| Originally released for the Dreamcast and Nintendo 64, Star Wars: Episode I Racer was a decent title with its share of flaws--most notably its control and graphics. The game's PlayStation 2 sequel, Star Wars: Racer Revenge, addresses many of the original's shortcomings and is a vastly superior product. Rainbow Studios--known for strong racers such as ATV Offroad Fury and Motocross Madness--took over the development reins for this game; their prowess at creating racing games is evident as this title features much better controls and more compelling races than the original. Furthermore, it gets a nice graphics upgrade that showcases the capabilities of the PS2. Game modes include Practice, Single Play, Tournament, Time Trials and Versus. Tournament mode is the bulk of the game; it can be beaten in less than three hours and isn't particularly difficult. Replay value is added by requiring you to beat Tournament Mode multiple times to unlock all of the game's secrets. Oddly enough, the game's sound--usually LucasArts' forte--is hampered by an unusual effect: at times you'll get the full Star Wars treatment with John William's score and cool sound effects totally capturing the feel of the movies, but other times you'll hear only the sound of your engine. The environmental audio is an interesting choice that wasn't executed very well. Audio and brevity issues aside, this game is one of the strongest Star Wars titles released for a console. --Raymond M Padilla |
