First, naturally, there was Mario Kart. Then there was Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Sonic R, and even Rockman Battle & Chase (that's Megaman to you!).

　　Now, another console gaming icon makes his way to the twisty tracks to have a go at mascot-themed racing, this time on the PlayStation. Bomberman Phantasy Race marks Hudson Soft's first foray into the 3D racing arena, and who better to lead the way than the little white plastic pugilist himself: Bomberman.

　　Set to debut in Japan in early August, Bomberman Phantasy Race takes your favorite Bomberman characters and places them in a track, mounted atop a varied assortment of kangaroos and dinosaurs. Six characters are selectable from the outset, in addition to your stable of steeds, all ready for a few laps around the track.

　　But it wouldn't be Bomberman if there weren't bombs, right? Playing like a cross between traditional Bomberman and something like Wipeout XL, Phantasy Race finds you chugging through straightaways and hairpin turns, all the while lobbing bombs at your opponents. Once you've exhausted all that the one-player mode has to offer, you can move on to the split-screen versus mode.

　　As you can imagine, playing against a friend, using a horizontal split-screen, will add immeasurably to the replay value. Ahh, just like the good ol' days. While no US publisher has picked up the rights to Bomberman Phantasy Race as of yet, it's been rumored that a certain company known for its ogre-ish tactics has been looking into it. Stay tuned for further details.