Victory Run
Reviewed by Michael LoCascio
Victory Run was one of the very first titles ever released
in the States for the Turbografx-16. Like many of the early
16-bit games, Victory Run had some nice looking graphics
that put most 8-bit games to shame. Also like most early
16-bit games, however, Victory Run was lacking in game play.
A souped-up version of Rad Racer for the TG-16, Victory Run
was far too difficult for its own good.
Upon first glance, Victory Run looks like a winner. Screen
shot comparisons with Rad Racer showed just how
technologically superior the Turbo really was. But there
were aspects of the game besides its graphics that were
deserving of praise. Unlike most driving games at the time,
the condition of your car's parts was a major priority. At
the end of every level, the game gives you the option of
replacing parts that are in rough shape before the next
course begins (you only have a limited number of spare parts
available, however). It's up to you to make sure that your
car remains in good shape until you can fix it up again.
The realism in Victory Run doesn't end with parts selection;
there are a few courses which demand that you alter your
style of driving in order to succeed. Driving in fourth gear
in the desert will get you no where fast - even though it
allowed you to breeze through the previous track that took
place on a normal road.
Victory Run was essentially a race against the clock (the
other cars and trucks on each course were simply obstacles
meant to get in your way). A neat feature about the game was
the fact that however much time you still had remaining when
you finished a course was tacked on to the time you were
allotted for the next stage of the game. Despite this bonus
time, the levels in Victory Run were incredibly difficult to
complete, and the game eventually degenerates into a
frustratingly hard time trial. To make matters worse, just
as your car is approaching the finish line for a given
course, it automatically begins to slow down until it comes
to a complete stop right at the marker. Far too many
precious seconds are lost during these sequences that you
have absolutely no control over.
Another element of Victory Run that some players may not
like is the fact that you must shift gears on your own;
there is no auto mode. This becomes a chore simply because
the car is very difficult to control in the first place.
Also, even fresh parts seem to wear down incredibly fast in
certain levels. There will be many times where you will be
less than halfway through a level and your gears and breaks
will already be in terrible condition. At this point, your
only real option is to reset the game, because there's no
way to beat the clock if your parts aren't in excellent shape.
Victory Run is a nice looking game that could have been a
blast to play if it simply hadn't been so difficult. I'm
sure that some players will welcome the challenge, but
unless racing games are your forte, I'd recommend that you
stay away from this one.
Overall: 5 out of 10
OR
Debt Help - Free Credit Report - Mortgages - Loans - Cheap Flights 