Demolition Racer: No Exit
- November 24, 2000 14:47 PM PST
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Dreamcast owners can strap into the muscle car of their choice and wreck, wreck, wreck 'til their hearts' content in Infogrames' fun upgrade, Demolition Racer: No Exit.
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Way Out
Listen up. Demolition Racer: No Exit isn't for any weak-kneed wimps or mascot racing fans, and it's not for folks who like nothing more than all-out auto bashing in a circle. You'll have to master both car bashing skills and speed in this destruction derby, balancing out sheer brute force and pole-position finesse as you try to win the trophy. It's an excellent concept that works out well, as you win points for damaging opponents and a multiplier for your place in the standings, making racing and wrecking equally important.
Demolition Racer was a favorite in the GamePro offices when it hit the PlayStation, and this Dreamcast version has everything you'd expect from the series, with the addition of new modes such as DR Tennis, Big Car Hunter, and Demolition, to name a few, which you'll unlock as you win races. Power-ups along the tracks mingle with dangerous "power-downs," like exploding crates that damage your car. This makes your quest to gain an edge a true test of skill and timing. No Exit is a tight package of automotive mayhem, with a few minor problems that hardcore car-carnage fans will likely find easy to overlook.
This Year's Model
Demolition has never looked better, but then again, you'd expect that for a Dreamcast upgrade of a PlayStation game. Even with the might of the Dreamcast behind it, No Exit threatens an N64-ish look, with fuzzy textures and somewhat simple tracks. You'll also notice a few awkward camera tricks, and you'll even clip through enemy cars from time to time. You'll be pleased with the frame rate, though, because it consistently stays at a healthy clip.
No Exit pumps loudly with a soundtrack from such powerhouse bands as Fear Factory and Empirion, and the tunes really fit the action well. You'll want to smash into the other cars often, not only because it gives you points, but because the smashing noises sound so good. Other than that, though, the sound in No Exit leaves a bit to be desired, most notably in the car engine effect that seems more like a humming lawnmower than a rumbling muscle machine.
Even the greenest of rookies can pick up Demolition Racer's controls, as they work exactly like every other racing game for the Dreamcast. With the analog triggers controlling gas and brake, you can combine the two carefully to easily control your speed and handling. The game's biggest problems lie in camera control and in odd collision physics; you might find yourself trying to spot your car from the opposite side of a wall, or spinning a 90-degree turn after colliding with a collapsible sawhorse.
Death From Above
Demolition Racer makes a smooth transition onto the Dreamcast with No Exit. While it's not an instant classic, it is a cathartic and chaotic speed-based wreck-em-up, and motor-mayhem fans will love it.
