Games

SCAR: Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo

Format: PS2, PC, Xbox
Price: £29.99
Publisher: Black Bean

Innovation is, sadly, a rarity in videogames. There's too much at stake these days for developers and publishers to mess with a winning formula and so we, the gamers, have grown to accept the repetitive cycle, oohing and aahing on cue whenever a game boasts a "revolutionary" graphical gimmick.

That's why, when a game comes along that genuinely does try to mix things up, it's cause for celebration. And even if the title in question fails to hit the lofty targets it aims at, as is the case with this quirky offering, you still have to respect the attempt.

So, yes, it's a racing game. Not a lot of room within that narrow genre for new ideas, you might think. Burnout upped the carnage, but that was more a magnification of existing ideas than anything radically new.

Where SCAR stakes its territory is in announcing itself as the first CARPG. Yes, it's a terrible name, and not entirely accurate, but what we have here is a racing game with RPG elements. Whereas gamers have got used to upgrading and tinkering with an ever-expanding collection of cars in titles like this, SCAR is the first game to remember that the true skill comes from the driver, and so it's your skills that you develop throughout the game, rather than simply powering-up a vehicle and having to start from scratch when you choose another.

It's a clever idea, and one that is reasonably well implemented. There are a few kinks in the system (should your clothing really have a noticable impact on your driving?) but by and large, it's a novel idea worth carrying across to other driving games.

There are also some gameplay effects that, while not new to games, are at least relatively fresh in the world of racing. Most notable is the Tiger Effect which allows you to rewind time so you can try to avoid crashes and cock-ups a second time.

Sadly, the racing title at the heart of all these novel additions doesn't really have the weight to support them. It's painstakingly tough and unforgiving, so progress is slow and frustrating. The more flagrant arcade elements - the Tiger Effect and the speed blurs - sit awkwardly with the fussy handling which seems more geared towards a serious simulator.

Add to that the fact that the Alfa Romeo family of cars doesn't quite have the same sexiness of choice as other manufacturers, and that the game lacks that final spit and polish that would help it stand alongside the likes of Project Gotham Racing, and you've got an ambitiously flawed racing game that will prove too frustrating for the average speed demon, but may find fans among those who value new ideas and a tough challenge.