STYLE: Platform

DEFINITELY one for youngsters and casual gamers, the latest Crash Bandicoot outing is as fun and colourful as previous versions.

Sierra has stuck to the winning platform formula of lots of colour, goofy characters and collectables galore.

You control Crash as he takes over massive mutants in his hunt to destroy evil.

Lots of good clean fun for the young, but it will prove too easy for older and more experienced gamers.

SPEED RACER: THE VIDEOGAME

***

SYSTEM: PS2, Nintendo DS, Wii

RATING: G

PRICE: Around $40

STYLE: Car racing.

THIS colourful driver lets you enter the world of the Wachowski brothers' latest film Speed Racer. You get to drive as any of your fave characters from the movie. It's fast and furious fun with players taking part in combat racing and smashing, flipping and jumping through superbly presented tracks.

Become expert in Car-fu (that's karate for cars) and you'll really find yourself in car combat heaven. Game modes include single race, time trial, championship and split screen multiplayer. The game controls well and looks good.

BUZZ JUNIOR: ACE RACERS

***

SYSTEM: PS2

RATING: G

PRICE: $30 (without buzzers)

STYLE: Car racing.

BUZZ Junior serves up a dose of colourful, child-friendly racing that's easy to grasp for even the youngest of players and those with too many thumbs.

The games uses the controllers from the Buzz quiz games, so there's no need to learn the complexities of steering and changing gears on the normal game controllers.

Instead you accelerate and slow down by pressing the controller's big red button.