GTS
Racing Challenge by Astraware,
Price: $17.95
Reviewed March 2003
Combine the power of Pazzaz Games, known
for their GameBoy titles, and the Astraware’s PDA gaming
expertise, and you have GTS Racing Challenge for Palm OS.
With its incredibly accurate control, good collection of
courses at different AI difficulty levels and three super
racecars, GTS Racing Challenge is an addictive racing title
for Palm OS devices.
The first thing you will notice when you
start a race is the precise control with quite realistic
feel. You can control the cars either by using the hardware
buttons or the Graffiti area and stylus, though the button
control yields the best results. If you are one of those
classic spinners who makes the car spin when you are desperately
trying to steer a straight line, you will find that this
game will give you the freedom of making the car go anywhere
at any direction without getting into a uncontrollable spin.
There are three racecars to choose from, an open wheel Formula,
a coupe and a generic sports car, each with different power
and speed features. You can also choose from one of the four
racing modes including Single Race, Challenge Cup, Grand
Tour and Championship.
There are 8 racing venues in each difficulty
level. The more the difficult levels you choose, the windier
the courses. The game developers put in a great deal of effort
to make the graphics look sharp at 18-20 fps. You will see
some nice background graphics, a high-definition texture-mapped
track with scaled cars and tree sprites and your fellow racecars.
The scrolling ground and background is very smooth and give
you a realistic feeling of driving on different surfaces.
The sound effects are plentiful and fun.
Since the hi-res sound version isn’t out yet, you will
have to settle for some midi clips including the sounds of
raging engines, tires squealing on hairpin turns and rough
asphalt road noise. The game runs very smoothly at a consistent
frame rate on a Clie SJ33, and support any Palm OS 3.5 or
higher devices. A hi-res version with audio enhancement will
be out as a free update for registered users.
We certainly hope that this is not
the last time these two companies join forces together.
Combining best selling console titles and GameBoy titles
with Astraware’s masterful skill at making PDA games
that are simple and easy to play has us eager for more
great PDA titles. |
