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Star Wars Episode 1: Racer
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Graphics & Sound:
LucasArts continues to be one of the leaders in graphic environments and 3D sound. As in Phantom Menace, you're immersed into the Star Wars universe with the movie storyline being only the beginning of an expanded adventure. In Racer, you become the pilot of one of 21 highly detailed pod-racers, race on 25 different courses on eight different worlds. Backgrounds flow seamlessly during your race with many obstacles to slam into, if you're not paying attention. The music soundtrack is straight from the movie, giving you the feeling that you are participating in a scene from Episode One. The sound effects are designed with 3D in mind. For example, when you fly into first place past Selbulba in the Boonta Classic on Tatooine, he will cuss you out from behind you, in his native tongue.
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Gameplay:
It being an arcade game and not a driving simulator, some liberties are taken, but when you're flying along at 600 mi. an hour, 4 feet off the ground, you tend not to think of the physics of what you're doing - you're just holding on, trying not to hit anything. As I mentioned, you can fly 21 different pod-racers, each with its own pilot. Try flying the races with different pod-racers to see which ones are easier to control for your style of flying. Be warned - the faster the racer is, the harder it is to control.
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Difficulty:
You start out with the easy tracks in the first tournament and each track adds something new along the way to surprise you. In the Boonta Classic, the training tournament consists of seven tracks, and if you win first place in the first six, you unlock the last track. To move forward to the next race in the tournament, you must place fourth at least. Winning races means winning money and you are able to upgrade your pod by buying upgrades in Watto's Shop.
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Game Mechanics:
Easily controlled with a two-button joystick that has a throttle. There are also a few keyboard strokes you can use to help your flight. Remember one thing, when you're flying, keep a light touch on your control device, because the pod-racer is highly sensitive. Try to stay in the middle of the track, and don't forget the aspirin when you hit the canyon walls again and again and again...
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-Wickserv, GameVortex Communications AKA Eric Wickwire |
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 95 or 98,166 MHz or faster CPU; 32MB RAM; 4MB PCI or AGP Direct 3D Graphics Accelerator 16-bit sound card or better, PCI 3D sound cards supported. Quad speed or higher CD-ROM, Mouse or Keyboard, DirectX 6.1 is included on the CD and must be installed before playing. |
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Test System:
PII450, 256RAM, 36XCD, STB Velocity 4400 |
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