E3 2009 Preview
No matter what the future of our
industry holds, it seems that 16-bit gaming will never fully die off. That’s
great news for anyone who loved the Genesis or SNES. That’s even better for
developers who still wish to explore the two-dimensional, graphically-simplistic
side of gaming.
Monster Racers, a DS-exclusive racing game from
KOEI, will instantly make you think of Pokemon and Sonic the Hedgehog. Though
that may sound like a strange combination (especially when you consider that
Pokemon never appeared on a 16-bit console), this is a game that uses miniature,
semi-deformed monsters in a very Sonic-esque world. The “Racers” part of the
title might have led you to believe this would be a Mario Kart clone, but that
couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, Monster Racers is a
side-scrolling action game.
How is it a racer, then? Because the game never
stops moving forward and you’re constantly fighting for first place. Monsters
can jump pretty seamlessly, and the environments are overflowing with varying
terrain and simple backgrounds that could’ve easily landed on the SNES (hence
the instant Sonic comparisons). But this isn’t at all a Sonic clone – in fact,
that may not even have been what the developers were shooting for. Intentional
or not, the game is reminiscent of our favorite blue hedgehog, a fact that will
pay off when kids get their hands on the game.
Monster Racers is primarily an action/racing
game, but there is also a full-fledged story mode that delves into RPG
territory. You’ll talk to NPCs (non-playable characters), collect and raise
various monsters, and eventually take them to the racecourse for some real fun.
Multiplayer is going to be a big part of the
experience as well. Best of all, you won’t have to make your friends buy the
game just to enjoy it – single-card play is supported for three players (the
fourth player must have the game, obviously). Game owners can also upload their
best race times via the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection.
As the title suggests, each character comes in
the monster-meets-animal variety. None of them are scary or violent since this
game was developed for the family-friendly crowd. Their designs, which include
characters that resemble apes, birds, dragons, rhinos and sea creatures, are
youth-oriented without being too cutesy.
But just because it’s a family-friendly game
doesn’t mean adults won’t be amused. Anyone who enjoys a fast-paced side-scroller
is likely to be entertained. So this fall, when the hunt begins for retro gaming
bliss, make sure that Monster Racer is on your list of games to check out.
