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Hard Drivin |
Copyright/Publisher: Domark, Music By: Dave Lowe,
Release Year: 1989, Genre: Racing, Number Of Players: 1
Tengen's extremly realistic coin-op has been a smash hit in the arcades. Now, minus
the steering wheel and gearstick, it's at last made it onto the C64.
There are two tracks for you to drive round in your 140mph car with optional
automatic or manual gearbox. The Speed Track is a normal race circuit to be
completed within the time limit. If you veer off the road you're allowed ten
seconds to return, otherwise you're automatically dropped back onto it.
Crashing into oncmoing vehicles also costs valuable time. But unlike the
Amiga version, there's no replay when you crash. Go fast enough and you're
challenged by the computer-controlled Phantom Photon to a race around the
Stunt Track.
This features three main stunts: a ump across an open drawbridge, a loop-
the-loop and a steep banked corner.
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PHIL |
Now we know why Domark never bothered releasing this in its own right: it's
awful. The graphics are not only monocromatically Spectrumesque but far worse
than the Spectrum version's!
There's a near total lack of roadside scenery while, considering its
simplicity, the road itself suffers from an incredibly slow, jerky update -
it's almost like Freescape!
The game plays just as badly as it looks iwth oversensitive steering, dodgy collision
detection - the other cars have no sides! - and the general sluggishness making
it unplayably tedious. Basically this conversion just doesn't work at all, being
totally devoid of the coin-op's driving realism. You'd have more fun pushing
a Fiat Panda up a steep hill!
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TOM |
What happened to the subtle brown shades of the preview shots? But the Spectrumesque
graphics are the least of the problem with C64 Hard Drivin', at least the Z80
version was playable. The C64 version moves incredibly slowly, but the worst
problem is the sluggishness of the controls.
As you go skidding off to the left of the road frantically pushing right
eventually takes you back on the tarmac - and off to the other side. Needless
to say, weaving across the road like Phil on a Friday night soon results in a
fatal collision.
Poor control also makes the loop-the-lopp extremely difficult and completing
a tracj virtually unimaginable. It's no wonder Domark didn't release this on
its own, but apparently a cartridge version is planned. Due to the memory accessing
possibilities of cartridges this might mean faster 3-D, but don't hold your breath.
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HARD TO GET |
C64 Hard Drivin' is so delayed (the Amiga game was reviewed way back in Issue
58, earning 81%) that Domark have decided not to release it on its own. Instead
thhey've put it on not one but two compilations:
Wheels of Fire features the amazing Turbo Out Run (97%, Issue 56), Power Drift
(94%, Issue 55) and the disappointing Chase HQ (53%, Issue 58).
TNT adds the very playable APB (90%, Issue 54), Toobin' (75%, Issue 58) plus
the appaling Dragon Spirit (24%, Issue 57) and Xybots (27%, Issue 54).
Both compilations cost £14.99 on cassette, £24.99 disk. They're also available
on the Amiga for £29.99.
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