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Dom Robinson reviews
Virgin Interactive
System Requirements – Minimum (Recommended) :
Screamer Rallyis Virgin Interactive‘s sequel to the smash-hitScreamer 2 released last year which was a superb rally racing game,and if you’ve played that one then you’ll know what to expect.
If not, then put simply, you race along up to 7 tracks – one each in China,Canada, Italy, Arizona, Sweden, Wales, plus a bonus course (the latter threebeing released as you work your way up the leagues), in one of five differentrally cars with high acceleration and good looks, playing against fivecomputer opponents in the standard game, and in varying weather conditions.Whereas Screamer 2 belted along without 3D-accelerated graphics cards,this game requires a slightly higher spec PC and takes advantage of the 3Dfxtechnology to produce a game that plays as well as it looks.
Installing and Running the Game
As Screamer Rally is a DOS-based game if you do choose to install itin Windows 95, you will need to run it in a DOS window. Personally, on myPentium 90 (32Mb RAM) I couldn’t get it to work properly when Win95 wasinvolved, the game crashing out of the set-up screen when selecting asoundcard so I quit out of that altogether.
The installation also allows you to opt for a basic installation of 30 Mbtaking up your hard disk, or a full 150 Mb version. Again, I had problemswith the 30Mb version, the game freezing up when loading in the first track.However, if you have the space available on your hard drive – and if you don’tthen make room for it – then it’s well worth installing the full version asit will require less access to the CD-ROM drive.
When the game is installed, the set-up screen allows you to choose a number ofscreen modes in Lo-res, Hi-res or 3Dfx. Options are also available to changethe keyboard and/or joystick controls for up to two players, several soundcardoptions, plus settings for linking to other PCs via modems or a network.
Playing the Game
Game Options
For an instant rush, this option allows you to pick any of the first fourtracks to begin with, then the car to drive and then the game begins. Thereare three tracks you can’t access until you’ve reached the respective leaguelevel in the Championship game.
Four leagues are available, and you’ll need to finish the first beforetrying the rest. League 1 takes you through China, Canada, Italy &Arizona, and each of the three subsequent leagues add an extra course,namely Sweden, Wales and the Bonus courses respectively.
The Three Laps option takes you around the course of your choicein any car you choose as you go for the best lap and race time. Next timeround, the ghost car makes its appearance which is yourself on your best runso far.
The Free Run option is just you against the clock with five markersspread around the track comparing how well you’re doing this time round withthe next lap during the respective sections the markers cover.
When playing the championship game or the free run in Time Attack mode, you canchoose the standard settings, or customise your car over various aspects,namely: Handling, Tyre Pressure, Brakes, Tyre Type, and Front and RearSuspension..
NB: This option isn’t available in arcade mode or on the special bonus car.
In addition to the regular game, there is a Combat Mode forsplit-screen two player action, Serial Link for linking two PCs, andNetwork Mode for up to six players via a local network.
Several options available: auto or manual transmission, the numberof arcade/battle mode laps, arcade enemies’ skill, adjust thedetail level, or toggle the music and car damage on/off.
Graphics, Sound and Playability
The quality of the graphics with 3Dfx acceleration are nothing short ofexcellent. With Screamer 2, the non-accelerated graphics shifted roundthe track at an incredible speed and had I been reviewing that then itcertainly would have got a recommendation from me. Screamer Rally islike that but with 3Dfx support. Although the minimum spec. for the game isa P100 machine, the game ran brilliantly on my P90 with 32Mb RAM.A definite result.
The sound is cars smashing and bashing about around the track. A “CD player”option is there too, but it didn’t work for me on this particular game eventhough my sound card settings appeared to be set correctly when I test themin the set-up screen.
Playability is all-important, and I found if you kept your eyes on your owncar you definitely get the feeling of the scenery rushing past you. It couldn’tbe simpler than to move left, right, accelerate or decelerate. The computerenemies seemed to be using their brake a lot during the game to avoid anaccident, but I had more fun driving right into the cars in front…
Overall
I’ve only had a one glitch with Screamer Rally, and that was that thegame has crashed a few times during play, even when I’ve been running in DOSon its own and using a bootdisk as instructed in the manual, so I tend to stickto the one-lap option, although that’s not always enough to win a race.
However, it’s not happened since and I reckon that if you enjoyedScreamer 2, and you have a 3Dfx card, you deserve to treat yourself tothis, especially as the CD also includes a 3Dfx patch for Screamer 2itself. Yes, it is more of the same, but that’s certainly not a bad thing inthis case.
If you’re after some more info on Virgin Interactive’s games, you can checkout their official Website atwww.vie.co.ukGRAPHICS : *****SOUND EFFECTS : ***PLAYABILITY: *****ORIGINALITY : **ENJOYMENT : *****———————–OVERALL : ****
Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1997.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.