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Kikstart II |
Copyright/Publisher: Mastertronic/Mr Chip, Written By: Shaun Southern,
Graphics By: Andrew Morris, Music By: Shaun Southern,
Genre: Motorcycle Sports,
Release Year: 1987, Number Of Players: 1
Rev that throttle, pull a wheelie and burn across the dirt track - Kikstart is back with
a vengeance. This enhacned version of the classic motorcyling simulation boasts 24
new courses, improved graphics, tweaked gameplay, a couple of new hazards and a course
designer.
Either one or two players can tackle a combination of any five courses at one time. The
screen is split horizontally, with each motorcyclist viewed side-on. There are five
separate timers above each display (one for each course), a total time elapsed meter and a
speedometer.
The start of a race is announced by a klaxon, and both cyclists zoom off over the scrolling
courses. The bikes accelerate, decelerate, wheelie or jump, depending on the way the joystick
is moved.
Hazards litter the courses. steps and Picnic Tables are jumped over, and Tyres, Hedges and
Barrels have to be crossed quickly - however, the opposite is the case for Ramps, Sand Pits,
Brick Walls, Screen Walls and Getes. Mud patches slow the bike down and spikes and flame shooters
completely wreck it!
If an obstacle is attempted incorrected, one rider is toppled and the landscape scrolls
swifty to the next convenient position where the rider can be put back on the course. When the
screen is scrolling the timer counts twice as fast as a penalty for the mistake.
When you get bored of riding the preset courses, the editor can be accessed from the
title screen to create new routes. When a course, or series of courses have been created
or modified they can be raced over and saved to tape or disk for later use. Now you can
build the most horrifically difficult courses and challenge your friends over them - he he!
Among the many simple obstacles that bar your path, you also have to run the gauntlet
of flame throwers that can turn the unwary biker to charcoal.
While player one is about to traverse the garden walling blocks, player two struggles
over an enormous spring-loaded platform.
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Julian Rignall |
This is it! Exactly what us Kikstart hans have been waiting for. The graphics are vastly
improved, with far, far better motorbikes and backdrops. The addition of a speedometer and
slightly tweaked controls make riding the bike slightly easier and more precise - you can now
attain the right speeds for negotiating obstacles without the need of guess.
The screen editor takes a couple of hours of getting use to, but courses are assembled easily
enough once the designer is familiar. The best thing though, is that the editor and game are
both loaded at once - there's no clumsy loader involving several loads and reloads. Kikstart II
is extremely well though out, offering two player simultaneous action, a brilliant computer
opponent and an excellent screen designer for only two pounds. How can you resist?
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P.S. |
If you've got little patience and are easily annoyed, then Kikstart II could drive you hopping
mad. If you're like me and love the Kikstart series you'll love every minute of it.
Controlling the bike is frustratingly hard to master, but the game's great addictiveness
keeps you playing and playing.
When you get bored of the 24 programmed courses, you can design your own with the built-in
screen editor. At two quid Kikstart combines great value for money, variety, addiction and
long-lasting appeal.
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S.J. |
After being none-too impressed with the first Kikstart (and the subsequent 128 version),
I am slightly less disenchanted with this latest offering. To say the graphics have been
improved is something of and understatement - they're now very smart indeed and give the
game a much-needed shot in the arm.
Unfortunelately, however, the gameplay remains very similar to the firstm and I find it
rather frustrating and tiresome to play. The course designer is, without doubt, the real
star of the show, and for fans of the original it should more than justify the purchase
of this new version. After all, it's what they've been after for the past two years.
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