Slick graphics, speedy racing and a futuristic theme are all well and good, but when it comes down to it a player needs to be able to feel like they're in control of their car when playing a racing title. It seems like a fairly obvious point, but Extreme Formula by GOGN Entertainment falls short of the mark and new players are bound to scratch their head as they try to work out what they're doing wrong.

This is, in part, thanks to an interface that is cumbersome by design and the initial assumption that you're playing a relatively traditional racing title. Simply getting started can be a confusing task as you eventually realize that you require an Internet connection (3G, Wifi) simply to select your initial vehicle. Despite the futuristic setting, the rocket-powered vehicle you're provided is as clumsy and cumbersome as a tank on ice and avoiding the traps that are scattered on each level can be a trial in itself. Power-ups allow you to activate your boost abilities to stay ahead of your opposition, but the AI seems to have troubles of its own when it comes to maneuvering and you can be assured that you won't be the only one bouncing off the rails and exploding.

Upgrades are the solution to this sticky issue and once you're comfortable with the quirky physics and you have a pimped out vehicle things start to take off, allowing you to experience the smooth hyper-speed racing for the first time. Sadly, it's a journey fraught with frustration and you'll have to fight for every inch you gain as you contend with the inability to pause during races; experience disconnects during races; or worse yet, can't continue races because you've disconnected while taking a call... the list goes on.

Extreme Formula has all the right features in place to be considered a fun, fast-paced futuristic-racer in the same vein as the Wipeout series, but its execution is flawed in a way that feels counter-intuitive. Players must grind their way to an experience that's enjoyable, but it's a hard task to ask anyone to take.