Bond
05-23-2002, 04:17 PM
http://xbox.ign.com/articles/355/355925p1.html
There's something about racing in the future that must be so appealing, because gamer's can't get enough of them. Quantum Redshift will be Microsoft's next big racing title for the Xbox and if there's one thing the 'box knows it's speed.
Set 100 years in the future, players choose between seven unique racers with plenty more to unlock. Reaching speeds in excess of 650 mph, Quantum Redshift will be blazingly fast.
Each character will have their own storyline pitting them against their personal nemesis. The bad guys may be political adversaries, estranged lovers, or disgruntled IGN readers upset over Insider. Rivalries develop through cut scenes inbetween races. It's not enough for your nemesis to beat you in a race, they'll try to humiliate and even kill you.
New characters and speeds are unlocked as players progress through the game. Racing through 16 highly-detailed tracks, players will utilize a variety of deadly weapons from plasma bolts to tidal waves.
Developed by Curly Monsters Ltd., Quantum Redshift will allow up to four players to race against one another. Expect this racer to skid onto store shelves this fall.
Aaron's Take:
Curly Monsters is working hard on their first Xbox title and they've packed Quantum Redshift with plenty of speed to keep gamers on edge. Key personnel from the Psygnosis team that worked on the Wipeout franchise are taking part in this game. The resemblance to that popular PSX franchise is uncanny and the level of fun looks to be the same as well.
Sixteen is the magic number in Quantum Redshift. There are 16 characters, tracks and vehicles and they're all tied to each other. That is, beating a certain character in a race will unlock their track or car or the character themselves. The tracks are all over the planet, but it's Earth 100 years from now so there's different terrain and other post-apocalyptic stuff to worry about. Each of the characters actually has a rival, and the two will have an intertwined storyline that explains why they're each other's nemesis. One female American character was driving under the influence when she crashed and killed passengers riding in another car. The daughter of the couple riding in the car is her rival in Quantum Redshift.
The depth of the game will come from unlocking stuff, each vehicle has unique attributes, and improving the weapons and speed level of whatever vehicle you use. The speed level is the most interesting gameplay element because you have to race well to earn higher speeds but you don't always want to go as fast as you can. Rather than buying a new car or an upgrade, you unlock the next level of speed by winning races and this dramatically increases you car's top speed. There are five different speed levels, but you car will maintain its basic attributes like handling, weight, etc. So that one car with level 5 speed will jump higher and fly further off of ramps than another car with level 5 speed because of the weight difference. The truth is that level 5 speed is entirely too fast for anybody except expert racers. I spent more time smashing into walls and getting disoriented because of that level 5 speed than I did racing.
Rivals are significant because you earn unlockables for beating them in races, even if you don't win the race outright. Of course, bad things happen to you and good things happen to them, whenever your rival finishes ahead of you. Winning races outright is of course the best case scenario but with intricate courses right around 10 miles in length, consistent racing is going to be key.
QRS differs from other futuristic racers because of the agility and responsiveness of the vehicles. Usually mashing at 600mph means you're not going to have a lot of maneuverability, however, this game doesn't make you fight the power of your engines with the steering controls. You'll have to use the airbrakes all the time, but you won't have the same stiff steering control that characterized futuristic racers like Extreme G or Wipeout.
Redshift should be the next in the line of quality first party racing games joining Project Gotham and Rallisport Challenge. IGN will have more on QRS in a matter of weeks even though Hil won't be allowed to play it for obvious reasons.
Hil's take:
Quantum Redshift is being developed by the same folks who worked on Wipeout 1 & 2, so they know how to do a fast and crazy racer. Welcome to F-1 racing 100 years into the future. The game is all about speed. In fact, at first, it can be a bit disorienting. But after a few laps, you'll get used to how ridiculously fast the scenery is passing you by. Mixed in with the speed are some good old racer weapons, with a futuristic twist. But don't think this is your typical combat-racer. Driving skill will be at a premium and the combat aspect won't be as prevalent as in other combat-racers.
What really separates Redshift from the pack is the deep and involving story mode. Each racer has a nemesis out to make their life hell. The story of the rivalry is played out through cut scenes in between races. Curly Monsters is putting a lot of effort into the back stories of all the characters in hopes gamers will get sucked into the game. The point of this? Well, a lot of arcadey racers just aren't any fun when played alone. Story mode will make Redshift worthwhile when you're all by your lonesome. That's a pretty cool idea and it's nice to see developers looking to do new things and to take risks with their games. Both Redshift and the upcoming Pro Race Driver will utilize story elements. So, maybe this is the future of racers.
What's best about Redshift, is that you really feel the speed. First person mode makes everything zip by like you're really going 500mph. The controls are simple and responsive, with the triggers acting as air brakes. Steering seems to have the right balance and is instantly comfortable. There are some really cool effects thrown in. When your ship dips into the water, the windshield gets splashed and then the drops are brushed off by the wind. Most of the story mode wasn't ready, but we did nab a few facts:
8 locations around the world
16 ships, each with unique weapons
16 tracks
16 characters (7 unlocked at the start of the game)
5 different speed levels
As you progress in the game, new speeds are available. Speed 1 isn't all that fast, but go to Speed 5 and you will feel the G-Forces, I promise. Of course I jumped into it at Speed 5 right off the bat and promptly crashed into everything. There's a learning curve here, which means the game should have some longevity, which you gotta love. Quantum Redshift comes with all the bells and whistles that need to become standard for Xbox games. Redshift supports widescreen, progressive scan, and customized soundtracks. The holiday can't come soon enough for me. So many good games all so far away.
There's something about racing in the future that must be so appealing, because gamer's can't get enough of them. Quantum Redshift will be Microsoft's next big racing title for the Xbox and if there's one thing the 'box knows it's speed.
Set 100 years in the future, players choose between seven unique racers with plenty more to unlock. Reaching speeds in excess of 650 mph, Quantum Redshift will be blazingly fast.
Each character will have their own storyline pitting them against their personal nemesis. The bad guys may be political adversaries, estranged lovers, or disgruntled IGN readers upset over Insider. Rivalries develop through cut scenes inbetween races. It's not enough for your nemesis to beat you in a race, they'll try to humiliate and even kill you.
New characters and speeds are unlocked as players progress through the game. Racing through 16 highly-detailed tracks, players will utilize a variety of deadly weapons from plasma bolts to tidal waves.
Developed by Curly Monsters Ltd., Quantum Redshift will allow up to four players to race against one another. Expect this racer to skid onto store shelves this fall.
Aaron's Take:
Curly Monsters is working hard on their first Xbox title and they've packed Quantum Redshift with plenty of speed to keep gamers on edge. Key personnel from the Psygnosis team that worked on the Wipeout franchise are taking part in this game. The resemblance to that popular PSX franchise is uncanny and the level of fun looks to be the same as well.
Sixteen is the magic number in Quantum Redshift. There are 16 characters, tracks and vehicles and they're all tied to each other. That is, beating a certain character in a race will unlock their track or car or the character themselves. The tracks are all over the planet, but it's Earth 100 years from now so there's different terrain and other post-apocalyptic stuff to worry about. Each of the characters actually has a rival, and the two will have an intertwined storyline that explains why they're each other's nemesis. One female American character was driving under the influence when she crashed and killed passengers riding in another car. The daughter of the couple riding in the car is her rival in Quantum Redshift.
The depth of the game will come from unlocking stuff, each vehicle has unique attributes, and improving the weapons and speed level of whatever vehicle you use. The speed level is the most interesting gameplay element because you have to race well to earn higher speeds but you don't always want to go as fast as you can. Rather than buying a new car or an upgrade, you unlock the next level of speed by winning races and this dramatically increases you car's top speed. There are five different speed levels, but you car will maintain its basic attributes like handling, weight, etc. So that one car with level 5 speed will jump higher and fly further off of ramps than another car with level 5 speed because of the weight difference. The truth is that level 5 speed is entirely too fast for anybody except expert racers. I spent more time smashing into walls and getting disoriented because of that level 5 speed than I did racing.
Rivals are significant because you earn unlockables for beating them in races, even if you don't win the race outright. Of course, bad things happen to you and good things happen to them, whenever your rival finishes ahead of you. Winning races outright is of course the best case scenario but with intricate courses right around 10 miles in length, consistent racing is going to be key.
QRS differs from other futuristic racers because of the agility and responsiveness of the vehicles. Usually mashing at 600mph means you're not going to have a lot of maneuverability, however, this game doesn't make you fight the power of your engines with the steering controls. You'll have to use the airbrakes all the time, but you won't have the same stiff steering control that characterized futuristic racers like Extreme G or Wipeout.
Redshift should be the next in the line of quality first party racing games joining Project Gotham and Rallisport Challenge. IGN will have more on QRS in a matter of weeks even though Hil won't be allowed to play it for obvious reasons.
Hil's take:
Quantum Redshift is being developed by the same folks who worked on Wipeout 1 & 2, so they know how to do a fast and crazy racer. Welcome to F-1 racing 100 years into the future. The game is all about speed. In fact, at first, it can be a bit disorienting. But after a few laps, you'll get used to how ridiculously fast the scenery is passing you by. Mixed in with the speed are some good old racer weapons, with a futuristic twist. But don't think this is your typical combat-racer. Driving skill will be at a premium and the combat aspect won't be as prevalent as in other combat-racers.
What really separates Redshift from the pack is the deep and involving story mode. Each racer has a nemesis out to make their life hell. The story of the rivalry is played out through cut scenes in between races. Curly Monsters is putting a lot of effort into the back stories of all the characters in hopes gamers will get sucked into the game. The point of this? Well, a lot of arcadey racers just aren't any fun when played alone. Story mode will make Redshift worthwhile when you're all by your lonesome. That's a pretty cool idea and it's nice to see developers looking to do new things and to take risks with their games. Both Redshift and the upcoming Pro Race Driver will utilize story elements. So, maybe this is the future of racers.
What's best about Redshift, is that you really feel the speed. First person mode makes everything zip by like you're really going 500mph. The controls are simple and responsive, with the triggers acting as air brakes. Steering seems to have the right balance and is instantly comfortable. There are some really cool effects thrown in. When your ship dips into the water, the windshield gets splashed and then the drops are brushed off by the wind. Most of the story mode wasn't ready, but we did nab a few facts:
8 locations around the world
16 ships, each with unique weapons
16 tracks
16 characters (7 unlocked at the start of the game)
5 different speed levels
As you progress in the game, new speeds are available. Speed 1 isn't all that fast, but go to Speed 5 and you will feel the G-Forces, I promise. Of course I jumped into it at Speed 5 right off the bat and promptly crashed into everything. There's a learning curve here, which means the game should have some longevity, which you gotta love. Quantum Redshift comes with all the bells and whistles that need to become standard for Xbox games. Redshift supports widescreen, progressive scan, and customized soundtracks. The holiday can't come soon enough for me. So many good games all so far away.