Star Wars: Episode I - Racer

This masterpiece is a dream come true for Star Wars fans! Episode One Racer faithfully recreates (and expands upon) the exciting pod-racing scene from the Phantom Menace. The game offers 23 different vehicles available and 25 unique courses. The graphics (with the help of the memory expansion pack) are magnificent and the illusion of speed is exhilarating.

Star Wars Episode I: Racer packs enough high-octane thrills that most gamers will be able to look beyond the nitpicks about control configuration and pop-up. For sheer N64 racing excitement, it's the game to beat.

All in all, this is a great game, and a HUGE improvement over the previous Star Wars game (also for Game Boy), Yoda Stories. This game is a good bet for anyone who likes racing, and of course, Star Wars. It was worth my thirty bucks. Hey, look! It even has a built-in rumble feature. Awesome!

The illusion of speed is effective, and the game does a fine job of capturing the spirit of the film. But is it worth the upgrade if you already own the N64 version? No. In fact, unless you compared both versions side-to-side, you'd never be able to tell the difference.

Avec Star Wars Episode 1 Racer, Lucasarts signe un des meilleurs Wipeout-like qu'on ait pu voir sur PC. Aucun gros défaut majeur ne vient noircir le tableau,... L'ambiance Star Wars est parfaitement restituée, les graphismes sont superbes, la jouabilité exemplaire. A conseiller à tous les fanas de vitesse et de Star Wars.

Star Wars Episode 1 : Racer, n'est pas simplement une course de vaisseaux de plus. Elle a en effet trois points positifs essentiels : une vitesse impressionnante (pour moi c'est du jamais vu sur N64), une réalisation graphique et sonore excellente, et l'ambiance Star Wars pour couronner le tout. Bref, un investissement sans risque pour un jeu qui décoiffe, malgré un prix de vente un peu élevé (mais on a malheureusement l'habitude sur N64).

Star Wars: Racer brings all the intensity and high-speed thrills of the Podracing sequence from the motion picture Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. The game dares players to take control of sleek and blindingly fast Podracers in a series of electrifying and dangerous races throughout the Star Wars galaxy. Inspired by Anakin Skywalker’s epic race against the nefarious Sebulba in the motion picture’s Boonta Eve Classic, the game challenges players to compete in the perilous outlaw sport of Podracing, where the object is to win at all costs.

Do you dream of speed? Does the thought of traveling at high speeds only a few feet from the ground send chills down your spine? Hold on to your goggles. Fire up those converters. Tune in to the Force, and get ready because Star Wars Racer is here.

There is nothing quite like the beginning of a new game from LucasArts: John Williams' famous Star Wars theme, the plot's text scrolling into space, and the eventual panning down to the planet's surface. For Mac gamers, there is an extra bit of enjoyment with a new LucasArts title on their machines these days. Star Wars: Racer's release for Mac marks the return of LucasArts to the Mac.

Visst är identifiering och närvarokänsla viktigt, men det finns gränser. Och skulle Star Wars: Episode I Racer inte bygga på George Lucas universum är frågan om någon egentligen skulle bry sig om det.

While it may not be the same as turning the large household appliance of your choice into a real podracer, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer is one of the most intense GBC games out there. If you are really interested in racing titles or often drawn to anything Star Wars, this is likely a game you should purchase. Anyone else should try it out first, because the lack of depth may leave some gamers a bit unsatisfied.

What it boils down to is this... if you are a Star Wars fan (who isn't?) and you felt that youthful urging during the podrace scene in Phantom Menace, go get this. Be prepared, though, to be confused in almost every aspect of the game except for the actual racing. Since racing is where Racer shines, enjoy yourself and scream like a Wookiee as Sebulba knocks you onto the service-ramp... yet again. But remember... in space, no one can hear you scream like a Wookiee.

Even with a few complaints lodged against it, Racer is an incredibly fast, super-fun game to play once you get a few levels into it. It's better than F-Zero X, its closest competition on the N64, and it even approaches the PlayStation uber-futuristic racer, Wipeout XL. To compare it with the movie, it's even better than the scene that inspired it, and that's a big compliment indeed.

Next to the lightsaber duels of Darth Maul and Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Podracing sequence of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace was the most exciting and hair-raising action in the movie. Racer takes that area of the movie and places it into a simulation format for the rest of us to enjoy! Although there are five pods to initially choose from, everyone I know, myself included, HAD to try Anakin Skywalker's pod first! You're first test of skill will be the Boonta Training Course, which is to remind you of the Boonta Eve race in the movie. It is here that you will get an easy taste of what to expect.

All in all, Star Wars: Episode One Racer is a pretty good game. With fast action and neat FMV, it's sure to entertain most Star Wars fans. The lack of any Internet playability is very disappointing and hurts the replay value of the game. On the plus side, however, they didn't have Jar Jar in the game, and for that, I thank them.

All in all, Star Wars: Episode One Racer is a pretty good game. With fast action and a good two-player split-screen, it's sure to entertain most Star Wars fans. The constant crashing will frustrate some gamers, but so did Jar Jar. Let's just thank Nintendo for not putting him in the game.

Overall, I would say that the problems are definitely minor and appear even more so when compared with the rest of the game. The only problem that is really annoying is the fact that you must free courses and racers up for multiplayer from single player. It would be a lot more fun to race through the game multiplayer, perhaps only freeing up the track or racer for the player that placed higher. Either way, I would definitely recommend this game for any Star Wars fans, or any racing game fans. Of course, if you are a fan of both, then this is the game for you.

Star Wars Racer is een van de weinige goede racgames op de GBC. Je moet flink oefenen om de POD te controleren, maar het is zeker te doen.

Episode I: Racer is een prima racespel van het kaliber WipeOut/F-Zero X, maar mist een beetje die Star Wars feel die andere SW-games hebben. Het is natuurlijk verplichte kost voor de echte Star Wars fan. Toch hoop ik dat de Episode I games die nog zullen volgen en tikkie origineler zijn.

Avec une rapidité digne de la séquence du film Episode 1 : La Menace Fantôme dont le jeu s'inspire, Star Wars Racer plaira à tous les amateurs de course d'arcade survitaminée. La vingtaine de circuits difficiles, variés et bien architecturés sera un vrai défi pour les pilotes, dans une ambiance extrêmement bien rendue et fidèle au film. Les seuls petits défauts notables sont le mode multijoueurs qui réduit la fluidité essentielle au jeu, et l'utilisation fortement conseillée du RAM Pack, l'extension mémoire de la N64, qui donne au jeu toute son ampleur. Fans de Anakin Skywalker ou non, à vos manettes !

The game's graphics are superb with a good card and when you're hurtling past them at high speeds, any blemishes quickly vanish. The framerate maintains a good clip throughout--in short, the PC version of the game is heads and shoulders above the Nintendo 64 version, so if you've been put off by the N64 version's less than stellar performance, be assured that on a high-end PC, the game looks fine and runs fast.

There is nothing quite like the beginning of a new game from LucasArts: John Williams' famous Star Wars theme, the plot's text scrolling into space, and the eventual panning down to the planet's surface. For Mac gamers, there is an extra bit of enjoyment with a new LucasArts title on their machines these days. Star Wars: Racer's release for Mac marks the return of LucasArts to the Mac. Earlier in the year, they released the Episode 1: Insider's Guide for Mac as well. So, after almost a 3-year drought of LucasArts Mac releases, does Racer truly measure up to expectations?

Anakin Skywalker is a dork. This is why I don't get the national crisis that arose over Jar Jar Binks after Star Wars Episode One was released. Heck, in Nebraska, the National Guard had to be called out to quell the riots. I'll admit I didn't care much for the guy, but I don't think he was any more annoying than C-3PO. Fact of the matter is that if there was one thing that really screwed up The Phantom Menace, it was Anakin Skywalker.

On the whole, this isn't a bad game. The complete lack of a challenge really takes away from it, because while it does eventually get difficult and fun, its still not good enough to justify the 'hard' work of playing through the first group of levels. Lucasarts definitely captured the speed of pod racing, especially in first person mode, but unless you are willing to stick it out until late the game, there isn't much to hold your interest.

Das Spiel erfüllt die meisten Anforderungen, die ich an eine leicht kapierbare Fun-Raserei stelle. Doch das halbe Programm hat man schon nach einer Stunde gesehen, weil es lächerlich leicht losgeht. Erst im letzten Drittel wird es mit verschlungenen Strecken und forscheren Gegnern herausfordernder. Durch das hohe Tempo sind Begegnungen mit anderen Podracern relativ selten und hektisch. Richtig gezielt einen Gegner wegzuschubsten, fällt in der allgemeinen Hektik schwer. Aber alles in allem bin ich angenehm überrascht. Racer ist ein spritziges SF-Actionrennspiel, das sehr manierlich Filmatmospähre rüberbringt. Den Mangel an Tiefgang kann jeder verschmerzen, der Star Wars mag und auf eher leichte Rennkost steht.

Episode I Racer is basically no different to the PC version released some time ago and as such is a little disappointing. It would have been nice if some of the criticisms levelled at the game all that time ago had been addressed. Never the less, Episode I Racer is a very playable futuristic racer, which would perhaps have benefited more from the introduction of weapons than it has from the incredibly irritating alien voice samples of your opponents. Much like the film, Episode I Racer is not terrible when taken at face value but definitely fails to live up to expectations.

Given the strict deadlines surrounding the release of Episode 1 merchandise, I understand why Lucasarts may have been forced to ship Racer before its design could be fully realized or all the bugs exterminated - but it's still a damn shame. Gamers with access to LAN should take a look, but everyone else is advised to wait for a comprehensive patch or an expanded and more challenging sequel.

Episode 1 racer is op de PC wel een stuk mooier dan op de Nintendo. Beschik je over een krachtige bak met 3D acceleratie dan kun je je verheugen op een supersnelle framerate en strakke graphics. Het geluid is ook zuiver, al hoor je niet veel meer dan het lawaai van die enorme straalmotoren die een paar meter voor je neus hangen te ronken.

While the lack of any major enhancements (like internet play) is an utter disappointment, especially considering the power of the console, it still retains the feel of Episode 1. If you have yet to experience the game, this is the version to go with. The graphics, while not breathtaking, are sufficient and the sound just screams Star Wars.

Racer is an incredibly fast, superfun game to play once you get a few levels into it. While it may be true that it doesn't come close to tapping the graphic and audio capabilities of the system and that it's release comes far later than it should have, the gameplay is still very solid, and it fills the futuristic racing niche for the Dreamcast nicely.

Episode I Racer is a decent racer that gets an added boost from having the power of the Star Wars universe behind it. We thought the movie would shed some light on some of the characters in the game so we could get to know them better. Alas, the only racer besides Anakin and Sebulba that we really got to know in the movie was the pie-face man who stalled at the starting line and lost his four engines in the crowd. The lack of an initial challenge makes it tough to stay with the game until it does get interesting. Maybe, like Anakin, we need a nemesis like Sebulba to get the most out of ourselves and the game.

If you enjoyed the podrace sequence of The Phantom Menace, then you can rent or buy Episode I Racer safe in the knowledge that it delivers the same experience of ludicrous speed in the comfort of your living room. This game is as fast as they come, and looks great doing it. While it suffers slightly from a lack of depth in gameplay, it's a fun arcade racer that uses the Star Wars license to (nearly) full advantage. There are other futuristic racers available for the N64, but none of them look or feel quite like this. All in all, Episode I Racer is a great way to spend an entire weekend trying not to blink for fear that you'll miss the next turn.

Au final, Star Wars Racer déçoit. La fraîcheur et la rapidité qui avaient émerveillé les précédentes versions semblent bien plus pâles maintenant. Ce qui a pour effet principal de stigmatiser les quelques défauts du jeu. On a tout de même un jeu rapide et intéressant mais pas le hit auquel on aurait pu s'attendre.

Episode I Racer bevat iets wat sommige racers nogal eens durven te missen, namelijk een gevoel van snelheid... Alleen het feit al dat het gebaseerd is op de nieuwe Star Wars film, zal voor de fans waarschijnlijk al reden genoeg zijn om het spel aan te kopen. Voor mij hoeft het echter niet...

Racer for the Game Boy Color is a fun little game. It's not the sort of thing you'll find yourself playing for months on end, but it's one of the better racing games to grace the system.

After it is all said and done, Star Wars: Episode 1: Racer is still a very good game It isn't realistic because it doesn't need to be. It doesn't have the best graphics because it doesn't need them. This is Star Wars, people. And I must applaud LucasArts for actually putting together a nice little game, as they could have easily just slapped together some graphics and code and it would've sold millions because of the Episode 1 hype alone.

Was I satisfied with what Racer presented? Well, the game is not without its flaws, but what game is...? If you want a decent GBC racer to give you 100% satisfaction, look no further because you probably won't find any. Ok, so the game may not complete this GBC genre, but it comes a hell of a lot closer then most have before.

Star Wars Episode I Racer isn't a bad game by any means. It's just not particularly exciting. The game has some neat surpises (just watch the introduction for an extremely slick five second video clip from the movie), but at the very core the game design is just too flat to be a "great" Game Boy Color racer. It'll just have to go on being "better than average."

Overall, Episode 1 Racer isn't the worst Star Wars game (Rebellion, Force Commander, The Phantom Menace, and Jedi Power Battles are worse), but the graphics are nowhere near the level that is expected on the Dreamcast, and there isn't really anything here that we haven't already played on the N64 and PC. Developers need to stop shoveling graphically inferior titles onto GD-Roms and just tossing them into the market. Rayman 2 shows that a game can be multi-platform and still look absolutely amazing on each system it hits. Why is it that we have to settle for this?

Jag är inte säker på att LucasArts borde ha haft med power ups och vapen, men jag tycker i alla fall att man borde ha kunnat göra någonting mer än att gasa, bromsa och svänga. För på en Game Boy-skärm kan man inte se hur temposkillnader och gravitation påverkar en Pod-svävare. Och eftersom det inte kommer THX-ljud ur högtalaren förstår man inte hur hysteriskt dessa motorer faktiskt låter. Därför tycker jag att alla som vill se Pod-racing ska gå på bio. Vi andra kan vänta i foajén med varsitt svartvitt Super RC Pro-Am.

Décevant ? Non pas vraiment, car comme je le dis en intro, Star Wars : Episode One, Racer n'a jamais été un bon jeu, quelle que soit la machine, pas étonant donc de se retrouver avec un jeu aussi médiocre et superficiel sur Game Boy. L'excellente idée de la cartouche vibration (une pile est livrée avec le jeu) n'y fait rien : on a peine à prendre son pied, même à deux joueurs en connectant deux GBC.

The lack of interactivity, multiplayer playability, a decent graphics engine, and overall fun are enough knocks against Racer for us not to recommend it. The thrill of the game comes from its franchise, and if this weren't a Star Wars title, few people would give it a second look. Unfortunately, we all know the track record for games based on movie titles, and Racer fails to deliver a breakthrough. Mind you, not everything was bad about Racer. As a racing game it's fairly interesting, and some of the tracks are imaginative and well designed. Of course, the soundtrack is top-notch, as are the rants and catcalls of fellow racers as you hit the turbo boost and shoot past them. However, we're sorry to say that overall, the game did little to inspire a sense of action or fun, and thus falls squarely into the chasm of mediocrity.

Hey LucasArts, this look familiar? $$$$ You may have seen this symbol in meetings while discussing this game. See, this game doesn't need a license. It could be any two vehicles on that track, but in order to make $$$$ off of this wretched piece of plastic and silicon, it needed a license. Behold....Star Wars Racer...a game not even the designers cared to make.