Like Death Race, except comical, more explosive, more attitude, more fernetic, much more fun.
Actual Score: 8.9
Systems: N64, PS1 and GBC. This review covers both N64 and PS1 versions.
Overview: Originally based as a spinoff to the Activision PC game Interstate '76 and set as an underdog competitor to the Twisted Metal series, Vigilante 8 was developed by a very new studio called Luxoflux, whose team at the time consisted of only five members!
Can they possibly pull off the challenge of toppling Sweet Tooth? Or will their combat vehicle end up getting towed away in the process? Let's see!
Story: Set in the Southwest USA in the 1970's, the OMAR oil company is hiring vigilantes (called the "Coyotes") to destroy key industry installations in order to bring American corporations to their knees and monopolize the oil trade. Another group of vigilantes, though each their own (some funny, some serious) reasons, join up to stop the Coyotes! My only question: Just where were the cops when this happened?!
Game play: The game is basically split into 5 modes: Quest, Brawl, Smear, and Survival, multiplayer V.S and co-op are also available for most modes. In Quest, you play though the stories of the characters, unlocking more characters as you play through. In Brawl, you play a single match against the enemies of your choice. Then there's Survival, where you must face battle after battle until your vehicle putters to a halt. As well as other multiplayer types such as Smear. The games options, even down to the controls are totally flexible and there's a lot of replay value to go around.
However, the single player mode is just not as fun as the multiplayer, there are no cutscenes, just a description saying what happens next, and is thus not as engaging as it could be. The story does offer a few funny, if simple, twists though.
The environments in Vigilante 8 are full of variety, from an army aircraft graveyard, to a ski resort, to the Hoover dam and Area 51. The environments are filled with so many secrets it's a blast to just go around shootings things and finding them all. Like how you can ride into and fly around a blimp in the Vegas level, or how shooting down trees in the Ski Resort level causes an avalanche.
Graphics/FX: The Ps1 version of the game has more detail but the N64 version is clearer and has better draw distance. Either way, Vigilante 8 takes full advantage of the work put into it, the explosions are spectacular for its time, and the environments are very destructible, particularly the Las Vegas level
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Music/Sound: The music is akin to the popular songs of the seventies, there are no lyrics, which is probably a good thing, you can change the music during a match at any time, there's not a lot to choose from though. The sound itself can be a bit rough at times but it's up to par. As a bonus for the PS1 version, you can take out the disc during the game and replace it with an audio CD which will replace the games soundtrack, Vigilante 8 will continue to run despite not having its disc, or at least, it worked the many times ive tried it.
End Note: It's easy to say that Vigilante 8 is triumphant over most of the Twisted Metal games, which ones you say? That's for you to decide. If you want to add a jewel to your crown of a vehicular combat videogame library, or if you have a thing for explosions and destruction, then give Vigilante 8 a try.
Followed by a decent sequel, Vigilante 8: The Second Offensive, for the N64, PS1 and Sega Dreamcast.