Quantum Redshift

Several incarnations - and copycat games - followed, inevitably, but the impact lessened each time with just incremental improvements added each time. And when Sony's Wipeout Fusion on PS2 was virtually ignored by the punters earlier this year, it was clear that the public's appetite for such games was at an all time low. Time for a re-think? Maybe that's where Quantum Redshift comes in.

The signs are pretty good when you realise that it's been developed by a team (Curly Monsters) comprised of the same chaps that brought you the original Wipeout - so it's by no means an exercise in bandwagon jumping. And it's not their first, either, having already released the critically lauded, but low profile NGen Racing. And with this experience of futuristic racers behind them, perhaps it's no surprise that Quantum Redshift is a class act.

Using the familiar template of weapons, white knuckle speed, a lush, futuristic setting (100 years hence), cutting edge graphics and a pumping soundtrack (Junkie XL - yes, they of No.1 'A Little Less Conversation' smash hit fame), Quantum Redshift isn't exactly gunning for originality awards. But whatever it does, it does extremely well.

Caught in a trap

Essentially it's another racer that has most of its real goodies locked, and so the game is littered with incentives to brush up on your racing skills. Initially you get about half of the 16 vehicles and characters and tracks to play with, and gradually via winning races more becomes available to you. No surprises there.

But what is a delightful surprise is that, for once, we have the pleasure of reviewing a game that has clearly been coded to make the most of the Xbox. Visually, it's a tour-de-force, with a sheen that makes it stand out in a way that only a select few titles have managed on the format to date.

Being a futuristic racer, Curly Monsters has taken the approach of 'anything goes', so any resemblance to reality is purely co-incidental. Track wise, the design alone is immediately impressive, with multiple climbing, spiralling routes and beautiful scenery to be admired at every turn. The graphical wizardry warrants a special mention; the water effects in particular are inspired, especially when droplets splash onto your camera lens after a brief underwater excursion, and generally elicit gasps from anyone observing. And with full 16:9 support and 5.1 Surround included, this is one title that the more flash gamer will be wanting to show off on their home cinema system.

The Quantum Menace?

Meanwhile, the 16 vehicles that populate the game have also undergone the same degree of polish. While undoubtedly 'inspired' by the Pod Racers in The Phantom Menace, (not as bad an idea as it sounds), the animation and attention to detail lavished upon them is top notch, with incidental touches making them look and feel convincing as you scream around at speeds up to 900 m.p.h. Tap the boost or brake and the visual effect on the craft is highly noticeable, with flaps opening out, and various parts of the ship shifting in relation to the forces exerted upon it as you burn around. The game genuinely feels more convincing as a result. Arguably, Quantum Redshift is how 'that' scene in Episode One should have ended up as a game. Only three years late. Ah well.

But is it any good?

By now, you'll be wondering how it actually plays. And the answer is very nicely - as with any good racing game, the controls and handling are paramount. Simply use the right trigger for acceleration, left for brake, with two buttons for weapons, one for boost and one for shield. Throughout, the controls feel intuitive and once you realise that breaking on corners is essential, it becomes a question of how well you can memorise the track layouts and your weapons using ability.

But your destructive abilities, to begin with, are pretty poor - it's only once you start earning cash and upgrading your craft that things get interesting. However, before you go piling your cash into weapons upgrades it's worth bearing in mind how useful it is to have a longer lasting speed boost, or a better quality shield. In fact, correct use of the boost system can be the difference between success and failure, with a quick blast capable of getting your craft up the many hills, or around the many corners swiftly.

As you'd expect, the weapons play a huge part in the game, and the tracks are littered with them. Every ship has its own unique weapon, and over 160 weapon effects are said to be present in the game, so you could say a fair amount of effort has been made here! The weapons system is especially useful for stopping rivals from getting too far ahead, but it does also mean that unless you're in sixth place (out of six) you're always likely to be under attack from your aggressive rivals, therefore having a decent shield is vital, especially as you progress deep into the game. Just as well, then, that the game warns you of incoming enemy attacks and a tap on the shield button can temporarily ward off the threat of missiles or enemy cannon. Your competitors can get seriously feisty, and will think nothing of stopping you in your tracks - so defence is often the best form of attack, especially once you've powered up your shield enough to deflect the blasts onto them. Bwahahahahahaha.

Once your begin to progress from the fairly powder puff attacks of Novice and Amateur modes, Expert mode is where the game really starts to challenge, with heavy weapons and beefed up, smarter enemy AI making it a tough, but still playable nut to crack.

Innovative?

But where's the innovation, I hear you cry? Well, it's not overly abundant, it has to be said, but at least some effort has been made to stand out. Each of the racers has a particular nemesis and a 'home' track, and every race is introduced by a short animated exchange between your chosen racer and the track's home hero. All very dramatic, and amusing in a beat 'em up kind of fashion. And in order to unlock more characters and tracks, you must first win each race of a mini series, culminating in a one on one race off against your foe. Beat them and your nemesis becomes playable, along with their track, which certainly makes a change to merely winning a mini league, or series of races to progress, and adds charm to an otherwise straight up racer.

Whether it's worthy of purchase comes down to your tastes. It's by no means a screaming "must have" release for the simple reason that games like this have been done to death, and many veterans may feel like they're re-treading old ground. On the other hand, Quantum Redshift is easily the best game of its type. It's by far the best looking, plays brilliantly, and has huge replay value thanks to the upgrade system. It also has the now standard four player split screen multiplayer mode, which sadly has to be unlocked, (an annoying oversight), but at least it's a good incentive to play through the single player campaign.

Quantum Redshift is one for the less jaded gamer or the future racing fanatic, but the old school may want to try before they buy.