STAR WARS™ Episode I: Racer

I absolutely loved the game, then it didn't run on newer PCs. Now it works. If you don't know it: Buy it. It is glorious. If you know it chances are you have already bought it.

This game is just alot of fun and now with the glitch finally fixed for modern graphic cards it's even playable . As the box used to say on the back FEEL the force of 600 MPH and it wasn't just mainly marketing cause you do feel like just going really fast and it gets even faster in the later part of the game when you have upgraded the pods . And yes you do get to upgrade the pods with bigger engines stronger boost better handeling (highly important that one ) and other things to make the pod go to greater speeds . The sounds in the game are still great with the roaring of the engines the wooshing of the wind and the music from star wars ofcourse , also you can hurl insults at the other drivers in a language you most likely won't understand and that is hilarious . One thing brought up back when the game was new is that the other pod racers don't pose much of a challenge and it's not wrong they are so far behind you that they are almost never in the way , but i do say almost cause in the late game when the tracks become so insane with turns and so on that if you even foul up just once they will catch up rather fast and then they do become a obstacle you need to keep in mind . the challenge is more can you become the best at the lap record and that is enjoyable on it's own just to hear the announcer shout It's a NEW lap record is just so great to hear when you do succeed in doing it . All in all just a game worth buying no matter what , if you have even a inkling of curiousity in this game i would urge you to get it .

One of the best racing games I know. It's hard, especially if you are not used to its speed. Even if you outrun your opponents, just staying on course is difficult. Level design is excellent - there are multiple side-tracks and even some hidden passages. Downsides: 1) Repair and upgrade system is not very obvious. I only noticed that upgrade parts wear down after completing the game 3 times. 2) There are multiple control options, like tilting your ship, but it is unclear when to use them. Normally I stick to just 3 buttons, and I feel like I miss out something.

Nostalgia, back to 1999, playing on the N64

Admittedly, I'm not exactly a neutral arbiter on this game. I really like Star Wars, and I really like podracing. Still, Episode 1 Racer has plenty to offer for all fans of high-speed racing games. Obviously, you're racing in pods in this game, across a wide range of different tracks, scattered across several planets. Depending on how well you do in every race, you get money which then can be spent on upgraded parts, and winning a race typically unlocks a new racer. So far, so mundane. What makes Racer special are the tracks and the speeds at which you're racing across them. Basically, every track has segments that reward speed, segments that require control during tight turns, and segments that require reflexes befitting of someone who is force sensitive. When racing at upwards of 600 mph, you only have a fraction of a second to react, lest you crash into the track fences. In general, you want to avoid contact with any objects, as too much of it will make your pod catch fire, necessitating repairs. Racer is not a hard game at all, but maintaining the balance between speed and control stays exciting throughout the entire tournament series of 25 races. As one would expect, the action on the track is further elevated by John Williams's iconic score. Frankly, there is nothing more adrenalin-pumping than racing down a track at 500 mph while being accompanied by Duel of the Fates. Even though there is little fluff between each race, Racer absolutely nails that Star Wars atmosphere. And while the graphics are basic, they're as fluid as they need to be, and I would argue that the limited draw distance is actually a boon, as obstacles popping up seemingly out of nowhere only ups the thrill. On the technical side, I had no issues aside from two crashes while flipping through the racers. A modified executable allowed setting high resolutions at an adjusted FOV. In summary, if you like high-octane racing, Episode 1 Racer will have you covered for several hours of fun.