Metropolis Street Racer is all about da Kudos
Written: Jul 18 '01 (Updated Jan 07 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Kudos system, graphics/music, tracks and racing events, very challenging
Cons: A little rough at first, the country radio station, can become frustrating
The Bottom Line: Ummm, why's this game in the computer and internet section? But anyway this is a review on the Dreamcast version.
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| Horhay's Full Review: Metropolis Street Racer for Dreamcast |
Intro:
Metropolis Street Racer (MSR) was originally slated to become a Dreamcast launch title way back in September 1999. Unfortunately, Bizarre Creations never released it on time and it was pushed back with many delays. MSR was finally let loose in January and the result is a challenging racer with a refreshing new twist.
Gameplay:
Metropolis Street Racer has been labeled as a simulation racing game. I, on the other hand look at it as an arcade racer with lots of depth. MRS offers a handful of modes to play: quick race, time attack, 2-player versus, and the awesome street racing mode (main mode of play). You start the street racing mode with no cars, and you must earn a new car by taking a driving challenge. This is basically selecting the car that’s available and racing it on a track, where you must beat a specific lap time. Once you acquire your car you are able to start your first chapter. Each chapter has 10 types of challenges or stages. There are various types of stages that include races where you must race one-on-one with another car, try to get the fastest time for a lap in a race, or compete in a championship tournament. As you progress further through the chapters new challenges emerge, such as trying to lap a certain number of cars within a give or chosen time. Here’s where things get interesting.
MRS introduces gamers to a new way of racing by means of the Kudos point system. Unlike other racing games where you are awarded for just winning a race, the Kudos system awards you for how well you drive and how much you’re willing to bet on yourself to win. Sound confusing? Let me explain. Each time you enter a race (in the street racing mode) there is a setup screen. They vary with each type of race and I will use the example of a street race. In the street race you compete against other computer cars. For the example I’ll say 6 opponents. Okay, at the setup screen there is a feature called target position. The target position tells you the minimum place you can get in a race and gain Kudos points. You have the option of changing this target to whatever position you want. The higher the position you choose the more Kudos you will get for skill. You can even use a special Joker feature that doubles your Kudos when you win. Kudos are used to unlock other cars and new chapters.
Another way to earn Kudos is by the way you drive during races. Extra Kudos are given to you if you perform sharp turns and long powerslides. However, not everything is find and dandy. You can also lose Kudos by hitting opponents, crashing, scrapping against walls, losing races, or just completely quitting a race. The Kudos system has its ups and its downs. The plus side to the Kudos system is that it offers something different from other racing games and it is a challenging feature. The downside is that it can become frustrating trying to earn enough Kudos during each stage in order to advance to another stage; so expect a lot of retries.
Racing against computer opponents is what the game is all about. They play aggressively and are not afraid to bump you when they have a chance. They also don’t drive perfect, and on occasion you will see them crash into a wall and what not. Every single race that I’ve participated in has been down to the wire. For the most part during races I have defended the lead, but once in a while I’ll have to fight for first place through most of the race, even until the very last turn. It’s good to see a racing game with stiff competition; I think the cars used by the computer are balanced to give you good races every time you play.
Control wise the game handles like a dream (well for most cars). The car physics are very accurate and you know what to expect when driving under certain weather conditions (rain). There are over 40 licensed sports cars from manufacturers such as Audi, Mazda, and Mercedes. Obtaining new cars is on the slow side, but nonetheless rewarding when you obtain a good car. Control layout is your standard racing game, with nothing complicated. Analog control feels great and the camera angles are solid.
The game takes place in three of the most famous cities in the world: London, San Francisco, and Tokyo. Each city has around 90 some tracks (most variations), but you won’t even notice that they are. They range in three sizes and are ideal for racing; there are plenty of crazy turns, obstacles, narrow roads and speedy straight-aways.
Graphics:
In my opinion the best looking Dreamcast racing game to date. The cities are drawn to perfection and at times you’ll actually believe your driving down a small alley in Tokyo. Authentic tourist attractions were even added in and you can see such monuments as Big Ben, and visit such locations as Frisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. If that isn’t enough to please your eyeballs, then you can appreciate the great deal of detail put into the surroundings. I loved the detail put into the streets. You can see different color cements patches while driving and even little manholes. Lighting effects are well-done, and look great during night races.
The real time clock feature is also an added treat. Before you begin each game you are required to set the time. This time will be used throughout each city, thus giving you a different time of day in each one. This provides different settings such as a dark night, an early morning sunrise, and a warm sunset for each city. The weather effects such as rain and fog actually look right. There’s really not that much to cry about. I’ve never noticed any pop-up and the framerate is solid, considering that there’s so much going on. Definitely a great game to watch.
Sound:
Sound and engine effects are pretty much what you’d expect from a racer. It’s nothing too bad, but it could sure use a tune-up. As for the music, it’s simply amazing and annoying. To tell you the truth I can’t stand some of the music in the game, but for some reason I’m completely fascinated at the effort put into the whole music package.
Each city has its own set of radio stations. These radio stations all have a theme and cover almost every musical genre. Pop, jazz, generic techno, rock, country, and some R&B can be found on your radio. There’s even DJs that give shout outs and introduce songs. Hell, to make things even crazier you’ll hear commercials for clubs, new albums, and products. As for the quality of the stations you might find something for you, although the country station might drive you insane. One thing that totally tripped me out is when the radio starts to get static when you pass under a bridge or pass through a tunnel (how cool is that). If the radio is not for you have the option of a built-in cd player with a great list of tunes to hear; you can also customize your own list too.
Overall:
Next to Sega GT, this is one of the few racing games for Dreamcast that I’ve invested a lot of time and effort into. The Kudos system has its good moments, the graphics are some of the best Dreamcast has to showcase, and the music’s presentation is like nothing I’ve ever heard. Throw in some slick controls, cool cars, and gorgeous city landscapes, and you’re left with a superb racing game.
Recommended:
Yes
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Horhay
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Member: Jorge Vazquez
Location: San Francisco, CA
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