I thought I'd kick off with the soft option - the Time Trial, where there's no one involved but you. There are 15 available courses but only 3 are initially accessible - The Lagoon, White Water Trail and The Boardwalk. However, whichever one I tried was equally testing, particularly the Boardwalk, where the track is cut through a forest and contains broken bridges, rocks and fallen logs. It only takes a twitch on the controller and you are dumped into the water or flung into the undergrowth with the force feedback still trembling in your hands.

The Arcade mode was even tougher with 5 other guys and me racing to complete a 2-lap race before the time ran out. Manage it and more courses open up but tearing around and over sand dunes at full throttle ain't easy. One thing I found that did help was the ability to lash out with a sideways kick that knocks your opponent flying. I managed a fourth place thanks to that little option…

The Freestyle section was no easier. Here an indoor arena awaits, filled with ramps, hoops, half-pipes and loops and the idea is to score high by performing your repertoire of stunts and tricks. You can set the timer for a 1,3,5 or 10-minute session or even unlimited time but it boils down to practice, practice and more practice.

Some measure of control can be perfected in the Challenge section. You get a choice of ground challenge or tower, but in both cases slipping off the driving line too much will dump you hard. In saying that this section was quite a lot of fun - rather like those bike trial things you see on extreme sports programs where the riders have to balance their bikes and travel over loads of obstacles. The tower option I found the best because as well as relying on speed it also requires a lot more skill as you speed along high uneven ramps, confusing platforms and steep slopes with nothing but a long drop all around.

Of course there are other places to perfect your style, such as the ATV Academy where control and trick training are on offer but once you feel the urge to compete a test of your skill can be found in the Single Race mode or, if you are up for it, the Career mode.

In all cases you have a choice of on-screen character, both male and female, and a choice of quad bike to ride although some options need to be unlocked by getting results in other modes. Overall, ATV 2: Quad Power Racing is a fast, action-packed sim that's great fun to play. The background graphics are really excellent but I'm not a great lover of the music style that always seems to be matched with extreme sports. Still, turn the sound down a touch and hit that pedal and you are guaranteed a great ride…!

Price: £29.99 for PS2.