Redline Racer Preview

Release Date: Fall '98

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Windows 95/98™, Pentium® 133, 16 MB RAM, 3D accelerated card, 4-speed CD ROM drive, 16-bit Sound Card
OR
Windows 95/98™, Pentium® 166, with the following graphics accelerated chipset: ATI Rage Pro, Permedia 2, Intel 740 Chipset, Riva 128, Number Nine

RECOMMENDED
Pentium® 166, 32 MB RAM, 3Dfx Card

Force Feedback compatible steering wheel, joystick, mouse, keyboard.
Direct 3D compatible graphics accelerator card. Sound Cards with PCI or AGP port. Optimized for Pentium® PCI & AGP. For Multiplayer: Network (IPX), Internet (TCP/IP), modem or null-modem.

Some times you just have to put on your helmet, get on your bike and ride as fast as the machine will go. Redline Racer attempts to capture that feeling and does a damn good job too. Coming up against some heavy competition, Electronic Arts MotoRacer has almost set the Benchmark for great motorcycle games. Ubi Soft and Criterion Studios come shining through with yet another example of who kicks butt with beautifully done racing sims.

When I first tried Redline all I could do was think, how is it going to measure up against the likes of Motoracer. Answer: Not a Problem. Redline Racer has everything and more. The graphics are astonishingly smooth and look just fantastic. I did see a little tearing when getting too close to walls and such but I assume that will be gone by the time this comes out and besides that you are supposed to stay on the track.

Within a few minutes I had the feel of the bike and it was all downhill from there. Redline runs smooth even on a P-200 and the controls are silky and to my surprise I was even able to control it pretty well with the keyboard. There are 3 different views you can chose from with 1st person being the most difficult but also the most realistic. Although basically an arcade racer you will find plenty to keep you interested as there are 10 Tracks and 3 modes of difficulty. There are also 3 modes to run the game in Arcade, Time Trial and Multiplayer modes. Add to that 8 different superbikes with 6 hidden bikes and 16 fully animated male and female characters and you have one kick butt racing game.

Ubi Soft is also providing new downloadable bikes and Teams from the Redline Racer Web site. I am also told that users will be able to modify and customize their bikes and teams. Also planned is a multiplayer matchup service to find opponents for the 8 player multiplay option. Unfortunately I was only able to check out single play for the preview but am looking forward to seeing how this baby performs in multiplay over the internet.

With all the time I spent playing Redline Racer I couldn't find anything I didn't like about the game other than I would have liked more obstacles to use as ramps launching myself into some body wreaking crashes as sometimes I tend to like to see the agony of defeat as well. In all Redline Racer is one hot title that is worth keeping an eye out for. Due out in November with a MSRP of $49.99.

Preview by: William Gall
Date: Apr 98