The strength of the Burnout series in a market awash with decent driving games has always been its variety. Within the 'world tour' that provides the main focus of the game you can race in mini-grand prix, power through racing laps and trade wing mirrors in dodgem-style races with the emphasis on twisting the metal of opponents and not your own.

The fourth instalment of the best-selling racing series has improved it's presentation and tweaked its reward system. The music is better, the voice-over is less irritating and players can unlock new cars and tracks through a combination of medals won and driving skill, whether it be in the quality of drift when cornering or hang-time after speeding off ramps.

Racing opponents are more aggressive then ever, a quality which is alluded to in the game's title. If you are run off the road by a rival, the car responsible becomes your 'revenge rival' and your rating in the race will be affected by how quickly you can return the favour. You can now also shunt normal traffic, depending on the size, into opponents if they are getting ahead of you.

The locations are varied, but with the usual generic locations, and a repetitiveness noticable in the track layout for each stage is reduced somewhat by the addition of numerous shortcuts along each route.

Overall, Burnout Revenge is an excellent arcade racer, with smooth visuals and throaty sound effects. Most events are short and sweet and this makes playing the game as enjoyable in short bursts as it is during a long session.

TIM MESTON

Editor's choice

• Burning Bush with W
• Revolution at the new Saatchi Gallery
• Boy George on sex, drugs and Amy Winehouse