Review: Beetle Adventure Racing! (N64)

Graphics- 10/10
Sound- 10/10
Gameplay 9/10
Replay Value- 4/10
Overall-8.5/10

This game features the best graphics that were achieved on the N64 (in my opinion). Pair that with the incredibly realistic style of racing along with some nicely laid out courses and you get a good game. It could have been a great game if multiplayer battle wasn't so bad.

It's a shame this game was released towards the end of the N64's run because it went largely unnoticed. To me this game should have created a pretty big buzz because of how good the graphics were, I mean some games on the Gamecube look worse than Beetle Adventure Racing!, especially at the start of the Cube. As soon as the first race starts I'm sure you'll understand what I'm talking about. The cars look fantastic and the courses are nicely done as well (come on, a T. Rex snapping his jaws at while you fly past him?!?!). Speaking of the courses, they are fantasticly designed ones, although there are only six of them. The lack of courses is a negative for sure, but the six that are available are so expertly layed out and visually stunning that I doubt you will care - not for a long while, at least. Along with the courses being layed out so well come the shortcuts, and let me tell you there are plenty in the game. In fact there are so much it won't be a matter of taking them, it turns into a matter of which ones to take, which can take up a lot of your time right there (not in a bad way.) Most of the shortcuts themselves are really cool, from smashing through a casino and a hotel to navagating your way through crystal caves, all of shortcuts add a great element to each course and the game overall.

The biggest problem in this game isn't the lack of courses, it's the multiplayer battle. The courses are way too big. You spend more time looking at the radar than at the actual battle. The courses are so poorly designed you'll soon be asking for the good compact courses of Mario Kart 64. The other problem with multiplayer is when you actual want to race someone you don't have the option of racing against computers. On that line the replay value is very very low - after you have beaten the main courses... well, that's it. Those are the only major problems, but to me, this game was a great step forward and nothing more. There were some great concepts in this game. There was the bonus point; throughout the level and it's shortcuts there are boxes that if you smash through will give you bonus points, enough of these and you get a continue. The other unique feature was the engine sound, every car had it's own unique engine sound which is a great idea because after awhile you get bored of hearing the same engine for what seems like ever. Going with the sound, the music is also really good, as is the stereotypical seventies announcer. In the end it's a great single player game for a long time but multiplayer will bore you rather quickly.

Pros: Graphics, Unique engine sounds, Shortcuts, Bonus points system.
Cons: Multiplayer, Lack of replay value.

Review: Dan