Game Classification

Larry Ragland's 4x4 Challenge Xpiral, Xicat Interactive (Germany), 2001  

Informations Analyses Serious Gaming
 

Classification

VIDEO GAME

Keywords

Purpose

Besides play, this title features the following intents:
  • Licensed title

Market

This title is used by the following domains:
  • Entertainment

Audience

This title targets the following audience:
Age : 12 to 16 years old / 17 to 25 years old
General Public

Gameplay

The gameplay of this title is Game-based
(designed with stated goals)

The core of gameplay is defined by the rules below:

Similar games


Are you ready for high speed offroad competition in the only game endorsed by Larry Ragland, winner of 5 Baja 1000 races? Race on 8 different short tracks designed by offroad pros in 15 different high-powered 4x4's, for 3 different championships. The races are long, the competition is fast, and the outlook is grim. All you got is your skills and unerring faith in your machine. Are you ready for Larry Ragland's 4x4 Challenge?

Larry Ragland's 4x4 Challenge (LRC from now on) is basically an arcade racer in a short-track offroad setting. Usually set inside a stadium or such, it features some unknown-make vehicles (no adjustments allowed) each with slightly different ratings in handlings, acceleration, and more. The courses are very reminiscent of the ones in LEADFOOT (by Ratbag Interactive).

The tracks are your typical supercross type-tracks... Lots of curves, jumps, and a few straights with switchbacks and more switchbacks. The tracks are different enough as some are longer with higher speed whereas some are low-speed with lots of switchbacks.

You get an arcade mode where you're supposed to keep up with the clock, or you can play the championship, where you race a field of 5 other AI drivers across a series of events on the various tracks. When you win one championship, you unlock the next one, which is longer and features a couple new tracks. There are a total of 3 championships across 8 different tracks, up to 6 laps each.

The vehicles in LRC are pretty tough, but they are NOT indestructible. This game actually models damage to your vehicle. There are four components you can damage: front tires/suspension, engine, transmission, and rear tires/suspension. The usual cause for damage is smacking into walls too hard, though hard collisions with another vehicle will do damage. Damaged cars don't run quite as fast and generates black smoke. The parts go from green to yellow to red, and if you're really bad... black.

Multiplayer is only supported as 2-player split-screen, or 6-player LAN. Internet play is not supported. [source:mobygames]

Distribution : Retail - Commercial
Platform(s) : PC (Windows)

Links