| What's DD2 like compared to DD2?
Faster, Prettier, Harder.
You get a better impression of speed in DD2 and the top drivers do give
it some. I've only come close to winning a race once and that was
because there was a mass pile up in a narrow section of track where
many cars (including mine eventually, sniff :-( ) bit the dust.
The graphics are far better, the cars looking a lot more rounded and
including working brake lights and sparks when you rub against a wall
or when you lose a wheel. There seems to be less speech in the game
which is a good move if it means the game itself improves.
It is rather tough to get a good spin on an opposing car - the tactic
of DD1 where you nudge the back end and the opponent spins doesn't work
to the same degree. There are only two views, either the useless
in-car view, or just behind and slightly above the car, which makes it
hard to see what's in front when going downhill. Did I mention the
hills? The tracks are no longer flat, there are banks, sudden dips and
cunning twists that if you take them too fast the car does a corkscrew
a la James Bond (Live and Let Die, wasn't it?). Crashes affect the car
in 3 dimensions - so you can be thrown into the air or spin onto your
side or roof. It is possible to go up on 2 wheels and back, which is
all great fun.
Also making an appearance is the pit lane, where once a race, you can
stop for some repairs. You're only allowed about 5 seconds before you
have to rejoin the race, so you have to be quick. You select the area
of the car to repair and as you repeatedly press X the damage is
reduced. Some tracks do not have a pit lane. The Destruction Derby
takes place in different arenas (depending upon which division you're
in). In the first one (Red Pike Arena) there is a mound in the centre.
It's rather fun to just pt the brake on at the start of this and watch
all the other cars speed into the middle and up into the air.
NB there is NO pit lane in the Destruction Derby Arenas :-}
The league structure is as before and as you progress so the earlier
tracks are replaced by more interesting ones - with sections that you
choose whether to go left or right (a la Wipeout).
I've only made it up one division so far, but I'm gonna keep trying.
I use the Advanced car, the others seem too slow (compared to the
computer cars) to stand a chance of getting anywhere.
If you found DD to be the kind of game to have a blast on for 20 mins
then this is more of the same only done better.
If you're looking for a deep game with a lasting challenge then you
should probably look elsewhere.
And that ends the case for the defence
Ian
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| There is an interesting feature (?) of DD2 - as cars get destroyed,
obviously the number of cars left decreases. But if you're still
behind the dead car, then your position can be, e.g. 17th out of 14.
This also happens for cars that have finished the race and been
destroyed afterwards (cars continue going round until you finish), so
you can never overtake them!
Ian
|