Mercedes-Benz Truck Racing

We're often berating racing games for lack of originality, so when something different comes along we're forced to find alternative reasons to criticise it. In its favour, Mercedes-Benz Truck Racing isn't another Grand Prix or rally game. Unfortunately, it's about truck racing, horses for courses, clearly. But if you're the kind of person who sports self-administered tattoos, enjoys sleeping in lay-bys with a stash of pornographic literature and once had a CB radio, then this may well be your idea of heaven.

Offensive stereotypes aside, the game does actually revolve around an official sport, which if the press release is to be believed "has taken over from Formula 1 as the most exciting driver sport around." Of course it has. The tracks are authentic enough, and using a version of the Breakneck engine, they certainly look splendid. But when you've torn around Donington on a Superbike and the Nurburgring in a Grand Prix car, lumbering round in a lorry is a change of pace to say the least. The momentum of these beasts is vast, and overtaking manoeuvres often have to be planned weeks in advance.

Firmly entrenched in the simulation camp, MB Truck Racing is by no means a throwaway arcade affair, and hours of practice are required before you can take the stabilisers off. Those prepared to make the commitment may find some perverse pleasure in the game, but they are no friends of ours.