Rollcage

There have been some comparisons floating around the internet between Wipeout and Rollcage, claiming that Rollcage is simply Wipeout with wheels. I would have to disagree with these comments vehemently. While Psygnosis may be attempting to cash in on the success of Wipeout before they release the much-anticipated sequel, Rollcage is not by any means a cheap Wipeout clone. Sure, there are some obvious similarities between the two games, but Rollcage stands out on its own and should be judged as such. Rollcage offers players the opportunity to race against a host of futuristic speed buggies in an assortment of different locations. What makes Rollcage different from other such racing games is the ability to race while driving on the side of walls or even hanging from the roofs of caves and tunnels. Mix that in with super-fast racing speeds, indestructible vehicles, a super-smooth frame rate, and a variety of weapons to slow down your opponent, and you have yourself a highly addictive video game.

The graphics in Rollcage are above average, but never quite achieve greatness. This doesn’t in any way mean it’s a bad-looking game; it simply means it’s slightly better looking than what you could expect from the PlayStation. My biggest complaint with the graphics has more to do with the light level than with the number of polygons on screen. Some of the tracks can be a little dark for my taste, but becoming familiar with the course should compensate for easy visibility. One of the more attractive graphical elements in the game would be the ice-sheet weapon deployed by your vehicle: a long beam of electro-ice is discharged along the track like a streak of lightning, causing any racer in its path to lose 80% traction.

The beeps and dings in Rollcage are nothing spectacular, but they do provide decent enough sound effects. The real strong point in the audio department would have to be the soundtrack. Artists such as Fatboy Slim and Aphrodite lend their big-beat know-how to Rollcage, and their music fits this game perfectly and draws attention away from the mediocre sound effects. I’m not a huge fan of dance music, but the soundtrack really works for this game; nothing would seem more appropriate for high-octane racing than breakneck dance beats.

Gameplay is what every other element in a video game relies upon to make that game a success, and Rollcage certainly delivers there. Much like any other racing game, beating the clock (and your opponents) is the challenge at hand, but that certainly isn’t the only thing to entertain yourself with. First of all, my favorite thing about the game is the ability to destroy buildings and signs along the sides of the tracks with your weapons. Whenever the homing missile is equipped to your vehicle, you’re allowed to target various objects, causing debris to scatter along the track, and all of this debris then becomes a road hazard to your fellow racers. The real meat of the game, though, is the well-designed tracks and the clever-looking vehicles. Although none of the tracks are particularly difficult to race through, the courses do change characteristics as buildings and rocks litter the roadways. All of the tracks contain those little speed-up arrows that we also saw in Wipeout, which can either give you lots of air or put you in first place depending on how effective you are at using them. A word of caution, though: I’ve nearly been launched into orbit by speeding through the game with the turbo power-up running and hitting one of the arrow strips, which can cause valuable seconds to be lost while you’re combing the stratosphere.

I found the control in Rollcage to be a little less than desirable. With certain vehicles I found it just too loose, and handling was more annoying than fun; even the cars with the greatest amount of traction seemed to slip some here and there. The control wasn’t terrible, but it could have used a little tweaking. You’ll also find that becoming disoriented is a fairly easy accomplishment. There is a button that lets you align your car in the right direction after you crash, but it too can cost you a position in the race, as it spins a vehicle around in circles for three or four seconds. Nothing is more frustrating than holding first place for an entire race and then getting dropped to last as you’re trying to figure out which way to head. I would recommend that novices stay off the walls and ceilings at first, as these are the easiest ways to crash and become unaware of which direction to go.

I really enjoyed Rollcage. There are tons of racing games available for the PlayStation, and having one that hangs with the big boys is a nice accomplishment. You’ll find that Rollcage offers plenty of replay value, and if you like futuristic racing with just a touch of carnage, then Rollcage may be just what you’re looking for. I will say, though, that Rollcage never quite reaches the same highs as Wipeout despite the unique features it provides: the graphics just aren’t as sharp, the control just isn’t as tight, and the sound isn’t as pleasing. However, if you just can’t wait for the new Wipeout to be released, then rush out and grab yourself a copy of Rollcage.