This was a racing game, featuring many strange vehicles going through different parts of the state of California... on that planet called Earth, I should remind you. It was a game on the N64, and that’s pretty much it for this section.

I hate having to write this every Review, but this is yet another Review based on a 0-4 star scale. I know, I know, you’re so surprised.

Graphics: no stars

Ugh... the cars, courses, layouts, everything for that matter, just looks plain awful! It looks like the
game-makers were so caught up on gameplay that it didn’t matter if the game looked good whatsoever. The
Golden Gate Bridge looks more like a bunch of posts thrown together, a roller coaster track doesn’t look
anything like a roller coaster whatsoever, water is just blueness, and everything is so blocky, and cardboard, and- I just hate thinking about it!

Sound: ***

Some tunes are poor, while others are actually worth listening to, namely the mall music in Central Valley. A couple of other tracks aren’t bad, either, and the menu music is pretty good. Music never makes a game, but sometimes good music is enough to make me play a game more often.

Difficulty: ***

This game is quite difficult, mainly because you have to drive almost perfectly or you won’t win the race. So, if there are tons of other cars on the road, then you’re going to struggle through the race, just banging off car to car. However, it is possible to win in this game. Just put the traffic on none and take all the shortcuts, which are easy to find.

Controls: *

The controls are easy. A is accelerate, B is brake, and the Control Stick steers. That’s all you need to know, basically. The biggest problem? There’s no reverse. That kills this game right there, because if you get stuck in a corner, the race is over, period. Isn’t that fun? Plus, the controls aren’t very responsive, either. That’s another fun problem!

Cars: ***

You are able to color the cars in this game, which I like. Why? I couldn’t stand driving a Viking-ugly purple car around, because if I’m going to playing this game for hours, I’d rather stare at a green-and-yellow golf cart. Speaking of the golf cart, that’s the only car to use. It’s super fast, and it accelerates quickly. The rest of the cars are mediocre in comparison.

Courses: **1/2

I have to say, the courses are pretty sweet, if they didn’t look so bad graphically. Probably my favorite is the California track, where the state is shrunk and you go around the state, destroying buildings when you touch them. (Those of you offended by 9/11 better stay away from this.) Of course, halfway through the track, you’ll get stuck in the corner of two mountains and you’ll lose because there’s no reverse. Yes, that’s fun, fun! Anyway, the tracks are all right. I can’t give it a great score because they don’t look anything near to what they should.

Driving (in general): no stars

Okay, first there’s that horrible no-reverse problem that kills you if you happen to steer off-road. “Well, that’s easy to avoid! Just don’t go off-road!” you may say. No, that won’t happen. The controls are so sloppy, and the car is just not responsive enough to them. You’ll go into the other lane just by tapping your Control Stick. This section goes hand and hand with the control section, as this practically ruins this game. It’s too bad, too.

Single-Player Mode, Time Trial: 1/2

Well, this is pretty boring, and you’ll probably get stuck a few times, but at least you won’t be frustrated at any computers, if that’s any consolation to you. It’s probably not.

Single-Player Mode, Vs. Computer: no stars

This is boring. Too boring. So boring, in fact, that you’ll hate this game if this is all you play. Not only that, this is the mode that my frustrations get the highest, from the no-reverse and hard steering. It’s annoying. Don’t play this mode, whatever you do. It’ll ruin this game’s experience for you.

2-Player Mode, Vs. Computer: **1/2

This is a more exciting mode, because at least if you can’t beat the computers, you can beat your friend! Or, your sister, if no one else wants to play this game with you, and I wouldn’t blame them.

2-Player Mode, No Computers: ***

This is a little better of a mode, because the pressure of beating A.I.’s is off. All you have to do is beat your live opponent. Plus, if you put Traffic on Heavy, you can just decide to crash into other cars, which is probably more fun than the real game itself. Yes, all bad games have diversions that are better than the game itself, except for maybe Poké Gold, which had nothing good whatsoever to it. (I couldn’t resist taking another shot at that game!)

Multiplayer (in general): ***

Basically, if you’re not playing multiplayer, you’re not having fun with this game. Do I need to say any more?

Replayability: *

Well, if you waste your money on a Controller Pak, you can save your game and unlock new tracks. I’d do that, because this game is practically useless if you don’t have a point to playing it. The races aren’t that fun
that you’ll be like, “Let’s do that again!”

Fun Factor!: *1/2

If you like crashing into traffic, and maybe riding on some of the crazy tracks, you’ll enjoy this game. Otherwise, you won’t. Overall, the fun is limited.

OVERALL: *

Hmm, am I clear in saying, “don’t buy this game”? The controls and driving in general ruin this game and the
gameplay, plus the graphics don’t help any. You may have some limited fun, but otherwise, this game is a waste.

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