Being the eclectic gamer I am (say anything about the massive amounts of FPS's for my N64 and I won't be pleased…), I just had to pick up this oldie. Yes, it's a DOS game…but so's Fallout, Doom, Shadow Warrior, et al. Anyway, the premise of this game is not hurting anything, but instead racing supercars. Very cool.

Graphically…well, let's not go there…this is a DOS game, and it doesn't support a 3d accelerator. 'Nuff said. The cars however are very distinguishable from one another, even the Lotus (I think it is, anyway) and Lamborghini's, and those two look very similar (except that the Lotus, of course, is smaller). The tracks are also very detailed and, in night racing

Each car has its strengths and weaknesses, and there is no "in the middle" car in that it's a matter of choosing the best car for the track. For instance, you would not choose the Lamborghini Diablo or Callaway Corvette to handle a close circular track because they go too fast to survive the constant turning, and don't have the acceleration (which is a crock of shit, because the Diablo and Callaway 'Vette in real life would be the two fastest cars in that game, period, but the 'Vette wouldn't handle as well as the Diablo. Balance issues, you could say.) Your best bet would be the slower but feistier Porsche 911 Turbo. So, there's actually a lot of strategy involved in winning each track.

Gameplay is fast and frantic, as you'll always be trying to keep your reactions up with the game. For the mostpart, a lot of the cars have top speeds exceeding 200 mph (or 320kph) except the Japanese rally car with automatic transmission. The fastest, the Lamborghini Diablo (called the Shadow) and the Callaway Corvette (called the Yankee) have top speeds of 340 and 343 kph (211 and 213 mph for you Americans out there or anyone else without an understanding of the metric system) in automatic or standard transmissions respectively. Oh, all speeds are in kph only. Then again, the developing team and publisher are both European. Oh well. The physics engine also pretty good for 1995, as sideswiping does inhibit not only your target but yourself (but sometimes it can be very satisfying, especially when you flip them), and there are spinouts and wipeouts galore, but it's not like Carmageddon where you can tear the other guy a new asshole (highly recommended against trying in this game, as you will lose). However, the computer AI, just like most racing games at that time, does not take to being sideswiped or wiped out, so it tries to maintain its speed…ever seen a car flipping forward at 150 - 180 mph? If you play against the CPU, you will. However, the CPU also keeps its speed below 200 MPH, making it actually possible to pass the lead car, which is always one of the Lamborghinis.

The music is also an interesting thing, because although it's there, you really don't notice it, but it is in keeping with a high-speed theme, even though it does sound like 80's metal. It's also CD audio, which isn't a bad thing at all. So, at least the quality's pretty decent.

Fast as hell racing, sweet cars, with some strategy thrown in with the testosterone, this makes for a rather unique racing game…at least for the PC. And the soundtrack's not quite bad, either.

NWC