Cel Damage puts you where you always wanted to be when you were a kid. Any kind of comedy-cartoon outing is represented from huge axes boink-boinking their way around the arenas to waky-races style antics. It's all here, but somehow escapes the true feeling and sense of cartoons - fun.

Gameplay:
The first thing that you'll notice when you get into Cel Damage is the fast pace of the game, combined with simple controls it makes Cel Damage one of the easiest games to get into, initially. That is until the computer opponents start to smack you into oblivion, giving you little time to get into the feel of the game. Add in ill-designed and bland levels, the odds are stacked against you if you are a tactical player. It all comes down to hitting your attack button as fast as possible and, if in a race situation, caning it to the end as fast as possible. Different types of game are included to give variety, such as the first to 500 smacks or a Flag-Rally (read checkpoint racing). Unfortunately it's as random as hell and there is little skill used to actually give you a sense of achievement when winning a race or passing a level, more like letting out a big sigh and thinking 'phew, glad that's over with'. It's very shallow and extremely frustrating.

Graphics:
Excellent use of cel-shading and the style fits the game perfectly. It's set in a cartoon environment, so what better technique to use than cel-shading? Cel Damage runs as smooth as the Fonz, little slowdown and lots of things going on at once to feast your eyes on. The vehicles move exactly as you would expect - bending slightly when turning and generally acting cartoony and the levels do have a lot going on in the background, it's just a shame that they aren't larger or have sections that suit different styles of play. I'm sure some sniping points would have satisfied me more, it just adds a little more depth instead of forcing you to play like a maniac.

Sound:
Cel Damage was always going to be limited in the sound department, but it uses every available 'boink' 'dong' and anything that you associate cartoon sounds with. Each character has their own personality that shines through with their voice-overs and it's very effectively done. Music is very basic stuff but is inoffensive enough. Limited in scope but what it does, it does well.

Longevity:
Frustrating, fun, annoying, pretty... well, Cel Damage is what you make of it. It is fun, but soon gets frustrating, there's little reward for coming first but maybe because coming first is more luck than skill. It feels like there is so much more that can be done with the game, but in the end it just doesn't have enough staying power.

Round Up:
Very much like a 'baby-Quake' in vehicles, Cel Damage seems to go off in a tantrum when you're beating it. It looks cute and is loud and fun but essentially is more tiring to play than get any sense of long term enjoyment out of.