Independent, The (London): Computer games

MIDNIGHT CLUB 3: DUB EDITION

Format: PS2, Xbox Publisher: Rockstar Games Developer: In-house Price: pounds 39.99

Street-racing and car-customisation were all the rage in my hometown: meet at B&Q, race over the bridge then have a hot dog from the van. This console version of said activity " minus the hotdogs " is more classy. Set in three huge US cities, which you have the run of, this game is frighteningly fast. Like the previous Midnight Club titles, this is an accomplished arcade-racer. Forget realism; the game's physics allow you to take impossibly tight corners at vast speeds and fly through the air with ease. With more than 60 licensed cars available to customise, each with their own moves and a fantastic soundtrack that features Kasabian and Queens of the Stone Age, Midnight Club will keep you up all night. HHHHH

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POKER: DELUXE SERIES Format: DS Publisher: Crave Developer: In-house Price: pounds 29.99

As poker-mania continues to sweep the UK, resulting in endless articles on 'My poker hell', Crave has craftily developed World Championship Poker: Deluxe Series for the DS. Now you can have all the fun of playing poker without real money or friends whether you choose Texas Hold 'em, Seven Card Stud, Five-Card Draw or Omaha. There are 12 poker games in total, as well as some hidden mini games, including a perky little game of Blackjack. Deluxe Series works well on the DS " the dual screen means that you can watch your rivals while keeping an eye on your cards, although the AI isn't sophisticated enough to give the players convincing poker faces.

HHH

MX VS. ATV UNLEASHED

Format: PS2, Xbox Publisher: THQ Developer: In-house Price: pounds 39.99

Motocross bikes meet all-terrain vehicles in MX vs. ATV Unleashed. It's a two- or four-wheel dirt-racing game that isn't limited to bikes and buggies; you can race in a golf cart, helicopter or monster truck. It seems like a fun idea, but racing fans may wish that the comedy vehicles hadn't been included: flying races are frustrating and the unusual vehicles are a nightmare to drive. MX vs. ATV isn't very competitive, either; you can fall way behind in a race, but still finish. Still, big air tricks and winding courses make up for the shortcomings in the long run. HHH

RUGRATS ALL GROWN UP! EXPRESS YOURSELF

Format: GBA Publisher: THQ Developer: In-house Price: pounds 24.99

Fans of the Rugrats' bossy Angelica will be pleased to see her in this GBA title, based on a new Nickelodeon series and made up of mini games connected by a series of 'missions'. Now in middle school, Angelica is in charge of her school's newspaper and, in each mission, has to get her story by wandering through simple platforms, avoiding hazards, and looking for other Rugrats or a special item. A PDA function offers lots of icons to indicate activities and events. A game for the girls (or boys fond of pink), it's a neat title for a neglected demographic. HH

GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX

Format: PS2 Publisher: Atari Developer: Cavia Price: pounds 39.99

This is only the second game to have been inspired by the Japanese cartoon Ghost in the Shell. It's not vast " an evening's play should be enough to finish it. A third- person platformer, it's heavy on combat and cityscapes, and light on plot. For half the game, you're Motoko Kusunagi, a part-human, part-cyborg secret security agent, with a good line in acrobatics and weaponry. For the other, you are Batou, a cyborg with big guns. Environmental puzzles, fighting and bland corridors make up the rest of this uninspiring game.