AT first I thought what a refreshing change it was to race round in a chariot instead of in a car or on a bike, but after two or three weeks it's not one of my most played games.

Set during the height of the Roman Empire, Circus Maximus offers seven cities and 19 tracks to race round.

The action takes you to places such as Britannia, Germanica, Alexandria and after winning each of the heats you are entitled to compete at the Circus Maximus in Rome.

The tracks offer the usual power ups and shortcuts and the odd local peasant pushing a cart into your path, but nothing above normal racing game play.

Before the start of the race you select your chariot, horse, driver and warrior from a limited few, but as you conquer each race the choice is widened, letting you mix and match what is suited to the track, or your way of playing.

In one-player mode, because your team is made up of different components, the driver must steer and whip the horses, carefully managing their speed and stamina, while the warrior stands on the back of the chariot and wields swords, axes and chains at his opponents.

This can either be very frustrating or very challenging.

In two-player mode the game is completely different, with one player controlling the driver while the other player is the warrior.

There is also a four player mode and this works via the split screen.

Overall the co-operative gameplay is a good idea, the sound's good with amusing one liners from the warriors as they hurl abuse at each other but the background graphics could do with a little more depth.

Circus Maximus is not every one's type of game, but die-hard race addicts will love it.

OVERALL: 3/5

January 28, 2003 16:00