Roadsters (video game)
Roadsters (working title: Roadsters Trophy) is a racing game released by Titus Software for Nintendo 64 in 1999, and for PlayStation, Dreamcast and Game Boy Color in 2000. It is a car racing game that features both licensed cars from manufacturers (e.g. Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo, Lotus) and unlicensed cars from imaginary manufacturers that are based on and bear great resemblance to their equivalent, real car models. The game also includes a multi-player mode supports up to 2 human players that can compete in any of the available circuits with 4 more CPU controlled racers.[3] A PlayStation 2 version was originally planned to release on April 11, 2001. [4]
Roadsters | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Titus Interactive (Nintendo 64) Genetic Fantasia (Game Boy Color) Smart Dog (PlayStation) Player 1 (Dreamcast) |
Publisher(s) | Titus Interactive |
Platform(s) | Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color |
Release | Nintendo 64 Game Boy Color Dreamcast, PlayStation |
Genre(s) | Racing |
Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
Roadsters is a car racing game that features both licensed cars from manufacturers (e.g. Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo, Lotus) and unlicensed cars from imaginary manufacturers that are based on and bear great resemblance to their equivalent, real car models. The game has 8 racers and 34 cars from which players can choose from and 4 modes in total.
In the Roadster Trophy, the player starts by selecting one of the available racers and is given a sum of money that must be used to acquire a car. There are 3 divisions in which the player can compete on with the 3rd being of the easiest difficulty and requiring less money to participate; the 1st being the most difficult one and needing a higher amount of money in order to participate. More money can be earned by winning the races and that in turn allows to buy new cars or upgrade the ones that are already in possession. In Quick Race the player can select the racer, car, circuit and weather conditions, and race against 7 more CPU controlled players.
The game also includes a Multi-Player mode which supports up to 2 human players that can compete in any of the available circuits with 4 more CPU controlled racers. The mode allows for either vertical or horizontal split screen. Like Quick Race mode, the player can also select here the racer, car, circuit and weather conditions but without the competition of the other modes, the player races against time for as many laps as the player wants.[3]
Reception
Aggregator | Score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Dreamcast | GBC | N64 | PS | |
GameRankings | 45%[5] | 30%[6] | 65%[7] | 63%[8] |
Publication | Score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Dreamcast | GBC | N64 | PS | |
AllGame | N/A | N/A | [9] | [10] |
CNET Gamecenter | 1/10[11] | N/A | 6/10[12] | N/A |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | N/A | N/A | 3.875/10[13][lower-alpha 1] | N/A |
Game Informer | 5.5/10[14] | N/A | 7/10[15] | N/A |
GameFan | (J.W.) 60%[16] 55%[17][lower-alpha 2] | N/A | 82%[18] | N/A |
GamePro | 3/5[19][lower-alpha 3] | N/A | (FED) 4/5[20][lower-alpha 4] (T.F.) 3.5/5[21][lower-alpha 5] | 3/5[22][lower-alpha 6] |
GameRevolution | N/A | N/A | C[23] | N/A |
GameSpot | 4.2/10[24] | N/A | 4.8/10[25] | N/A |
GameSpy | 3/10[26] | N/A | N/A | N/A |
IGN | 4.6/10[27] | 3/10[28] | 7.5/10[29] | 3/10[30] |
N64 Magazine | N/A | N/A | 80%[31] | N/A |
Next Generation | [32] | N/A | [33] | N/A |
Nintendo Power | N/A | N/A | 7.5/10[34] | N/A |
The Nintendo 64 and PlayStation versions received mixed reviews, while the Dreamcast and Game Boy Color versions received unfavorable reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[5][6][7][8] Michael Wolf of NextGen said of the N64 version in its April 2000 issue, "While not as adrenaline-pumping as San Francisco Rush, it's a solid game with a decent engine that will certainly tide racing fans over until Nintendo releases Ridge Racer 64."[33] Three issues later, however, Greg Orlando said that the Dreamcast version "provides a rather straight and uninterrupted ride to ennui."[32]
Notes
- In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Nintendo 64 version, two critics gave it each a score of 4.5/10, while one gave it 3.5/10, and the other 3/10.
- In GameFan's viewpoint of the Dreamcast version, one critic gave it 51, another gave it 53, and a third gave it 60.
- GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 4/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, 2.5/5 for control, and 3/5 for overall fun factor.
- In one review GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 4/5 scores for graphics and overall fun factor, 2/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for control.
- In another review, GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 4/5 scores for graphics and control, and two 3.5/5 scores for sound and overall fun factor.
- GamePro gave the PlayStation version three 3/5 scores for graphics, sound, and overall fun factor, and 3.5/5 for control.
References
- IGN staff (December 14, 1999). "Roadsters Goes Dirt Cheap". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- "ROADSTERS SET TO ZOOM INTO STORES (Mustang Give Away Excites Consumers, Retailers)". Titus Interactive. Archived from the original on February 11, 2001. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Titus Software (1999) Roadsters Manual
- "Video Game release dates". The Pantagraph. March 29, 2001. p. 65. Retrieved September 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Roadsters for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- "Roadsters for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 22, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- "Roadsters for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- "Roadsters for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Scoleri III, Joseph. "Roadsters (N64) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Kanarick, Mark. "Roadsters (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Mahood, Andy (April 21, 2000). "Roadsters (DC) [Incomplete]". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- Mahood, Andy (February 4, 2000). "Roadsters (N64)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- Chou, Che; Johnston, Chris; Hager, Dean; Davison, John (February 2000). "Roadsters (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 127. Ziff Davis. p. 180. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- "Roadsters (DC)". Game Informer. No. 86. FuncoLand. June 2000.
- "Roadsters Trophy [sic] (N64)". Game Informer. No. 81. FuncoLand. January 2000.
- Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (May 2000). "Roadsters (DC)". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 5. Shinno Media. pp. 56–57. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Ngo, George "Eggo"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (May 2000). "Roadsters (DC)". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 5. Shinno Media. p. 14. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- "REVIEW for Roadsters (N64)". GameFan. Shinno Media. December 17, 1999.
- The D-Pad Destroyer (April 24, 2000). "Roadsters Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 15, 2004. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Four-Eyed Dragon (February 2000). "Roadsters (N64)". GamePro. No. 137. IDG Entertainment. p. 102. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- The Freshman (December 30, 1999). "Roadsters (N64)". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- The Freshman (April 21, 2000). "Roadsters Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 15, 2004. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Amsbury, Robert (April 2000). "Roadsters Review (N64)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Stahl, Ben (April 11, 2000). "Roadsters Review (DC) [date mislabeled as "March 4, 2004"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Stahl, Ben (December 22, 1999). "Roadsters Trophy [sic] Review (N64) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Jetzep (March 24, 2000). "Roadsters". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Dunham, Jeremy (March 27, 2000). "Roadsters Review (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Harris, Craig (February 23, 2000). "Roadsters (GBC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Boulding, Aaron (January 6, 2000). "Roadsters (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Bishop, Samuel (May 1, 2000). "Roadsters (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Weaver, Tim (Christmas 1999). "Roadsters". N64 Magazine. No. 36. Future Publishing. pp. 58–59.
- Orlando, Greg (July 2000). "Roadsters (DC)". NextGen. No. 67. Imagine Media. p. 91. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- Wolf, Michael (April 2000). "Roadsters (N64)". NextGen. No. 64. Imagine Media. p. 85. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- "Roadsters". Nintendo Power. Vol. 128. Nintendo of America. January 2000. p. 144. Retrieved March 4, 2021.