Demolition Racer

Demolition Racer
PAL cover art for the PlayStation
Developer(s)	Pitbull Syndicate
Publisher(s)	Infogrames (PS1 & DC) Atari (PC)
Platforms	PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast
Release date(s)	PlayStation Microsoft Windows Dreamcast
Genre(s)	Vehicular combat, racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Demolition Racer is a vehicular combat racing video game for the PS1 and PC that combines destruction and driving tactics in a fast paced racing environment. It is very similar to the popular series Destruction Derby. The PC version contained slightly better in-game graphics than the PS1 version, and even included varied weather and times of day. Drivers were also given (optional) wacky portraits which displayed on the side of the screen in a race, showing who's ahead of who.

The game was then rereleased for the Dreamcast as Demolition Racer: No Exit, which featured new tracks, new cars, unlockable minigames, and an additional mode called "No Exit", which plays the same as Last Man Standing in the other games. In No Exit's version of Last Man Standing, the player must now try to survive as long as possible. The game was also redesigned and enhanced. For example, the graphics were upgraded (same goes for the HUD and menus), the levels now have ambient sound effects (such as crowds cheering), and all of the drivers' cars are also shown on the results screen in what condition they were left with at the end of a race.

Gameplay

The aim of the game is to win the race whilst destroying other racers' cars. Players receive points based on the amount of damage they do to other cars, then receive a score multiplier at the end of the game based on their standing in the race. In addition to the normal amounts of points, landing on another car (known in the game as a 'Death From Above') not only merit a large number of points but destroy the victim's car. In No Exit, drivers can smash straight into another car's side at high speed, known as a T-Bone, also wrecking it instantly.

Also a new addition to No Exit were the minigames. Those who complete the five "Circuit" modes also unlock a number of unusual minigames, one of which ('Big Car Hunter') can be played using a light gun, making the game one of the only 2 American Dreamcast games which worked with the official Sega (European/Asian-only release) light gun.

Game modes

• Demolition: The object of this mode is to complete the race in the given number of laps by earning damage points inflicted on contestants and reaching the highest rank possible while simultaneously surviving the race. Points were earned by generally smashing against and ramming other contestants and the player's points were multiplied by a certain number based on the player's rank in the final lap at the end of the race. The players could increase their points by inflicting more damage on other contestants, including damaging their contestant's radiator, destroying the contestant's car completely and even by landing on another car, destroying it instantly.
• The Chase: A standard race where the player is awarded for their placement in the final lap and points are not awarded for aggressiveness.
• Chicken: The same principle as in The Chase, only the player is the only contestant set on the right side of the race track; every other contestant is set driving in the opposite direction.
• Last Man Standing: Set in any of the available arenas, players are awarded for causing as much damage amongst contestants as they can as well as surviving the round. The points follow here as they do in Demolition mode. In Demolition Racer: No Exit the scoring system for Last Man Standing was removed, so players must try to survive and be the last car remaining.
• Suicide: Set in an arena, players are awarded for being the first to demolish their car.
• No Exit: Although named as a new mode in DR: No Exit, this plays the same as Last Man Standing in the previous versions (damage points multiplied by your position).

Leagues

In order to unlock more tracks and vehicles, players had the option of competing in various race leagues including the following:

• Rookie League
• Semi-Pro League
• Pro League
• Endurance League
• Arena League

Vehicles

There are a large number of cars to choose from in the game, and the models are based on various actual cars, although no authentic names were used.

• Marauder - A '70's muscle car resembling a Ford Maverick, the Marauder keeps strength, acceleration, top speed and handling at a medium level, resulting in a car that is fast and strong enough to compete in any race. The handling even contributes to destruction as players can use its average speed to target their next victim.
• Bobcat - A zippy little '90's hatchback that is agile and good in avoiding collisions, but its minimal strength keeps it from getting too rough. Players could use its handling to get around tight corners with ease as well as finding vantage points in the track.
• Cruiser - A bulky 50s luxury car that is the slowest vehicle among the line, but also one of the strongest. Its greatest advantage is its strength which enables it to inflict more damage than it receives.
• Predator - A fast 80s style sports car that is the fastest vehicle in the lineup, almost to the point where it takes special skills in handling the vehicle's sensitive turning and quick start-up. Its strength is fairly moderate, being on par with the Marauder's, but its speed can cause it more damage than the competitors, depending on how well the vehicle is handled.
• Renegade - A fast and aggressive everyday car resembling a 1980 Bentley Mulsanne, the vehicle is fast enough to avoid collisions, but strong enough to inflict damage if necessary. It is considered a step-up above the Marauder.
• Mantis - A fast and agile sports car resembling a Fiat, this car excels mostly in its handling and top speed, though it is one of the weakest vehicles in the line up.
• Widowmaker - A long hearse.
• Vandal - A van that resembles a Ford Transit.

Dreamcast-only vehicles

• Griffin
• Phoenix
• Raven
• Scorpion
• Destroyer
• Pile Driver
• The Beast
• The Hog
• The Thing

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is essentially made of songs by industrial and electronic bands. The songs; Demolition Racer, Will This Never End, and Full Metal Contact were written by Fear Factory specifically for the game.

Track listing

1. Cirrus - Stop And Panic
2. Cirrus - Break The Madness
3. Cirrus - Abba Zabba
4. Empirion - Clear The Area
5. Empirion - The Voice Inside Me (PS1 only)
6. Empirion - The Dark Inside Me (PC and No Exit only)
7. Empirion - Demolition Racer
8. Empirion - Gamma
9. Fear Factory - Descent (Falling Deeper Mix by Junkie XL)
10. Fear Factory - Descent (Falling Deeper Mix) (instrumental) (PC and No Exit only)
11. Fear Factory - Full Metal Contact
12. Fear Factory - Machine Debaser
13. Fear Factory - Demolition Racer
14. Fear Factory - Edgecrusher (Urban Assault Mix) (instrumental)
15. Fear Factory - Will This Never End
16. Fear Factory - Will This Never End (instrumental)
17. Tommy Tallarico - Meltdown
18. Tommy Tallarico - Moving Violation

No Exit extra songs

1. Cirrus - The Answer
2. Brujeria - Cuiden a los Niños (instrumental)
3. Brujeria - División del Norte (instrumental) (known in-game as 'Pancho Villa')
4. The Coffee Boys - Get Up
5. The Coffee Boys - Keep Steppin'
6. The Coffee Boys - Catch Me if You Can
7. The Coffee Boys - Out of the Woods

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores Aggregator Score GameRankings (DC) 76.39% (PS) 73.38% (PC) 54.25% Metacritic (DC) 77/100

Demolition Racer received mixed to positive reviews. Aggregating review website GameRankings and Metacritic gave the Dreamcast version 76.39% and 77/100, the PlayStation version 73.38% and the PC version 54.25%.

External links

• Pitbull Syndicate page