Games Computing
1st July 1984
Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: CBS Electronics
Machine: Coleco Vision Games System
Published in Games Computing #7
Pit Stop (CBS Electronics)
This is a racing game with a difference - not only do you control your car, but you also control the men who change your tyres and fill up your petrol tank.
There are six race tracks to chose from - Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans, the Kyalami, the Albi and the Jarama desert race. Once you have practised on these, it is on to the Mini or Grand Circuits. The Mini Circuit presents you with a random selection of three of the race tracks and then, when you have gained enough skill, the Grand Circuit, all of the six races together, can be tried.
There are a good number of choice within this game. Up to four players can play, there are three levels of difficulty - Rookie, Semi-pro and Pro, three, six or nine laps of the race can be chosen, and, of course, there is the option of a single race, Mini Circuit or the Grand Circuit.
Once you have made your choice, a picture of your car and the race track is shown on the screen. On the left hand side a radar map is shown illustrating your position and the distance to the pit. At the bottom of the screen the number of laps completed, time, speed and fuel guage can be seen. Bumping into another car or hitting the side of the road will cause your tyres to wear out. Tyres start dark blue, change to green, light blue and finally red when they have become worn out. If you travel too long when they are red, the car explodes and the tyres fly off, signifying the end of the race. To avoid this, and also running out of petrol which brings you to a halt, you have to steer your car into the pits. Once in the pits you have to control two men who change your tyres and one man who fills your petrol tank up - he must not over-fill because otherwise the tank will explode and he will have to re-fill. To leave the pits move the cursor to the flagman who will wave you back onto the track.
I found the men very difficult to control, especially as you are racing against the clock all the time and can hear and see other cars zooming past the pit stop. The game is colourful and includes car engine and bumping noises. The pit stop crew are fairly good graphically, and all wear caps and overalls. Epyx have advertised their name many times in the game as well - there are posters with 'Epyx' written on them every few hundred yards along the track!
After each race, the Official Race Results and the purse you have gained are decided. An added advantage of this game is that you can use the Colecovision driving module, but if you do not own this, Colecovision joysticks can be used instead.
This is a fairly exciting and enjoyable game to play, and is a good one to buy if you own the driving module.