Code Masters
£2.99 cass

All fans of Super Stuntman shout hoorah. For its sequel has finally arrived - Italian Supercar. Take control of a quattrovalve, turbo charged, jolly fast sports car in five thrilling levels of obstacles, ramps and deep rivers. Life's not as easy as it seems though: the levels are littered with red mines which could blow you to bits.

This game has CodeMasters written all over it - and not only on the packaging: the graphics and music are instantly recognisable. The small but excellently drawn sprites complement the obstacles and backgrounds, with colour being quite generously used. All the presentation is superb, animated title sequences, full screen display (no more ugly black borders) and a great border in the game itself. The music, unfortunately, is not the best I've ever heard and the effects do leave a lot to be desired.

The game can get very annoying at first. The way the car bashes into all the obstacles without any damage being caused is unrealistic, but does help the beginner. Once you've worked out in your mind where all the mines and ramps are you'll be able to complete the first level easily. The time limit is not very long so you have to get each level off to a fine art.

Italian Supercar is a good follow up to Super Stuntman, and all fans of the game will love it. A good, fun arcade thrill.

BARGAIN BASEMENT

Another delve into the recesses of Speccy softstuff with Dr Marcus "stand very still and try not to scream" Berkmann.

Code Masters
£2.99
Reviewer: Marcus Berkmann

What, yet another new game from CodeMasters? Phew, these boys are busy. This one's a sort of follow-up to Super Stuntman, and it's a nice little runner (20 thousand on the clock, squire, new carburettor, and a bargain at seven grand). The view's from above, and you have to whizz through a course, avoiding all the usual rocks (slow you down), mines (blow you up) and, a little unsportingly, all the bullets coming from the other cars. Zoom over water by means of a ramp or a bridge or drive through it at about 2 mph - it's your choice. And best of all, you do all this in the tastiest of red gleamy Italian motors. First up is the Lambo, and thereafter there are four more courses, all of which you must negotiate in a brand new car. (Sadly you don't get to keep them afterwards. ) In fact, you even get three lives, which is one major difference from real stunt car racing (one life). If you can get through all the course, avoid all the various buildings you're constantly being invited to crash into, and keep away from those murderous copter chappies - well, you're a better driver than I, and to be honest that wouldn't be hard. Fab stuff, and I rather suspect there may just be time for another game...