A MsrASTERPIECE (Metropolis Street Racer (DC))

Member Name: si b

Product:	Metropolis Street Racer (DC)
Date:	04/04/01 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant Gameplay and Graphics

Disadvantages: None if you like Country and Weston

The world is quite insane, first Sega announce that they were going software only, then I saw this game is going for only £20, in game and electronics boutique. If you have a Dreamcast you must buy this game, and if you don't have a Dreamcast you must go out and buy this game, and buy a Dreamcast as well.

There are a number of things that are stunning about this game, first I must mention the graphics, I know this is a bit lame, mentioning the graphics before the game play and everyone knows you shouldn't judge a game on graphics alone, which I agree with but I must point out they are great. And totally enhance the game, when driving round one of the three cities.

This is another great thing about the game; there are three accurately modeled cities, London, Tokyo and San Francisco. I know driving around a made up town is good enough, but when you can actually think that you are driving past Big Ben, or drive through Picidilly Circus and other famous landmarks it is great experience its something really satisfying about it. San Francisco is the easiest to drive around due to the fact that the roads are very wide, and the corners are just waiting to be handbrake turns around. The hardest is Tokyo; this is due to the fact that when played in the dark, because there are no streetlights in the game, you will effectively drive straight into a wall. I read in an interview with the makers that the reason this was because if there is not a light there in real life there won't be one in the game, and this is cool, but makes it a little tough when driving at about 90mph to suddenly have a corner.

In normal racing games you get points awarded for finishing as high as possible, but in this game you get rewarded for how well you drive, and how much you gamble. This is Kudos points and it is brilliant. The basic premise is you first pick up points for driving fast and not hitting the sides of the road, this is your basic style, you can also e
arn kudos points by executing hard break turns round corners. A K will be displayed on the screen if successful. You will be deducted points for bad driving, which is basically hitting the sides or curb, and hitting other vehicles. A lot of points are gained for the more you have gambled on a race. As to start with you have the target time, this can be lowered, and so you will gain more for the lower it is.

So what do the points mean? Well there are 30 chapters in the game, and in order to complete a chapter you have to gain a certain amount of points. Which means you gain a car, but there are also special stages in which you gain cars. I think there are about 40 cars available and about 250 tracks available so there is plenty to do.

Also the handling of the cars is great and the Dreamcast controller is very well suited to the game. With the triggers used to accelerate and brake Ideally a wheel is better but the controller is not a bad alternative.

This is a great game with hours of play in it, there are no real downsides to the game only that not enough people will get a chance to play, but the radio which you listen to in the game, plays some real bad music on the San Francisco stages, but maybe if you like corny Country and Weston songs its plus point.

This game is a masterpiece, and I will announce it the best racing game ever, only Colin McRae rally come close.

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