Supercar Street Challenge: Web Wombat: Games

Supercar Street Challenge (SSC) is yet another car racing game built on good concepts, but sadly, due mainly to the game play, it ends up being quite mediocre.

You can drive some of the most exotic cars on the road, and race on tracks in "real world" locations. But the racing style seems quite lifeless with tracks which are too difficult for the cars to handle, because... well, the cars don't handle.

With more than 20 race courses, the game stretches across many locations such as Los Angeles, Rome, Munich and Monaco.

The tracks do have good backgrounds, featuring important landmarks, which help brighten up the surroundings.

But in a game like this, the cars are the stars and, as such, there are some really flashy cars to choose from in SSC. And if for some strange reason they don't match up to standards, then you can fully customise the car.

With about five different changable aspects, you can really go to town with the car customisation garage, creating a unique vehicle made just for you. You can also customise the accessories of the cars, giving them spoilers, and different models of rear view vision mirrors, head lights, hub caps, and can choose from a wide range of colours.

Now for the down points. The gameplay has sadly been designed in such a way that you can get around the track faster by bouncing of the walls. No need to slow down for those sharp turns anymore, just plough right through.

As fun as this may sound, disappointingly it is a major flaw. The good point is, that because the physics of the game are lost and never to be found, the cars do go really, really fast.

In games like GT3, there was just enough of a straight in a race to almost reach top speed, and in anticipation you would crash yourself into a wall.

Just like a hair salon - but without the hair...

In SSC however, don't let the corners stop you, just keep going! Turn if you feel like it, but the car will bump its self around the corner anyway, and you wont lose much speed. In the end, SSC is an arcade style game. No simulation here.

When all is said and done, the pinnacle of the game is a very satisfying one. When you get the Pagani Zonda C12-S, no matter how fast your going, and no matter how sharp the turn is, this baby makes it through the track at top speed all the way.

Even though physics has gone straight out the window again, it is pretty damn fun! Though if you really want to know what the car is like, get one in GT3 and you'll find it isn't really all that good in comparison.

The graphics and sound of SSC are quite pleasing. The car sounds are, well.... car sounds. What more can I say? (vroom vroom - Ed) Other than that, the sound samples do change from car to car. As for the graphics though, there is much to be said.

The most impressive part is when you select your car and begin to customise it. When the chassis moulds to the design you desire, the shine and shadow also change, as the car is fully rendered in 3D on the run.

Your on road surroundings are also quite pleasing, with the other cars holding as much detail as yours. The many unique land marks look like something straight of a post card, which, believe it or not, helps give you a better feel for the game.

In the end, SSC doesn't mach up to games like GT3, but then which games do? For a good arcade style rush, you will find all you're looking for in SSC, and you can potentially have better cars than that of GT3, thanks to the customisation tools. A must have for the car fans, but probably not the best title on the shelf.

Game: Supercar Street Challenge
System: Playstation 2
Players: 1-4
Memory Card: Yes
Developer: Exact Entertainment
Distributor: Activision

Rating: 60%

(Ratings Key/Explantion)

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