Interstate '76 - PC Review - Gamecenter

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Interstate '76

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I love your new polyester look
I-76's 3D engine is the same used in MechWarrior 2; however, the feeling of speed is greatly enhanced because cars are lower to the ground and the wheels let you "feel" the rocky terrain and the skids. Like Mech 2, there is a very large area to explore, and players really get to control the battle. Enemies will follow your lead, and smart drivers can use the terrain as a weapon.
Terrain isn't the only way to bring down enemy cars, however. Missiles, rockets, machine guns, napalm, oil slicks, and mines are just some of the armaments available. As Skeeter salvages more parts, these weapons--and Interstate '76 even a coveted coffee cup holder for those early morning battles--can be added.
Although it uses the Mech engine, I-76 is not nearly as complex a game as MechWarrior 2. For starters, the weaponry is not as varied--after all, a 3057 Mech can hold a lot more ammo than a '72 Piranha. Also, the lack of an independently rotating chassis makes a car a lot easier to handle than a Mech. However, the feel of battle is very similar to warring Mechs or even dogfighting planes: fast-paced and intense.
don't let that jive turkey get ya down
The list of I-76's features is longer than the line for the Brady kids' bathroom. Most notably, Activision has learned its lesson and released I-76 with the multiplayer options built in. Modem, null modem, IPX, and Internet are all available. Up to eight people can play at once, and people can join and leave at will--even the host. In the multiplayer games I ran, it performed very well. However, the game is a resource hog, requiring at least a Pentium-166 to play it in its highest resolution (1024 by 768). On anything less than a P133, the game becomes overly crude. On the wish list, true support for 3D graphics accelerator cards would be trippin'.
Wishes aside, everything I-76 does, it does well. This game has more variety than The Sonny and Cher Show, and will appeal to anyone who likes action or racing games with a splash of depth. In addition, the '70s style makes I-76 unique and entertaining. Whether you're a member of the '70s preservation society or you thought that was the name of a funeral home, this game is right on, man.
tips
-Oil slicks work great during races (when your primary goal is simply to win). As soon as you get ahead of your opponents, lay down enough oil to make Exxon jealous.
-When traveling down Oil Well Road to rescue Skeeter, ignore the enemy cars and keep driving. You won't have time to fight them. Just race around the curves, smash through the construction warnings, and yes, you will have to jump over the unfinished bridge. Going full speed should do it, but if you get a slow start, a little nitrous oxide will do the trick.
-The police roadblock is an especially difficult scene to finish. You need to kill enough of the crooked cops for them to become scared and remove the west roadblock. The best way to do this is to turn around and lead them down Bauxile Road. If you're lucky, the cops will fall into chasms while chasing you. If you're really lucky, the police chopper will smash into a mountain. Move between the roadblock and Bauxile Road several times until they all crash. You'll probably need to take out a couple on your own as well. When enough have died (about five), a message that the roadblock has been removed will come through on the CB.
Download the demo now.
Download the patch now.

Hugh Falk started writing for Gamecenter in March of 1996. Since that time, Internet usage has grown over 340,000 percent. Although most people believe these facts are merely coincidental, they have gathered little supporting data. Agree or disagree with the review? Let us know.

Facts

Interstate '76
Activision
Price: $45.00
Pentium-90, 16MB RAM, 110MB disk space, VESA local bus or PCI Video with 1MB RAM, 4X CD-ROM drive, Windows 95; Sound Blaster or compatible sound card

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