AeroGauge

• Release Date: 1998 04
• Genre: Racing
• Style: Futuristic Racing
• Similar Games: Out Run 2019 (Sega Genesis), Wipeout (Sega Saturn), Wipeout (PlayStation), Wipeout XL (PlayStation), F-Zero (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Wipeout (IBM PC Compatible), F-Zero X (Nintendo 64), F-Zero X (Nintendo 64), Rollcage (IBM PC Compatible), Wipeout XL (IBM PC Compatible), Rollcage (PlayStation)

Game Description

AeroGauge is a futuristic racing game that blasts you through six futuristic courses at nearly 1,000 miles per hour. Choose one of 10 high-speed Aeromachines and prepare to race from a default behind-the-ship viewpoint. Not only will you find yourself racing along the ground, but you can soar above courses as well, elevating over obstacles and past enemies to discover shortcuts. Since your craft suffers damage while racing, pit stops are available to replenish lost energy.

Four game modes are available in AeroGauge. Grand Prix involves qualifying for a starting position and racing each course on three difficulty levels, while Single Match pits you against seven computer opponents. Time Attack is race against the clock, and Versus lets you challenge a friend in a split-screen race without computer challengers. AeroGauge automatically saves options and best times directly to the 64-Meg cartridge, but a Controller Pak is needed to race against a "ghost" in the Time Attack mode. Options include three camera views, three controller configurations, and a handicap setting for more competitive races.

Review: Overall

AeroGauge is a hard game to rate. While it has enough speed and challenge to keep even the hardest of hardcore gamers busy, it lacks the depth and diversity needed to keep a racing game fresh for more than a week.

To its advantage, the game features some very impressive vehicle and track design. Graphically, the courses are solid with nice texture mapping and lots of color. There is a lot of draw-in, however, with no fogging to cover it up, or many special effects to spruce things up.

Control is also a bit awkward, since the pressing up and down on the control stick to raises or lowers your vehicle's elevation conflicts with your natural tendency to lean forward on the stick while racing. As a result, you will dig into the ground almost unavoidably. If you can get over this though, the game offers an interesting challenge -- looking for the fastest horizontal and vertical ways around the track.

Although there are a few racing maneuvers to learn, like power-slides and turbo boosts, they are not particularly easy to pull off. Since these moves are often required to finish a race, most gamers will become easily frustrated. The sound doesn't help with its mediocre, standard techno tunes, and weak sound effects.

Here's the basic rule: if you're going to make a racing game set in the future, with only a handful of tracks and tricky controls, the game should have some weapons. Unfortunately, AeroGauge doesn't, leaving you with a futuristic racer with some innovative features, but not a lot to do. Is it worth a rental? Definitely. Only gamers obsessed with futuristic racing (without weapons) should consider making a purchase.

Review: Enjoyment

When you consider the lack of weapons, and the extremely challenging computer opponents, there is not an overabundance of fun in AeroGauge.

Review: Graphics

While the graphics are varied and colorful, draw-in is rather apparent. The frame rate also drops a bit during races.

Review: Sound

Expect average music and sound effects.

Review: Replay Value

Because the game is hard, you have something to keep you occupied, although most will give up early.

Review: Documentation

A well-designed manual with lots of tracks, vehicle, option, and control information.

Production Credits