Kawasaki Caribbean Challenge for SNES

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Kawasaki Caribbean Challenge

Game Boy Wave Race with overly sensitive controls

Genre: racing - overhead

Publisher: Gametek

Year: 1993

System: SNES

Gameplay Score: 2

Gameplay Notes:

According to the initial loading screen, this game "...is not intended to provide training or education regarding the operation of any of the products depicted." I'm glad that warning was included cuz I was under the impression that pressing R or L on a SNES controller are how to operate a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle. Overly sensitive controls, which I'm discovering is a staple of this genre. In this game the slightest touch to the R or L buttons are right and left on the d-pad will almost always register two clicks making it incredibly difficult to straighten out when you get onto an odd number, if that makes sense. It doesn't help that the game severely punishes tiny mistakes which I made over and over again. The tiniest overcorrection or hitting a water slick on the road will always throw you against the track barrier which understandably stops your progress but it happens so often that it's incredibly frustrating. Oh and the races go on FOREVER. One thing the game does well is give you plenty of draw distance. When it can it gives you almost 100% of the vertical screen and about 80% horizontally.

Level Design Score: 1

Level Design Notes:

There are three tracks each for the two events - motorcycle and jet ski. Maybe I'm missing something but the three jet ski tracks seem identical to me. Either way there are barely any tracks and they're not fun to navigate.

Theme Score: 1

Theme Notes:

Overhead racing games. Not my favorite genre. And this one is as personality-less as they come.

Art Style Score: 1

Art Style Notes:

NES quality. Actually, the Game Boy version of Wave Race is a better comparison.

Audio Score: 2

Audio Notes:

Some weird music that feels out of place plays on the title screen and nowhere else. The sound effects are decent, including the engine having distinct accelerating and top speed noises.

Overall Score: 32

Review ID: 265