Carmageddon borrows heavily for the Steve Jackson's paper and pencil war-game, Car Wars. It is about time there was a decent computer version of Car Wars. As you might have heard, Carmageddon has caused quite a stir on the PC. It even has the distinction of being mentioned on the floor of the British House of Commons & in the Evening Standard because of its violent nature. Here in Britain, if one buys the game in the shops one has to run over zombies, instead of pedestrians. I have played both versions, it makes no difference to game play. Carmageddon is a game that has to be played to be believed. It is violent, antisocial, sick, demented, warped and evil, and I mean that only in the best of ways. Carmageddon is the Natural Born Killers of the computer gaming market. Expect to see reports in your local press about copycat killings by idiotic teenagers in France and the US. This game makes Suicide Solution by Ozzy Osbourne seem tame. Just for good measure cyber-metal noise terrorists Fear Factory supply the soundtrack. So please, if you are dumb enough to imitate what you see on a screen or hear on a record, do not buy this game!

Ah yes, the game. The concept is basically a driving game, with tracks that you have to race around to win . What makes this different is the other options. In order to get more time to complete the track you are given, you must gain time: this is achieved by either running over time barrels, running over hapless pedestrians or killing your fellow cars. For each successful race you are given credits and a lowering of your driving rank (Think golf handicap: low is good.). With credits you can buy better armour, engines or offensive weaponry. (No guns I am afraid.) If you are damaged during a race, you can repair yourself with the credits you have gained. Be careful not to be in deficit at the end or it is game over. Once you achieve number 1, you are given a chance to max everything out, creating a deadly killing machine. You are allowed a maximum of 999,999 credits.

Another neat feature is the ability to "steal" other cars, allowing you to build up, over time, a garage full of specialised and deadly vehicles. All the cars in your garage benefit from upgrades to your original car. In later races it helps to have varied cars, especially on snowy and dirt tracks. In my opinion the best cars going are the Psycho Pitbull, a wrecker truck from hell, the riot police six wheeled vehicle, and for sheer nastiness Electric Blue, with its death ray for pedestrain elimnation.