"A poor man's Wipeout"

I don't mean to be hard on this game. Its is enjoyable. It's not as bad of a racing game as something like Test Drive 6, and the graphics are pretty good, but it falls short in many ways. There are simply better things to spend your money on.

Gameplay: 6/10
Very similar to previous "futuristic" racers like Wipeout and Extreme G. You race in magnetic crafts that I assume are propelled by technology similar to those maglev trains in Japan and Europe. You move at speeds in excess of several hundred miles an hour and also have assortment of weapons you can pick up along the track ala Mario Kart. Everything from magnetic mines to homing missiles can be used to maim your opponents. The game doesn't feel quite as fast as something like F-Zero GX, but it is noticeably faster than most Dreamcast racers. Certain vehicles are quicker yet less heavily armored, while others are slow with lots of armor. However, as you advance in the game your vehicle will become faster and better armored in accordance with your ranking at the end of races. Because of that, it's almost always advantageous in the end to pick one of the lighter, quicker crafts. It's up to you to decide which style of craft you can win with.

Graphics: 8/10
Certainly the game's best feature. This title is one of the most graphically impressive DC racing games. The explosions and lighting effects look phenomenal. Most of the track designs are pretty cool, but there isn't anything too amazing that pops out and surprises you. The Needle Rock track is probably the best design, IMO.

Sound: 3/10
Gee, a futuristic racing game that features blaring techno music. I don't think anyone ever thought of that. You'll probably want to play this on mute.

Replay Value: 3/10
If you own a Dreamcast, you probably own a better racing game for it than this. Trust me, none of your buddies are going to come over itching for a game of Magforce. Throw in Vanishing Point or some other, better, racing game instead.

Overall: 5/10
This game had a lot of potential, but it really can't overcome the fact that it adds nothing to a genre that, frankly, has been done nearly to death. You may have a weekend of fun with it, but after that you'll probably spend your time with better games.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 04/17/07, Updated 06/29/09

Game Release: Mag Force Racing (US, 07/13/00)