so finally you can challenge a friend with another PlayStation to the ultimate in red raw racing. It's this link-up option that was the most sorely missed feature from Ridge Racer, but thank your lucky stars it's here now. 'Cos it's good. Bloody good. There's nothing like challenging a mate to a blasting session with a bit of head-to-head. And that rear-view mirror is bliss! Nobody's getting past me!

There's more. Despite the original sound score being pretty damn fine, Namco have even shifted the sonics up a gear with a handful of new tunes to complement the existing lot, all perfectly matched to the driving frenzy that Revolution is in itself. Just make sure you bang up that hi-fi -- it's worth it.

On the whole, Ridge Racer Revolution is a corker of a game. There is very little wrong with it. I could be finickety and grumble slightly at the fact that there is still only one track, but then again, it is a good track with good variations (And that makes it alright, does it? -- Finickety Ed.) The graphics don't quite feel as fast as Ridge Racer's, but then again they are smoother, and the game flows along at a superb rate.

So what can I grumble at? There's gotta be something wrong. I could moan at the length of time it seems to take an import game to appear on PAL machines... but I guess that's another story. Bugger it! Ridge Racer Revolution is a damn fine game. If you haven't got Ridge Racer, buy it. If you have, then buy it anyway! What the hell! Buy another PlayStation and two copies so you can play with yourself! There! I've said it!

Verdict: 93%