Star Wars Episode 1: Racer

The Force is strong with this one - fans of futuristic racers like Wipeout suddenly have a killer alternative. Racer has the speedy frame rate, the creative courses, and the sense of tension that racing fans crave.

One of the most thrilling scenes from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comes to spectacular life on the N64 with Star Wars Episode I: Racer. There are a few problems here and there, but overall, it's a furiously fast racing game fit for a Jedi.

Gentlemen, Start Your?Jet Engines?!
Star Wars Episode I: Racer explores the wild world of podracing--dangerous speed contests between jet-propelled chariot-like hot rods in that galaxy far, far away. The circuit's filled with daredevils from around the galaxy with names like Wan Sandage, Bozzie Baranta, Fud Sang, and Ody Mandrell. You can play as various creepy creatures or as Anakin Skywalker, the league's sole human pilot. The circuit spans multiple planets with tracks that include underwater tunnels, industrial highways, desert caverns, and icy tundra. There's enough visual variety within each track to keep gamers alert, too.

The bonus in Racer is that you can switch ships at any time during the various tournaments--you're not locked into one vehicle for the length of a tournament. No matter who you champion, the more races you win, the more new ships and pilots are unlocked. With 23 racers total, that's a lot of options. Each craft can be upgraded with new parts from Watto, the Tatooine junk dealer. You can buy new components or scour his junkyard for bargains among the "previously enjoyed" specials.

Speed Freaks
The most important element of any racing game--interstellar or otherwise--is the sensation of speed. Racer's extremely high frame rate makes your surroundings whiz by and the various obstacles around you approach with nerve-rattling velocity. The tracks have been laced with plenty of extra challenges such as rotating doors, slim passageways that need to be navigated by rolling your ship up on its side, and zero-gravity stretches where asteroid collisions loom around every turn.

If you bother to slow down, you'll notice plenty of detail on the tracks and ships, such as bright engine flames and colored lighting. Everything looks smooth with the Expansion Pak installed; without it, things take on a low-res, jagged quality. Still, even the additional memory isn't enough to eradicate pop-up problems, which are annoying in single-player games and downright distracting in two-player games.

You Must Learn Control
Despite their complete fantasy basis, the speedsters in Racer feel immediately comfortable. The joystick's response is crisp, and the sway of the ships on turns reflects believable physics. Each racer handles differently, but all of them can be upgraded and adjusted to your personal taste--a huge plus when you're searching for your ultimate ride. As in any racing game, different vehicles may yield different results on the same course.

However, each ship's pleasant response is balanced by a questionable control layout. In a remarkably dim omission, you can't reconfigure the buttons, which leaves you stuck with the default setup. That wouldn't necessarily be a problem if the boost control weren't on the same stick used for steering. While you veer left and right around obstacles, you're also expected to press up on the stick to charge your boosters. It's just as awkward as it sounds--the Z trigger, which is unused, would have been more comfortable. With buttons to spare on the N64 controller, why not use them?

Skywalker Sound
All alien drivers mumble in their own languages throughout each race. The ships' engines sound cool, too, whining and roaring during turbo blasts. Unfortunately, the track announcers sound a little goofy, and gamers are only treated to John Williams' majestic score on the third and final lap. Maybe that's to heighten the dramatic tension of a big finish, or maybe it's limited due to cartridge space. Either way, when you hear it, it's properly heroic; you'll wish it was there for the whole race.

Jedi Fahrvergn?gen
Star Wars Episode I: Racer packs enough high-octane thrills that most gamers will be able to look beyond the nitpicks about control configuration and pop-up. For sheer N64 racing excitement, it's the game to beat.

Comments [0]

post a comment

Post a Comment