Borderline "Buried Treasure"
The premise is simple enough - it's the future, it's racing, and it's really fast. Oh, and they use weapons, too. Or do they? Opponents will use mostly two weapons against you, the landmines and the rapid-fire rockets, and their frequency of use will increase as you graduate through the racing classes. IGN however, was right when it said that the weapons are really only secondary in the game. You don't need to use them. I only concerned myself with engine and speed upgrades and I was fine (although I suggest buying the energy transfer weapon, which helps you boost more and survive longer in the later difficulties).
Since I'm on the topic of weapons, I have to say that the in-game weapon management system is lacking. Rotating between your weapons is fine, but why do they give you a blank spot? If you don't want to use a weapon, you just won't use it. It makes finding a particular weapon in a particularly crucial part of the track a tad too difficult and you may find yourself missing the oppurtunity to use it.
Also a problem is the size and location of the weapon management system on the screen (as well as the rest of the information). Everything is too small and stuck all the way in the corners. Nothing wrong with sticking it in the corners, you don't expect it right in the middle of your screen, but because your weapons, ranking, and energy level information is so small, you actually have to take your eyes off your bike for a second, focus on the information, and then return. This can lead to crashes into walls in later courses with few straight-aways.
Crashes however, can be avoided with practice. While there are just a few turns I can't help but skid into, the controls are adequately responsive that should you learn the course well enough and get a feel for properly controlling your bike no maneuvre should be impossible at the most break-neck of speeds. Kudos to the designers for not making a game that either turns too slowly (SF Rush) or too fast (F-Zero GX, at times).
The graphics are nice, but very standard for next-generation consoles (you can tell it was released a few years ago). Nothing looks bad, everything runs smooth, the track looks great, and the cars zip on by with their running trail of, well, whatever that coloured substance is the follows them everywhere. The only gripe you could have with the graphics is in the backgrounds and their lack of detail. The city scenes look nice enough, but you'll see the same generic textures littering the sides of mountains or glaciers throughout the course. I don't want to fault the designer's too much because this was an early generation game and it doesn't look bad, it's just sort of bland.
The sound in this game is perhaps it's most redeeming feature. The music is almost on par with anything WipeOut's ever put out and it puts F-Zero's repetitive, arcade-trashy music to shame. I'd have liked sound effects with a little more "oomph" to them and a more intelligible announcer, but these are minor gripes that volume adjustment should pretty much take care of.
There are the standard game modes, single race, time trial, and a grand prix option, but the last one comes with a twist. The career option's course requirements for moving on, the rewards and the buying/selling really require you to think before making a decision. Should I buy this weapon upgrade or save my earnings for the next engine? I finished 4th in this race, can I beat the next one in at least 2nd, or should I replay this one to place higher? You'd be surprised at the management aspects of the career mode.
What more can I say? This is your prototypical 7.5-8 out of 10 game. It's enjoyable, it's challenging (but never to the point of frustration, like Mario Kart: DD or F-Zero GX), it's got nice graphics and sound, it controls well, and has a nice multiplayer option. Still, you might find yourself wishing for just a little more as this game has laid down the foundation for something that could be truly great. The longevity of the title is a little lacking (unless you've got willing and able friends to race with) but this one is definitely worth a try if you're at all interested in racing games.