Posted February 18, 2010
This game has so much to offer in such a great balance - in my opinion, there hasn't been a better 3D game since. It has a style and aesthetic that are seamless and engaging, including dated graphics that somehow enhance the notion that the story is taking place in the mid-seventies, a deadly soundtrack by Bullmark (that I still listen to on its own), a sharply executed "seventies television series" plot and presentation, detailed and faithful renderings of authentic cars and trucks, dynamic customisation possibilities, and gameplay of astounding depth for a relatively linear game. And it has poetry too.
My personal experience of the TRIP portion started with absolute delight at the characters and the back-story, leading into a couple of fun and relaxed familiarisation-type missions. As I worked my way through the first half of the game, building up my car with salvaged parts from the cars of Creepers I'd taken out along the way, the depth begins to show. The story and characters are just as important, but a desperation begins to emerge as the difficulty curve ramps up. It becomes essential to customise your vehicle (which includes minding the total weight for the sake of speed and acceleration, reinforcing armour for taking heavy gunfire, reinforcing the chassis for collisions, as well as stacking your weapons), for missions that vary greatly from head-on combat, search and destroy, friendly and hostile races, protect a stronghold, escort a convoy, to all-out frantic car chases through massive open-terrain levels. By the end of the game, things are very challenging and you've covered a lot of ground.
Additionally, there's the Melee missions which can be completely customised from epic battles with AI or online, to breezy Sunday-drives through the various locales with no other cars in sight. And with the Nitro Pack, there are back-story missions where you play other characters in new locations.
There is no doubt that the game is dated, with things like terrain collision and shape changes that only appear when up-close, low polygon counts, and limited AI (although this is debatable, I think). As far as graphics are concerned, there are better-looking games from the era, but I contend that the graphics on display here, because they look somewhat retro on their own, actually add to the retro aesthetic appeal of the game. The plot is simple to say the least, but it is in no way disappointing, especially considering the cool characters that light it up. I have to say that I think that balanceofpower missed a lot of the point in his review, but he does make solid observations on a few weaknesses.
But aside from these criticisms, I can't think of any other criticisms. I'm heaping praise here, but I honestly got more out of this game than any other I've played, and I believe that the spot-on execution of the wide variety of cool elements that this game is comprised of adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. It is an absolutely phenomenal game that I would suggest to anyone who likes driving, machine combat, racing, muscle cars, the seventies, and funk music. The overall impact of this game and the bold style that it pulls off in spades overcomes any minor weakness it might have.
4.8 out of 5. Thank you GOG for bringing Interstate '76 back!
My personal experience of the TRIP portion started with absolute delight at the characters and the back-story, leading into a couple of fun and relaxed familiarisation-type missions. As I worked my way through the first half of the game, building up my car with salvaged parts from the cars of Creepers I'd taken out along the way, the depth begins to show. The story and characters are just as important, but a desperation begins to emerge as the difficulty curve ramps up. It becomes essential to customise your vehicle (which includes minding the total weight for the sake of speed and acceleration, reinforcing armour for taking heavy gunfire, reinforcing the chassis for collisions, as well as stacking your weapons), for missions that vary greatly from head-on combat, search and destroy, friendly and hostile races, protect a stronghold, escort a convoy, to all-out frantic car chases through massive open-terrain levels. By the end of the game, things are very challenging and you've covered a lot of ground.
Additionally, there's the Melee missions which can be completely customised from epic battles with AI or online, to breezy Sunday-drives through the various locales with no other cars in sight. And with the Nitro Pack, there are back-story missions where you play other characters in new locations.
There is no doubt that the game is dated, with things like terrain collision and shape changes that only appear when up-close, low polygon counts, and limited AI (although this is debatable, I think). As far as graphics are concerned, there are better-looking games from the era, but I contend that the graphics on display here, because they look somewhat retro on their own, actually add to the retro aesthetic appeal of the game. The plot is simple to say the least, but it is in no way disappointing, especially considering the cool characters that light it up. I have to say that I think that balanceofpower missed a lot of the point in his review, but he does make solid observations on a few weaknesses.
But aside from these criticisms, I can't think of any other criticisms. I'm heaping praise here, but I honestly got more out of this game than any other I've played, and I believe that the spot-on execution of the wide variety of cool elements that this game is comprised of adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. It is an absolutely phenomenal game that I would suggest to anyone who likes driving, machine combat, racing, muscle cars, the seventies, and funk music. The overall impact of this game and the bold style that it pulls off in spades overcomes any minor weakness it might have.
4.8 out of 5. Thank you GOG for bringing Interstate '76 back!