You can imagine the scene. A bunch of computer games designers are having a scratchy-head meeting to discuss what will be the next big thing in the gaming world.

Will it be another Tomb Raider clone? A puzzle with a differ-ence? No, how's about a spin on the old Wipeout theme? Except instead of superfast cars, how's about superfast boats?

Much nodding of heads and patting of backs must have ensued.

Unfortunately, a little too-much self-congratulating seems to have gone on because the game that the fellas at Davilex have produced seems to have had no time spent on it to ensure the player comes away with anything like satisfaction.

Oh, the marketing department has done its work and shooting around on the accur-ately-mapped water-ways of Amsterdam, Venice and London, while blowing up your opponents with loads of cool gadgets may seem like a great wheeze.

But the final product for the PC is a shoddy, choppy mess that lacks either thrill or replay value. Even with a powerful Pentium 3 processor and the requisite minimum hardware in place, Thames Racer chugs along at barge-speed instead of the all-out James Bond style we, quite fairly, expect.

A real waste that deserves to spend eternity in Davy Jones's Locker.

Price: £19.99.

Contact: www.thames racer.com
Feel good factor: 2 out of 10.