(Page 3 of 3)
0:43 I get edged out of fourth place at the end by 0.12 seconds! That's OK ... I still earn 1977 credits. That was a good year for credits. *rim shot*
0:44 The gentle Mexican music on the menus is so nice. Too bad it changes to awful techno/metal during the races.
0:45 Even the graphics are growing on me. The overly smooth tracks are balanced by the stunning lighting and cloud-filled skyscapes. Even the sluggish frame rate isn't so annoying anymore.
0:46 Payback! During a sharp turn, I slam into Red so hard that I knocked his entire front panel off. HA!
0:48 A fourth-place finish. Now that I've gotten used to the vagaries of off-road controls, I'm really enjoying the whole experience. "Edge of Control" is a good description, and not an entirely bad thing.
0:49 Oh, wow, I just noticed I can go into the garage between league races to buy upgrades! New suspension, here I come! Some more horsepower will help me climb those long hills, too.
0:53 Wow ... those upgrades made a HUGE difference. The car is much more powerful, but also springier and harder to control.
0:55 I didn't realize how much I relied on my opponents to show me where the track was until I was in first. That's OK ... I use the tire tread markings to stay in first until the end! Yeah! A fourth-place overall finish for the league ... not bad, if I do say so myself. My massive winnings allow me to pretty much max out my ride. Can't wait to try out all this power, although it looks like I'll have to wait.
Would I play this game for more than an hour? Yes.
Why? While it's a little barebones on presentation and the controls require some learning, the racing engine seems top-notch and the competition has been consistently white-knuckle so far.
This column is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.
Want to know more about Games for Lunch? Check out the FAQ
here.
For more Games for Lunch, visit the
official GfL blog.