Wikipedia

Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing

Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing is both a racing video game and vehicular combat game with characters from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars, and Return of the Jedi. The playable characters are portrayed in a super deformed style (featuring unusually large heads and small bodies). This game is available on PlayStation 2 only, as the Dreamcast, Windows, and Mac OS versions were cancelled due to poor sales of the PlayStation 2 version.

Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing
North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)Lucas Learning
Publisher(s)LucasArts
EngineRenderWare
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • NA: April 25, 2001
  • EU: May 25, 2001
Genre(s)Kart racing game, vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Gameplay

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Super Bombad Racing features characters and locales from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing is a kart racing game. Players select one of various Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace characters to compete on various courses patterned after the film. Each course also features a reversed, mirrored variant. Boba Fett and Darth Vader appear as unlockable guest characters. Races are conducted with eight competitors and consist of three laps. Powerups are littered throughout each course, and each provides the player character with varying temporary attributes, such as a boost in speed, a shield, or offensive weaponry.[1] Up to four players can join in splitscreen play using the PlayStation 2 multitap peripheral.[2]

A variant on the standard race mode, known as "Teams", limits the race to four competitors, each split into teams of two. An Arena mode is also included. Here the player controls their character in a vehicular combat scenario. Powerups from the racing modes are used, but instead of navigating a race course the objective is to eliminate enemy characters and be the last character standing. Nine race courses and four arenas are available to choose from.[1]

Development and marketing

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The game was developed by LucasArts subsidiary Lucas Learning as its first entertainment-only title, and was the final title developed under that brand.[3][4] The concept for the game was created by Lucas Learning, and the decision was made for them to serve as developer and publisher for the title.[5] Development took close to two years, and at its peak consisted of over 20 people.[6] The music was composed by Peter McConnell, and features cartoon-like, satirical renditions of John Williams' Star Wars score.[7] McConnell had previously worked on soundtracks for other LucasArts games such as Grim Fandango and Full Throttle. Some actors from the films reprise their roles in the game. Jake Lloyd voices Anakin Skywalker, Ahmed Best returns as Jar Jar Binks, and Lewis MacLeod again voices Sebulba. Grey Griffin, Tom Kane and Kevin Michael Richardson are among the voice actors used to voice double the remaining characters.[8] Lucas Learning utilized RenderWare from Criterion Software as the engine to power Super Bombad Racing.[9]

In early May 2000, leaked information revealed Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing was in development.[10] It was officially unveiled at E3 2000.[3] The game was later promoted at the Sony Metreon in San Francisco, California in April 2001. Copies of the game signed by George Lucas were raffled away.[11] It was released in North America on April 25, 2001[12] and in Europe on May 25. Super Bombad Racing is a PlayStation 2 exclusive. Additional releases were planned for the Sega Dreamcast, Windows, and Mac OS.[6] These were cancelled due to poor sales.[13][14]

Reception

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The game received "mixed or average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[15] Some praised the game, calling it an accomplished kart racer and a welcome addition to the then-short list of PlayStation 2 titles. Others, however, felt that while the game was mechanically sound, the Star Wars setting and appearance felt "tacked on" and therefore a dirty ploy to make money for LucasArts. Others roundly criticized the game, both for turning Star Wars into a childish kart racer and for simply making a bad game. Shahed Ahmed of GameSpot said that the game introduced a few clever concepts, but was critical of the length and flaws relating to the gameplay.[21] Uncle Dust of GamePro said that the game "offers enough challenge and replay value to be a good party game for younger Star Wars fans."[27][b] However, Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen said of the game in its negative review, "We've said it before, but the world really does not need another licensed kart racing game."[24]

Retrospective opinions on the game were sometimes more critical. GamesRadar+'s Henry Gilbert included Super Bombad Racing in a list of "The most forgettable kart racers ever released".[28] In contrast the IGN staff included it in a list of "The 11 Goofiest Weirdest Silliest Strangest Funniest Dumbest Star Wars Video Games Ever".[29] It also appeared in Game Informer's list of "The 8 Strangest Kart Racing Games".[30] They also listed is as the 2nd worst Star Wars game in 2015.[31]

Notes

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  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 2.5/10, 4/10, and 4.5/10.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 4.5/5 for sound, and 3.5/5 for control.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Smith, David (April 23, 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  2. ^ Adams, Dan (May 18, 2000). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Preview 1)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Gantayat, Anoop (May 22, 2000). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Preview 2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  4. ^ Macworld staff (June 19, 2001). "Lucas Learning axes Mac game, exits consumer market". Macworld. IDG. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Griffin, Josh (November 2, 2000). "An Interview with Todd Reamon[,] Lead Artist at Lucas Learning". TheForce.net. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Bombad Racing Interview: Page One". The International House of Mojo. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Profile". Peter McConnell. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Video Game 2001) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing box art
  10. ^ Perry, Douglass C. (May 2, 2000). "Two PS2 Star Wars Games Unveiled". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  11. ^ IGN staff (April 17, 2001). "Super Bombad Racing at the Sony Metreon". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  12. ^ IGN staff (April 18, 2001). "Release Date Set for Super Bombad Racing". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  13. ^ Chau, Anthony (January 11, 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing Cancelled". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  14. ^ Walker, Trey (June 20, 2001). "Cancelled: Super Bombad Racing for the PC [date mislabeled as "June 21, 2001"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024. No old archived link for the article that has the correct date exists; the correct date is only shown in this link here.
  15. ^ a b "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  16. ^ Terwilliger, Todd. "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 20, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  17. ^ Sewart, Greg; Boyer, Crsipin; Kujawa, Kraig (June 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 142. Ziff Davis. p. 109. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  18. ^ MacIsaac, Jason (May 7, 2001). "[Star Wars:] Super Bombad Racing". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on January 9, 2003. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  19. ^ Reiner, Andrew (May 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing". Game Informer. No. 97. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on January 11, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  20. ^ G-Wok (April 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Ahmed, Shahed (April 25, 2001). "[Star Wars:] Super Bombad Racing Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  22. ^ Thornton, Benjaman (May 4, 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racer". PlanetPS2. GameSpy Industries. Archived from the original on May 6, 2001. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  23. ^ The Badger (April 24, 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing [score mislabeled as "8.8/10"]". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  24. ^ a b Lundrigan, Jeff (July 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing". NextGen. No. 79. Imagine Media. p. 83. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  25. ^ Davison, John (June 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 45. Ziff Davis. pp. 98–99. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  26. ^ Weigel, Ray (May 4, 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing (PS2) - Review". Extended Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  27. ^ Uncle Dust (June 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing" (PDF). GamePro. No. 153. IDG. p. 105. Archived from the original on February 15, 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  28. ^ Gilbert, Henry (May 28, 2014). "The most forgettable kart racers ever released". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  29. ^ Altano, Brian; Ryan, Jon; Scoville, Max (November 18, 2019). "The 11 Goofiest Weirdest Silliest Strangest Funniest Dumbest Star Wars Video Games Ever". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  30. ^ Gwaltney, Javy (January 17, 2016). "The 8 Strangest Kart Racing Games". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  31. ^ Gwaltney, Javy (December 19, 2015). "A Disturbance In The Force: The 10 Worst Star Wars Games". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
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