Rallisport (Microsoft PC )

By PETER ELEY

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Formula One may grab the headlines, but rally driving is arguably more interesting to watch.

It's certainly more interesting to play on a computer. F1 may be glamorous, but rally driving demands a wider range of skills and cars that suit a variety of terrains, from the ice and snow of Europe to the deserts of Africa, and even the mud and gravel of back-country New Zealand.

Microsoft's Rallisport is a realistic simulation of the sport and is certainly the most appealing graphically.

That comes at the price of a new generation video card, 128mb of ram and a 733Mhz processor as minimum requirements.

Realistically, you need a bit more to see the game at its best. And if you're really keen, a Gamepad or wheel will help you

to fool yourself into thinking you're really in the car.

One of the key skills in rallying is taking corners quickly on the slide.

And it is the same in the game — slow down too much on those hairpin turns and you'll lose.

Although much of the game is quite realistic, the racing model is forgiving and mistakes that would cause a nasty spill in real life mean little more than a skid.

To be fair, a brutally accurate racing model would mean spending more time in ditches than on the track for most players.

Rating: G