Uchuu Race: Astro Go! Go!
F-Zero on the back of a dolphinGenre: racing - arcade
Publisher: Meldac
Year: 1994
System: SFC
Gameplay Score: 3
Gameplay Notes:
Mode 7 racer similar to F-Zero. At first I thought it was a Mario Kart clone but no, it's F-Zero. The name of game is to avoid hitting the walls at all costs, as losing your momentum will absolutely end your race. As such the difficulty is very high, despite having decent controls. It plays more like RC Pro-Am than F-Zero, where the camera is fixed behind you. Here the camera is fixed so turns and even loops are achieved while the camera remains in a fixed position. This means it's critical to memorize the tracks and watch carefully for the arrows that are thankfully on the ground. Overall it's good but a bit awkward of a control scheme.
Level Design Score: 4
Level Design Notes:
Stages exhibit a ton of variety. Each has a different challenge and adds a mechanic like speed boost pads, endless pits, escalators, jump pads, etc. It's good stuff, for the most part.
Theme Score: 4
Theme Notes:
An eclectic set of playable characters, including a dolphin, a robot, a skeleton, or a bat, with a female and male version of each.
Art Style Score: 4
Art Style Notes:
Impressive graphics, although the camera is kind of high-centered ratehr than down low like in F-Zero and most racing games. This makes some turns come up on you fast. You get used to it, but I wish I could toggle between this and a lower view. But yeah, great framerate, bizarre but well drawn sprites, and very pastel, colorful backgrounds.
Audio Score: 3
Audio Notes:
Ok music that I wouldn't be caught dead listening to outside of the game. It fits the theme but is kind of kitschy, like something you'd hear in an episode of Scooby Doo. I actually like it enough to give it a 4 but the engine noise is so loud that it almost completely drowns out the music and other sound effects.
Overall Score: 68
Review ID: 1939
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