 |
|
|||
|
Reviews/Previews/Features/Goodies/Anime/Classics/Links/Contact |
||||
|
|
||||
 |
||||
|
Platform: GC, PS2 |
Developer: Crave Enter. |
Publisher: Crave Enter. |
||
|
Genre: Extreme Sports |
|
ETA: Q4 2002 |
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
Whirl Tour
Extreme sports are becoming old hat in gaming. We’ve all seen a zillion Tony Hawk’s performing high-speed maneuvers, careening off boulders and downhill slopes, and skidding to a halt only to leap up again without a scratch. I wouldn’t say the extreme sports genre is in a malaise but it could use a little freshness. Enter Crave’s Whirl Tour.
A couple of years ago when foldable personal self-propelled scooters were all the craze, one couldn’t help but wonder if this was the next skateboard-type phenomenon – spawning another subculture that parents would have no way of understanding but still managing to label it subversive and full of debauchery. Whirl Tour (WT) seems to lack any debauchery (but it sure does feature a lot of scooters). In fact, the whole thing looks like an extended cartoon so it’s doubtful there will be a parental backlash – this has “E” rating all over it but that doesn’t mean it won’t be an engaging experience. (Of course, the speculation of an “E” rating might be premature, but since all the material available lacks the word “attitude” – which usually means explicit lyrics or moderate physical violence – I’m hedging my bets on an “E” rating.)
A slight departure from other extreme sports titles, is that WT has a storyline. You start the game as a roadie for a six-member rock band that has been mysteriously kidnapped. As the roadie you must rescue the band members all the while performing tricks and satisfying level objectives. (Of course, it’s not explained why the roadie chooses a scooter to rescue the band.) Once a band member is rescued they become a playable character – and I bet they’ll all be quirky.
Although the story line aids progression between levels, WT is designed like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. This means huge, interactive levels, a long roster of trick combos that can be strung together, secret areas, and lots of hip tunes. Using “Papaya Studio’s 2nd generation Utopia™ console engine technology” WT certainly looks good – the attention to detail, in a cartoony way, is obvious. Levels range from an amusement park to an oil refinery to the ‘burbs to a castle, all populated with “pedestrians, traffic, animals and other animated objects.” Different scooters, including a rocket-powered model, aid in getting around these big levels. And apparently you’ll also have to “battle enemies” which could mean Boss battles or defeating various ne’er-do-wells throughout each level – either way it’s a slight departure from the norm. So, lots of variety – just what an extreme sports title needs.
WT also boasts a roster of seven two-player options, including a cooperative mode. Of course, the stand-bys like racing and “monster trick” mode (read: trick competition) are included as well. Considering that WT is most likely aimed at the younger crowd, loading it with two-player options is a good idea – makes for good fun with family and friends when it’s too rainy or cold to really have fun outside.
We’ll get to see Whirl Tour in action when it ships Winter 2002/2003.
- Omni (August 11, 2002)
|
||||
