Grand Prix Circuit

The game is very good and at the time it came out it was among the best (if not the very best) car racing game. It combines both realism and arcade fun and it is up to you to choose which do you want).

Realism prevails. Even at the lowest level, the car steers accurately – it is all too easy to let the tail end slide out when cornering, and it is easier still to overcompensate. The backgrounds vary from circuit to circuit to generate some sort of character. Even a three-lapper needs super-human concentration. Add a couple of little features such as the speedy wheel changes and the ever so polished presentation of Grand Prix Circuit amounts to the most complete simulation yet of high speed car racing.

Grand Prix Circuit is a good driving game. One criticism is that the graphics don't give as great an impression of speed as some games, but the cars handle well and the various kinds of cars and circuits you can drive add some lasting interest.

Grand Prix Circuit sees the re-emergence of Accolade in the UK after its rather untidy split from Electronic Arts. Grand Prix Circuit is an action gamer's view of Formula 1 racing and as such it shouldn't be judged as a simulation. What it does do is give some meaning to racing around a circuit and has nine other cars to compete again. The levels of difficulty ensure that beginners have a chance of success and then continues the challenge for more experienced players as the game begins to punish bad driving with poor times and even a blown engine. As the difficulty level increases the opposition becomes more aggressive and cut you up at every opportunity. You also have to be sure of your control as driving onto the grass will result in a spin off and not the short cut of lower levels.

So why doesn't it get the massive megamark Accolade were probably hoping for? Well, for a start there's your car. It's not really as 'hot' as it might have been. It'll only do about 110mph flat out, and it takes years to get up to even that. Then there's the general 'easiness' of it all. Even I, undisputed holder of the Crap Games Player of the Year title, managed to win practically every race I entered, even on the higher levels. Apart from that, though, Grand Prix Circuit is a huge improvement over The Cycles and one of the best straight racing games around (but not such good news compared with more arcadey driving games). It's got a pleasantly scrolling road, responsive controls and plenty of raceability. Worth a look. Probably.

Quite a few options. Not that realistic. Farty engine noises. Easy to play. Ultimately unsatisfying.

Budding Amiga Mansells may well cheer its appearance, but the rest of us will probably carry on snoozing. Not that the game's awful, it's just that we've seen it all before guys. There have been almost as many racing games on home computers as shoot-'em-ups, and frankly these days a game has to be something pretty damn impressive to stand out in the crowd. One for diehard enthusiasts only.