Burnin' Rubber Longplay (Amstrad GX4000) [QHD]

Game Info --------------------------------------------------- Developer: Ocean Software Publisher: Ocean Software Year of Release: 1990 Game Review & Impressions --------------------------------------------------- Bundled with the Amstrad CPC Plus range of computers and GX4000 games console, Burnin' Rubber is basically a reimagining of Ocean's own conversion (released under the Imagine label) of Konami's WEC Le Mans coin-op racing game. The Amstrad CPC version of WEC Le Mans was basically a port of the Spectrum version, albeit with a modified colour palette. It didn't take advantage of the CPC's display capabilities or colour palette, and just looked rather boring. Initial impressions when firing up Burnin' Rubber are pretty good - it looks amazing, and it could have been a really great racing game, possibly the best of its type for an 8-bit computer/console. Turbo Charge on the C64 was definitely pleasing on the eye, but the contrast and colours of the Mode 0 graphics really make the colours pop. Unfortunately, underneath the slick graphics is a game whose controls and sluggishness quickly dash any chance of the game being any fun. There's a good couple of seconds of lag between pushing on the joystick and the game reacting to the input, which makes controlling the stupid car next to impossible. This isn't so terrible in the opening stages where the number of opposition vehicles is relatively low, but in the latter stages of the race where there are as many as five other cars on screen, trying to plot a course between these without colliding and losing precious seconds is nigh on impossible. The turgid response and framerate is exacerbated by opponent cars breaking down right in front of the player's vehicle, or right on the edge of corners, which means you're practically guaranteed to slam into them as you try and navigate the bend. The game audio is also nauseatingly bad, with little more than a droning hum passing for engine sounds, punctuated by scratchy squeals whenever taking corners at speed. The various issues amount to a game which, despite its genuinely good looks and presentation, sucks. The Amstrad CPC Plus and GX4000 had hardware sprites and, as more recent endeavours from the likes of Batman Group have showed, are capable of far better things than shown here and, as a pack-in game, it's not a great start. Information & Trivia --------------------------------------------------- - Game uses stereo audio (listen to cars passing on the left or right) Video Notes --------------------------------------------------- - Stereo audio mix Related Longplays & Videos --------------------------------------------------- Chapters --------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Main menu (music) 01:30 Qualifying 02:48 Main race 21:52 Ending

• #gaming
• #longplay