Let me start off by admitting the first level is a bit of a bore. When I first popped this game in and played the first track, I thought, "Looks good but seems slow." Let me tell ya folks, this game really takes off (pun intended) in the later stages. Graphically Magforce Racing is really slick, providing smooth textures, good frame rates, and vibrant colors. The vehicle design is quite bland, but I play in first person mode anyway, so it isn't an issue. Each track is very different, not only in textures, but also in design as well. With the exception of the first track, each gives the impression of the sickest roller coasters of the future. What surprised me was the lack of drawn in or pop-up. There is none to be seen! Even better, when playing 2-4 players, this fact still remains true. No real loss of detail or draw in can be found in the multiplayer modes, which is a real bonus. While some effects come off sounding better than they look, they do a decent job. Of course, none really compare to Wipeout’s effects in any shape or form. With the small gripe of damage being totally absent, I’d say Magforce does a stand up job for a first attempt.

Sound is pretty fair, giving bouncy techno tunes, noisy weapon effects, and a robotic babe announcing weapon pick ups are all here, but the sounds just never come out sounding outstanding. If there is a major flaw in the sound department, it’s the missing multiplayer audio. Whether you play in Mono or Stereo, the 1st player is the only person to get sound. This is a major bug that I’m surprised got past the testing process.

The control seems to be dogged by many, but I found the control to be decently precise. Actual play control came along better than originally thought, after playing the version at the E3. You accelerate with the R trigger, and use your magnets with the L trigger. The X and B buttons provide for a nice strafing feature for the harder later levels. It would have been nice to adjust sensitivity to make steering loose or tighter, but I really have had no major issues with control here.

Magforce only offers 4 vehicle types, each with different handling styles. This was a disappointment to say the least. I was also hoping for a deeper modification scheme, like color selection, upgrades, etc. but in the end it’s just as bland on options as other titles like it. With 5 game modes and 10 tracks (each with 4 classes), I think there’s enough depth here to keep even the most cynical racer happy for a good while. I’ve noticed a lot of harsh criticism of this title, and I don’t see why. IGN Dreamcast provided a good review of it, but most other mags and online sites really dissed this title. I for one say this game is a must have for not only Wipeout fans, but also racing fans alike. More options would have been welcome, but it does a satisfactory job nonetheless. There’s really nothing like it on the Dreamcast and it is getting overlooked by the majority of DC owners, which is a shame. This title in my opinion shouldn’t be missed, as it provides beautiful looks and speed to back it up. What’s more it’s a blast to play, and isn’t that what counts in the end anyway?