I can remember it now, dreaming of playing IS2, the problem? Buy the CD-ROM drive for one game? (I know there are others but at the time this was the only game I could think about.) Okay then, the IS2 LTD cart was the way to go for a standard jag user like myself. Well due to a short production amount I was stiffed out of the cart and sick of waiting I ordered the IS2/CD combo and while I was at it spending money I just thought why not max the credit card and order the WTR and Memory track while I’m at it.

I guess you can say the purchase of WTR was more of an impulse buy more than anything. I didn’t hear very good things about nor was I interested because of IS2. I am glad I purchased WTR and though not a super racer it sure is fun.

Ready for some comparing: I’m not going to load up this game and trick you into spending your money, If you are not a jaguar collector and you own Need for Speed or Grand Turismo or Ridge Racer you may be too spoiled to play this game with any enjoyment Not that the game is bad, I don’t think this game has aged as well as say PDR or Super Burnout or Atari Karts. In comparison the control is loose, the physics are off and the graphics and framerate just doesn’t cut it.

Enough of that I don’t care what RayNET thinks: To tell you the truth I play WTR quite a bit, the game is the only cart style game I own aside from Checkered Flag. When the games comes up you’re treated to a nice animated intro and then into the game option screen where you can play a single race or tournament or a two player split. The game throws you in the seat of a cart racer with cockpit or outside views speeding along at upwards of 200MPH.

Controls In such: I think I am one of the few people out there who didn’t mind the shortcomings of checkered flag; I was pleased to see that the controls in WTR are almost too easy to master. There is some challenge though as your tires wear or your car losses a wing control gets tough to manage. Thumbs up on the control of WTR.

Graphics in the Gameplay: This was tagged as having a very inconsistent framerate; this is true somewhat but not as bad as it was made out to be 25-35FPS Guess (More like 10-15fps -ed). The Game is a mixed bag in the graphics department mixing sprites and polygons. The game looks good but at times seems jerky, the tracks don’t seem as clean as the tracks on Checkered flag but remember CF is a VR racer void of sprites. Your car and the landscapes look pretty good and you will see a change from country to city courses.

Gameplay:

The gameplay area is where WTR does well and will not disappoint. My only gripe is that there is no support for the memory track so you will have to write those record lap times down (Or if there good post them on the jaguar top 50!!). You can sit down for a quick race or you can race in the tournaments at any rate you can sit down with little time and get a few laps in and walk away fulfilled.

Scores:

Graphics: 7 Graphics and Framerate are a mixed bag though they don’t take from gameplay they could have been better.

Fun Factor: 9 this is a fun game that anyone can get into, not a hardcore simulator like some other games.

Sound: 10 the music is very good in this game as well as the sound effects.

Final thoughts: Do you need this game? Not really, was I disappointed I bought it? Nope!!! This a fun arcade style racer..

-RayNET, RayNET@IX.NETCOM.COM