AN illegal race, a fast car and lots of weapons. Sounds like fun? If you answered yes, then apart from saying a lot about your state of mind, you'll be interested in Hewson's latest contribution to road safety.

The game concentrates on making control of the car the main challenge, something which will have the less patient throwing down joysticks in frustration.
The view is from above and slightly behind, so if you are careful you can drive behind the various objects scattered around.

If you persevere visit the local Quickfit for extra fuel, guns and ubiquitous extra weapons. More enemy cars and helicopters turn up to be shot at.

I can't help feeling that if there was an established range of budget games on the Amiga, this would be one of them. At the asking price, Fifth Gear gets tedious.

More car-driving antics, this time in a viewed-from-above job from Hewson. You are taking part in a series of illegal races during which you have to race up the screen, avoiding the boulders and ditches that crop up as you drive along, in order to reach a sign that says 'Turn Here'. Then you have to turn around and drive back along the course - all within a time limit.

There are also enemy cars to avoid or destroy with your front firing gun. For every kill and race completed you earn yourself money which you can spend in the shops found along the way, on such goodies as missiles, turbo boosts and even helium tyres that will allow you to jump further.

Graphics are basic, sound is awful and gameplay is not much better. It is not difficult to play but control is frustrating and the task is dull, so you will have to be dedicated to play to the end. 5TH Gear? It just gets out of neutral...