I spent some quality time yesterday and again today with the Xbox 360 version of Split/Second, the new arcade racer from Disney Interactive and Black Rock Studios. Anyone who knows me will tell you that racing games are my “thing”, so deciding whether to review this or Red Dead Redemption first was a no-brainer.

Let’s get one thing straight right from the start: this is not a game for casual players. Split/Second is by no means easy. There’s enough rubber banding in the single player races to drive even the most seasoned arcade racing fan to the brink of insanity, there’s no mini map, and there’s no “rewind” feature like so many other racing games have these days. In other words, it’s a truly unforgiving balls-in-your-throat experience from start to finish.

The first thing that really stood out to me when I popped in the disc was the level of polish. The menus and overall presentation remind me very much of Burnout: Revenge, as do the graphics and gameplay. The controls are tight – somewhat similar to Need For Speed: Shift – and the tracks are short and winding. The Power Play feature adds a whole new level of depth to the game, too, allowing you or your opponents to throw everything from a flaming bus to an entire goddamn skyscraper (or even a jumbo jet) onto the track. I’ve ripped through about a dozen races so far and I can honestly say that this game lives up to its name. You’re never far from overtaking an opponent – or from being overtaken yourself.

As for the bad, I have to say that I’m not a huge fan of the absence of a mini map. I also found myself distracted by the visuals at times but that’s more a testament to Black Rock’s superb graphics team than it is a quibble about the game.

I haven’t jumped on Xbox Live just yet but I hear that the multiplayer modes are highly entertaining. I’d honestly be happy with the purchase even without the online capability, however. The season mode alone is worth the price of admission.