Race and ace with PSP's M.A.C.H.

There are plenty of racing games that also allow you to deploy weaponry against your rivals, from Mario Kart to WipeOut. To that extent, Vivendi's new fight and flight racer M.A.C.H. (or Modified Air Combat Heroes) is nothing new.

Where it does trouble the boundaries of innovation, however, is that most of those games were track-based. After all, it makes it a bit easier to predict where the car/target in front is going next if it's limited to the ground. But what with planes being the vehicle of choice in M.A.C.H., both racing and shooting will be taking place in a 3D space, or at least 2.5D space, if the accompanying video is anything to go by (click on 'Watch It!' to check it out).

Most of the racing action seems to take place within valleys and through obvious markers such as rock arches. It's looking pretty sparkling, with punchy colours and plenty of afterburner trails and colour explosions.

Shaped with a strong and speedy arcade bent by UK gamemaker Kuju (who also delivered the much more sedate PSP flight sim Pilot Academy in 2006) the main thrust of M.A.C.H. seems to be its customisation features. By winning races, you'll get the cash you'll need to buy new planes as well as a goodly choice of speed, control and weapon upgrades. In total, there are 11 planes and 180 different customised loadouts to tempt your fancy.

In terms of the modes, the main Career option pushes you through Rookie, Pro, Ace, and Elite status, until you're finally a Hero. Others modes include the Arcade mode, which you'll have to unlock, and five challenges, MACH Melee, MACH Dash, Time Check, MACH Lap and Dog Tag.

There'll also be the opportunity to either race or dogfight with up to seven friends via the adhoc multiplayer mode. Just one copy of the game will be required.

Already travelling at speed, M.A.C.H. is due for a spring release.