Lego Racers

"Vrrrroooooommmmmm! Very Nice."

My computer is getting old and crusty so I decided to get an older game like this. I made a good decision that day.

Intro: Lego Racers is one in a long line of Lego games, over 10. This one is better than most of the rest.

Graphics: Some nice effects and very animated character design. The textures on the racetrack are not too bad, but still could have been more realistic, but I suppose games like this aren't meant to be awfully real. The cars look pretty funky, especially the pre-made ones. The scenery is quite interesting, mainly on the pirate tracks, but on others too. The characters look just like the real Lego men (but slightly pixelated). The graphics are quite pixelated around the edges, but they still look quite professional.

Sound: The voice acting in this game is pretty darn daft. Playing as a pirate, I hear the same ''arrg ha ha!''s and ''ho ho ho's'' so many times, it just drives me INSANE if I'm in a bad mood. On the other hand, the music is VERY, repeat V-E-R-Y addictive. I hummed to it on the way to school, surfing the net, reading- the lot. My mum said once that I was humming in my sleep! I'll bet it was the theme song. Games these days don't seem to go for the chirpy, basic, kiddish music that I enjoy on a video game. The sound as you rev your little lego engine or burn rubber round corners, there is a well timed squeak or vroom to get you into the mood.

Controls:
The controls for PC racer can be difficult to learn, instead of the basic (x) for gas on the ps1. This game is an exception to that rule. You can get used to the simple controls in minutes.

Gameplay:
A racer is a racer, right? Wrong. This sets itself apart from other kart racers by one key aspect- the gameplay. No more boring old fall off a cliff and respawn. You stay on the track. But it is not like other games where you find yourself bumping into invisible walls. If you try to float off to the atlantic ocean you will find yourself being swept back in by the tide. Most other things are the same, though. Power-sliding, taking turns, picking up power ups, the usual.

Power-ups:
There are 16 different power ups to get. They are categorised as: Boost, Projectile, Hazard and Shield. Each of these has four levels. To increase the level of a power up just collect a white brick. Once you have 3 white bricks you get a fully juiced power up- missiles, a curse hazard, a long-lasting shield or a warp to a later part of the track. Pretty neat.

Overall 8/10
A pretty good kart racer. BUY THIS GAME! Or at least rent it if you are poor.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/04