With Speed Racer now in theaters, spellbound moviegoers won't be content with only a big-screen viewing. They'll want to take that experience home, and not just in the form of a DVD release later this year, but also in a form that lets them step behind the wheel of their favorite vehicles. SPEED RACER: THE VIDEOGAME aims to do just that.
"The music does some interesting dynamic things when you engage in 'car-fu,' and time seems to slow down," said composer Winifred Phillips, whose previous credits include God of War, Shrek the Third, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. "When car-fu begins, the music also slows down in a surreal way that accentuates the 'bullet-time' feeling. Then, when time reverts to normal, the music ramps back up to normal speed again. It's a really cool effect."
GameZone recently spoke to Winifred Phillips to learn more about the world of Speed Racer and the necessity of writing a score that meets fan expectations.
Sidhe's Griffiths discusses in depth how the GripShift developer playtested, and then took that feedback to improve, their Wii version of the recent Speed Racer game, from Wiimote tweaks to difficulty changes.
With a slick 3D engine and a fluidity that stays locked to 60 frames per second, Speed proves an excellent substitute for F-Zero -- at least, that is, until Nintendo finally gets around to releasing the real thing.
Presentation - 5.0
Graphics - 7.5
Sound - 5.0
Gameplay - 8.0
Lasting Appeal - 6.0
Overall -
Replies(1)
Many of you will remember playing racing games like Gran Turisimo, coming back time and time again to gain increasingly difficult licences. Speed Racer had potential to be a thrilling racing title but shoots itself in the foot with sloppy design and a cringe inducing game engine. The dated multiplayer options do little to rectify the situation, leaving this title gathering dust on my shelf.
Unless you're a massive Speed Racer fan, avoid.
