Destruction Derby 2 Preview

Those of you who often feel an urge to get into your cars stinking drunk and wreak havoc upon our nation's freeways: Stay at home! Tentatively scheduled for release in November, Psygnosis' Demolition Derby 2 promises to be an exciting sequel to its chassis- mangling predecessor, Demolition Derby. The eagerly awaited follow-up includes more tracks, new features, and enhanced crash sequences.

"We did a complete overhaul on the main 3D engine of the previous game," says Martin Edmondson who is part of the Reflections development team that worked on DD2. According to Edmondson, the new engine made it possible to design wider tracks with jumps, dips, and more banks than your neighborhood financial district - elements not present in the first game. Cars will be able to speed up ramps and careen into other vehicles mid-air. Another new feature, which Edmondson referred to as the "stunt level," lets players execute daredevil leaps to score points. Vehicles will have truer suspension and will be easier to maneuver around the new complex tracks.

Most people enjoyed the first Destruction Derby game because, put simply, there's something darkly satisfying about watching a bunch of lumbering gas-guzzlers mindlessly collide into each other. Innovations on the 3D scheme open up more possibilities for these all- important and indispensable crash sequences.

Cars can be flipped onto their sides or completely overturned. And what happens if your own car gets flipped over? Well, enjoy your new topsy-turvy perspective of the world - that is until one of your opponents slams you back onto your wheels. Actual damage to vehicles will be rendered with cab-crushing realism. Upon impact, cars will lose doors and front hoods; flames will shoot out from the victimized automobiles, adding even more havoc to the succession of splaying debris. Edmondson mentioned that the scoring system would be adjusted to accommodate these advents of the game-play. "For example," Edmondson continues, "the player will score more points for rolling a car than, say, just turning it onto its side."

Apart from the stunt level, there will also be a "trailer level," where cars continue their regular assaults on each other, but with u-hauls attached to their bumpers. Another new addition will be an optional pit-stop, where vehicles can receive proper medical attention before resuming the carnage. Also, some changes have been made to the game commentary. "We recorded the voice of Paul Page, a real Daytona 500 commentator," says Edmondson, "At one point, we had him close his eyes and imagine that he was commentating at a real race."

Listening to the game's designers talk, it sounds like Destruction Derby 2 has more 3D power under its hood than the previous game. All technical achievements aside however, it appears that DD2 will carry on the same ethic of carnage (with a capital "car") that the original Destruction Derby upheld.