Pulse Racer
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''Pulse Racer'' is a
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
developed and published by Jaleco Entertainment in North America for the
Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...
in 2002. The game is a futuristic
racing game Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a motor racing, racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more re ...
featuring the addition of a speed boost system in which players "use their own life force" to gain acceleration in races. ''Pulse Racer'' also featured a novel track creation system, INFINITRAX, in which players could generate random tracks by setting a number of custom parameters. The game was released to a poor critical reception, with reviewers faulting the game's unoriginality and lackluster execution of its novel gameplay additions, including the speed boost system. The game remains one of the lowest-rated titles for the
Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...
.


Gameplay

''Pulse Racer'' is a conventional
cart A cart or dray (Australia and New Zealand) is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by draught animals such as horses, donkeys, mules and oxen, or even smaller animals such as goats or large dogs. A handcart ...
racing video game Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic raci ...
in which players compete in races across a series of tracks. The gameplay features a novel concept of "heart rate", in which players are able to "speed boost" using the joystick, but must maintain their heart rate below a threshold to prevent the driver having a heart attack, where the driver will enter cardiac arrest and lose the race. Races also feature several power-ups, including "plasma orbs" that allow players to turn corners at no loss of speed, and collectables including offensive weapons including missiles and mines, shields, speed boosts and health power-ups. The game features several modes of play. In 'Career Race', players can complete a series of three leagues of races in increasing difficulties, with completed races leading to unlockable characters and options for the track creator. 'Quick Race' allows for custom races for one to four players. 'Time Trial' is a single-player mode in which the player races against the clock. The game features five tracks, with an additional track creator titled INFINITRAX, which allows players to generate tracks based on a series of parameters unlocked through the 'Career Race' mode, including setting the "location of the track, how curvy, wide, and far it is, as well as how many hills and dips there are."


Development

''Pulse Racer'' producer Quincy Roach stated that the game was influenced by "a number of
cart A cart or dray (Australia and New Zealand) is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by draught animals such as horses, donkeys, mules and oxen, or even smaller animals such as goats or large dogs. A handcart ...
titles on the market", with the game's primary inspiration being the 1988
arcade game An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily game of skill, games of skill and in ...
''
Power Drift is a kart racing game released in arcades by Sega in 1988. More technologically advanced than Sega's earlier 2.5D racing games, like ''Hang-On'' (1985) and ''Out Run'' (1986), in ''Power Drift'' the entire world and track consist of sprites. ...
''. Roach stated that the game was released for the
Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...
to avoid graphical limitations and support a four-player
split screen Split screen may refer to: * Split screen (computing), dividing graphics into adjacent parts * Split screen (video production), the visible division of the screen * ''Split Screen'' (TV series), 1997–2001 * Split screen, a focusing screen in a ...
mode, and used
anti-aliasing Anti-aliasing may refer to any of a number of techniques to combat the problems of aliasing in a sampled signal such as a digital image or digital audio recording. Specific topics in anti-aliasing include: * Anti-aliasing filter, a filter used b ...
and
per-pixel lighting In computer graphics, per-pixel lighting refers to any technique for lighting an image or scene that calculates illumination for each pixel on a rendered image. This is in contrast to other popular methods of lighting such as vertex lighting, whi ...
to smooth the design of the graphics.


Critical reception

''Pulse Racer'' received negative reception from critics, with the
review aggregation A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...
website
Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
noting the game received "generally unfavorable reviews", receiving an average score of 24% across 7 reviews. The game remains the third lowest-scored title on
Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
for the
Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...
. Many critics condemned the game, including Hilary Goldstein of ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'', who faulted the game's basic design, stating the game "never hits on the essential needs of a cart racer" and was "almost unplayable", and Ryan Davis of ''
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'', who described the game as a "derivative" and "cheap-looking, unenjoyable game", finding "there's really nothing that ''Pulse Racer'' does that hasn't been done before and much better." Several reviewers critiqued the poor execution of the game's novel features as a hindrance to the game, including the turbo system. Hilary Goldstein of ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'' dismissed the turbo system as a "stupid idea", stating it "goes against what a racer should be - driving fast and being fun." Similarly, Brad Kane of ''
X-Play ''Xplay'' (previously ''GameSpot TV'', ''Extended Play'', and ''X-Play'') was a television program about video games. The program, known for its reviews and comedy skits, aired on G4 in the United States and has aired on '' G4 Canada'' in Canada ...
'' stated the system was "not an intuitive process" and noted the "speed of the vehicles is far too slow...you'll spend way too much time at the painfully dawdling default velocity." Ryan Davis of ''
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' critiqued the game's plasma orbs, stating "none of the turns are so outrageously hard that you ever really need to use (them)...the plasma orbs will often fail to activate for no apparent reason." Ryan Genno of ''Gaming Target'' found the controls difficult, stating "it's very awkward to move when you have to use the analog stick to (use) turbo or extra acceleration options." Critics were also disappointed by the design and presentation of the game's tracks and track editor. Brad Kane of ''
XPlay ''Xplay'' (previously ''GameSpot TV'', ''Extended Play'', and ''X-Play'') was a television program about video games. The program, known for its reviews and comedy skits, aired on G4 in the United States and has aired on '' G4 Canada'' in Canada ...
'' noted that whilst the track generation system was "interesting", the tracks featured a "lack in real creativity" and resulted in a "bland set of courses that reuse many common visual elements." Ryan Genno of ''Gaming Target'' found frustration in the requirement to use points to operate the track editor, and found the "minor adjustment options" of the editor underwhelming. Ryan Davis of ''
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' found the editor's usefulness "limited by the generally dull designs it produces and by the fact that you have to play through all of the career mode and then some to accumulate enough points to unlock the different variable controls."


Notes


References


External links

* {{moby game, id=/xbox/pulse-racer 2002 video games Jaleco games Kart racing video games Multiplayer and single-player video games Science fiction racing games Video games developed in Russia Video games developed in the United States Xbox games Xbox-only games