Have you got what it takes to be a champion? When the chips are on the table, will you
be found lacking? Can you eat three Shredded Wheat for breakfast and keep them down while
reading these ridiculous clichés? Then maybe - just maybe - you can handle
Ivan 'Iron Man' Stewart's Super Off-Road Racer.
Still think you can cut it? Good - hit that track and prepare to race! A multi-player
extravaganza in the Super Sprint mould, you control your sprite using the standard rotate/
accelerate method - hit the gas with the fire button, and use the joystick like a
steering wheel. Tricky at first, but once mastered you wouldn't want it any other way.
Before lining up for the first race of the season it's off to the now-standard bits-
and-bobs shop, where you can spend up to $100.000 upgrading your jalopy. Cough up for
greater acceleration, increased top speed, improved shocks for a smoother ride (pity -
I hoped they'd electrocute your opponents!), and snazzier tyres for better off-road-holding.
You can also splash out on extra nitro-injectors, giving a short but effective blast of
speed. All power-ups can be upgraded a maximum of five times, and you get more money to
spend after each race depending on your finishing position. That's if you get that far -
finish behind any of the computer-controlled racers and you're in for a permanent pitstop!
Good job you start with three shared continues, isn't it? Up to three humans bods
can compete (that's Steve out for a start!), with computer-controlled vehicles making up
the numbers. Being a super-duper well-'ard off-road jobbie, your machine can take a fair
amount of punishment before falling to bits.
Treat it with respect though - hitting scenery and objects costs time, and eventually
impairs your vehicle's performance. I said it the issue before last while reviewing Iron
Man on compilation, and I'll say it again - it's difficult to see how the game could be
any better!
The graphics are superb, the tiny sprites bounce around magnificently and the dirt shading
is so realistic you'll want to clean your shoes after playing. With eight courses on offer
you won't be finishing it in a hurry, and each course must be traversed in both directions,
giving a grand total of sixteen levels.
Best of all (cue drum roll). IT'S ALL IN ONE LOAD! Incredible!! Unbelievable!!! How
the hell did they... (Alright Ian, we get the idea - Ed.) If you missed
Ivan 'Iron Man' Stewart's Super Off-Road Racer first time around, there's no excuse for
not getting it now. Awarded a miserly 85% in Issue 66, on budget it's worth far, far more.
Great game!
Ian!