Carmageddon on PC

• CD-ROM IBM PC and Compatibles
• Windows 95 or MSDOS 6.2 and above. Windows 95 version requires DirectX 3a drivers or above
• Intel Pentium Processor P75 and above
• 8Mb RAM (16Mb for Windows 95 and Multiplayer Network Game)
• Multiplayer Network game requires IPX network
• Hard Disk Space: Install 20Mb, 51Mb or 264Mb version
• VGA & SVGA Graphics support (1Mb Graphic card required)
• Soundblaster & 100% Compatible soundcards
• Supported Peripherals : Mouse, Joysticks, Steering Wheels (Thrustmaster, Mad Catz and Performa)
• Quad-speed CD-ROM drive with MSCDEX 2.25 and above

Carmageddonis a racing car game with one rule – there are no rules!You can do what you want, where you want, and when you want, making this oneof those rare racing games where you can break free from the usual constraintsof a set course and go looking for power-up, or mowing down extra pedestriansto give you extra time! While there are 36 set race courses split over a fewenvironments, you can go visiting other parts of that environment which youwould normally only visit on the other set courses.

You can play the game normally though, going through the check-points andwinning the race, but you’ll soon notice that your opponents aren’t asinterested in doing this, and would sooner see you plummeting to your deathoff the top of a high building (again!) than crossing the finish line.

In fact, you may as well say to yourself that “If you can’t beat ’em,join ’em” and mash them into a pulp by smashing into their backsides andleaving them for dead, as the alternative way to winning is to bump off allfive other contestants…and it’s a lot more satisfying. As long as you do allthis before the timer reaches zero, then you’ll have no problems. Take notethough, as you do NOT get extra time for crossing the checkpoints, but insteadfor mowing down pedestrians! If you find the idea of mowing down digitisedpeople as vile and disgusting as an equal-rights campaigned, then take theeasy way out – go at top speed smashing into a few signposts and street lightsinstead. Why? Well, at least one of them is sure to catch a member of the publicon the rebound! Such a thing is very satisfying to watch in an action replay!

As you progress through the game you’ll amass credits, which after each gamecan be traded in for extras to soup-up your engine, armour or stronger items toattach to your car so you can do more damage to those of the others! Also, youstart at the rank of 99, but as you go through the 36 races available, you’lleventually climb to the ranking of No.1…if you survive, that is. Each of theraces has it’s own description, my favourite being the last one which involvesthe slaughtering of many BSE-infected cows, and as such, It’s Curtains forBeef!. And the name of that level? Beef Curtains of course!

As your car’s stature improves, you’ll find that some cars are rather special,because when totalled, they are removed from the race, repaired automatically,and are then available for you to drive during the next race and all subsequentraces. When playing, I acquired a yellow Armoured Vehicle, and once in that Iturned my nose up at anything else as this smashes through the opponents withease.

Of course you can’t just go smashing into everything and expect no recourseas your car will become damaged. A status screen in the corner shows the stateof your car’s systems, and as they become more damaged, they begin to fail ormalfunction altogether. You can repair some of the damage to your car duringa race though by pressing the repair button (initially set as Backspace), orrepairing all of it by double-clicking on the button.

If you get stuck upside down and don’t want to wait for someone to smash intoyou to put you back on your wheels, pressing Recover (initially set as Insert)will, for a price, right your position.

Installing the Game

Installation is simple and can be done both in DOS and from within Windows 95.Done through DOS, you can then choose to have the program automatically selectyour soundcard type, or select it manually. In Windows 95, not only will itautomatically select and configure your soundcard, but you are also providedwith DirectX drivers version 3a which are required, although also availableon the internet now are the drivers for version 5.0.

If you’re stuck between choosing a medium or full installation, the full oneonly benefits you if you have a CD-ROM drive slower than quad-speed as the onlybonus you get out of it is to copy the FMV sequences onto the hard-drive.As most PC’s these days come equipped with quad-speed or better, a mediuminstallation should suffice.

Main Menu

The main menu appears after the introduction movie, which like any cut-scenecan be interrupted by hitting any key or clicking the mouse, and includesoptions to start a new single-player game, a new network game (this version in16Mb only), or the chance to load in a previously-saved game. You can also saveyour position, although if you do this during a race, it will only save theposition at the start of a race, so you can only save the game inbetween racesand after completing the current race.

The sound options control the music and effects, and there are a large numberof graphics options for customising the complexity of the graphics to enablethose with slower PCs to gain some speed. You can also select one of fourpreset keyboard controls setups, or alter them to fit your own preference.Alternatively, if you have a steering wheel (bought from a computer games shopand not ripped out of your car) you can use that instead to wreak your havoc.

New Game

When starting a new single-player game, you can select one of two drivers,Max Damage and Die Anna, the names of which can be changed toprotect the innocent. During the game you can witness the reactions of thedrivers via the Pratcam, which can be turned off should you tire ofDie Anna piercing your ears every time she screams, but then let’s be realistic,if you were strapped into a car being driven and thrown about by someone else,and had no control over it, wouldn’t you be screaming ?

Skill Screen

Three skill levels. That’s all you need to know, but they’re not called Easy,Medium and Hard, as you’d expect, but bizarrely :

• 1. As Easy as killing bunnies with axes
• 2. Normal everyday carnage
• 3. Harder than French-kissing a cobra

Playing the Game

Before you start to race, there are a few options to take care of first :

• View Info
  This one gives you details about the forthcoming race such as number oflaps, length of track. The View Info button will change to ViewRacers which allows you to check out mugshots of the various opponentsalong with an image of their vehicle, plus how they plan to slaughter you!
• Change Race
  If the current race is too hard, just change it! You’ll be given a choiceof around 5 or 6 to choose from, so if you want to wimp out, now’s your chance.
• Parts Shop
  As mentioned earlier, you can upgrade your car with better armour, powerof items to whip the ass of your opponents as long as you’ve earned enoughcredits during the game.
• Change Car
  Be mean, be really mean! As mentioned earlier, after smashing up certaincars beyond recognition during the game, you’ll be able to take them over afterthey’ve been repaired for no extra charge. Note that any power-ups you’ve boughtin the parts shop apply to all the cars you have at your disposal.
• Grid Position Screen (not in 8Mb version)
  Just before the race begins you will have a certain degree of freedom tochoose your race position. Although you can’t usually swap positions withsomeone who has a higher rank than you, you will occasionally receive a dareto swap places with a nutter who’s only offering you the chance to go ahead inthe hope of trashing you just as you think you’re getting away with it.
• Race Summary Screen
  After the race, your race achievements are shown, listing your creditsearned and lost, total credits, rank increase (if any) and present rank.
• Wrecks Gallery
  Want a good laugh? Click on the pictures of the cars you trashed in thelast race and watch the 3D rotating model to see just how much damage you didinflict.

Action Replay (not in 8Mb version)

Once you discover this option, you’ll never stop using it. Pressing the Enterkey on the numeric keypad puts you in Action Replay mode. Just likea VCR, you can effectively tape the race and watch it back at your leisure.Due to the available memory, if the space available for action replay infofills up, the oldest stuff gets wiped.

As well as full control of the replay, there are three different camera angles.Very commendable, but there’s only one I use, and you’ll see why soon.

• Panning Camera
  A glorious collection of panning overhead views of the action, allowing youto see all the things you missed first time round and the camera tracked yourcar.
• Standard Camera
  View the game through your car’s windscreen, and use the arrows to move thecamera around.
• Action-tracking Camera
  This is the one to watch though, and is easily my favourite. Similar to thepanning camera, the viewpoint of this one changes to the best view for watchinga good wreck, or for watching the panic in a pedestrian’s eyes as they attemptfruitlessly to escape your path of destruction. Watch in horror as the oldlady’s legs fly one way, and the zimmer-frame goes the other!

Hints, Tips and Cheats

• Handbrake Turns
  Missed that turning? Slam on the handbrake and go back for a second try,or just slam it on and take out a number of pedestrians in one go! Mmmm…COMBO BONUS !

  Just one slight problem with this though. You may find you want to try it inreal-life sometimes…

• Wheelspin
  Holding this button down allows you to turn very tightly, and also allowsyou to spin the car around under power when you hold accelerate, turn andwheelspin at the same time.
• Running out of time?
  What a pain it is to run out of time. In some of the later levels whentime is of the essence and you still want to complete the circuits, you mayhave to leave the beaten track and search the rest of the level for extra killsto boost your time bonus so as to give you plenty of time to finish the racewith time to spare. Easier said than done though, of course.
• Cheats Galore !
  Want to make extra money or extra kills? These cheats will help you doboth. My favourites are Pedestrians Glued to ground to stop thoseirritating humans running away, and Pedestrian Electro-bastard Ray forwhen it doesn’t matter than you just keep missing the people, as they’ll frywhen you come within an inch of their lives !!

  Effect CodewordMega Bonus (loadsa Money) GIVEMELARDPedestrians Glued to ground SPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMGiant pedestrians SMALLUDDERSExplosive pedestrians SUPERHOOPSHot rod (Huge speed increase) IGLOOFUNTurbo pedestrians (pedestrians move at high Speed) FUNNYJAMGravity has gone strange IHAVESOMESPAMPinball mode MOOSEONTHELOOSEBouncy Bouncy CHICKENFODDEROh dear jelly suspension BUYOURNEXTGAMEPedestrians shown on map ILOVENOBBYPedestrian Electro-bastard ray RUSSFORMARIOBlind pedestrians HAMSTERSEXPedestrian respawn NAUGHTYTORTYDrugs INTHELOFTGrip-o-matic tyres BOYSFROMTHEBUSHPedestrian harvest (pedestrians stick to car) TRAMSARESUPERVesuvian corpses ISLANDRULESGravity from Jupiter RABBITDREAMER

Blood Version ? Zombie Version ? Pardon?

Look at the map opposite. No, it’s not the international scenario for thenext Mission: Impossible film, but an indication of which countries havehad which versions of this game.

In good ol’ Blighty, the BBFC decreed that they wouldn’t allow us to mow downordinary people, even after applying an 18-certificate to the game, so UK gamershave to put up with mindless, identical zombies whose green blood looks morelike guacamole all over your windscreen… or do we? Available on the internet,if you look for it, and you don’t have to look too hard I can assure you, isa Gore Patch which reinstates the human pedestrians.

Also available is a 3Dfx patch for those with suitably-equipped 3Dfx graphicscards to improve the quality and speed of the graphics.

Graphics, Sound and Playability

The graphics and the interaction between the cars, pedestrians and sceneryis all first rate. Each of the cars is very detailed, mainly down to the factthat they’ve been rendered with polygons, as is the scenery, the only partswhich are sprites being some track accessories and the pedestrians. Also, thecollision-detection is spot-on.

The sounds in the game set the tone perfectly, but lose a point for beingnot a great deal more than you’d expect from a racing game. The sounds thatdo stand out are the grinding crunches between the cars which are great fun.If you have your PC connected up to a hifi or surround amplifier, make sure youhave the volume turned up as you plow into the opposition!

Playability is nothing short of excellent. The combination of keys can take alittle getting used to, but once you’ve worked out what goes where, or haveconfigured the keys to suit your own preference, you’re well on your way toventing your frustration on the bad guys. After this, it’s a case of practicemakes perfect, or try, try, try, try and try again…and again andteach the opposition a lesson they’ll never forget.

Overall

Overall, for me, this is the game of the year so far. It takes the conventionalracing game and gives it a sharp kick in the teeth, not to mention doing thesame for political correctness. 🙂

If I wanted to make one alteration, I’d allow the saving of your positionfrom within a race, but then the way it stands now will make you try just thatbit harder which may increase the longevity of this game as you won’t want tostop until you reach the top-slot.

On the subject of longevity, now available is the CarmageddonSPLAT PACK, an extraset of levels and cars, to give you even more Carmageddon in case you thoughtyou’d seen everything. A demo of this is available on the internet and youcan clickHERE for my review.

If you’re after some more Carmageddon excitement, you can check out theofficial SCI Website at www.sci.co.uk whichalso includes links to a stack of Carmageddon-related sites.GRAPHICS : *****SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC: ****PLAYABILITY: *****ORIGINALITY : *****ENJOYMENT : *****——————————-OVERALL : *****

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1997.