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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:       10th January 2002: New York Race  Prepare for the ride of your life - Fifth Element style. Posted by Alex Price - PC - UK and Europe Those of you who have watched the film "The Fifth Element" will doubtless remember the fantastic flying car chase at the start of the film. This game allows you to re-create the chase right in your very own living room. In New York Race, you take the wheel of a high-speed flying car, and race against others at speeds of over 500 mph through spectacular 3D landscapes. Essentially, NY Race is a racing game where you compete with others to win. However, what makes this game different is the vertical movement, as you can dive downwards to reach a fantastic speed, then level out and streak past all your opponents. There are 12 non-linear circuits set around 4 futuristic New York settings, and you can even choose to play in night or day. The circuits allow you a new level of freedom letting you decide where you want to go, meaning you don’t have to follow the same path as everyone else. Of course, there are a few conveniently placed force fields to prevent you from straying too far off the track. Graphically, New York Race is nothing short of stunning. The visuals are amazing to say the least, and the level of detail is beyond question. The game creators hired the films designers to develop the levels, and this has definitely paid off, making NY Race the best reproduction of the film that anyone could hope for. The levels themselves are quite challenging, with obstacles you need to avoid at high speed, and this really does add such a fantastic thrill to the game. It is so easy to hit something and drop from first to third place, so you do have to be alert at all times. The cars are also well varied, with over 30 high-tech vehicles available, each distinctly different in its abilities. Some people might be a bit put off at first though, as it takes time to get used to the high speed and fast reactions necessary to succeed at this game. It took me 3 attempts to pass the first level, but I came in first place after my first few failed runs. To help you succeed in your quest to win the race, you’ll find several power ups in each circuit, which allow you to get that extra speed for when you need it, or to slow down the annoying person in front who you just can’t seem to overtake. There are also 5 different modes of play, adding that little extra bit of variety to the game. Some of these are really exciting, such as Keirin, where each track has several checkpoints, and at each one the person in last place is eliminated. In this mode, you get an amazing adrenaline rush as you fight to avoid being the next one to be eliminated. Another excellent feature of the game is the sound, which does help you to believe that you are really there behind the wheel. The music provided ties in with the game nicely and the sound effects are also superbly chosen. You hear the sounds of the city, the wind whistling past you, and even the crows of delight from your competitors when the overtake you. I was a little disappointed to find that as you increase to the higher levels of difficulty, some of the cars you unlocked earlier are no longer available. Equally disappointing is the lack of being able to upgrade your car. Seeing as everything else has been well thought out, it is a shame this part of the game wasn’t. Fans of the film will probably love the taxicab, and if you were able to upgrade it to your liking, it would have brought much more longevity into the game. Another disappointment is the lack of software support for the graphics, meaning that you need to have at least a 16Mb 3D graphics card to play the game. However, this is unsurprising considering the level of detail that has gone into the graphics, and those who do meet the requirements will definitely have something to boast to their friends about. In conclusion, New York Race is a well thought out game, which will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat for ages. However, a few flaws do exist, the biggest being a lack of replay value after you have completed it. Considering there are only 12 levels, it won’t take you too long to play them all on each of the different modes of play. Until you have won the game though, playing it will be the best thing you have done all day. Alex Price             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  Inspired by the first few minutes of the film ‘The Fifth Element’, this game reproduces the famous flying car chase that was arguably one of the highlights of the film. At the simplest, New York Race is a racing game, but like no other you have seen before with superb graphics created by the films designers, and the ability to perform amazing aerial maneuvers through a futuristic New York. Although it suffers from limited replay value, it is definitely worth a look at the very least.  Related Games:  New York Race for PC  8  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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