Aqua Moto Racing

I can count my nautical experiences on one hand, and when I say nautical experiences I don't mean sunning myself on a yacht moored off Monte Carlo. No, nothing nearly as glamorous. In fact, the closest I've ever gotten to any real seafaring is eating a soggy packet of prawn cocktail crisps by the beach in Blackpool.

That my field of reference is limited means Aqua Moto Racing makes that much more of a splash.

It's not the first iPhone title to have a bash at racing on the waves, yet that's one of the game's key points: this is one of the steadiest racers you'll ever come across. The control, though completely customisable, is already perfect in default mode, offering flexibility of movement without ever requiring you to tip the phone so far it's out of view.

But this is not the game's only strength. Of equal stature is the natural progression offered by the game's main career mode. You start with two fairly easy championships comprising six races each before gradually moving things on to tougher and tighter tasks, later courses requiring nimbler control of your watercraft.

With six boats racing on each course, your main task - apart from coming in the top three - is to weave through buoys situated along the track. Red buoys are to be passed on the right, while yellows have to be passed on the left.

The closer you pass by these buoys, the more boost you earn. Naturally, boosting as much as possible to soar past your rivals is a good thing.

The five computer-controlled racers racing alongside you behave realistically, packing in tight at the corners and boosting in the straights to get some breathing space.

It's a tactic that's wise to emulate. If you can't beat them, join them. Staying at the front of the pack in the advance championships is tough, although you can always use one of the many tricks up your sleeve to gain the edge.

Activated by flipping your phone towards you when your watercraft catches air, you can choose from a range of mid-air moves by holding your finger down on the trick in question.

You have to choose your trick wisely, because if it isn't completed by the time you hit the water no bonus is to be had. Nail it, though, and bonus points flood your boost bar.

For all the splash Aqua Moto Racing makes with its smart and speedy gameplay, the waters aren't pure. The odd bug crests over the superb races now and again. Currently the game crashes if you try to replay any completed championships.

These flaws need to be filtered and fixed to ensure that one of the most well-rounded and entertaining racers thus far also becomes one of the most stable and playable.