At first sight Riding The Rapids looks like a Code Masters simulator, but don't be fooled. This game is about as wet as the North Sea.
    Whizzy title aside, it's really just a very simple canoe race game. The player has a limited amount of time to negotiate a set number of floating gates, and reach the finish line.
    Unfortunately, there are several gameplay bugs here that make it silly to play. I found it impossible to capsize my dinghy, no matter how I tried! Surely being soaked is a key part of the sport. The energy meter seems to be a complete waste of time, and I always thought it was not strictly on to paddle through solid ground! Wet wet wet! The graphics aren't up to much and the sound effects (no music) are drippy to say the least.
    Still, Riding The Rapids is playable in a strange sort of way, or so I found. Beating the time limit can be quite a challenge if you keep finding yourself high and dry on some mud bank. And the inclusion of an easy-to-use course designer does add much needed value to the package.
    On the whole, though, it's not to be recommended. Only buy it if you enjoy simple soggy fun, 'cos that's all you'll get with this!

Ratings given by other magazines

5/10      5/10

Info supplied by the SPOT*ON database