Star Wars Episode 1: Racer
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Brand: Lucas Arts
List Price: $29.95
Our Price: $27.48
You Save: $ 2.47 ( 8% )
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Average Ratings:
Let's just for a second forget that Star Wars: Episode I, Racer has anything at all to do with the film on which it's based. Would it still have any appeal if you take away the movie license? The answer, almost surprisingly, is yes. This sci-fi arcade racing game is packed with high-speed thrills and a unique style of track-circling action that should get any racing fan's adrenaline pumping.
The game is based on the pod-racing scene from Episode I, which was arguably the best and most exciting segment of the film. Players enter a series of pod races as either Anakin Skywalker or one of his 20 different alien rivals--including Sebulba, once you get far enough into the game to unlock this bonus character. Races are linked in four different circuits, each more difficult than the last. The highest circuit, in fact, can be extremely tough.
Each race is a white-knuckled ride on the wild side, as the game does an excellent job of conveying a feeling of ferocious speed. It helps that Racer utilizes spectacular 3-D graphics to depict the racetracks and their alien surroundings. But racers can't waste time admiring the scenery: tracks are not always well marked, and it's all too easy to get lost and fly off the track.
As with most Star Wars games, the sound effects and music in Racer are top-notch. True, Anakin's cutesy voice can be annoying at times, but the other racers sound great when they complain as you pass them on the track. Watto the shopkeeper, the floating alien guy who sells new parts and upgrades for your pod, is a great character who chatters away humorously as you shop his store.
Overall, Racer is a game that can easily stand on its own merits rather than ride the coattails of Star Wars: Episode I. Intense speed, unique racing action, and excellent 3-D graphics make this one a sure-fire winner. --Michael E. Ryan
Pros:
- Unique, high-speed racing action
- Excellent graphics
- Pod upgrades
- Great sound effects and music
- Becomes extremely difficult at the highest levels
- Tracks can be confusing at times
- The voice of Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker)
DESCRIPTION:
Amazon Maximum Age: 20
Amazon Minimum Age: 60
Binding: CD-ROM
Brand: Lucas Arts
EAN: 0023272653187
ESRB Age Rating: Everyone
Format: CD-ROM
Label: LucasArts Entertainment
Manufacturer: LucasArts Entertainment
Model: 65318
Platform: Windows 98
Publisher: LucasArts Entertainment
Studio: LucasArts Entertainment
ACCESSORIES:
• Lego Star Wars Death Star II
• LEGO Star Wars Imperial Dropship
• PC Gamer (1-year)
• LEGO Star Wars Rebel Scout Speeder
SIMILAR ITEMS:
• Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)
• Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
• Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
• Camp Rock
CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Holds up after all these years - even on XP
Comment: Several years after playing through to completion, I was disappointed to find that Racer on the CD was completely unplayable on XP. Seems the changes in DirectX support between the old version 6 and the new versions left Racer unsupported, with some calls to the audio and video systems crashing the system on newer computers.
Thank heavens for the ability to search the web for answers. The LucasArts support page was unhelpful, but if you search around long enough, you will find a link to a hidden page at [...] on, of all places, Amazon's UK site. I think diehard players and people unwilling to bother the folks in the UK will appreciate a way to bring Racer back to life on XP computers.
Anyway, with these two patch files, Racer becomes not only playable again, but brings a great racing game back into the fold. The graphics and audio hold up extremely well for a game that's nearly 7 years old. Even now, this blindingly good game gets your whip-snap reflexes back into shape, and leave other racing games in the dust. The clever upgrading ability and multiplayer support stand out today even more clearly for being well ahead of their time.
Customer Rating:
Summary: good game AND QUIT PICKING ON JAKE LLYOD
Comment: THIS GAME IS JUST AWSOME.
AND GIVE JAKE A BREAK HE WAS A LITTLE KID AT THE TIME.
LIKE TO SEE U GUYS DO A BETTER JOB
Customer Rating:
Summary: computer problems
Comment: This was a very interesting game, requiring a joystick. I wanted to play it, but it kept freezing up on my year 2000 PC with much more than the stated system requirements, video cards, etc. Lucas Arts said I should try downloading some video patches that do not exist anymore (remember, my computer is years(?) beyond this product), but they warned me the patches could crash my computer. Gee, thanks for wasting my money.
Customer Rating:
Summary: computer problems
Comment: This was a very interesting game, requiring a joystick. I wanted to play it, but it kept freezing up on my year 2000 PC with much more than the stated system requirements, video cards, etc. Lucas Arts said I should try downloading some video patches that do not exist anymore (remember, my computer is years(?) beyond this product), but they warned me the patches could crash my computer. Gee, thanks for wasting my money.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the best racing games
Comment: Being both a Star Wars and racing game fan, I was hoping for something special. I wasn't disappointed. "Star Wars Episode 1: Racer" is one of the fastest and most exciting games available. The music and sound effects are amazing and the graphics are excellent.
There is a wide range of playable characters and pods available, and the choice of upgrading or buying parts for your vehicle. The speed of the racing is incredible; it's a white-knuckle ride across ice and desert and through caves and tunnels. None of the pods come equipped with weapons, but to be honest you just don't need them: the game in no way suffers from the lack of them and the racing is excellent by itself.
There are eight racing worlds and over twenty levels, each at different stages of difficulty. Each is beautifully designed and exciting to play, although later on in the game the tracks set in the same worlds may seem a little similar. The map of each track that appears at the top right of each screen can sometimes be hard to read as not enough of each track is shown and making out competing pods is difficult.
One great thing about the game is that it has great replay value. Even though it's pretty easy to beat, I've played it through several times now and still haven't got bored of it. Overall, four and a half stars. The graphics are excellent but the tracks can get a little repetitive. You don't have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy this game.
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