HSX: Hypersonic.Xtreme

Taking a different approach to game development, Majesco has released a carbon copy F-Zero racing game called Hypersonic Xtreme. What makes it stand out however isn't the quality or type of game but how much it costs. Listed at $9.99, Hypersonic Xtreme becomes a tempting purchase for almost anybody with racing fans taking particular interest. Nothing is free however, and as you might expect, to list a game for $9.99 there must have been some drastic cuts in it's development. That appears to be the case across the board with only one area showing any promise at all.

Hypersonic Xtreme follows a simple gameplay structure that will be familiar to veterans of games like F-Zero. Race hover cars around a track picking up boosts and shield increases along the way. It consists of three gameplay options, Time Trials, Cup, and Track Editor. The track editor is really the only part of the game that stands out at all and is intuitive to use.

Once a couple of tracks have been designed, however, the interest starts to dissipate as the rest of the game becomes a factor. These other factors really show where the game development was neglected for whatever reason, as there is little depth to the game.

Issues like an AI that is a non-factor while racing and gameplay that appears borrowed without any improvements or updates all chip away at its appeal. To make it worse, the graphics and audio would be more appropriate on the PS1 and really make it difficult to enjoy the game.

Had Hypersonic Xtreme been released on the PSO, the poor graphics and audio would hardly be noticed and the lack of originality in the overall game design would be less of a factor. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with these issues standing out like a sore thumb. Even at $9.99, it will be hard to overcome for most people but if you're in between games or really enjoy racing games, you could to give it a try'just don't expect too much.