Screamer (video game)
| Screamer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Graffiti |
| Publisher(s) | Virgin Interactive Entertainment |
| Platform(s) | MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh |
| Release |
MS-DOS Microsoft Windows
Macintosh
|
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Screamer is an arcade style racing game for MS-DOS. The game shares some graphical and gameplay style with Namco's popular Ridge Racer. The game featured texture mapped polygon-modelled tracks and cars. Software rendering was used in the game, due to the game's release before the widespread adoption of 3D graphics cards, unlike Screamer's three sequels Screamer 2, Screamer Rally and Screamer 4x4, that all utilized 3D hardware (in the case of Screamer 2, after a patch was released[1]). As a result, Screamer was one of the early games to really require a Pentium processor to run at full speed, particularly in SVGA mode.
EA's racing title The Need for Speed was released on the PC around the same time as Screamer.
The game's music was composed by Allister Brimble.[2]
Cars
All 6 of the cars in Screamer are based on real cars.
- Shadow (Lamborghini Diablo)
- Tiger (Ferrari F40)
- Hammer (Bugatti EB110)
- Rising Sun (Mitsubishi 3000GT)
- Panther (Porsche 911 Turbo)
- Yankee (Chevrolet Corvette C4).
Reception
A reviewer for Maximum commended the game for its high speed, replay sequences, smoothly scrolling graphics, selection of vehicles, numerous modes and options, overall high longevity, and low price point. He noted that the computer-controlled opponents follow a fixed course, and would even crash full speed into the player car rather than deviate from that course, but did not feel this was a bad thing. He gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.[3] A reviewer for Next Generation was also pleased with the graphics, selection of vehicles, and numerous modes. He praised the game for being more accessible than most racers, allowing players to begin racing without having to figure out the car's technical aspects, though he also criticized it as being "simplistic". He scored it 4 out of 5 stars, concluding that "There may not be a lot to it, but the graphics, playability, and selection of cars with their different qualities make it a title worthy of a look."[4]
References
- ↑ "The Patches Scrolls - Archives 1997".
- ↑ "Orchestral Media Portfolio" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
- ↑ "Maximum Reviews: Screamer". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 2. Emap International Limited. November 1995. p. 158.
- ↑ "Screamer". Next Generation. No. 17. Imagine Media. May 1996. pp. 98, 101.