by Werner Johnson

Created on: May 20, 2008   Last Updated: May 25, 2008

in all it's simplicity, this game is about driving a car around a track, as fast as possible thereby earning cash and unlocking new tracks. The cash you use to buy new faster cars so you can go faster and earn more money. Sounds simple and easy doesn't it ?
Auto Cross Racing is a game, viewed from above the cars like many racing games back in the day.
Starting to play it is quite easy, but if you have dysfunctional hands and fingers prepare to be frustrated and swearing a lot, since the game requires fast reactions to master it and if you don't have that, you'll get frustrated. However if you regularly play PC-games, you should be able to master the steering and controls within 5-15 minutes and probably win your first race in about the same time. The game in itself isn't much, a bunch of tracks and cars mixed together in a shaker and viola, you have an old school racing game. i found it fun for about 30 minutes, then i needed a break. it's just one of those games that is fun for a short amount of time. Which in turn means that you can come home from school, play it for a bit to progress and then leave it for a week, come back and play it, and again have fun for 30 minutes or so.

Now in 1996 a similar game was released, it was called Death Rally, of course it didn't have the same possibilities as a modern game has, yet i find it more fun than this game, simply because it's more fun. This kind of game needs Bombs, spikes, oil, machine guns and such..you need to be able to do really dirty tricks to have even more fun, Death Rally has all that, this game don't.
One thing i really miss is the possibility for multiplayer, either via splitscreen or network. it may sound like a joke, but these small games really shine in multiplayer where you and your friends (enemies ?) can go up against each other.

is this a bad game, no it isn't, but it's not that good either.

Well it's time for some pro's and Con's

Pro :
+Easy to learn
+Fun

Con :
-Not enough fun
-Looks old
-Menu's need to be clearer and simpler
-Multiplayer

Graphics : 2/5
Sound : 3/5
interface : 2/5
Gameplay : 3/5

Total : 2.5/5

So my final verdict is 2.5 points out of a possible 5. it is meant to show that this game has potential, but needs to include a lot more to be really attractive and at 20 $ for the full version, it's price is a bit to high for my tastes when the game is as basic as it is.

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