Zzap


Offshore Warrior
By Titus
Amiga 500

 
Published in Zzap #46

Offshore Warrior

The year is 2050. Laws have been revamped, re-introduced and then abandoned. Safety laws governing race sports have changed drastically, resulting in fiercer, more deadly competitions taking place for the crowds' enjoyment.

Surviving Offshore speed-racers become cult heroes and role models for adventurous young people across the world. As a result, more people take up the sport, hoping to compete in the ultimate across-the-world Offshore Warrior trials.

Events are similar to normal power boat trials, except there's the added danger of boats armed with rocket launchers - a subtle attempt to increase their chances by thinning out the field.

There are two basic rules for survival:

  1. Don't finish last to continue.
  2. Try to stay alive.

ME

What a con! Shuffling around a few routines from a previous game and changing the graphics is not exactly fair to the game-playing public, is it? It seems that this is all that Titus have done - messing about with Fire And Forget to produce Offshore Warrior.

The 3D effect is very similar, with the sprites having a cardboard cutout quality to them, and the gameplay is pretty much the same as well. Well that's not quite fair - Fire And Forget, which wasn't exactly brilliant, had a lot more to it!

Offshore is rather easy to complete too, making the long term appeal quite limited. Another poor 3D game from Titus. When are we going to see something new?

Second Opinion

I didn't think much of Road Blasters, I didn't think much of Fire And Forget... and I've got an even lower opinion of Offshore Warrior, which is really just Fire And Forget with a bit of water thrown in.

Maybe some people (like one in a 100,000, maybe) get a kick out of appalling 3D graphics, boring gameplay and no challenge whatsoever - well, good luck to them because I certainly don't. If I'd spent £25 on this, I'd be dead disappointed - what a waste!

Verdict

Presentation 59%
Nice intro screens but slow loading and no options.

Graphics 51%
Nicely defined sprites still look a little 'flat'.

Sound 72%
The soulful title tune is let down by sub-standard effects.

Hookability 60%
You're initially encouraged by how easy the game is to play...

Lastability 39%
...but it's too easy to complete.

Overall 31%
Another 3D weakling.