Star Wars Episode One: The phantom Menace Racer Game by Lucasarts Reviewed by Paul chief_jawa@hotmail.com Size: 8Megabits Save: battery backup, eight slots Released: 1999 Works with: Gameboy Color exclusive *************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: With possibly the longest name in Game Boy history, racer is lucasart's first game boy color only game. Some of it's biggest gimicks (more on that later) include 21 playable characters (20 of them secret) and a rumble feature. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: Because of Gameboy's lack of a 3D engine, racer has a top down view, making gameplay at lot like wave race. At one point i thought some evil monkey had taken my racer pak and switched it with wave race (i hate it when that happens). Instead of eight or 16 (like in the movie) podracers duking it out at once, it's one on one, so you either win or lose. This makes it insanely hard (especially when you include the top down view and bad controls) and very frustrating. The sole perpose I played it through was to unlock the 21 charcters, making it more of a chore than a game. Liked: lots to unlock, it's star wars, challenging... Hated: ... The difficulty is a turn off for casual gamers. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: The top-down graphics give it a very limited view-point, and lucasarts noticed that, and tried to fix it with green and yellow arrows which work, but sometimes obscure my view. Sure, this wouldn't be a problem if The game was as easy as say playstaion's R4, but you'll need all the help you can get here. Podracers are simple drawings and do the job, and are all unique (I especially like ody mantrel's arrow-head shaped pod). Courses' terrains are pretty much told by colors, and lack graphical details. Over-passes (there are quite a few of them) have criss-cross shadows that look really weird and can be distracting. Liked: Pod designs, the arrows (most of the time) Hated: course designs, when the arrows screw up my view **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Racer has a great Midi version of "the duel of the fates" from the episode one sound track. engine noises are good, and (when mixed with the rumble feature) really help your playing (so you know when doom is near). A big setback however is the the ringing when you're in second place, you will probably spend most of your race listening to it and it's only redeeming quality is that it's notariously skippy (especially on boosts), so you have to listen to it less. Liked: music, engine noises Hated: ring ring ring ring ring ring ring, got it? **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Riddle me this: if a pod floats, how does it slip on ice and loose speed in gravel? Winning relies more on luck than skill, because using the brake botton will spell a loss. The actually cart itself has a clear design,so you can see the rumble motor. It's destracting. I like the idea of unlocking characters, but i wish i could've started with more than that whinny brat Anakin. And most secret characters are useless because they suck. It'schallenaging and very addicing, but it's not fun. Liked: addicting Hated: questionable obstacles, cart design, only one selectable character at the start. **************************************************************************** Improve: Ok, the four tatoonie courses were like the movie, but i want the boonta eve podrace! I want to collect bets,and race against more than one person. That and take away that annoying ringing sound. RIYL: You probably bought this game for the same reason i did, it's star wars. Although Yoda Stories isn't out just yet, if the PC game is an indication, it rocks (although we know now that it's not always right). Just go watch The Empire strikes back, it's better than this game or the movie. **************************************************************************** Final Words: If this is any indication of what Driver will be like, i sure hope the Y2K bug hits us harder than we think it will, because i can't stand another bad racing/car game. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: *** Graphics: **** Sound/Music: ** Play Control/Game Design: * Personal Opinion: *** Total:13 Final Score: 52% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Hold forward as the clock counts down, just as "1" dissappears, hit A for a boost.