GameSpot editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 10/19/2001
- Updated on: 05/17/2006
- Released on: 10/14/2001
- Originally published on GameSpot: Kinetica (PlayStation 2) Review
As we all know, the distant future is a place populated by expansive cities that are often as tall as they are wide, unthinkable technology, and a general public with an insatiable desire for forms of transportation that move really, really fast. Capitalizing on these concepts and others, SCEA has come up with Kinetica, a futuristic racing game with a taste for the outlandish. Though Kinetica is definitely a capable racer, it is hindered by graphical problems and a general lack of polish.
The gameplay modes in Kinetica are pretty straightforward, and this is typified by the no-nonsense menu options. You can run a single race, or a practice race, which rids the track of any competitors. You'll only have four tracks available to you right off the bat, though eight more tracks can be unlocked through the season mode, which is broken up into three different sections. Place high enough in all four races in the first season, and the second season will be unlocked, and so on. Kinetica also contains a customizable two-player mode, in which you can tweak the amount of races and the number of computer-controlled competitors you'll race against.
The track design is some of the most outlandish ever seen in a futuristic racer, with lots of big drops and little regard for the laws of gravity. Unfortunately for Kinetica, extreme track design doesn't translate directly into fun. Though you may pull off some gravity-defying moves several times on a given track, there's rarely a horizon to watch as a point of reference, making these would-be thrilling turns a moot point. Also, the track design isn't as conducive to speed as it should be for a futuristic racer, and you'll often find yourself coming to a screeching halt thanks to some kink in the track. In a genre where the sensation of speed is of paramount importance, Kinetica simply can't keep up.
Instead of the usual fare of hovercrafts, motorcycles, and other more abstract forms of craft found in previous futuristic racers, the racers in Kinetica wear special suits with wheels on their hands and feet, making the drivers themselves the vehicles. The design of the characters is worth mentioning, as it was quite obviously a major point of focus for the developers. Each racer is a combination of sleek machinery and flesh, with a distinct focus on skinny women with rotund rumps. Though it is an attempt to add a sort of sexy-cool feel to the game, it comes off as bawdy and silly, and it will no doubt elicit more than a few jokes. Our favorite involves lyrics from Sir Mix-A-Lot's seminal rap classic "Baby Got Back."
Continue reading
Kinetica (PlayStation 2):
%20PlayStation%202%20Game%20reviews%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/playstation-2-games/kinetica-playstation-2/4505-9581_7-30984328.html){kind=small}