Ferrari GT Evolution HD

Owning a Ferrari is every boy's dream. Well, when I say 'every boy', I'm not including myself in that statement. Back when I was a sprog, a black Sierra Cosworth with a spoiler on the back was more my bag, but it's fair to say that a sleek, red Ferrari is the kind of car most men would happily marry.

They're not exactly practical though, are they? Can you imagine taking your driving test in one of those things? Or paying insurance on it once you'd passed? Or doing the school run through suburbia?

Ferrari GT Evolution HD has much in common with my slightly grim reality check: in plain old races, it's a dream to drive, it looks amazing, and it serves up a whole stack of fun without being too taxing on the thumbs.

Try and make a career out of it, however, attempting the various challenges that require more than just a blind foot on the pedal along the way, and Gameloft's ode to Italy's most famous of exports starts to fall apart a little.

Nevertheless, it's important to acknowledge that Evolution HD does a lot of things right - things that scores of its competitors falter with - adding fair thwack of finesse in the process.

Such is the way of your average racer these days, Ferrari GT Evolution HD comes with some of the most colourful 3D graphics you'll see on your mobile, replicating famous cities (in Italy, Spain and the States) with real vibrancy and life. The courses manage to be both full of twists and turns as well as being manageable, the game's handling coping surprisingly well with some sharp and extensive turns.

With acceleration taken care of, Evolution HD isn't the kind of racer where positions are won and lost by racing lines or tight turns - although, the former is neatly marked out on the track with a green line, enabling you to keep out of trouble and track the path ahead with ease – but rather, one that thrives on your mistakes.

Avoiding obstacles is your primary concern, as the city streets are filled with cars and roadside paraphernalia which slow you down considerably upon impact.

Manage to do this and there's a fair chance you'll find yourself at the front of the pack, although track short-cuts and a canny slipstream effect can also prove fruitful, with either one helping to bring you back into contention if you fall behind.

Either way, the races are packed affairs that never fail to entice and entertain in equal measure, the game also rewarding or deducting points depending on your performance – collisions, crashes or trips off track are penalised, whilst driving at high speed or drifting around corners is met with bonus points.

The same can't be said of the Career mode, which - unlike the straightforward races in Arcade -
throws in some challenges to spice things up a little.

The problem is, trying to tame the game's cars enough so you can drive through a slalom of cones, for instance, is no easy task. Evolution HD simply doesn't have the engine for precision play, with the game's arcade bent meaning what should feel like variety actually comes across as an annoyance to be despatched before you can get back to the main event.

Does it ruin the whole experience? Not at all. Arguably, Ferrari GT Evolution HD is worth the money even if you never do anything but indulge in a quick arcade race every now and again.

Its tracks are things to behold, and the ease of play and responsive handling are admirable. Just like that Ferrari everyone dreams of, this isn't a game for all weathers and seasons, but it is a fantastic ride when you play by its rules.