Power Jet Racing 2001 Hands-On

Though there have been countless games based on Jet Ski racing since Wave Race 64 originally kick-started the genre several years ago, no game has lived up to the original. CSK Research Institute, the developer of the Aero Dancing series, hopes to change that with Power Jet Racing 2001, a water-based racing game for the Dreamcast.

You'll be able to select one of six racers, each with his or her favorite Jet Ski. Ryan, Kate, Max, Yuki, Spike, and Matt all have different attributes and qualities that define their riding styles. The game features several modes. The championship mode plays similar to the arcade-game format, where you have to finish each race with a high rank to get to the next one. The technical challenge mode tests your skills and abilities by requiring you to execute several different moves such as loops, barrel rolls, bunny hops, and submarines. Other modes include the balloon race, time attack, and two-player versus modes.

We recently got hold of a demo version of the game that allowed us to play through the Bahamas track using the default character Ryan. The analog triggers are used for accelerating and decelerating in the typical Dreamcast racing game fashion. The X button changes the camera angle, and the B button looks behind you. When you are in midair after jumping off the ramps scattered through the raceways, you can perform tricks such as barrel rolls and loops. The Jet Ski can be controlled either with the analog stick or the D-pad. Performing tricks is easier with the D-pad, while maneuvering the Jet Ski itself is easier with the analog stick. You can focus on one of them depending on which mode you're playing.

The graphics are on par with Dreamcast standards, and there is only a minimal amount of slowdown. The crashing of the waves and the handling of the Jet Ski set this game apart from the average Jet Ski racing game. In some respects, the game is similar to Wave Race, but it seems to have too much arcade-game flavor to it. Hopefully, the remaining game modes that were not available in the demo version will compensate for the lack of realism. Power Jet Ski Racing 2001 for the Dreamcast is slated for a March 22 release in Japan.