PS2, £30. Age 12+

Rated 3/5

When Nicolas Cage took the lead role of Johnny Blaze in the upcoming Ghost Rider movie, he was probably aware his portrayal of a stunt rider turned skull-faced bounty hunter from hell might win fans but not an Oscar nomination. Ghost Rider the game won’t win any awards either, but it is an entertaining, action-packed ride nonetheless, and one that borrows heavily from Sony’s God of War, released in 2005.

To break up the fighting, the game also includes chopper-riding chase sequences, where you must jump gaping chasms and slide your bike under barriers while fending off demons with a flaming chain.

BACKGROUND

• Ghost Rider

• Ghost Rider - game review

• Cage and Branson open whole new comic book

• Blazing saddles

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Related Internet Links

• 2007 London Film Festival coverage

• Times Online Film Trailers

When it works, Ghost Rider’s gung-ho spirit, flashy combinations and spectacular special moves are thoroughly engaging stuff. Whether storming the corridors of hell or taking down demons on a train, the levels look impressive, and skill upgrades and new enemies should hold your interest for a while. But having said that, you cannot for one moment forget this is a B-movie version of a much better game. The action lacks variety, the structure is too linear, and it simply can’t match the scale or beauty of Sony’s PS2 classic. What’s more, Ghost Rider has the cheek to repeat locations, although admittedly with different foes.

This is the gaming equivalent of that straight-to-DVD movie you might enjoy on a dull Saturday night, providing you don’t mistake it for anything more than that.