The Eighties weren't a particularly exciting time for me. I spent most of that decade growing up and learning that girls didn't in fact have "cooties". In Activision's follow-up to Interstate 76, which is appropriately named Interstate 82, they seem to show otherwise. The game is made up of car chases, running down people on foot, and using highly explosive weapons. Apparently I really missed out on the good parts of the Eighties.
The story continues along the same path as the first, but a few years later. Taurus is on a mission to find his old partner "Groove Champion" and tagging along on this ride is a feisty blonde girl with a mohawk. Although this team of road warrior/bounty hunters seems a bit off, their attitudes and style certainly fit the decade. The story is based primarily around the search for Groove Champion and not only does the plot develop between each mission, plot points are also given during in-mission dialog.
In most respects I82 hasn't changed too much from I76. The gameplay is pretty much the same, save the differences created by new car models and weapons. Most of the game takes place in your vehicle, but the vehicle you are using can be swapped with any unoccupied vehicle on the play field. So if the car you rolled into town with took a big beating, the player can find an empty car, then jump out of the old and into the new. Undesignated cars that are scattered about the playfield have their own assortment of weapons and models.
Instant Action is a still a selection that is available from the main menu. From this area players can set up their own sort of deathmatch. They can pick the map, modify it, select the cars that will battle, and start it up. This was probably my favorite part of the game since it kept the action steady and fast, and let me try out all the neat car modifications as well.
If a player manages to jump out of their car before it turns into a ball of flame they can run to the nearest empty auto and continue to battle. Running on foot is extremely dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. Not only can the player be eliminated with one bullet, but also a strong enough bump from the enemy's car can spell the end for Taurus.
The ordinance in I82 is actually quite impressive, and pretty good at keeping with the times. The most high tech weapon you can outfit a car with is the laser, which presents of a steady stream of energy that cuts into the enemy. More basic weapons include the all purpose machine gun, rockets, and even flame-throwers.
Outfitting your ride with the latest in weapons is actually somewhat of a science. Some weapons work better in some situations, and your car only has so much room to handle what a player puts on it.
Weapons must also share the available space with Armor and Special Items. Armor units are what boost the overall durability of the car, and Special Items enhance the car's performance. One of my favorite Special Items is the Jump Unit. I don't think I need to describe what this unit actually does, but during combat with single enemies it proves itself useful in many situation plus it just looks really cool.
Although the controls in I82 are presented on the keyboard, the game doesn't actually suffer that much. Since most of the movements needed during the gameplay are not too precise, you don't really need much else than the simple set of keystrokes set in place for the title. Sometimes it can get a little difficult to get in and out of a car, or over an obstacle. These situations present themselves less often, but do require that precise control that isn't so strong.
Although the game promises a lot of excitement, and does manage to deliver on some of this promise, it still is a rather dull title. The car battles that take place aren't overly creative. The environments for each battle, while nice to look at, in no way really help the gameplay. Car battles consist of joust-type battles, constantly circling, running, or chasing the enemy. The weapons do add flare but the game actually gets a little tiresome around the third mission. The battles do get more challenging, but the way they are carried out is still very much the same. This is what really hurts Interstate 82.
The music was apparently put together by Devo and a few other bands from the 80s. I wasn't able to notice any vocal tracks during the game, but the music was still very good. I don't think Activision could have done a better job recapturing the feel of the Eighties as they did in the music for Interstate 82.
Appropriate booms, bangs and ricochets have been placed in to accompany the weapons of the title. The sounds given off by the car reflect the type and model of the vehicle. The voices are actually pretty good too. Some of the villains sport some pretty heavy and exaggerated accents, but while that may look like bad voice acting, it actually sets a sort of mood for the title.
On a technical level Interstate 82 has been pulled of very well. The downside is that even though the game's engine and story have advanced, the gameplay hasn't. The gameplay that is present in I82 is pretty much what made I76 popular, but that was back in a time where 3D technology was still getting the kick in the ass it needed. A lot more could have probably been done to keep this title a bit more fresh. Fans of the original might take a liking to this title, but if you were looking for something else, I would suggest not looking here.
-- Ryan Thompson
