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Get Your Podracer Out of
the Garage Review: Racer Revenge for PS2 by Jody Reeves Published 4/7/02 If you're into racing games, there's plenty to keep you returning to Racer Revenge. |
Racer Revenge (PS2)
Rating: E
Availability: Out Now
Racer Revenge is the sequel to the original Star Wars
Racer, one of the first of the Episode I games. The storyline for Revenge is rather
simple: Sebulba disappeared soon after his defeat at the Boonta Eve Classic. Now, eight
years later, he has resurfaced with a bigger and faster pod, and wants to once again race
against Anakin Skywalker. The eighteen-year-old Padawan takes up the challenge and we have
the makings of a video game!
The original Racer was released in both PC and Nintendo 64 formats. Racer Revenge is currently an exclusive PlayStation 2 title, though don't be surprised to see it ported to Xbox or the PC in the coming months.
Racer Revenge can be played in three modes: single track, versus, and tournament. Single track is just that, one race on one of four available tracks. Versus pits you against a friend for a head-to-head competition. Tournament allows you to race for an entire season, working your way up the ranks as you win. This is the mode that best presents the strengths of the game.
When you begin in tournament mode, you can pick from one of eight initial characters, including the teenage Anakin Skywalker. As you progress through the games, you can unlock ten more characters, mostly alien racers on the circuit, but the ultimate goal is to get Sebulba.
The podracing circuit consists of thirteen tracks, ranging from the ubiquitous Tatooine to Mon Calamari to Sullust. Racers can only advance to the next track by placing in the top three finishers. Your placing determines your share of the prize money awarded at the end of a race, and you can earn bonus money by knocking competitors out of a race. After a successful placing, you are taken to Watto's shop, where you can use your winnings to upgrade your pod and its engines. When you begin the next race, your pod will be pimped up, tricked out, and ready to take on even more of the galaxy.
Graphics:
The graphics are very well done, showing the improvement in technology over the last three years since the release of the original Racer. Character animation and detail is of little focus, as the game's primary attention getter is the sense of speed it achieves. The tight areas of a track loom menacingly as you try your best not to become the new scrape on the wall. There is a feeling of danger and exhilaration when taking a squeeze turn at 300 miles an hour.
Voice Acting:
Not a lot here, but mainly because of the nature of the game. Characters engage in some smacktalk and there is an announcer, but that's the limit. Only the announcer got old after a while, calling out the same lines race after race.
Camera/Controls:
In combination with the graphics, the first-person camera gave me a real feeling of claustrophobia and dizzying speed. Just what you would expect when piloting a podracer. Players can also choose to use a third-person view, if that suits them.
The controls are fairly basic and easy to grasp, the directional pad controls the motion of the podracer, while the shoulder buttons control the boost and brake. You can also choose to use the analog sticks to control the podracer, one stick for each engine. There is also the ability to repair your engines in mid-race, a trick that can make the difference between placing or bringing up the rear.
Music/Sound:
The music tracks are from Episode I and used to good effect here. Naturally, the sound effects of the engines rumbling, metal scraping and crashing pods are done very well. Using a 5.1 speaker setup is ideal -- the sounds of podracers coming up from behind you comes over clearly.
Replay Value:
If you're into racing games, there's plenty to keep you returning to Racer Revenge. Incentives are given to place higher in the rankings, and if I had the interest and patience, I would love to see how my pimped up pod stacks up to the rest.
With plenty of tracks and characters to unlock, improving one's ranking in tournament mode brings many rewards.
Light Side features:
- Controls are easier on the PS2 than the original on Nintendo 64.
- Your character evolves in skill as you progress through the rankings and this is charted
- Many tracks and characters to unlock
Dark Side features:
- Very long load times between races
Overall Grade: B
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(Jody Reeves is not into racing games, so was really subjective when grading this game. She would have been happier if the podracers carried chainguns.)