Kinetica

"Meet Kinetica, adrenaline's new best friend."

Introduction
Kinetica is quite possibly the most innovative game I have ever played in my life. Hands down. Never before have I played a game that offers something new every time I play it. Gameplay is extremely fast paced, keeping me on the edge of my seat, Graphics are beautiful, and the music sets the mood. Kinetica means business with attitude. Why? You ask. Read on.

Gameplay: (9/10)
Fast. That sums it up in one word. In Kinetica, you gotta have lightning fast reflexes, going down insanely well-done levels at speeds more than 300mphs with 11 other racers ready to make your life a living nightmare.

The objectives are similar to any racing game; finish in first place and win. But Kinetica isn’t one of those dull racers we’ve all seen far too often, it takes the genre to another level. Racers use special kinetic suits rather than cars, special armor that combines the racer with the vehicle. Instead of going down a race track, players stream down anti-grav tracks, testing their speed, endurance, and adrenaline.

But enough fancy talk, the main idea I’m trying to get across is that Kinetica is an extremely fast-paced pseudo-racer with something for everyone.

But racing is only half the fun. Each of the 9 racers have their own special stunts they can perform, and when more stunts = more boost, you’ll be doing quite a lot. Many say stunts in Kinetica are hard to execute, but with a little practice, you’ll be a pro in no time. Players can execute ground and aerial stunts by holding down a stunt button and entering the right directions (think SSX).

So you got your racing, you got your stunts. What else could you want? Did I mention the insane tracks? Every track is different (some more than others), and offer many different shortcuts (a very key component in winning). You’ll have to master all the tracks if you want to go pro, so make sure to give Practice Mode a try.

Not every game is perfect, which is why some things in Kinetica can be problematic. Sometimes the game goes TOO fast, letting your racer go out of control and lose it. Also, there are many different functions you must master (power ups, boost, turning boosts, etc.) in order to succeed, making the game very stressful if you can’t pull something off, or press the wrong button. Still, with a little bit of practice, you can get the basics down.

Graphics: (7/10)
Graphics are definitely an improvement from games before it. I havn’t found any glitches while playing. Camera angles are exceptional, hardly ever losing control when the racer does. The only thing that kept Kinetica from getting a perfect score was well, the graphics were great, but they weren’t anything extremely special. Then again, you won’t have much time to check out the scenery in the game anyway. So why complain?

Racer models are very detailed, however. Each racer has her/his own suit, with different adjustments on each. You’ll never get a racer confused with another. As for levels, they too, have exceptional graphics. I don’t have much else to say.

Sound: (8/10)
Sound effects are great! Very appropriate, and yet they don’t distract the player from the game. The whir of an engine, the sounds of a collision, it’s all there, but the game treats it as “it was there”. Sounds won’t bug you as they do in other racing games, simply because you’ll be going too fast to care (Along with other reasons).

The music has a great beat to it, and gives levels more depth. It feels like it’s playing within the level, rather than on top of it. Like the sounds, it doesn’t distract you (sorry, it’s strictly techno/electrica/whatever, you N’Sync fans) from what’s important, the game.

Replayability: (8/10)
With multiplayer support, you’ll definitely be playing this one for a while. If only there was a four player option... Now that would really heat things up! Plus, with levels and riders to unlock, you’ll certainly want to keep coming back for more.

Some people complain that it ends too soon, but I think that if you have a few friends to come over, and a lot of time on your hands, you can ride this baby for a long time.

Overall: (9/10)
Sony brings home quite possibly the newest thing you’ve seen yet in gaming, leading to great success. Kinetica is a fast paced futuristic racer with attitude. Tons of stunts, lots of shortcuts, and a rider for everyone, make sure to pick up your copy of Kinetica today.

There are some areas where it can only get better, which keeps it from reaching the 10, but nothing else I can find is wrong with Kinetica giving it a respectable 8.

Pros:
• Lots of high-speed action
• Well-designed tracks with plenty of alternative routes
• Atmospheric music sets the mood right
• Innovative stunt system
• 9 riders to choose from
• Unique power ups
• Tactical racing is a must (could be a con, in some cases)
• Intelligent AI

Cons:
• Hard to master in the first hour or so
• Some tracks are definitely better than others
• Limited multiplayer (Only two players! Wouldn’t it be great with four?)

Other Comments:
Definitely rent Kinetica before you buy it. While this game can be fun for everyone, some people can’t handle the tough learning curve and give up. It DOES take time to master the art of Kinetica, so make sure you have what it takes. Also, some people may feel nauseous due to the high speed action. If you have epilepsy or other related conditions, I’d recommend consulting your physician before playing. I’m dead serious, you don’t want to sped 50 bucks on a game that makes you vomit, no matter how diehard you are.

As for the “T” rating, I really don’t see anything unsuitable, except for the “raw” clothing near the waste line for the female racers (you know, thongs and all). There’s no realistic violence at all, and the only weapon you get your hands on is a small electric shock. Sometimes ESRB surprises me, but I’ll leave it up to them.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/23/01, Updated 10/23/01