Formula One: Arcade. Publisher: SCEE. Format: PSOne. Price: £19.99.

NOW the price of Sony's original PlayStation has fallen so far you could be forgiven for expecting one free with a Big Mac 'n large fries the age profile of the original next gen console has undergone a radical change.

A near constant diet of Disney and Dreamworks movie tie-ins and those hideous Army Men spin-offs have robbed the PSOne of its predecessor's cool factor.

Post pub PlayStation parties are a thing of the past (circa 1998), and nowadays the original Sony console is more likely to be in a child's bedroom than sitting proudly beneath a 32-inch chunk of widescreen televisual loveliness.

So perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to discover the latest Formula One title for the machine has been dumbed down for younger audiences.

Formula One Arcade (F1A) dispenses with the vagaries of suspension theory, gearbox ratios and the aerodynamic properties of an inverted wing. Heck, this game doesn't even have a proper practice mode.

Instead, F1A pitches you straight in at the deep end; where you will be going head-to-head with the Schumacher brothers, Barrichello, Montoya and, if you are really rubbish, Coulthard.

Sadly the driver stats are from last season but at least the graphics are smart enough to recognise who is who and where you should be going.

Just in case you don't know how to turn a steering wheel the correct way Sony also thoughtfully provides a racing line that runs down the track showing the best way to complete a perfect lap.

Still the races are hectic affairs. As within the real thing, with so many cars on screen it's sometimes hard to keep to that perfect line. You soon learn to think on your feet, particularly for the first lap or so when the track is liable to be particularly busy.

Interestingly, don't think the dumbing down of this sport equates to a game that is particularly easy.

True your initial impressions are of a speedy racer that's a bit too easy but when you ramp up the difficulty to Pro it becomes much, much harder to do well.

It's a shame that such an action packed racer only offers two-play thrills as a "one off" race. It would have been much more fun to compete with a pal across an entire F1 season.

Those older PSOne owners who haven't abandoned their original love for the charms of a PS2 will find much to like about F1A. It may not be the mould breaker that the original Psygnosis F1 title was six years ago but at least it doesn't feature those pesky little green Army Men soldiers or a cuddly bear, rabbit, dwarf etc.

FREEKSTYLE. Format: PS2 DVD-ROM. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Price: £34.99.

INTERESTINGLY the PlayStation 2 has its own arcade motorsports title out this month.

Freekstyle is a moto cross simulation that eschews that finer points of racing a bike around a muddy circuit in favour of ludicrous-looking stunts and high octane thrills.

Really it's nothing more substantial than the snowboard sim SSX on two wheels. However, as SSX remains one of the best games on the system that may be no bad thing.

If you want to unlock all the tracks Freekstyle has to offer you have no choice but to race in circuit mode. In order to progress you must place in the top three in the first two motos - that's quite a tall order and you'll need some racing practice before you can set foot on the podium.

The races also reward you with new bikes if you do well. Freekstyle is about more than going hell for leather on dirt. In order to really rack up a big points score you must also pull off some crazy stunts during a race. The more complex the trick you perform, the greater your score at the end.

Unlike a real moto you can also boost your total by deliberately crashing into real estate scattered at strategic intervals around the tracks. Bizarrely you also get some gnomes to run down for an extra points handout. To perform a stunt you crest a jump and press the stunt buttons as your rider flies through the air. As you get better you'll be able to do more than one trick before you bike returns safely to terra firma.

Every time you successfully pull off a new stunt the game marks it off in a trick book. Collecting new tricks also unlocks new gear for your rider.

These crazy stunts also top up your freekout meter. When it's full you can hit boost for a burst of super speed - often enough to win a moto outright if timed correctly. Naturally enough, crashing is to be avoided. Not only does it drop you down the field but it also robs you of points and the chance to max out your freekout meter.

The graphics are colourful and spectacular; the screen updates fast enough to avoid infuriating slowdown even with a screen packed with riders and the races are always keenly fought affairs.

If you enjoyed SSX on the PlayStation 2 and like motorcycle racing then Freekstyle has lots to offer. Any one else looking for a no brainer racing title should perhaps rent it out for a couple of nights to see if this game is their particular cup of Castrol.

Published: 06/09/2002