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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:       11th July 2001: Wacky Races Starring Dastardly & Muttley  Play all eleven Wacky Racers in this diabolically fine port for your PS2! Posted by John Grothier - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe My memories of the 1970’s growing up in England includes Space Hoppers, hose-pipe bans and cartoons; cartoons only like they used to make. Innocent and made for entertainment only- not for merchandising. Maybe it’s not too politically correct these days but Wacky Races, (or should it now be Wacky Racists?), was one of my all time favourites. It included some incredible driving machines, each with its own charismatic drivers, which really fired the imagination. So it surprises me that it took a few decades to bring it to life as a computer game, but last year Infogrames released Wacky Races on the Dreamcast, and now a souped up version is available for your Playstation 2. Wacky Races Starring Dastardly & Muttley is a true living cartoon. Each vehicle has been lovingly restored using the ‘Cel Shading’ technique; as seen in games like ‘Jet Set Radio’. The framerate problems that plagued the Dreamcast version have been fixed, and its been given a graphical makeover. Other new PS2 features include a whole new ‘City ‘level, so more tracks, more battle arenas and an Arcade mode; perfect for multiplayer races and battles. Unlike the television series, (and like most other racers), the idea of the game involves racing laps. In the cartoon series it was point A to B, and of course there were tricks and traps along the way. Initially you have a choice of eight cars including the Boulder Mobile, the Ant Hill Mob in their Bullet Proof bomb, Peter Perfect in the Turbo Terrific and the Creepy Coupe. You can even select Penelope Pitstop in the Compact Pussycat if you feel that way inclined. Each racer has different top speed, grip and acceleration, but you can win any race with any car – so long as you master the vehicles special abilities. The gadgets each racer uses are straight out of the cartoon series. There is the ‘Bubble Gum Shot’ from Luke and Blubber Bear, the Army Surplus Special lays rubber mines, and for the hard-to-unlock Mean Machine; driven by Dastardly & Muttley- glue and magnets diabolically feature. Wacky Races has four worlds, each with a different theme, and each with five different tracks. There are also special ‘Boss’ areas to unlock- which when won, allow you to equip three new abilities for each car. Winning the later challenges allow you to ‘win’ the boss cars themselves; Pat Pending’s Convert-a-Car, the Red Max in the Crimson Haybailer, and of course Dastardly & Muttley’s Mean Machine. The main Adventure part of the game is split up into five different challenges for each world. The object in all is to come in first, in order to receive a gold star. The more of these you get, the more tracks and challenges will be unlocked. As well as ‘Track’ challenge’ the ‘Wacky Cup’ challenge requires you to participate within a five round league event, finish first overall to get your star. The ‘Golden Muttley’ challenge is a bit more difficult; you have to first find, and second collect ten Golden Muttley trophies hidden around the track- and come in first! This is only really achievable when you know the track…and its shortcuts. The ‘Battle Challenge’ pits you against the seven other vehicles in a ‘battle-royale’, set within a themed arena. Gadgets really come into play here! Lastly the ‘Team 00 Tag Challenge’ is a five round elimination process, for each round, vehicles finishing in last position are eliminated until only one winner remains- usually the Mean Machine. Look out for ‘Wacky Mirrors’ hidden in the game. Each track has one, drive over it and you will be able to race that track…mirrored! Beat the overall best time on a course and you will be awarded a ‘Wacky Trial Clock’, these help you to access the ‘Boss’ characters final challenge. The Arcade mode houses all the ‘Quick Game’ modes. Select from Time Attack, Wacky Cups and Time Trial. Two to four players can also access Battle games and a versus mode- where just the human players race. Like the Adventure mode, Arcade mode has lots of tracks and battle arenas to unlock. On each track a small ‘Mini Mean Machine’ token is randomly hidden somewhere. Successful collection of this token initiates the Dastardly & Muttley bonus round, presented at the end of the race. Now you get an early chance to drive the Mean Machine! Multiplayer is split screen for two to four players, its fast and importantly great fun, I can’t tell you what it feels like to drag your mates car back from the finish line using the ‘Extend-o-Magnet’ and then turbo past to take the win. You will find yourself naturally cackling like Dick Dastardly himself! Wacky Races Starring Dastardly & Muttley looks fantastic. The graphics will stun you, particularly if you are watching the replay option. No need to squint with this replay- it looks as good as the real thing, perfect animation. Voice acting for each of the characters is spot on, although you will hear the same samples a bit too often. In game music is good, but seems a little different from its cartoon counterpart. Where is Dastardly & Muttley’s theme? Commentary of the race can also be a little repetitive. The PAL conversion of Wacky Races is a solid effort. There is a 60htz refresh option, screen adjust and a widescreen mode. All options are auto-loaded upon starting the game. Wacky Races Starring Dastardly & Muttley is exactly what a good port should be. You really get the feeling this is what the Dreamcast version wanted to be. It offers a whole new challenging ‘City’ level, smooth 60fps play, interactive environments and a hidden special vehicle technique- activated by pressing a combination of buttons. My only gripe would be the lack of new abilities for the PS2 version; even one or two more gadgets for the port would have been nice. If you already own the Dreamcast version, even all the improvements may not be enough to warrant another purchase, but if you haven’t and you like a good ‘Kart’ racer- buy this. Diabolically simple! John Grothier             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  11 Wacky Racers including the Ant Hill Mob, Penelope Pitstop and the unforgettable Dick Dastardly & Muttley in the Mean Machine. Play Arcade or Adventure, each with unique play modes. Over 25 original tracks with over 40 variations to unlock spanning 4 Wacky Worlds. 1-4 players.  Related Games:  Wacky Races Starring Dastardly & Muttley for PlayStation 2  11  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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