Now this is Podracing.

Original N64europe review

Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away in the city of Mos Espa on the planet Tatooine their lived boy named Anakin Skywalker. Anakin lived with his mother Shmi Skywalker and they were both slaves to Wattoo, a Toydorian. Young Anakin however is no normal boy, he grows up to become Darth Vader evil Lord of the Sith. Even only 8 years old though Anakin is very strong with the Force and is an incredible engineer for one so young. Having built C3-PO to help his mother around the house he turns his attentions to the Pod Races taking place around Mos Espa. The Pod Races are fast, dangerous and are frequented only by species with lightning quick reflexes, so it comes as a great surprise when a small human boy enters the race on his self built racer.

Graphically, "Episode 1 Racer" can hold its head far above the crowd with crisp, sharp visuals speeding by at an unbelievable rate. Plug in the expansion Pak and you might as well be playing around with £1500 worth of PC. The visuals are varied from track to track and all have a very authentic "star wars" feel, if you loved Rogue Squadron just because it was a starters game then you will love this to bits. The game is fabulously presented also with short cut scenes introducing each track and ending with the racers being reversed into their respective hangers. Outside of the races you are treated to the appropriately grimy Wattoos shop and junkyard. All in all a very tidy Stairways look.

The game play in one word is good, not great only good. The first 7 or 8 races will prove no problem at all, but the minute you get a little into the second cup things get decidedly nasty with the difficulty being ramped up to the extremes. I f you got this far racing with Anakin it might be time for a change. At least it'll provide you with a good few weeks of challenge.

Controlling the Pod Racers is actually quite easy considering you are controlling a tiny carriage towed along by two huge thrusters, a process I am sure nobody is familiar with. The Pods have a floaty feel reminiscent of Wipe out and can even be tilted at right angles to the track if the need arises. A quick stab at the R-button even hurls some verbal abuse at your opponents, most of it however is not in English.

The sound is where the game goes horribly wrong. They did it the same way they di Shadows of the Empire and thus it sounds flat and dull. Nothing like the sonic onslaught we were treated to in Rogue Squadron. Although the sound is faithful to the film it is merely there and doesn't involve you in the game at all.

To finish of I would have to say that Star wars Episode 1 Racer is a worthy purchase for any Star wars fan or racing fan alike, it will also give something different to those which dabble in the genre.

- By David Burrows