International Super Karts – Review

Generally speaking, consumers don’t get a lot for their money with budget videogames—hence the reduced price point. Publishers Midas Interactive are dab hands in the field of ‘value for money entertainment’ and, with one of their most recent releases—the thoroughly capable Alpine Skiing 2005—they successfully redefined the above notions of ‘getting what you pay for’. However, with the emergence of International Super Karts, Midas and developers Brain in a Jar have put a sizable dent in the image of budget gaming.

These days, a videogame offering so little in terms of evaluation leaves scant room for in-depth analysis where review coverage is concerned. In this regard, Super Karts hardly registers as a bare bones skeleton of a game. Its press notes proudly state that: “A unique game on PlayStation 2 is a rarity these days…” and that International Super Karts is “…the first ever karting game on the format.” Well, that may be, but its obvious genre uniqueness and resultant flaws are unlikely to perturb any other publishers or developers with a kart title in the pipeline. And why?

Dealing with aesthetics first, Super Karts provides visuals that invoke a gaping mouth and a stare of disbelief—you may find yourself removing the disc and checking whether the game is actually meant for the PS1. The gulf in established quality really is immense. It’s not that the game suffers from massive amounts of slowdown, chop, or draw—it runs perfectly well—but the overall graphics, the cart and driver models, backgrounds and tertiary details are all so uninspiring and dull that it’s genuinely difficult to muster the will to play. This is further compounded by ear-shatteringly flat engine sounds, made all the more painful due to the whole single-gear-push-the-accelerator-and-go physicality of the sport. Furthermore, outside of the odd tyre screech and barrier thud, there’s little on show aurally. No crowd noise, no tangible ambient or environmental sounds, no driver shouts as you barge across their racing lines and nudge them from the track—nothing.

The biggest note of criticism against International Super Karts exists in the gameplay. Downtrodden aesthetics can be all but forgiven if gameplay emerges as exemplary, yet that’s simply not the case here. The dour gameplay mechanics only further highlight the stilted graphics and hollow sound. Those familiar with the sport of Karting will shake their collective crash helmets in absolute astonishment as the merest hint of applied braking sends your kart spinning wildly out of control. And, considering their compact sizing and the tiny wheelbase on karts, the turning circle needed after crashing off the courses is similar to navigating Cape Horn in a wind-battered galley. Also, when crashing at any discernible speed, your kart will inevitably flip over, which provides an interesting animation quirk. Again, active participants of the sport will know only too well that stringently gripping the steering wheel and sitting as stiff as a board is always the best reaction as your head is providing the incident’s violent pivot point against the rushing tarmac.

International Super Karts fulfils the basic mode requirements for racing titles, as well as offering three kart classes across its selection of international outdoor tracks. The individual mode categories are a standard-issue Practice mode, an against-the-clock Challenge mode—that unlocks further karts—a single Race mode that also unlocks content, and a Championship mode where the game’s extra kart classes and hidden tracks can be secured. There’s also a general and multi-tap multiplayer option…if you can convince enough friends that it’s worth playing.

Ultimately, those producing budget titles can shovel almost anything in the paths of pennywise gamers and hope it’s snapped up for no other reason than the reduced pricing. However, though the more blamelessly ignorant of the gaming populace may make the mistake of handing over hard-earned cash for International Super Karts, the majority will likely exercise better judgement. Midas should perhaps strive to remember that the likes of Gran Turismo on the PS1 can easily be found for less than the asking price of most budget games. Why on earth would any self-respecting consumer lean toward International Super Karts when it offers so little to the racing genre, and at such a reduced quality level? The PS2 is not the PS1, and its games should reflect that, regardless of their price. Very poor.

Review by Stevie