Let me say it straight up front: the game is not worth AU$15.00
This game sells itself as a throwback to the great racers of the 1980s, and graphically it does just that: bright, vibrant colours with two-tone roads and loads of different trackside objects, all of which give a feel of games like Chase HQ and Outrun. As for the sounds, there are a heap of late 80s/early 90s synth style tunes included. They're not my cup of tea personally, but I'm sure there are others they will appeal to.
What I have a problem with is the gameplay. First, the speed it runs at is nowhere near as fast paced and exhilarating as it's made out to be. When I put it on and got up to full speed I thought "That's it?" IT'S SO SLOW, even after buying the best car or upgrading any of the other cars to the max it still runs as such a pedestrian looking speed it's not funny. The speedo says 357km/h, but the rate at which everything on screen approaches doesn't feel anything like that sort of speed. I said above the game looks like Chase HQ and Outrun, but it doesn't feel like anywhere near the breakneck, split-second reaction needing speeds both those two games run at. Hell, even the Commodore 64 conversions of Outrun and Powerdrift feel faster than this game!
And the stages just seem to go on FOREVER, which, combined with the sheer ease of which most of the game can be completed, makes for a game which becomes very boring very quickly, even with the inclusion of occasional mission objectives to try and give some variation in gameplay.
And even in the Time Trial mode, which is supposedly aping Outrun, the stages still go on FOREVER.... where in Outrun are there stages that last for FOUR MINUTES EACH? Stages in the arcade style mode need to be much, MUCH shorter.
There are an assortment of different cars included, but it soon becomes apparent the differences are purely cosmetic as once they are upgraded completely they all run at the exact same top speed with no differences in handling, completely removing the need to buy them all except for those going for all achievements.
I got this game for AU$1.50 (90% off) and to me that's about all this game is worth. At full price it's a complete rip off. It's as if the developer took one look at MY 1980's DASHBOARD (sadly no longer available), which was a cheap, simple throwback to the games of the early 80s style of game to while away some time with, and tried to base a complete game around it.
If you haven't already, go check out Victory Heat Rally or Horizon Chase Turbo, which are both great late 80s/early 90s throwbacks and much better, FASTER and more challenging than this tosh.
