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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       18th February 2002: Space Race  Step astride your rocket-powered space racer - but are you in for the ride of your life? Posted by John Grothier - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe Space Race, from Infogrames, is the latest ‘kart’ style racer to hit the PlayStation 2. It features all the loveable characters from the Loony Tunes cartoons, set astride rocket-powered space racers. The ACME™ Corporation is sponsoring the tournament and provides the racers with ‘gags’ to waylay other opponents, and will also dish out a lifetimes supply of ACME™ products to the winner. Space Race features all your favourite Loony Tunes characters to race with, these include Bugs Bunny and his carrot racer, Daffy Duck with his hover ship, Elmer Fudd and his Sabre Jet, Sylvester and his rocket scooter, Yosemite Sam with his Hover-chopper and my personal favourite – Wile E. Coyote and his ACME™ rocket. Each racer, or trickster, has their own strengths and weaknesses, but any racer can win on any of the tracks. Options for racing include, Tournament – which is the main mode for Space Race, and consists of thirteen cups in eight very different worlds with fourteen unique tracks. Victory in Tournament mode will open up new tracks and also some ACME™ Events. The other racing options consist of a Single Race, Time Trial, Multiplayer and the ACME™ Events, which take place on specific worlds where all the rules of racing are changed. Tracks in Space Race are set around eight wacky worlds, which include; Offworld City Limits, Wild West Quadrant, the Asteroid Belt, Planet ACME™ and The Nebula. Each world has its own distinct style and look, but there is not nearly enough variety in the track design. Some tracks are quite boring to race around, and like other ‘kart’ racers you can be in first place all the way to the end, and then a piano falls from the sky and all the other loony tunes rocket past. This would be forgivable if the racing aspect was fun, but by today’s racing game standards, the tracks are very poorly designed. The ‘gags’ are one of Space Races strengths, with some wonderful heavy objects to drop on your fellow cartoon characters. As well as anvils, safes and elephants there are a number of other ‘weapons’ to help you get rid of the competitors. Throughout the race you will find ACME pick-up crates scattered around the tracks. Each crate hides a different ‘gag’, but you won’t know which one until you have smashed into it. There are portable holes, bombs, instant storms, rockets and even super-extendo spring mounted boxing gloves! The graphics in Space Race use the cel-shading technique famously employed by Jet Set Radio. All the cartoon characters are instantly recognisable and are animated very well. The game comes on a compact disc rather than the now standard DVD, and the lack of information that you can store on a CD-Rom really shows. If this game had been released at the genesis of the PlayStation 2 it would not have looked out of place, but today we expect a lot more in terms of graphics, environments, interaction and gameplay. Sound in Space Race is only slightly better with some suitable, yet forgettable, music and funny voices from the Loony Tunes themselves. The PAL conversion of Space Race has a 60htz mode, but unfortunately has no screen adjust option, so play may be off-centre depending on your television. Infogrames usually include this option in their games, so it’s quite a shame that it’s absent from Space Race. Here we are a year and a half after the PlayStation 2’s launch – and still we cannot get decent PAL conversions. Overall Space Race is mediocre ‘kart’ racing for the kids. There is not enough variety in the tracks to keep the hardened gamer interested for long. The multiplayer might keep you entertained for a while, but it’s hardly a game for the new mil-loony-um™! John Grothier             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  Frantic yet uninspiring racing action for 1-4 players. 4 racing modes, nine Loony Tunes characters to race with, on 14 tracks on eight loony worlds. Perhaps one for the kiddies!  Related Games:  Space Race for PlayStation 2  10  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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