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| Title: |
V-Rally Championship Edition |
| Publisher: |
Infogrames |
| Features: |
Color GameBoy Only
Password Save
2 Play Modes |
| Available: |
Mega Multimedia
Tampines Mall
Tel: 788-7555
Fax: 788-2555 |
| Reviewer: |
Eric |
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Introduction
V-Rally Championship Edition is the pocket version of Infogrames hot racing
title on the N64. Just like its N64 brother, the Color GameBoy version uses officially licensed rally cars from
Ford, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Peugeot. Racing around a boring track isn't what V-Rally is about. In this game,
you will be racing at 10 different locations around the world like Africa, Sweden, England, Indonesia, and Argentina.
Game Play
As in most racing games, you won't be racing alone. You will be racing with ten other cars, all just as fast and
all just as eager to be first. What's more, you will be doing it on tracks that vary according to each country,
and with each posing different dangers and climatic hazards.
There are 4 different cars to choose from, and each has different characteristics in terms of acceleration, maximum
speed, road grip and braking capabilities. The rule of thumb in a racing game is to always choose a car with average
capabilities first. Then as you progress and know the tracks better, to choose a car that best suits your driving
style.
After choosing a car, you have the option of choosing two modes of play. There is an Arcade mode and a Championship
mode.
The Arcade mode further allows you to choose an easy, medium or hard setting. The easy mode has 4 stages, the medium
has 6 stages and the hard has 10 stages. All in all, there are 20 stages in 10 different locations in the Arcade
mode.
Of course, nothing is easy in a racing game, so do expect each stage to get progressively harder and dangerous.
Your opponents, however, won't pose too much of challenge. They pass you one at a time and they aren't that smart.
Believe me, the obstacles at the side and sometimes in the middle of the track are much more dangerous. Just grazing
one will leave you turtle in no time. One consolation is that you won't be hitting the same things. Obstacles vary
in each location, so you'll have the chance to either kill a sheep in New Zealand or crash a thatch hut in Safari.
In Arcade mode, you must pass 3 checkpoints before the countdown ends. Being first isn't necessary, but if you
do come in first, then you'll earn a credit, and this will prove helpful in the latter, more difficult stages.
Why? because you will need a credit to continue a game that you couldn't finish in time. Don't worry so much though,
because you'll start with three credits.
In Championship mode you race through all the 10 locations and 20 stages of the Arcade mode. This time, however,
you are awarded points depending on how well you place in each stage. You win if your total points are the highest
after all the stages.
Color & Controls
Infogrames are well known for their colorful titles on the Color GameBoy
and V-Rally is no exception. Kudos to the graphic department for the rich and colorful landscapes and well depicted
scenery. Each location in the game was a joy to behold, and made you feel as though you were actually there in
New Zealand or Greece. My favorite was the French Alps where intermittently, you will see tiny bits of snow flakes
falling across the screen while driving. It was a nice effect!
In terms of controls, I have no complains. The dynamics seemed true to form, and the cars handled correctly without
any exaggerated pitch or yaw. The frame rate was commendable, and added nicely to the feeling of speed. Indeed,
the excellent frame rate coupled with the rolling, dipping and madly curving track made made V-Rally one of the
most nauseating (in a nice way) racing games I've ever played.
Final Comments
To the novice, V-Rally is an unforgiving game. The collision detection is very sensitive, and the slightest brush
against an obstacle will leave you sprawling in the mud.
Another shortcoming is the fact that you can't choose a random track to play on. In the game, the stages are played
progressively, so to race on a track you like, you'll have to race through the others to reach it. What a bother!
All in all, V-Rally Championship Edition is a good racing game for the GameBoy racing fan. It's fast, well depicted,
and offers good racing variety in terms of cars, tracks and locations. If you're willing to put up with its exacting
standards, and the inability to choose a random track, then you'll be well advised to buy it. |
