Looney Tunes Racing

"What's up? How about a great racing game!"

OK, while I haven't really played CTR (Crash Team Racing,) and at first glance, most people would view Looney Tunes Racing as a simple rip-off, it's actually better than it seems, thanks to excellent graphics and sounds.

Graphics: 10/10
They're polygonal, but they're true to the original cartoons. From Bugs Bunny eating a carrot, to Wile E. Coyote patting an Acme(tm) bomb in his hand, you've got all the classic animations you'd expect to see in a cartoon like this. The backgrounds match their themes well, with Elmer Fudd casting lightning in 'What's Opera, Doc?' and the Road Runner zipping by in the desert stages.

Sounds: 10/10
Sad, but true, nothing can ever match the sheer excellence of Mel Blanc, who provided the voice of just about every single Looney Tunes character who spoke a word. Still, the replacement actors, including Billy West, do just as good a job as Mel Blanc did. Couple this with music that sets the mood well, such as an opera singer in the opera stages, the William Tell Overture in the desert stages, and so forth, and you've got a classic soundtrack.

Controls: 10/10
As always, each cart has its own handling styles, all of which can easily be accustomed to with a little practice. Although you can't jump, you can powerslide, accelerate, and use Acme(tm) gadgets on opposing racers by collecting tokens. You start with a simple cream pie, and work your way up to the anvils!

Story: 6/10
The storyline isn't really much to go on. Smokey the Genie has exited his lamp, and is promising the winner of the Looney Tunes racing circuits any wish they want. OK, so it's not the best storyline there is, but then again, cart racers didn't really need them, did they?

Replay: 10/10
While the storyline isn't much to go on (the genie grants you a wish after winning all three cups,) there's plenty to unlock. Your initial characters are Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tasmanian Devil, Wile E. Coyote, Lola Bunny (from Space Jam,) and Marvin the Martian. You can unlock extra racers, such as Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemite Sam, and so forth, as well as new tracks, by finishing first in the circuits. Also, by completing special challenges, you can find new characters as well.

Overall: 10/10
For a game this good, it's a surprise to see it sells for a mere twenty smackers. If you like racing games and/or those famous characters, but you don't try this game at least once, you deserve to be hit with an anvil! (Not to mention you'd also be considered despicable!)

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/03/01, Updated 07/16/01