Carve - Screenshot and Video Action

Take 2 and Argonaut team up to bring a fresh take on the water racing genre to European shores next week. Screens and video inside.

Carve debuted in North American stores towards the end of last month, after an impressive playable showing at last year's X03 event. Developed by UK-based Argonaut and published by Take Two under its Global Star brand, Carve takes a fresh approach to the water racing genre.

Carve combines the liquid physics of its environment-mapped bump-mapping system with trick heavy ramp action. The result is an adrenaline soaked headlong sprint straight into your screen.

Compete on one of 27 globe-spanning tracks that take in locations as diverse as Thailand, Iceland, Amsterdam and the Grand Canyon. Earn your water wings and then attempt to master the ultimate challenge of the Steel Ocean.

But first, you've got to decide who you're going to ride as. Max - rich boy gone bad - or perhaps the allure of ice maiden cum water babe Amiko is more to your liking? Fuel inject another six wetsuit wonders into the mix and prepare for a multiplayer massacre.

The game supports four-way split screen races, or eight player contests via Xbox Live. But best of all, it arrives with a team-based co-op mode that allows you to hinder other riders while giving your partner a chance to be first across the line.

We'll be reviewing the game some time around its European launch on March 19. Stay tuned for our verdict.

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com