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Hot Wheels |
Copyright/Publisher: Epyx Inc. & Mattel Inc.,
Developed By: A. Eddy Goldfarb & Associates,
Release Year: 1985, Genre: Racing Sports,
Number Of Players: 1
In Hot Wheels you take the part of Skidmark Sam standing in a very upmarket showroom. In front
of you is a selection of six flashy cars, ranging from a dashing blue Corvet to a maroon Austin
Martin. However, if Sam doesn't like the look of any of the original cars, he can always do it
himself. All you have to do is pop along to the factory and build a car to your personal specifications.
Stationed at the production line, Sam cam assemble a car with front, passenger and end sections
of his own choice. Then it's off to the paint shop for a quick technicolour spray jon and he's
ready to go!
Once on the streets, Sam can begin to get to grips with his new megamobile. He discovers the horn
and the rather joival screeching sounds as he slams on the breaks or changes direction when travelling
at rather excessive speeds.
The package consists of several mini 'games' any of which can be accessed at anytime during play.
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DEMOLITION DERBY |
Once, you've got to grips with the car, it's time to find out how much of a competent driver you
really are. There are three other cars also competing and they all want to mash Sam into little
bits. The car becomes slightly more difficult to control due to the dirt-track and slides to and
fro. Can you beat the other cars and emerge the victor? If you do, Sam's car will get very dirty
and will no doubt need a....
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CAR WASH |
Simply drive round to the Car Wash and let the automatic machinery take over. After the rinse
and blow dry, Sam's car will emerge gleaming. The light will turn from red to green and off you
go again along the highway.
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GAS STATION |
After all this hurtling around, Sam's car will be in need of some gas. At the gas station you can
begin to control Bob, the gas attendant. Walk him to the pump and then with a quick flick of the
fire button fill the tank, which is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Having checked the tyre
pressure, Bob can then go back to his hut for a nice cuppa and Sam can continue on his journey.
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FIREFIGHTING |
Sam is a part-time fireman and so has access to the fire station where he can pick up the fire
engine and drive it away. Hurtling in the shiny red engine, Sam encounters a house on fire. He
rushes to the rescue, brakes squealing as he grinds to a halt alongside a fire hydrant. A pressure
hose gracefully emerges from the top of the engine. Pressing 'fire' unleashes a spurting jet of
water which Sam can aim at the relevant flame-filled windows. If he succeeds in putting out the fire
before the water runs out, he can return home a hero. If not, the house is burnt to a cinder
leaving only an area of charred grass where the house once stood.
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OIL CHANGE |
If you have ever changed the oil in a car you will know what a messy business it is and this is
no exception. Once the car has been raised on the hydraulic lift work can begin in earnest. Walk
the mechanic to the right of the car and watch the dipstick measure the amount of oil Sam has left.
Once done, Sam can then see how much oil is collecting in the container at the bottom of the screen.
Try and catch as much oil in the barrel as possible because if you let any spill, the poor old
mechanic will go head over heels and crash to the floor.
When the oil stops dripping, you refill the oil pan until the dipstick shows 'maximum'. Lower
the car and Sam can happily drive away. Servicing can also be done at the tune-up Station where
your engine gets the once over automatically.
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Julian Rignall |
I thought this might be a sort of race game based around the cars you could buy. Unfortunelately, it's not
- it's a kiddy game, and not a very good one at that- I think your bog standard kid would prefer a
whole pile of Matchbox cars than an uninspiring and dull computer game - but perhaps I'm wrong. The
graphics are pretty dull and the sound gives the same sort of effect as a kid banging on a tin
drum. Yawn.
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R.E. |
Many, many, many years ago I remember settling down in the afternoon playing
with my plastic multy-storey garage, pushing those little cars along going vvvvroooomm,
weeeeeeeee. Why all this reminiscing? Well, Hot wheels doesn't seem to go much
beyond that - it's not so much a game as an activity toy and, to be fair, that's
what Epyx describe it as. For the young child it can be great fun exploring the town,
fighting fires and changing the oil, but it has very limited appeal in terms of
lastability. Playing it was fun for an hour or so but I doubt very much if I shall return
to it again.
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