ZZAP!64 - Issue 2 - June 1985

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R
acing games are ail the
rage this month and
there's plenty of fast
furious action in this one. It
doesn't feature two player
racing but you may find yourself
with up to six cars on screen at
once.
The setting is the Nascar circuits
of America and you have to
take on 18 other cars, including
Richard Petty's (a famous
Nascar driver). However before
you can race against the best
you've got to qualify. This is
done around a tri-oval circuit or
a random circuit. Both of these
have only left hand turns with
the former having three and the
latter a random number each
race.
Qualifying is fairly easy as
long as you keep at maximum
speed and don't bump into the
other cars on the track. At this
stage they're easy to avoid but
they won't be so charitable in
the race proper.
Your qualifying time determines
your position on the grid
and it's best to be in the top four
or you'll have a lot of catching up
to do. The start usually causes
large jams as the leaders jockey
for position and you have to be
extra careful not to get sandwiched
and crash. This isn't the
only way to meet your doom
though.
You have tyre wear and fuel
levels which if allowed to get to
zero will cause you to crash.
Tyres are worn down when your
car rubs against the curb while
heavy contact in front or behind
from another car will also result
in disaster. You may also get
some random engine trouble
but this will only slow you down.
All these factors can be repaired
in the pits.
To help you avoid the other
drivers you have two handy
techniques. The first is slipstreaming
(driving close behind
another car) which won't speed
you up but will conserve fuel so
that you can avoid doing too
many pit stops. Secondly you
can use turbo boost which
allows you to travel at 294 mph
instead of the usual 250 mph
and is great for overtaking manoeuvres.
However it eats up the
fuel and should only be used for
short periods on straights.
The other cars have distinct
personalities and there are five
general types. Three individuals
are your main competitors and
drive distinctive numbered cars
which are most easily out driven
on the bends. Theothers fall into
two classes: the bumpers and
the demons. The bumpers are
slow and easy to avoid while the
Although the graphics andsoundaren 't up to
the standard of Pitstop li the competitive action
is every bit as demanding. The computer
controlled cars are incrediblymean and you 4 II
have to be a realace to beat them. The best
action is at starts when you can have jams of
five or six cars scrapping for the lead and
making driving very dangerous. The fact that
you can only do left hand turns is disappointing
but the random circuits can make things
more interesting.
game. After hastily turning down the
ating sound andplaying a couple of ga
soon found (with numerous crashes ) \
wrong. It turnedout to have quite an adt
quality. Several days latermy opinior
hasn't changed, only my driving has -
experienced andcertainly more aggre.
AH three tasks have been
completed
demons are really nasty and
baulk you.
The engine noises aren't that
good but the tyre screech round
corners is nice. The graphics are
disappointing with a flickery
track and although the cars look
great, their movement is
jerky.
The perspective does allow you
to see a corner before you are
into it and this helps you
prepare.
Each race is over thirty laps
and you have continuous
updates on your position in the
race, who is in front of you, your
last lap time and your points
score.
r».«,
Your three pit crewmen
/ Good instructions, high
Road-racing
score table.
Q
Your car in the pits
Tire wear
’he dark demon is the car
i front of you
ORIGINALITY
game with a
few new touches.
/ Fast-moving, but flawed by
/ Immediate excitement with
Q juddering. Q stacks ofaction .
?
/
Q
o
Screeching car noises.
Nothing spectacular. Poor
title screen music.
Pit stops
If a crash occurs on the track a
yellow flag goes out and at the
end of the lap you get a free
chance for a pit stop and restart
on the grid.
You can replace your tyres and
fuel and also check out your
engine - all this'is done more or
less automatically by three
mechanics in your pit. Your car
looks extremely beaten up with
several bits of the bodywork having
had major panel work and
resprays.
You can call into the pit at any
time by stopping in the pit lane
but it's best to do it under the
yellow flag when you won't lose
anytime.
f
Q
Tough challenge to finish a
race, let alone win.
An enjoyable, exciting game. Bound to suffer by being released at the
same time as Pitstop II
38 ZZAP! 64 June 1985