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Powerslide

Name:  RATBAG - Powerslide

PC

RATBAG Description:

Minimum Requirements

  • Pentium 133MMX
  • 16 MB RAM, 4x CD ROM
  • High Color (16 color) video card, DirectX 6
  • Direct Sound compatible sound card
  • 100% compatible mouse.

KOGGS 11/16/2000  - From the tasty screenshots on the box to the mouth-watering graphics in the game, Ratbag's Powerslide does not disappoint. Get out your tissue box cuz the eye candy is a-plenty and you'll be wiping away the tears of joy as you slide your way around the tracks! Powerslide is a 'drive anywhere' type of environment and while the racing is intense, the scenery is inticing, begging you to slow down and feast your eyes on all that detail. There's even a picture of the Ratbag team in one of the tracks!

KOGGS Review Breakdown 81
First Impression and Game Installation The first thing I noticed was that Ratbag nailed the driving physics to a T. A simple touch of the e-brake while turning a corner is just enough to bust them tires loose and schlide your way around them corners! - Which, by the way, reminded me of my youth driving my parent's car! The handling of the cars is a bit loose but manageable and after a bit of practice I was soon gaining on them AI cars and tossing them into the walls! -Mu-ah-ah-ah-ahhhh! The graphic texture of the sun scorched road at The Dam Track made me stop and marvel at the detail level…of the road!!! Which then got me looking at all the other cool lil tid bits of the track. There are plenty of new things to discover as you take your car into places that you never thought you could. Ratbag also put cheats into the game and can be used by just typing them in. To find new cheats, you must go out exploring the tracks or, just hop on over to one of my favorite web sites, www.eatmybumper.com AKA Powerslide Head Quarters and look for them there. While your there, check out the Ladder Rankings to see who is currently #2 in the world of Powerslide (hehe yours truly). Okay, back to the game! The racing is split into 4 difficulty levels (Championships): Novice, Advanced, Expert, and Insane. The AI gets tougher \ faster as you progress through each level. Trust me, if you get in the way of the AI, they'll show no mercy as they push you off your line and into a wall! With each Championship victory the game unlocks new cars and new tracks.

Installing Powerslide was quite easy actually. After a series of 'yes' and 'next' clicks, I was on my way to installing it on my HDD. The CD comes with HEAT, which enables you to connect online with others who are willing to trade some paint! There are a few updates to this game and can be found at Ratbag's web site www.ratbaggames.com or the above mentioned web site, www.eatmybumper.com (EMB). Personally, I highly recommend using EMB as your 'one stop Powerslide shop'. The racing community there is more than helpful in getting you what you need, not to mention the fact that they are just plain ol' good people, and the site is packed full of tips and FAQ's. Ratbag also provides helpful, timely, and friendly support as well. ((The Kap'n don't want to get in trouble with the likes of Ratbag so I gotsta put in a few plugs fer-em!...I love those guys!))

 9.0
Configurable Options and Ease of Use Before stepping into the game, I would advise that you first set up your joystick \ wheel in your windows environment. I had already done that so configuring my Nascar Pro Racing Wheel was a cakewalk. The video options give you a multitude of screen resolutions to choose from depending on the video card that you are running. Also, there are options to turn on or off particles, shadows, and specular highlights. Completely tweakable to your video cards liking! 8.5
Graphics Graphics are superb. Some serious eye candy for sure. Powerslide debuted in 1998 so one would think the graphics are a bit outdated. Not so here. You can literally spend hours just checking out the scenery. The cars look very good as well. On one end of the spectrum you have cars sporting some detailed paint work while on the other end some are in need of a body \ paint shop. Hats off to Ratbag for making this one 'eye pleasing' game! 9.0
Video at Minimum and Maximum Depending on your video card, Powerslide allows you to set your graphics to match your card. So if you don't have a hot dog vid card then choosing the lesser resolution with the specular highlights, particles, and shadows options turned off and by choosing a lower amount of opponents should net you some pretty smooth game play. However if you do have a powerig vid card then set everything at maximum and screen resolutions at 1600 x 1200 x 16 (max) and enjoy the ride! 8.5
Sound You can alter the volume, using the slider provided. One slider is for sound effects, one for music. Powerslide also offers up a 3D sound option for the totally immersed racing fanatic. I must say here that the engine sounds are a bit on the weak side. Each car \ truck has it's own distinctive sound but it's not a powerful macho sound you sort of expect while out there tearing up the tracks. As compared to the engine sound in Ratbag's Sprint Cars game, this one doesn't even come close. 6.0
Beginner thru Advanced Use Powerslide is just that, a powerslide! You will need to practice to get the feel of the car as it slides around the tracks. Gaining a better knowledge of the track layout requires a bit of time as well. Thus there is a bit of a learning curve here. As for the advanced racers of this game, once you have defeated the Insane Championship there will be a need to take your talents on-line to test it against other human opponents. And once you do, you'll never go back! 7.0
Multi-player The multiplay in this game is at times so intense, that you often end the race shaking from such an adrenaline rush that you'll barely be able to type 'Dude, awesome race!' Powerslide supports TCP\IP and IPX protocols or you can call a friend and use the direct connection option - which cuts down on the always annoying lag factor. The freedom of using any one of these options scores big with me, but I think the convenience and stability sets it apart from the other games I have tried. Upon switching from 56K-modem access to DSL access, I am in Slide heaven! I just ran a race with two other guys, one a broadband user (from Ohio) and the other a 56K user (from Missouri), and the connection was LAN like. Ahhh what bliss! After playing this game for as long as I have 2 yrs. and running, I still find myself circling the tracks trying to refine my driving techniques to net a faster time. So will I ever get tired of playing this game? Are you kidding? The mutiplay alone is enough to bring me back for more paint exchanges…unless of course Powerslide 2 ever comes around. -Hint hint! 8.0
Help Instructions Ratbag provides assistance via the World Wide Web, fax or e-mail, and also through telephone support. The manual was helpful in gaining a better knowledge of the game and it's characters (although I have never read it till now) And I must say, it breaks down just about everything about getting started which is more than I can say for some manuals. 8.0
Value (price for what you get) What else can I say here. Still sliding after 2 years. Nuf said! I believe I paid $29.99 American semolians which is about the most I would pay for any game. Well worth the price. 8.0
Recommend to Others Are you kidding? GO GET A COPY! The driving physics are top notch and the graphics make your eyes water! 9.0

RECOMMENDATIONS to the Vendor

KOGGS

  • The engine sounds could be updated to sound a little more like a beefy V8 (especially on the Big Heavers and the Trucks) and the tachometer revs could be a little more realistic. Sometimes you need to change to a lower gear even if the revs are so high that it sounds like you don't need to change.
  • I would also like to say that an in car view with a nice shot of the dashboard, steering wheel, hood, tires (in some vehicles), would be a nice addition as well.
  • Damage to the vehicles is also encouraged but without the sacrifice of losing performance - a cosmetic thing! Wouldn't it be cool to completely thrash your opponents rear bumper to the point of it dragging on the ground? Sparks flying, ahhh pure bliss!
  • And last but not least, {{{{ A TRACK PACK! }}}} - did I say that loud enough! I know of several people who share this same humble request - and you know who you are!

Slide on! Kap'n KoggsTM finishes this humble review and heads back to the tracks where his still sizzling tires on that Big Heaver awaits him.