Racing Gears Advance by Orbital

With all the hubbub over the DS, Nintendo's other child – the GBA – isn't getting quite the love that it once did. Thanks to Orbital Media, however, Racing Gears Advance bucks its anonymous name and gives the system a solid, fun experience that isn't quite as throwaway as it seems.

With a multitude of twisty tracks and an isometric view, the game instantly reminds you of the old RC Pro Am racers. Racing Gears, however, adds some depth with its weapons and car upgrades. Armor keeps you from damaging out of races (and saves you on the repair bills), while offensive armaments like rockets are there to sink the seven other cars. Mix these in with the precision needed to perfectly drift around the corners, and this game will grab your attention for a few hours. I'd go so far as to say that the title's difficulty will have you re-racing some of the tracks just to get that perfect line down. Memorizing the courses is almost a must as obstacles and chicanes are thrown in your direction at a pretty fast pace. Things can also get hairy when the eight-car field gets bunched up and you can't even tell which one is yours.

Difficulty aside, I dug this game because of a lot of the little touches: the shadows that fall on the track, the shortcuts, the elevation changes, and the way that every race and lap has some surprises in store (Yes, you can fly off into the ocean!). Just wait till someone unleashes a smoke bomb in your face. The oil slicks that you put down behind you even persist for a few laps, patiently waiting for anyone to foolishly skid over them again. The fact that Orbital has combined this kind of fun with a requisite of moderate racing skill makes for a good combo. Apart from being inherently limiting, Racing Gears does just about all you could ask of it.

Concept:
It's like the old isometric RC Pro Am titles, but with a few wrinkles

Graphics:
The game looks pretty sharp, and I was impressed with the persistent oil slicks

Sound:
There is music for the races, but it's pretty forgettable

Playability:
With the tracks being as complicated as they are, the isometric view can throw you off – but that's the point

Entertainment:
If you don't want brain surgery on the GBA, than this will fit the bill

Replay:
Moderate

Rated: 8 out of 10
Editor: Matthew Kato
Issue: March 2005

2nd Opinion:
I can't recall too many arcade-style racers with this level of approachability, simplicity, and downright fun – handheld or otherwise. Taking the overhead view style first pioneered in early games like Super Sprint to its zenith, Racing Gears Advance offers a surprisingly deep experience through its numerous lengthy tracks, unique individual cars and drivers, and a simple but involving upgrade system for improving your ride. Not only are the courses varied and plentiful, but also excellently designed with jumps, shortcuts and obstacles hidden all over. While certainly not as deep as many console offerings, I'd be hard pressed to name a better racer to take with you on the road.

Rated: 8.25 out of 10
Editor: Matt Miller

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