Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions

Ever been stuck in traffic and wanted to launch a missile up the exhaust pipe of the car in front? Or queued for the car park, wishing you could simply bash your way into any space you like? Then vent your vehicular frustrations with Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions.

Boasting many more modes and missions than the hit Xbox version, Wreckless for Nintendo GameCube puts you in control of two teams of anti-terrorist agents tasked with cleaning up Hong Kong - by causing as much destruction as possible. Each team represents a different path through the game, either from the perspective of a pair of spies or an elite police force known as the Dragons. But they're more like Inspector Clouseau than Robocop. From the moment you get behind the wheel of a rocket-firing taxicab, or spend an entire mission knocking over Dim Sum stands, you'll discover that Wreckless is the exact opposite of a serious driving simulation.

Missions vary from simply shunting into a Yakuza car into smithereens in downtown traffic, to rescuing the police captain from an exploding underground complex, to clearing a path for a bomb-laden bus. As you can gather from the name of the game, destruction plays a major part. Pretty much anything can be bashed into (including pedestrians - another new feature) and all the cars crumple realistically.

Here's a typical Wreckless moment. Criminals have stolen an armoured van full of cash, and you must stop it at any cost. Put your missiles and bumper to the test and ram it into submission before it reaches the city limits. Then race to the airport to catch your plane out of there - without ever leaving your car!

The main game mode has remained the same as before but this GCN version has been given a turbo boost with its never-before-seen features. Once a mission is completed you'll unlock a bonus level in which you must complete a tricky task such as destroying a set number of cars in a tough time limit or hunting the city for hidden items. Success at bonus missions will unlock cheats, which feature game-enhancing goodies such as high and low gravity or super steering. But probably the most effective addition to this Nintendo GameCube version is the inclusion of missiles. Now, each car is capable of firing a limited number of rockets which vastly improve the chances of slowing down your Yakuza prey. GCN owners also get a new two-player mode, in which you and a friend can go head to head in the Hong Kong streets.

Cartoon-style crashes, spectacular stunts and more silly thrills and spills than a clown car destruction derby, Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions will fulfil your destructive desires.