| Re-Volt | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Probe Ltd, Acclaim Cheltenham |
| Publisher(s) | Acclaim Entertainment, Throwback Entertainment, We Go Interactive Co.,Ltd |
| Designer(s) | Paul Phippen, Simon Harrison |
| Engine | Modified GT Engine |
| Version | Official: 1.1 (September 16, 1999) Latest Beta: 1.2 (December 15, 2011) [1] |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast |
| Release date(s) | July 31, 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone (E) |
| System requirements
32 MB of RAM, 200 Mhz Pentium Class CPU, 200 Megabytes of free Hard Disk space, 4 MB 3-D Accelerated Video Card (Rage II/NV1 or higher) |
|
Re-Volt is a radio control car racing themed video game released by Acclaim Entertainment in 1999. It made appearances on the PlayStation, PC, Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast, with a spinoff: RC Revenge for PlayStation and a enhanced port called RC Revenge Pro for PlayStation 2. In addition, a stripped down version of Re-Volt was issued to beta testers of the Xbox Live service prior to the launch of the service on the original Xbox system, but much to the disappointment of fans - a more complete version was never released on the Microsoft console. A modified version of Re-Volt was released to the arcade machines, but very little is known about the arcade version. In July, 2010, We Go Interactive Co.,Ltd, located in Seoul, Korea, purchased all IP related with Re-Volt, RC Revenge Pro, RC De Go, from Throwback Entertainment, Canadian company.[2]
Contents |
The game featured 28 stock cars and 14 tracks including a stunt arena for free roaming. Cars come in three fuel variants; electric, glow (internal combustion) and special. The players driving ability will place them into various categories so that they race against other cars of similar capabilities. These capabilities are classified in categories which are: Rookie, Amateur, Advanced, Semi-Pro and Pro. Tracks are also categorized depending on their difficulty to master and win. These categories are: Easy, Medium, Hard and Extreme. Cars and tracks are both unlocked through success in the game's tournament modes.
Single Race allows 2-4 players on the console versions and 2-12 players on the PC version to race on the normal, single-player tracks. Within each race, competitors race to be the first to complete a pre-set number of laps of the circuit. To aid them in this there are a variety of lightning bolt shaped pick-ups lying around the track. Collecting one of these provides the player with a random weapon varying from oil slicks to fireworks to batteries that increase your speed for a short period of time. The worse a player is doing in the race, the more likely one of the better weapons will be obtained, and vice versa.
All versions of the game include a Track Editor. On the console versions, this works by means of a series of set modules that can be put together to form a potentially infinite number of different combinations. Modules include bridges, straights, corners, chicanes and pipes. Each module can be adjusted in multiple ways, from height above ground level to gradient of hill to radius of corner. Pick-ups can be added afterwards to the completed track, which must then be exported before it can be played. Exported tracks can be played in Single Race with 1-4 players or in multiplayer.
Re-Volt's multiplayer mode has two game modes: "Single Race" and "Battle Tag". In the console versions of the game, multiplayer is played via split screen, whereas the PC version is online only, hence single screen.
In Single Race, players can race against each other in the standard races, although custom races can be selected using certain methods.
Battle Tag puts players in one of four special arenas: Neighborhood, Garden, Supermarket and Museum. The players must find and pick up a star that is hidden somewhere in the level. When a player takes the star, their timer starts counting down. By coming within proximity of the player with the star, other players can steal the star, thus starting his timer and stopping the opponent's. A player wins when his timer runs out. In addition, the player can let its car jump by using the 'Reposition' key, instead of really repositioning its car, as the arenas don't have a set course.
Although Acclaim Entertainment is now defunct, fans support the game by producing fan-made vehicles and courses, and by operating multi-player servers. Fans have also created a Windows-based chat/lobby client called "RV House" that allows players to connect and play together. While new players may experience a significant learning curve, the community remains active with records of fastest laps and new courses and cars still being added. The community has recently acquired the source code of the game and a new version 1.2, intended to be a major update, is currently in development.[3] Betas are released on a fortnightly basis, usually on the 10th and 25th of each month. The latest beta release is dated on December 15, 2011. [4]
A Microsoft Xbox version was in development called Re-Volt Live and a very limited beta version was made for closed beta testers but the full game was cancelled close to being finished, despite not being officially released the full development version is available and can be played on an Xbox that's modified to run games from a storage device however it sometimes suffers from bugs mainly being visual artefacts on the menu screens. [5]