2015/2/17: Odyssey 2: Death Race

Let me know what you think about my reviews.
User avatar
VideoGameCritic
Site Admin
Posts: 18102
Joined: April 1st, 2015, 7:23 pm

2015/2/17: Odyssey 2: Death Race

Postby VideoGameCritic » February 17th, 2015, 1:41 pm

This is a new homebrew - a remake of a controversial 1978 arcade game.  Hope you enjoy the review.

scotland171
Posts: 816
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

2015/2/17: Odyssey 2: Death Race

Postby scotland171 » February 17th, 2015, 2:14 pm

Thanks for the review of the Odyssey homebrew Dave.  

Its a fair grade and review.   You sure do get stuck a lot in those crosses, and its fun to hunt down 'gremlins' when they come out of the safe zone and you zig zag at them!   

The review would benefit by a mention of the 1975 Roger Corman movie, Death Race 2000 (starring David "Kwai Chang" Carradine and with Sylvester Stallone in a small role).  Its sort of a Mad Max style movie where racers in some dystopia really do run down people for points.  The game (like the Jaws game of the time) is trying to piggy back on the movie, so some outrage against 'gremlins' and the war on pedestrians is understandable because it was intended (or at least glued on after the fact). Call'em gremlins, but if you prick them, do they not bleed? 

Its more from the movie than the arcade game (which I never played back in the day) that I got a copy.  I agree there should be more gameplay here.  For a simple one button joystick game, I felt like even it was not being used.  I don't mind that I have to pull back for reverse, even if I'm reversing up...I can figure that out, but I should be able to press my red action button and shoot the other car! Or drop a mine (or in the case of the movie, a boobie trapped babydoll, cause its that kind of movie).  Or have the equivalent of the UFO in asteroids, maybe a helicopter...something to build in a food chain where you are both predator and prey.


Glad I got a copy though.

EDIT:  For those interested in the original arcade game, check out this blog
http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2012/12/death-race.html
The game is the successor to "Destruction Derby" where the two cars tried to bang each other up, and the last one driveable was the winner.  Merging the two games would be a neat variation.


LS6501
Posts: 119
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

2015/2/17: Odyssey 2: Death Race

Postby LS6501 » February 17th, 2015, 6:20 pm

I don't think I ever played it myself BITD, but I remember watching my older brother play Death Race in the arcade, and I definitely remember reading newspaper stories about it at the time. 
I think that this is a fairly accurate conversion, except that the arcade game was actually in black & white rather than color!  The game play is pretty close: if you look at Youtube you can find a video or two of the original arcade game in action.
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFSkL3W9yRg

FinalLapTwinkie1
Posts: 175
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

2015/2/17: Odyssey 2: Death Race

Postby FinalLapTwinkie1 » February 17th, 2015, 7:08 pm

I like it but now I want to play any GTA game.

crimefighter1
Posts: 90
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

2015/2/17: Odyssey 2: Death Race

Postby crimefighter1 » February 18th, 2015, 8:59 pm

Apparently you all forgot about this game - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmageddon

User avatar
VideoGameCritic
Site Admin
Posts: 18102
Joined: April 1st, 2015, 7:23 pm

2015/2/17: Odyssey 2: Death Race

Postby VideoGameCritic » February 18th, 2015, 9:05 pm

[QUOTE=FinalLapTwinkie]I like it but now I want to play any GTA game.[/QUOTE]

Wow, maybe this game really DOES make people violent!

FinalLapTwinkie1
Posts: 175
Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm

2015/2/17: Odyssey 2: Death Race

Postby FinalLapTwinkie1 » February 22nd, 2015, 4:53 am

Oops! I should have clarified my statement.

I like the free range driving aspect. Just getting in a vehicle and driving around wasting imaginary gasoline. Not racing to a finish line is always nice.


Return to “Review Feedback”