As is the case with all movie-to-videogame adaptations, my expectations of Speed Racer the Videogame on Wii weren't exactly sky high. By and large, the majority of summer blockbusters are accompanied by a sub-par release and a resounding 'meh' from the bulk of the videogame community - it's what we have come to expect, and to an extent, what we now accept as the norm. Don't get me wrong - there is the occasional gold nugget amongst the droves of cliché-filled, rushed and generally lazy releases, but these truly are few and far between. Usually I would be more than happy to accept yet another mediocre release to accompany the start of the summer blockbuster season - but not this time. After watching Speed Racer the movie and loving every fit-inducing moment, my thoughts immediately drifted towards what could be achieved by a competent videogame tie-in. If ever a movie was perfectly suited to be successfully adapted into a videogame, it has to be the Wachowski's brand of psychedelic, anime-inspired racing action.

Because of this, I found myself approaching Speed Racer the Videogame with a palpable sense of trepidation rather than my usual mix of malaise and contempt - I just couldn't face the potential waste of such exceptional source material. Wasn't it to my surprise then that, against all the odds, Speed Racer has actually turned out to be an extremely fun, edge of your seat racer. Sidhe Interactive have successfully captured the lightning fast, mayhem-filled racing of the movie and combined it with a near perfect control scheme. Amazingly, Speed Racer plays as well as if not better than the majority of Nintendo-made racers; no small achievement for a third party developer, let alone for a movie-to-videogame adaptation.

If anything, my initial expectations should have been higher - after all, Speed Racer is developed by the team that released the very solid PSP release, Gripshift. Other than the F-Zero series, there is little out there that actually comes as close to the ideal Speed Racer framework as Gripshift's gravity-defying slice of four wheel racing. So, it really isn't a huge surprise that the tracks have all the pre-requisite jumps, turns and twists that you would expect from a Speed Racer videogame. What is a surprise however is just how well the team has implemented the control scheme to get the best out of the Wii-remote's unique capabilities.

Although a lack of Classic or Gamecube control schemes would usually be something to be worried about, in this instance it only highlights the confidence that Sidhe have in their tilt-based control method. With the controller held side on, you tilt to steer left and right ala Mario Kart Wii, with acceleration and braking controlled via the 1 and 2 buttons respectively. It sounds simple enough, but for all those accustomed to third-party racers on Wii, you will know just how often tilt controls can feel unresponsive in comparison to a more traditional analogue stick control method. Sidhe have all but fixed this problem via subtle but extremely helpful steering aids that help ease you successfully into corners. Although traditionalists might argue that this dilutes the skill required to play the game, the fact of the matter is that it's an all but essential addition, one that is complemented beautifully by the almost impeccable track design.

While the subtle driving assists are effectively implemented thanks to the track design, it's the mid-race battles and gravity-defying manoeuvres, sadly dubbed 'Car-Fu', that make these assists all but essential. If tearing down the track at 300mph plus wasn't enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, you also have to contend with nineteen other racers, the majority of whom would love nothing more than to smash you off the track and see your beautiful Mach 5 blown into smithereens. Like the racing mechanics, these moves are again implemented with panache, as attacks, jumps and spins are all achieved effortlessly while still having the desired car crushing effects throughout. There are a variety of attacks at your disposal in Speed Racer, all of which are geared towards a near perfect balance of risk and reward. Shunts are achieved by jerking the Wiimote to the left or right to smash into other racers as you tussle for the top positions. Although it may sound gimmicky, it actually fits into the style of play perfectly and helps immerse you into the races to an even greater degree. Beyond shunts there is also a collection of other attacks that are achieved by simply holding a direction on the d-pad as you jerk the controller left or right. Like these basic ground level attacks, a collection of jumps and airborne attack manoeuvres are achieved in all but the same way, albeit with upward flicks of the Wiimote to get your car off the ground. These moves again prove to be a lot more fun than you might initially expect, with the possibility of quick jump passes and takedown style landings all possible if timed correctly.

Beyond the 'Car-Fu', there is also a boosting system that builds up as you damage other cars or race without hitting the barriers. Although this fills up quite quickly, there are actually four stages than can be built up by skilled and patient players. If you are skilled enough to max out all four levels then you go into 'the zone', where the already over-the-top palette of the Speed Racer universe goes all but insane, as the screen becomes awash with neon colours and your temporarily invulnerable car races tears down the track at breakneck speed. Combine this with a constant supply of F-Zero style boost pads and what you are left with is truly a world built for speed.

While the attacks, jumps and boosts add a tactical dimension to the racing, there is also the matter of rivals and alliances to take into account. Before each race you're given a list of rivals and alliances that add an even greater strategic element to racing. While those aligned with you won't attack you unless you attack them first, successful attacks on rivals gives you added boost. This may all sound pretty run of the mill, but with so many cars on the track and so many potential enemies to take into account, especially for the later races in which they become ever more aggressive, you will need to find that line between building rivals that you can score extra boost from and alliances so that every car on the track isn't baying for your blood.

While nearly every aspect of the racing works almost perfectly, the drift mechanic and extreme issues of rubber-banding sadly let the game down slightly. Although not essential in any way, the use of drifts is never anything but detrimental to your progress, as their use slows you down far too much to ever be worthwhile. The rubber-banding however is a bigger problem; even after a level four in 'the zone' boost from first place, it's never long until enemy racers start snapping at your heels again, regardless of how well you race. It may keep the races immersive and exciting, but like in the Mario Kart series, it does prove to be quite a nuisance, especially when you are cheated out of victory after an all but perfect race.

While the racing is almost pitch perfect, the package as a whole is far from stellar. With only Time Trial, a bare bones Championship mode - consisting of only three classes and eighteen relatively short championships - and a very basic two-player split screen mode to keep you busy, Speed Racer the Videogame suffers from that same budget style line-up that plagues so many third party Wii releases. Although a complete lack of story mode may be commendable, with a genuine importance on racing placed above all else, a lack of substance to fill the gap is disappointing, especially as there is a complete lack of online options - a damn shame considering just how intense, smooth, lag-free battles could have been. With Mario Kart Wii proving that online racing can be achieved, and done well on the Wii, you can't help but feel that this is a terribly missed opportunity on the part of Sidhe Interactive. To further compound matters, there are only five tracks available throughout the entire game, and while different routes and lengths of the same style tracks can be unlocked in championship mode, along with a collection of sixteen additional racers, there simply isn't enough variety to accompany the brilliant gameplay and give the game sustainable longevity.

Whilst the scarcity of modes is hugely disappointing, the presentation proves to be yet another surprising triumph. The menus are simple and easy to navigate, with beautifully hand drawn racers and vehicles, but it is during the races that the game really shines. Sure, the actual textures are hardly breathtaking, with the crowds looking especially ropey, but the actual art design and style of the game perfectly captures the cotton candy world of the Speed Racer movie as you race through futuristic stadiums, past beautiful beaches and over live volcanoes. Again, the world could do with a little more interaction, something that would have come with a story mode, but you really can't argue with the game once it's in motion. Running at a smooth 480p and also supporting 16:9 widescreen for those with HDTVs, it really does look great. The real crowning glory however is the immense sense of speed; even with twenty cars on track and attacks coming from all sides, Speed Racer still feels lightning quick as you swiftly slide around the beautifully created, pastel coloured tracks.

The audio could do with more variation, but the soundtrack serves up a fine collection of dance style beats that fit the onscreen action to a tee, speeding up and slowing down as you come in and out of boosts. Mid-race voiceovers from rivals and other racers also add to the immersion, while voice acting from the main players in the movie lends the game so welcomed authenticity. It may all get a bit repetitive after a while, and is certainly made up of pretty cheesy dialogue for the most part, but at the end of the day it serves as just another welcome addition to the Speed Racer package as a whole.

Speed Racer the Videogame, much like the movie it's based upon, is a resounding victory of style over substance. Sidhe Interactive has captured the aesthetic of the movie almost perfectly, creating one of the best set of gaming mechanics to yet grace the Wii, but the experience falls down on the back of a very short lifespan thanks to the scarcity of modes and tracks. Everything that is here is great - there just isn't enough of it. Saying that, Speed Racer has turned out to be a very pleasant surprise indeed, and one that does give us hope for future movie conversions. Whether you're a fan of the movie or not, Speed Racer is more than worth a look for fans of the F-Zero and Wipeout series. It may not have the gloss of the aforementioned titles, but it certainly doesn't fall short in the fun stakes - this is blisteringly fast, edge of your seat, white knuckle racing at its best. Go Speed Racer Go!

Reviewed by Liam Pritchard for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).