Fire Bugs - PlayStation

It's had a good innings has the PlayStation. Eight years since the machine's release it now lies on its proverbial deathbed, starved of the games so necessary to its survival. Strangely enough, in a bout of imagery akin to the commercial for a certain expensive beer, a new title gets released for the machine as it approaches its eleventh hour. Could it be the last-wish pint of metaphorical lager before the priest arrives?

Fire Bugs is certainly well polished. It's also one of the best looking titles to grace the PSone throughout its enviable life. Unfortunately, people's standards are a lot higher these days, so it's unlikely that it will receive the plaudits it deserves.

With weapons and power-ups galore, stacks of circuits in different locations and a host of opponents determined to cause mayhem, Fire Bugs mixes mind-numbing velocity with wanton aggression, creating a dizzying mix of addictive, high-octane fun. It also requires that you drive on the walls and ceiling.

There are several ways to play, with point-to-point, rally-style races, traditional circuit racing, and league and championship racing. There's also a two-player split-screen mode, so you can take on your mates.

As far as racing games go, this game does the genre justice. A mish-mash of a number of other similar games, it combines them well and makes for an entertaining result. It's only problem is that, whilst by no means too little, it's quite possibly too late. The host platform has seen its best days and games for it are thus in low demand. Which is a shame really, as this game would have been a big hit had it come out in 1998.

Pint of premium Belgian beer, anyone?
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