Hydro Thunder Hurricane

12 cert, Live Vector Unit, Xbox ***

Here's a sequel to beloved arcade game Hydro Thunderthat's fast-paced and decidedly unsubtle. Hydro Thunder Hurricaneplants you and your craft into a series of water- based races. Driftwood and barriers obscure your path as you and your opponents shunt, bump and jump on one another. The game exploits its aquatic setting quite well, with waves, huge waterfall jumps and

rising and falling water levels. The crafts range from the futuristic to the eccentric, from speedboats to submarines. As a bright multiplayer experience it works, though some of the single player games are a little flat: Does anyone really like time trials more than races?

So it's fun, but with limited lasting appeal. Hydro Thunder Hurricaneis like a paddling pool: good fun, but ultimately a little shallow for some tastes.