Star Wars Episode I: Pod Racer
Produced by: LucasArts Entertainment

Reviewed by: Loveleigh
7/18/99

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First Impressions:

Next to the lightsaber duels of Darth Maul and Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Podracing sequence of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace was the most exciting and hair-raising action in the movie. Racer takes that area of the movie and places it into a simulation format for the rest of us to enjoy! Although there are five pods to initially choose from, everyone I know, myself included, HAD to try Anakin Skywalker's pod first! You're first test of skill will be the Boonta Training Course, which is to remind you of the Boonta Eve race in the movie. It is here that you will get an easy taste of what to expect.

Graphics:

Much like the LucasArts reputation, the games look wonderful. The 3D rendering is good and fairly realistic. There were times when I couldn't help but raise in my chair, lean left or right because I FELT like I was actually IN the pod myself!

Sound:

This game uses a few of the more up-tempo compositions from the Soundtrack. John Williams has always been a favorite of mine and hearing the theme that was played during the famous duels just keeps me on my toes when I was racing. The music has such a brilliant range that it should ROCK on a surround sound system. This game also used the same actors from the movie, (Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker and Andy Secombe as Watto,) as voice talent. This gave the game some continuity.

Gameplay:

Whether you've seen the movie or not, this is much like any racing game. The goal is to WIN the race. You can play the tracks individually…but playing the Tournament is a good way to gain skill as you progress. As you complete more races, additional pods are added to your lineup when you come in first place. Plus, you can make modifications to your pods by buying parts and upgrades with your winnings from the various races. To progress to the next track in a tournament, you must finish 4th or better. So, if you are in it for the money, and it's not looking good, you might consider restarting your race and trying again. I say this because once you've completed a race, you can try again for a better position or to unlock a pod, but you CANNOT gain lost prize monies.

Enjoyment:

When I wasn't frustrated by a track that was overly difficult, I was having a blast. Unlike racing games where you are driving an oval track, these tracks have jumps, ice, water, Tusken Raiders shooting at you, not to mention Sebulba just waiting to knock you off course to better his position. The various race venues have a good variety of terrain and obstacles to help keep a good pod-pilot in tune with the Force.

Multiplayer:

This was something I tried almost immediately. My brother and I played for a few hours on the various tracks. This was a good way to test skill versus the limitations of the individual pods. Racer will allow up to 8 players in a LAN setup, with each contestant needing to have Racer installed and the CD present. The manual doesn't offer much assistance in the way of multiplayer and it's options. It instead refers you to the readme file for detailed instructions.

Overall Impression:

This is one of those few games that even after you finish ALL of the tracks, you still want to come back and play this game from time to time. Unlike a game with a storyline, this game can stand alone for the occasional need for speed! There are also some benefits to completing Racer with all First placings. When you do, you not only get ALL of the pods available (23 in total), but you can now play the same tracks again, but this time, they are the mirrored image! Another great aspect of the game is the use of a Force Feedback joystick. It really makes the game more enjoyable, not to mention help you as a pilot, realize that you are having engine problems that need immediate repair. This is something that your gages don't tell you until it's too late. Also, with the Force Feedback joystick, you can FEEL the differences between the pods in the way that they handle.

Marketing Efforts Towards Women:

I can't say that they were thinking of women specifically when they designed this game. There wasn't anything that attracted me to this game other than the Star Wars theme and the thrill of playing a racing-type game.