‘Inspired by’ the Fifth Element film apparently; though it appears to have drawn more than a little inspiration from just about every arcade ever, too, as I quickly discovered upon loading up Kalisto’s latest hope. That’s not to say that it isn’t like the movie, however; as stylistically it’s spot on. In fact NY Race fairly oozes the charm of Luc Besson’s sci-fi metropolis. The gameplay is purely of the Wipeout genre however, and as you might have already guessed NY Race is not a game you’ll be losing sleep over.

It’s not bad either, and what it does, it does very well. It just isn’t as ‘deep and meaningful’ as many gamers expect. However, for a quick-fix of arcade action, like our console friends enjoy so readily, NY Race fills the void nicely.

Of course, an essential element of any self-respecting arcade game is the dazzling, fast-paced visuals – and it is in this that NY Race excels. Stunning I believe is the phrase, as the lush 3d effects bring Besson’s vision of the future to life in some style. It’s frenetic too; the act of and dodging obstacles occurring at seemingly impossible speeds as racers battle for positions.

Races take place over the twelve tracks of the city, which encompass numerous visually different locales, keeping the progress through the single-player championship fresh and interesting. Of course, the gameplay remains predictable throughout, but you’ll find the initially tricky task of keeping up the pace gets easier as you accustomise yourself to the speed of the courses. The tracks aren’t bad either; fans of the film will no doubt enjoy it, and they’re just about interesting enough to keep you playing to reach the next track. Though the replay value is distinctly lacking.