| Introduction
Since developers have worked out that 'Mode 7' racers
are actually possible on the GBA we've seen a fair few
of them. Unfortunately, the genre seems to have encountered
the same pitfalls as platformers and what the developers
have started to deliver are average games with a license
attached. The best of these is still undoubtedly Mario
Kart but we've also seen the appalling Shrek Swamp Kart
Racing and future releases include Nicktoons Racing
amongst others. LSP have been exploiting their Antz
license for some time now and a racing title, which
we have already reviewed, appeared on the GBC some time
ago. We're well aware of the considerable power of the
GBA which has so often been wasted. The question is,
has it this time?
GamePlay
As expected with all quality titles now, Antz Extreme
Racing has more than a single mode of play and the number
of angles the developers have allowed the gamer to attack
the races with is very impressive. First off is 'Quick
Race' which allows novice drivers to practice with all
the various cars and tracks available. This is essential
to find out how the cars handle over different terrain
and just what the bonus items do. Next up is '4 Seasons',
possibly best described as the championship mode. Choose
one of the six various characters and gain pole position
in each race in order to become the best racer in...
er, well Ant Land I suppose.
'Head to Head' is a bit of a lottery because although
you can choose which character you wish to use, both
the opposition and the track are chosen at random. It's
then a case of coming first utilising all the tricks
you've picked up from other races. Once you've exhausted
these modes you can try your hand at a link-up option,
which, as always, is highly recommended. Unusually for
a game of this type, and if you're finding the races
a little tough, there are actually two levels of difficulty
available. This allows you a 'sporting chance' and you'll
discover that the other racers are far less aggressive
and in some races they're actually quite courteous.
There is a down side to all this (there had to be)
and as usual it's the password system. It's not as bad
as the appalling SPIRIT but it still runs to eight digits
and it does make a great racing title a little less
portable as you need a pen and paper to scribble them
all down. A battery backup is probably not essential
as the game is only saved after each race but it would
have been a nice addition.
Controls
The developers have obviously spent some time on
the control system so that everything feels very logical
and comfortable as soon as you start to race. There
are the usual racing controls but the bonus items, such
as missiles and turbos, are selected and launched by
the shoulder buttons. Both the movement and sprite detection
are excellent and, as a result of this, Antz Extreme
Racing avoids many of the problems that plague some
'Mode 7' racers and lead to player frustration.
Graphics
This is possibly the best looking 'Mode 7' racer
to date and the developers have employed some cunning
graphical tricks to make the whole game seamless and,
therefore, visually impressive. The environments are
also varied with very little of the repetition so common
in racing games for space saving reasons. One feature
that has survived from the GBC version is the wonderful
water-coloured cut screens, which really have to be
seen on the small screen to gain the full impact. Overall
this is incredibly good looking and Magic Pockets have
produced yet another title that demonstrates the graphical
abilities of the GBA.
Sound & Music
The audio department is quite split and you're either
going to love the soundtrack or hate it. Either way
it can all easily be turned off via the options. The
sound effects are, by contrast, very good and everything
you drive, from a wooden car to a leaf, has a wonderful
'go-kart' engine sound attached to it. In addition you
have various sounds when you collect a bonus item or
use one. Best of all are the 'cartoon like' collision
sounds but they nearly always are in these types of
games.
Final Comments
Antz Extreme Racing is a very satisfying little game
and certainly one of the best 'Mode 7' racers since
Mario Kart. Everything looks wonderful and, unusually,
plays just as well. There are a number of game modes
to play through before you even sample the multiplayer
options. It appears that the developers have taken both
time and care in constructing this title and that can
only be good, both in terms of 'value for money' and,
for you the consumer. If racers are your thing then
you can't really go wrong with Antz Extreme Racing so
get down to your local software outlet and give it a
test drive as soon as possible.
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