Enduro Racer

Race games never quite seem to lose their thrill, though many in the past have disappointed after raising expectations beyond programming skills. Now, after plenty of rather early magazine coverage, Activision’s licensed version of Sega’s successful coin-op Enduro Racer is out for appraisal.

The action involves a series of motorcycle races spread over five courses, each accompanied by its own background landscape. The objective is simple; out-race other riders and successfully complete all the levels in the shortest possible time.

The biker is viewed from behind and slightly above, in vanishing point perspective. He’s generally centred in the screen, while the track scrolls sideways as necessary to suggest curves, and the distant landscape follows suit. The horizon also moves up and down, for Activision have incorporated the original’s bumps and hills.

The first course, set in a tree-lined country road, introduces the player to some of the hazards that lie ahead on other tracks. There’s only a handful of competitors to contend with, and few jumps, or wheelies, to be executed. Control is straightforward: steer left and right, accelerate, brake and wheelies (used to avoid losing speed on jumps).

At the start of every race a timer is set to 60 seconds, the limit within which the course must be completed — the actual time taken to complete a course is displayed at the end of each circuit. Opponent racers pose a threat in as much as a collision with one flings your bike aside, losing you valuable time as you restart.

The second track, set in a desert, is made even more treacherous by the addition of rock falls, and the presence of a jeep hurtling around the course alongside the bikes. The third circuit tests your skills further by the inclusion of water on either side of the track, and the two final courses are even harder — snow on the fourth, and sea and sand on the fifth.

Sadly, Activision have decided not to include the arcade original’s bike saddle to sit on while playing — you’ll just have to borrow a friend’s motor cycle, or imagine the sensation!