Reviewed by Cricket
Article
Discussion Forum
First
Impressions:
This was my
sister's and my first introduction to a racing game, and so far,
it is my favorite. Having been a teen in the 60's, the thought
of racing VolksWagens tickled me. I remember the fun we had bombing
around my sister's white VW beetle. The premise is simple. You
are given a number of choices - speed racing (not quite as easy
as it looks), dune racing, jumping, cross and monster. The game
also offers single-player, multiplayer and IPX LAN online. (As
of yet, online racing is not available on a gaming site.) You
have the option to quick race (a great place to learn), championship
race (some nice surprises here) or attempt the Beetle Challenge.
Personally, I prefer dune racing, while my sister excels at speed
racing. Neither of us does well in the jumping category; it requires
a great deal of practice.
Initially,
you have to earn the right to race with a better vehicle. As earn
points, you are able to select from a variety of colourful cars,
trucks, and vans. There are 50 vehicles to choose from, and a
better vehicle allows you to move up in the standings. The web
site, http://www.beetlebuggin.com,
was initially not much help in terms of explaining how to launch
certain aspects of the game; however, with a little hit and miss
we learned how to select a better car, how to save scores and
earn points to purchase a better vehicle.
Replays allow
you see the race from an aerial perspective, and occasionally,
your driver looks at the camera as he speeds past an opponent.
The replays give you a bit of a break (although you can bypass
them) and a lot of laughter as you watch your mistakes and the
mistakes of the other drivers. The game can be controlled with
the directional keys, a game pad, steering wheel or joystick.
We had so much fun that I actually dipped into the grocery money
to purchase a gamepad so that the multiplayer mode would be easier
for us as we sat side by side at the computer.
Graphics:
The graphics
are really fun. You never know what kind of weather you will be
racing in or whether it will be day or night, which changes the
whole management and playing style. Speed racing is difficult
in the rain because it seems to be slippery, and if it is dark
and raining, you have to slow down. The game has good depth and
is very colourful.
Sound/Music:
The sounds
are typical of any racing game. You can rev the motors at start,
and the noise of the cars is clearly heard as you race to 60s
music. Unfortunately, after multiple attempts at making it through
a level, the music tends to get a bit annoying.
Gameplay:
There are
so many variations to this game that the actual gameplay is not
boring. Once you have mastered quick racing and start on the championship
levels, you can earn bonus races where you challenge a clock in
speed racing. Then you move up in bonus races. After several months
of play, my sister and I are both trying to get past the speed
trials. Since we have yet to accomplish that goal, the bonus races
are not yet available to comment on. The only drawback during
gameplay is the fact that the CD will slow down if it has been
in the drive too long (over two hours). Since the game is so addictive,
two hours is not a long time to race, and it is annoying to have
to remove the CD and let the drive cool down so you can start
over. Usually, by that time, your hand is cramped and sore anyway,
and a break is a good idea. As you progress up the levels of racing,
your opponents become more aggressive, coming from behind in the
last lap and giving you a run for your money. In dune racing,
your opponents will knock you into the surf and put you out of
the running. You can set the game so that you have different views
from the car as you race. The most comfortable is the view at
the front of the car. Interestingly, the view from behind the
wheel, which would seem natural, seems to make driving a bit more
challenging. Since the goal is, of course, to win the race, it
is easier not to view the hood of the car as you tear around the
courses.
Enjoyment:
I can't say
enough about the fun and merriment in this game. It is extremely
addictive. It is challenging for the average racer and provides
many laugh-out-loud moments as the unexpected happens. There are
plenty of courses and levels of racing to keep you entertained.
My sister and I have yet to try online racing with other owners,
but when we ready, we look forward to the new challenges online
racing offers. I was not able to find any bugs, probably because
I do not own a lot of games and am not sure what to look for.
Nothing unusual has happened, and there have been no glitches
other than the CD slowing the game down when it is overheated.
Multiplayer:
Multiplayer
mode splits the screen from top to bottom. You and your partner
have a good view of the other cars, the course and each other.
A little screen in the bottom left hand corner shows you your
position in relation to the rest of the drivers and your position
on the course. The game acknowledges your best lap times and encourages
you when you don't place. The keyboard controls are just as comfortable
to use as the gamepad; in fact, I found them easier to use in
multiplayer mode since I tend to sit back when I use the gamepad.
With the split screen, it is easier to sit closer to the computer
to race with the split screen
Overall
Impression:
For
young and old alike, this game is great fun, and for baby boomers,
it promises a nostalgic experience. In the past few months, the
site has been improving, and more information is available now.
There is endless variety. When you tire of one mode of racing,
you can move on to a different course, vehicle and race, and if
you crash your vehicle, no one is injured. The car just bounces
back. One reviewer, an obviously avid racer with a skill level
far superior to mine, felt the game wasn't challenging enough,
but for the average player of any age, the game offers hours of
enjoyment. This is a great family game. Young and old can play
together and an inexperienced player can spend many happy hours
perfecting their skills. I highly recommend this racing game for
any family or individual.
Marketing
Efforts Towards Women:
The game
is not gender-specific. The drivers appear to be men, but that
is not clear, and it is not important. Women and men can have
the same level of enjoyment tearing around the courses.
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