Just as Project Gotham Racing rewards players for driving skilfully with “kudos” points, so this new driving game encourages stylish handling with “respect” points. With enough respect you can hire better driving crews and buy yourself some street cred.

Juiced has a chequered history. The game was originally in the portfolio of the publisher Acclaim, which went to the wall just as Juiced was about to be released. THQ then stepped into the breach and promptly decided that it needed six months’ more work. Has it been worth the wait? Almost certainly.

The game is set around the gritty streets of the fictional Angel City, where players can unlock 50 or so authentic-looking vehicles, all of which can be customised endlessly. But the cars are not the only stars, as races take place across more than 100 dusty routes.

Juiced sits somewhere between an arcade racer and a full-blown driving simulation with cars that handle well and graphics that are solid and smooth. The gameplay is varied enough to maintain interest, and its clutch of quirky distractions adds to the experience. After all its development setbacks, it’s definitely worth a spin.

Tim Wapshott

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