Playing Through My Evercade Collection Part 16: Piko Interactive Collection 2

Starting the Piko Collection 2 with a game thats.... ok? I don't think its a particularly bad game, heck, I had quite a bit of fun with it but despite some nifty little ideas like the shop mechanics and the flicking between top-down and third person racing providing a set of fun little distractions, there just isn't really enough to do here.

The races themselves, while amusing enough, are all too similar and samey thanks to almost every single race being a strict race from bottom to top affair. Theres some turns about but no real variety in the layouts. The art is also absolutely ugly as sin, especially the massive gurning character faces in between races. Owtch.

There are a lot of fantastic things in this game, but in the end I feel like there were some improvements to be made. This could've been way better. First thing is first, the color in this game hurt my eyes. It's so vibrant and there isn't detail so you're staring at a pale blue TV screen which isn't great. The graphics themselves are fine for the 90s but there could've been more detail. Kirby's Adventure has more detail and they came out in the same year. Another issue I had is in the finale, you're supposed to believe that after all the beating and banging with the final racer, you lose most of your upgrades but he's perfectly fine. My last complaint is that the ending gives a conclusion to the game, but it never sets anything up to get to the ending or setting up any story at all. It's so up in the air. It's ending could've been something related to a championship instead of the route they went in. Other than that it's a fun game. I like upgrading the boat after each race and the increasing difficulty with the competitors is good. I think the game runs pretty smoothly and I didn't find many wonky controls except for one repeating area in the races. It's not anything terrible though. Each of the tracks are fun to race on with the fun obstacles and sharp turns. It's an easy game to binge-play. If you like retro racing games I'd recommend plaything this.

GRADE
B

Com um design que lembra tanto Micro Machines (corrida de carros miniatura) como outros jogos onde você pode ir "tunando" seu carro para aumentar a potência, Eliminator Boat Duel traz um traço interessante: uma variedade de perspectiva e até de formato de corridas.

Além da perspectiva aérea similar ao já mencionado Micro Machines, há também uma perspectiva traseira e uma lateral, especialmente na largada.

Há também premiações segmentadas e punições de acordo com a "vitória" de certos trechos da corrida. Vencer a largada e sair na frente, por exemplo, costuma conceder um bônus, apesar de que, se você queimar a largada irá tomar uma multa.

Algumas disputas são basicamente desafios de largada, enquanto outros terminam em perspectivas diferentes. Isso traz imprevisibilidade e variedade ao jogo, sendo algo fantástico pra um jogo dessa era.

Há também a presença de diálogos e provocações com os rivais que adiciona humor e personalidade entre corridas. Ah, e tudo isso numa temática de lanchas, o que é ainda mais ridiculamente fora da caixa.

Pretty fun!

really good visuals, simple premise, good controls, nice upgrade system. Just a fun game.

The gameplay loop of winning races and upgrading your boat is pretty fun, and every race is pretty exciting. This is a pretty good NES game that I'd recommend.

I'm so close to giving this game a 4 star but there isn't enough substance to justify it, it's too simple. Still, a fun little game, worth a play 100%.