Previous Next

Way back in the Sixties, the groovy people at Hanna-Barbera launched a new cartoon called Wacky Races. It involved a strange collection of colourful characters in a bizarre motor race, a race in which, at least for certain contenders, the notions of fair play and sporting conduct were far less important than winning the day. A hit with several generations, Wacky Races was recently transformed into a game for both PlayStation and Dreamcast, and the cartoon's characters have now sped onto the Game Boy in a flurry of colour!

For those of you unlucky enough to have never seen Wacky Races, the cartoon was a riotous romp across a huge race course spanning all manner of places, and the characters were out of the ordinary, to say the least. From the damsel in distress Penelope Pitstop to the hairy cavemen-types the Slag Brothers, the contenders in this race were far from usual, and they're here in the Game Boy version, ready to do whatever it takes to win!

Offering nine different locations to race around, Wacky Races takes you from the streets of New York to icy Alaska. Each location presents different hazards, such as oncoming trucks and fire, and for each mode of the game, the tracks are different. There's four different modes to choose from - Arcade, Endurance, Championship and Time Trial - meaning there are 36 different tracks.

You can also choose from one of eight crazy vehicles and accompanying characters, though not all of them are available to start with. Only the wackiest racers will be able to unlock these shadowy figures, including the cartoon's villains Dick Dastardly and Muttley and the super-cool Peter Perfect in the Turbo Terrific. Each vehicle races differently, and as if that wasn't enough variety, there are three difficulty settings too.

As in the cartoon, the game is about much more than just the racing. As you speed along in your chosen vehicle, you can pick up a number of weapons and special attributes which help you to get one over on your opponents. Whether it be a homing rocket that can be fired at the nearest racer, a dazzling bolt of lightning or a burst of speed to send you whizzing past the other competitors, these pick-ups are the key to winning. Watch out though, because your opponents have got a few tricks up their sleeves too, and you'll need to watch out for hazards like perilous oil slicks left by the other contenders.

With its combination of racing mayhem and villainous competition, Wacky Races is an excellent Game Boy title that will entertain you for hours on end. The graphics are superb, with brilliantly rendered tracks and colourful scenery, and the novelty of racing around in your crazy form of transport, running others off the road and enjoying on-road cartoon capers, simply should not be missed.

This parade of crazy characters in their equally madcap racers can't fail to impress! With stacks of choices in gameplay, luscious little tracks and cool pick-ups to sort out the most vicious of drivers, this great little racer is guaranteed to entertain you!

The Game Boy version of Wacky Races features eight of the eleven characters from the original cartoon. You're sure to find a crazy character to suit in amongst this motley crew, and they all have their own attributes. The lovely Penelope Pitstop won't be hassled too much by opponents, for example, whilst Rufus Ruffcut is quick to recover after accidents, thanks to his sidekick Sawtooth's fondness for reconstruction...

Graphics 80%
Cool and colourful!

Sound 60%
Pretty funky.

Playability 80%
A top race game!

Lastability 80%
Plenty of choice.

Overall 90%
Well worth a wack!