BRAVO AIR RACE (PSX)
Type: Arcade Air Racing
Developer: XING Entertainment
Publisher: THQ  
Number of players: 1 or 2 players via a split screen
Rating: K-A

PSX pilots are a select and hard-core group of gamers.  If a game has the
word "fly" anywhere in an ad promoting a new release, these sim pilots will
buy it.  If you have an analog joystick (or as we wanna-be pilots say, a
"flightstick"), then you're probably an armchair pilot.  No doubt, when you
read the promos for Bravo Air Race, you started salivating at the thought
that you'd be engaged in some exciting aerial races.  After all, Bravo Air
Race was billed as " the very first 3-D air racing game".  So this game
really really really looked promising.  Well........................I hate to
tell you this "Ace", but this game would have made a better racer on the
ground.

Bravo Air Race is a simple and easy to get into game reminiscent of coin-op
games you've played in the past.  There are 12 aircraft to choose from
including World War ll fighters and some modern stunt planes.  These Include
the Lightning, Mustang, Thunderbolt, Corsair, Zero, Sinden, Messerschmitt,
Spitfire, Geebee and Pitts.  Plus 2 hidden planes.  Each plane has different
performance characteristics such as speed, acceleration and mobility.

There are only 4 race courses: Mountain (Easy), South City (Normal), Canyon
(Hard) and Snow Land (Hard).  None of these courses are what you would find
in actual aerial races.  These courses run through tunnels, cities, and
narrow canyons.

This is a bona fide 100% arcade racing game.  You can crash into the grand
stand and everyone lives and you continue flying.  Don't expect any
real-world flight physics.

You can race as a single player, 2 players via a split screen, or race
against the clock in Time Attack.  After you select the type of race, you
choose the course and then your aircraft.  Then you're off to the race.

There are options for Tracking (Automatic or Manual) and a Course Guide (On
or Off).

You have 2 viewing options: either behind the plane or in the cockpit.  Along
the race course there are pick-ups such as: Speed Boost, Sudden Deceleration
and 5 extra seconds.  If you hit any of the "L" or "R" buttons, your plane
executes an automatic barrel roll and you gain 2 extra seconds.  This is
quite helpful in the Time Attack.

The graphics are good but there's nothing spectacular here.  When you get
next to objects they become blocky and then transparent.

The sound is good.  There's even a helpful voice during the race which soon
becomes irritating.  The music sounds better when you turn the volume way
down.

The BIG negative is - this is your, "the digital controller that came with
the Playstation", type game.  Bravo Air Race does not support analog
controllers.  Bummer!

(Game designers please make a note of this)  It's inexcusable that newly
released games which are, or attempt to be simulations do not include analog
support.

The Bottom Line:  Bravo Air Race is not much fun and does not have much
depth.  PSX pilots will be looking for the ejection button so they can bail
out of this one.  Players with heart conditions that cannot tolerate too much
excitement can safely play this game.  Rent at your own risk.

Street Price:  $49.95

Password:  No

Memory Card:  1 Block

Supports:  Nothing

Graphics:  80

Sound:  80

Soundtrack:  70

Learning Curve:  Easy

Difficulty:  Moderate

Controller Options:  A few

Manual:  Fair

Replay Value:  Low

FINAL SCORE:  60

=*=A Voltranic Syndicated Review=*=

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