AGH Jaguar Review:
POWER DRIVE RALLY

by Time Warner Interactive


One of the better carts for the Jag, Power Drive Rally is a joy to play. It doesn't harness all of the Jag's power, unfortunately, making it look (yet again) like something that could have been done on a 16-bit system without a lot of effort. However, I don't think that Jaguar owners are in a position to complain when a game is fun, PERIOD. And this is one of them...

In this racer, you get to hop into a pumped up Fiat minicar and tool about rugged tracks across the globe. After each race, you get to repair your car so as to be better prepared for upcoming tracks. When the time comes, you'll be asked to test your driving ability on skill tracks, where you can earn extra money.

The game is played in an overhead perspective (a-la Micro Machines and Super Sprint) which will make some folks expecting a full bore 3-D racer groan a bit. But this isn't an all-out speedfest where you burn rubber. It's a rally game that requires some deft handling and finesse, so the perspective doesn't cause as much of a reduction in viewing area as you'd expect from a game of this type. The cars and track details are on the small side too, so you can see enough ahead of you to properly maneuver if you're good enough.

The game's real charm is its smooth graphics (no choppiness here) and ease of car manipulation. In the tradition of Super Sprint and Super Off Road, this game will keep you playing because it's just easy enough that you don't boil over with frustration, yet challenging enough to keep you on your toes. After upgrading your vehicle after a race, you'll WANT to give it another go to see how much of a difference the fine tuning made to your car's performance.

While Power Drive Rally is straightforward gameplay without the pizzaz that comes in Playstation or Saturn games, it's fun nonetheless and a must buy if all you own is a Jaguar.


Title Power Drive Rally
Publisher Time Warner Interactive
System Atari Jaguar
Graphics 7
Sound 6
Gameplay 7
Overall 7
Reviewer Keita Iida

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