Computer + Video Games - Commodore Is Awesome

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HEAD TO HEAD ANTIC
it you're dead clever and have oodles of c a s
of Wa Wthing I wcalled r n a ONull l dModern,
which allows you to link two machines
and race head to head - provided you've both got machines
and a copy of the game. You can race in any car and on
any track you please and the only drawback is that the modem
'self is a tad expensive. Still, if you've got more money than
sense you'll have a ball.
THREE CAR
PILE-UP
ks in the arcade game. the
Amiga version of Race Drivint
gives you a choice of three
cars These come in both automatic
and manual gearshift
Combinations, so there are really
six to choose from. The
cars all pedorm differently and
experienced players will try to
complete all the tracks with all
the cars They are:
The Speedster: built for sheer
top speed and acceleration,
out handling suffers as a result
The Roadster: a real toughie,
with brilliant handling and cornering.
almost certainly the
nest choice for stunt tracks.
The Sportster: a good all
rounder. You won't go far
' wrong on any track with this
baby.
a
t
A A
FREAKY'
.c.....ant PHANTOM FUN
' In Race Drivin' your big opponent
is time, Unless you're re-
.. ally good. of course, in which
L T e a r l . case you can take on the
rilyi 1 . . t )v Phantom Photon. This blokes
a bit good. and just keeps getting
better and better In fact, if
you beat him in a race he
- • .. •, ' g h o s t s your better effort in the
T . next round so you have to
keep getting better and better!
H v
we
I • ,. ,,,, _ Racing ingar
g
THE TRACKS o OF MY TEARS
There are four tracks
r
in Race Drivin', including the original two
from the first game.
n
The extra two are as follows:
Super Stunt: a massive e and complex course, featuring a moun
lain climb, a corkscrew s and the extremely perilous broken loop.
Autocross: a course
a
for real hard drivers and a test of speed
nd cornering prowess. This track separates the men from the
boys.
t
The original two tracks t from the arcade are a Speed Track and
y
0 pries rather but groovy fun all fal
Tm re a . c k . o
r i t e u
a s u
t r i c n
k y r
a
i
s
REVIEW
RACE DRIVIN'
AMIGA BY BOMB E25_99
It'
s
just about everyone. No it isn't the
Labour Party, it's a Ferrari Testarossa
b and you get to drive it in Race
Driven'. i This sequel to the original
Atari coin-op has been doing the
rounds g in the arcades for quite a
while , now. This conversion from Domark
has turned up in the nick of
time i and features quite a few im-
tprovements
over the first arcade
game ' as well as the home conversions.
The game sees you in com-
s mand of an assortment of vehicles -
rand
the car you drive depends on
which of three tracks you choose - all
eare
different, requiring specific skills
d and talents to complete a lap. The
cars perform differently too: some
aare
built for comfort, others for
nspeed.
Whichever style you opt for,
d put your foot down and prepare to
race!
i
The first Hard Drivire
t
game was more of a
'
novelty than anything
else and as an arcade
s
conversion it ranked
a
very highly. This sequel
d
is very similar, and to its
credit there's a lot more
m
variety. The main problem
with all versions of
Hard
i
Drivin• is the lack of a decent control
method. r You simply can't hope to recreate
the e arcade machine's steering wheel and
three pedals on a mouse or joystick. The
d clutch system is a bit disappointing too -
byou
simply brake and then change gear.
The tracks are fun though and the choice
y
of cars makes things that bit more interesting.
One major plus point in Race Drivin'
is the two player option. The chance to link
two machines for head-to-head racing is
excellent, and it's a bit sad that next to
no-one will get to play it! Unfortunately, for
one player things can get very tedious very
quickly. The graphics aren't too bad, but
I've seen better vector routines, and sound
is very basic apart from the brilliant guitar
riff on the intro screen. An ambitious game
which is well presented and well designed
but ultimately disappointing.
FRANK O'CONNOR
AMIGA