Upon loading the game you are greeted with a very disappointing video sequence that looks pixellated and jagged. Rest assured, though, this is the last you will see of these second-rate graphics, and we suspect the developers are using a cunning ploy to reveal just how good the in-game graphics really are. We were stunned: they are simply brilliant, filled with wonderful amounts of detail and colours that deliver a very realistic racing environment. But what really knocks your socks off is that most of what you see you can destroy. Muahahahaha!

The game itself is ostensibly about racing. You can select a campaign mode where progressively you obtain more tracks, more cars and bigger and better guns. You can also play one-off missions based on what you have already unlocked in order to further your defensive (or should that be offensive?) driving skills. Multiplayer is also supported on both local area network and Xbox Live.

The controls are relatively standard, with braking and acceleration on the triggers, plus a primary and secondary weapon button. The shoulder buttons are used for boost and what is called an "unwreck" function. This is based on how much destruction you have caused. The more cars and structures you destroy the more unwreck points you get. Activating the unwreck function allows you rewind the race a few seconds and retry those last seconds if you have screwed it up. Cheating? Well, we guess it kind of is, and although racing purists make call foul, it does provide an out from having to race the same track again and again from the beginning and fail at that same tricky corner.

Races feature your usual first across the line, time trial and eliminator types that most enthusiasts are familiar with, and which you'll find in almost every other racing game on the market. But that's where the similarity stops. There is a brilliant point-to-point race where, upon reaching the end of the track it's a mad scramble to turn around and go back the other way. There are races where it's all about how much damage you can inflict, and there is the pursuit race, where you have to take down designated opposition vehicles.

The racing mechanics of Full Auto are very much about your vehicle rather than the other cars in the race. In this case you can judge a book by the cover, since your vehicle generally handles the way it looks. Sleek lowriders are all power and no steering while a pick-up truck takes time to get up to speed and becomes very unstable on the corners. It is very easy to roll your vehicle or, better still, to get it completely airborne. Better? Well, the crashes you can cause are spectacular and the jump sequences are equally impressive, including the slow motion cinematic view from below.

Where the game does let itself down is with the other competing vehicles. They seem to stick to the track like glue and despite our best efforts during the playtest, we were unable to shunt an opposing vehicle of the track. Blow them off the track, yes, riddle them with bullets, yes, but sadly we could not achieve a vehicle take down. We are not sure if this is to do with the game mechanics or the fact that we were too busy firing the weapons.

As we mentioned earlier, the environments are very detailed, including roadside furniture, power poles, dumpsters, cones - in fact all the stuff you would expect to see on a populated piece of road. What is amazing, however, is that in the main it is all destructible. Run into a power pole and it will topple, pulling the wires down with it. Hit a tree and it will snap, shoot up a petrol station... BLAM!

What is so cool about all this destruction is that it's progressive. Knock down a fence or power pole, and next time around the circuit you will have to contend with the debris on the road. Take out that petrol station and next lap there will be fire engines and hazard fences to avoid.

It doesn't stop here, of course, as a good many of the buildings around the track are destructible as well. Nothing like cutting the corner by going through a car showroom, and the spray of broken glass is just the icing on the cake. Hitting a more solid structure results in flying chunks of concrete and pieces of wall. It is obvious that a lot of these structures have real depth to them.

The vehicles are all shiny and new at the start of the race - so shiny that the surrounding scenery is faithfully reflected in the paint work. This becomes more amazing over time as your car accumulates damage, with each dent and ding reflecting the surroundings as well. It's a bit over the top in places; however, as a game dynamic of the engine it is extremely well done.

The vehicles themselves are an eclectic mix of generic vehicles with oversized weapons strapped to them. Some of these weapons you can individually aim as opposed to having a fixed aiming point, and the overall weapon effects can be quite spectacular. For instance, it is highly recommended that shooting a petrol tanker be done from a distance. On screen you have a circular display showing the damage sustained on the four sides of the car, and in the centre the damage to the suspension.

The music and sound effects fit well with the game and the whole effect of blasting weapons, roaring engines and high octane music assaults the senses with all the pent-up rage of an Auckland commuter during rush hour.

Overall, Full Auto is a great game. It may not suit driving purists and the vehicle mechanics are not the best we have seen, however it does possess a huge fun factor, beautiful graphics and plenty of large scale destruction. As a result we can unreservedly recommend it.