Paris Dakar Rally (PS2)

The Paris Dakar Rally is one of the toughest tests of man and machine in the world. Thanks to the good people at Acclaim, it's now possible to take that test courtesy of their new PlayStation 2 title and a couple of hours in front of the TV. The 6500-mile trek across Europe and the desert is presented over 12 stages of gruelling action, each one navigable in vehicles including dune buggies, 4x4 off-roaders and motor cycles. The stages are run-of-the-mill affairs--nothing like the richness of Gran Turismo 3 or even Ridge Racer here; this is basically a dirt road affair.

Sound is atmospheric and seems to consist entirely of African tribal drumming with a few vehicle effects and co-driver speech (where applicable). Given that this is a rally there's never really a feeling of competition; occasionally a competitor rumbles past at low speed as you pile your vehicle into the shrubbery but other than that it's a fairly solitary affair.

Paris Dakar Rally certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea and for the middle-of-the-road racing fan, GT3 or Extreme G3 will give more instant gratification. Rally fans might be persuaded to give it a try, however. --Chris Russell

Now you can test your racing skills against a game modelled off of the fabled Paris-Dakar Rally, a gruelling stage race beginning in Paris, France, and ending in Dakar, Senegal. To win, you'll race through miles of hostile terrain, battle equally hostile weather, and fend off a pack of the fiercest vehicles in the world.

Play includes campaign mode with its 12-stage race; arcade mode is an all out sprint to the finish using any means necessary; and time attack lets you test new strategies and routes. Choose from 24 licensed trucks, cars, ATV quads, or even motocross bikes, each with unique capabilities and characteristics.

You can customise your route, choosing to race over, around, or through various obstacles. Customisable vehicle settings let you adjust suspension height, tyre type, and more. It's even possible to choose the types of vehicles you'd like to race against. Throughout, you must keep a watchful eye on details like supplies, or you won't finish the rally to claim the ultimate off-road title.

The Paris-Dakar rally pits 350 drivers against each other in a grueling 17-day race over 6,500 miles. Racing a mixture of vehicles including Motor-cycles, 4 x 4 trucks and rally cars, the drivers must compete not only against each other but also fierce desert conditions not forgetting wild wadis and grenade-wielding Turag rebels !