7 cert, Disney Interactive/ Blackrock Studio, PS3 (also Xbox 360, PC) ****

As this muscular, decadent racer is loading, a warning appears that the game "would be very dangerous in real life". Damn right! Split/Second Velocityis an orgy of explosions, gorgeous, shimmering visuals and fast, fast cars.

The game drops you into races that feel like choreographed Hollywood car chases. Accumulating “power plays”, you can request helicopters to drop debris in front of opponents and even other cars thrown onto the track. Most of what you need to know appears occasionally in excited onscreen updates (“4.6 seconds to first place!”).

Even with online playing, 72 events and 25 vehicles, non-fanatics of the genre may tire of the relentless pace and explosions. But thanks to simple controls and thumping soundtrack, it delivers fast, sleazy thrills.