Tires trail in the sand, skid marks remain on the road (and in your pants too with a little effort) and smoke pours from bikes engine's. More impressive still are the particle effects showing off sparks and grit that get thrown up by other competitors bikes. Such attention to detail is prominent throughout the game but more often than not, the effects have not merely been thrown in for the sake of it. They actually have a purpose. For example, on the Sandy Cove track, undulating real-time sea is reproduced with waves that roll in and out hugging part of the track when they do. The waves serve as an obstacle as opposed to mere eye candy. The lighting effects also serve as a purpose; the night modes decrease visibility and force the use of your headlights. Whilst during the day the sun glare hinders visibility somewhat. 'Token' weather effects haven't just been thrown in either- they also serve purposes. When it snows, you slide about like a two wheel drive Yugo on a frozen lake. When it rains, it pours and the tracks become more treacherous and so on.

You'd think that such graphical merriment would weigh down heavily, curbing any hint of speed right? Wrong. In fact, even on an 'entry level' (you know who to blame) Pentium 166- 3Dfx card inclusive, you'll happily be able to race along at a very respectable 30 frames per second. And anyone with a full-loaded 'bastardafied' Pentium II 400mhz, coupled with two Voodoo2's (in SLI mode), should be able to hurtle around the tracks at some 90 frames per second. At that rate some of the optional views become nigh on impossible to master- the visor camera in particular. Nonetheless Redline Racer capably succeeds in being a fully-fledged speed freak's wet dream. Need I mention that a 'turbo boost' button is also present?

More warped-minded Sharky Extreme readers (we like to call you Spanky Extreme) will possibly learn to harness such speed for ulterior motives. Outrageous and spectacular crashes were my personal favorite. The like of which should induce more than a few fits of laughter and the odd bruise. Of course dismembered limbs would have been asking a tad too much- I know, but watching your bike flip over a rock, propelling your rider (male or female) into somersaults, whilst flying through the air, is impressive to say the least. The amount of distance achieved could almost be turned into a sport in itself. Perhaps not, but sending a shrieking rider (yes they scream which is a really wicked touch!) packing into the ocean proved to be a particular favorite amongst the development team at Criterion Studios' office, when I visited them a few months ago. Erm… yes but back to the game.