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S.C.A.R.S. (video game)

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S.C.A.R.S.
PlayStation box cover art
Developer(s)Vivid Image
Publisher(s)Ubi Soft
Producer(s)Gérard Guillemot, Mevlut Dinc
Programmer(s)Dave Cantrell, Harrison Bernardez, Paul Hope
Composer(s)Gregory Heath
Platform(s)PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation
  • EU: 25 September 1998
  • NA: 9 October 1998[1]
Nintendo 64, Windows
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

S.C.A.R.S. is a 1998 sci-fi themed futuristic racing video game developed by Vivid Image and published by Ubi Soft for PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Microsoft Windows.

Gameplay

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Gameplay on Nintendo 64: the HUD displays the current and reserve weapons on the top-left corner, while the right hand side indicates the player's position

Set in year 3000, the races are "simulations" created by supercomputers, with each supercomputer having its own car based on an animal and its own unique weapon. The nine available cars are based on: lion, elephant, rhinoceros, shark, preying mantis, scorpion, cobra, cheetah, and panther.[4] There are 10 tracks, each with hidden shortcuts. The power-up weapons range from turbos to shields and time bombs.[4]

Development

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While working on the various ports of Street Racer, Vivid Image and Ubi Soft decided it would be a good idea to create a 3D racing game specifically for the next-gen consoles. Mev Dinc, who headed Vivid Image, developed a concept of cars based on wildcats and other animals, with tracks that reflected their natural habitats. Ubi Soft loved the idea, and provided some of their own graphics and sound design resources to help fill the otherwise strained team. Originally, the game was going to be called Vivid Racing. After some iterations, they instead decided on S.C.A.R.S. As development progressed, the coders struggled with balancing the high level of detail and performance with the space limitations of the tracks. Courses needed to be shortened, and as a result, many of the technical turns and obstacles were condensed, creating a much more challenging experience than they had originally planned.[5]

The title comes from Super Computer Animal Racing Simulator.[6]

Reception

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The game received above average reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[7][8][9] Next Generation said of the PlayStation version in its December 1998 issue, "For all its faults, S.C.A.R.S. isn't terrible, and it is one of the few PlayStation games to allow four players to race in 3D on a split screen. If you have a Multitap, this is almost a worthy purchase. Without a Multitap, it's a colorful racer, but not much else."[26] Two issues later, however, the magazine said of the Nintendo 64 version, "One of the best of the Mario Kart clones, S.C.A.R.S. does nearly everything right, surpassing both the graphics and the control of the PlayStation version. The game is challenging and addicting without ever annoying the player to the point of frustration. It supports up to four players via split screen and is a great way to kill time with friends."[25]

Dr. Zombie of GamePro said of the PlayStation version in its November 1998 issue, "You shouldn't pass up S.C.A.R.S [sic] as just another kiddie Mario Kart-style racer – by taking a look under this hood, you'll find a lot of fun action."[30][a] One issue later, he said of the Nintendo 64 version, "Mario Kart fans will find S.C.A.R.S [sic] similar but with a much harder edge. The game's action is fast and furious with enough variety in its tracks and weapons to warrant replay."[31][b] Joel Strauch called the PC version "an easy-to-pick-up game that the kids'll love and adults will tolerate. It's missing the best part of Mario Kart-esque games—the battle mode—but you can't beat the price."[32][c]

Notes

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  1. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version 4.5/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version three 4/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 3.5/5 for sound.
  3. ^ GamePro gave the PC version 3.5/5 for graphics, sound, control, and fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ Muldoon, Moira (9 October 1998). "videogames.com's Calendar [date mislabeled as "March 14, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 16 January 2000. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  2. ^ Mayer, Robert (3 December 1998). "Ubi Soft Ships S.C.A.R.S." Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 29 May 2003. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. ^ IGN staff (4 December 1998). "S.C.A.R.S in S.T.O.R.E.S [sic]". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Blevins, Tal (11 January 1999). "S.C.A.R.S. (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  5. ^ Dinc, Mev (2021). Life Is A Game. Publishing Push. pp. 180–183. ISBN 9781914078590.
  6. ^ "Review". Computer and Video Games. No. 203. 1998. p. 59.
  7. ^ a b "S.C.A.R.S. for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b "S.C.A.R.S. for PC". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  9. ^ a b "S.C.A.R.S. for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  10. ^ a b Diamatta, Nathan (20 October 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. (N64, PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 23 August 2000. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  11. ^ Price, Tom (May 1999). "S.C.A.R.S." (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 178. Ziff Davis. p. 151. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  12. ^ EGM staff (December 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 113. Ziff Davis.
  13. ^ EGM staff (November 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 112. Ziff Davis.
  14. ^ McNamara, Andy; Storm, Jon; Reiner, Andrew (December 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. - Nintendo 64". Game Informer. No. 68. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on 8 September 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  15. ^ McNamara, Andy; Storm, Jon; Reiner, Andrew (November 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. - PlayStation". Game Informer. No. 67. FuncoLand. p. 68. Archived from the original on 15 September 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  16. ^ Johnny B. (January 1999). "S.C.A.R.S. Review (PC)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  17. ^ Fielder, Joe (22 December 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. Review (N64) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  18. ^ Dulin, Ron (5 February 1999). "S.C.A.R.S. Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 5, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  19. ^ Fielder, Joe (17 September 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. Review (PS) [Import] [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  20. ^ Cheung, Kevin (December 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. (N64)". Hyper. No. 62. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 94. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  21. ^ Cheung, Kevin (October 1998). "S.C.A.R.S. (PS)". Hyper. No. 60. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 55. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  22. ^ Schneider, Peer (4 December 1998). "S.C.A.R.S [sic] (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  23. ^ Perry, Douglass C. (7 October 1998). "SCARS (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  24. ^ Kitts, Martin (25 December 1998). "SCARS". N64 Magazine. No. 23. Future Publishing. pp. 55–58.
  25. ^ a b "S.C.A.R.S. (N64)". Next Generation. No. 50. Imagine Media. February 1999. p. 107. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  26. ^ a b "S.C.A.R.S. (PS)". Next Generation. No. 48. Imagine Media. December 1998. p. 132. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  27. ^ "S.C.A.R.S." Nintendo Power. Nintendo of America. January 1999. p. 124. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  28. ^ Price, James (September 1998). "S.C.A.R.S." Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 36. Future Publishing. pp. 122–23. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  29. ^ "SCARS". PC Gamer. Vol. 6, no. 5. Imagine Media. May 1999. Archived from the original on 18 October 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  30. ^ Dr. Zombie (November 1998). "S.C.A.R.S [sic] (PS)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 122. IDG. p. 174. Archived from the original on 13 January 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  31. ^ Dr. Zombie (December 1998). "S.C.A.R.S [sic] (N64)". GamePro. No. 123. IDG. p. 150. Archived from the original on 24 September 2004. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  32. ^ Strauch, Joel (1999). "S.C.A.R.S. Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on 20 June 2004. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
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