Super TuxKart

Reviewed by: DeathDude

Positive Points: Fun kart racing
Intriguing tracks

Negative Points: Poor collision detection
Lackluster items

Genre: Racing

Size: 14 091 KB

Requirements: Windows, Linux

Questionable Content: None

Editor rating: 3.8

Homepage: http://supertuxkart.berlios.de/index.html

Download location: http://developer.berlios.de/project/showfiles.php?group_id=2765

Its time to experience some good old fashioned cartoon kart racing excitement, you know the types of games from the Mario Karts, to the Crash Bandicoot racing titles, kart racing is usually a fun experience. With Super TuxKart, (an enhanced version of TuxKart made by Steve Baker), we have another addition to add to the fabled kart racing genre, and it does a fairly good job at capturing the excitement and action of some of the gamers mentioned earlier, but there is still some improvement that can be made, before it could be on the same level as the Mario Karts and other games in the genre. 

There are different modes you will be able to try out, when you start up Super TuxKart, from the Grand Prix, to the simpler single race, followed by the ever classic Time Trial, where you compete to get the best possible time, on whichever track you choose. Choose your character of choice, among the many animal characters, including the loveable Penguin mascot from Linux. Soon you will be on your way to competing to see if you will be number one.

Overall, this is a fun kart racing game, which captures much of the racing element. There are thirteen tracks to choose from, some of which are actually vaguely familiar to some of the tracks in Mario kart believe it or not, see if you can spot which ones fall into that category. Nevertheless, most of the tracks will give you a challenge, as each is filled with different obstacles and challenges as you race. Your computer opponents will also not be making this easy for you, as they are also out for the goal of winning. 

Graphically, the game looks alright. It looks a bit messy at times, with some of the tracks, but overall it looks fine for this type of game and I am not complaining. As you race in whatever mode you choose, you are also able to pick up items, which you can use against your opponent, or to aid yourself in the race. From shields, to speed boosts, to missiles that you can use against your opponent to slow them down, most of the items in the game are the standard ones you have seen before in these types of games, a little more variety would have been nice to change it up a bit.

The music in the game is pretty nice to hear, and fits in with each level, that contains it. Not all tracks in the game contain music, but a majority of them do, so it is not a big loss. The game is still being developed to improve and offer better features, so hopefully in future versions we shall see such things as music on every track and more.

The collision detection is pretty bad though, as in most cases whenever your kart hits another one, your kart will stop dead in its tracks and your opponent will continue to race on, this was one area that hopefully can be improved in a future version, as it makes the game that much more challenging, but not in a good sense.

Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable kart racing game and if you’re looking for a racing game, check this one out and see what you think. Super TuxKart, is still being improved and reworked, so there is much in store for gamers to see.