Mean Machines Sega
1st June 1995
Publisher: U. S. Gold
Machine: Sega Game Gear (EU Version)
Published in Mean Machines Sega #33
Powerdrive
Calling all Game Gear owners! Have you played Sega Rally yet? The state of the art coin-op that captures all the thrills and spills of off-road rally racing. Featuring fantastically realistic texture-mapped graphics and high-octane driving action, it's possibly the greatest racing game around. And it's coming to the Saturn too. But wait a second. Wouldn't it be better if it could be converted onto the Game Gear?
Imagine enjoying all the madcap antics of rally racing at your convenience. Leaping over grassy hillocks whilst sitting on the train, taking a flooded hairpin whilst on the loo, or bashing other cars into steep banks whilst eating your tea. Of course, there isn't a hope in hell of the game ever coming out on your LCD handheld, so you might as well forget about it.
Fortunately though, US Gold have come to the rescue with their own handheld version of rally racing - Powerdrive. Racing across 48 all-weather tracks, you start off racing Mini Coopers and Fiat Cinquecentos before moving onto bigger, better racers, until finally you get behind the wheel of such off-road kinds as the Toyota Celica and the famed RS Cosworth.
Out Of Car Experience
Paul
I can't say I was that impressed by the Megadrive version of Powerdrive. However, the idea of a plan-view off-road racer like this seems much more suited to a Game Gear game, at least in theory anyway.
Unfortunately, the game suffers from a number of problems and, unfortunately, they're much the same problems the Megadrive version fell down on. Difficult steering and slow movement, together with simple tracks all make it quite dull. The idea of working your way through to better cars is pretty good, but actually getting to these cars seems like more effort than it's worth. Plus, to see a well used quote - Micro Machines 2 is better.
Gus
Verdict
Graphics 72%
Neat looking cars, but bland colours give the graphics a very washed-out feel.
Animation 64%
Nothing exceptional in this department.
Poor tunes, even by tinkly Game Gear standards.
Effects 80%
Okay spot-effects though.
Playability 64%
Difficult steering and a lack of speed ruin the action.
Lastability 71%
A lot of tracks and a lot of cars, if you're a patient person.
Overall 65%
An okay racer that suffers from some annoying gameplay faults.
Scores
Sega Game Gear VersionGraphics | 72% |
Animation | 64% |
Music | 66% |
Effects | 80% |
Playability | 64% |
Lastability | 71% |
Overall | 65% |