Developer: Iguana
Until the advent of home computers, radio controlled (RC) cars were probably the most expensive habit a kid could have, other than eating. Ok, the most expensive 'legal' habit a kid could have. Well, most of us are big kids now, but not all of us have outgrown the urge to race at full speed down a city street, jumping off a curb, and scaring the neighbor's dog. If you ever loved the whine of a high output motor, the buzz of steering servos, or the crack of plastic shattering against concrete, Re-Volt could be just the thing for you! Re-Volt is a 9-volt DC radio controlled arcade racer through creatively rendered 3D environments. You've got power-ups and weapons to pick up, and you've got to do whatever it takes to win!
The first thing you notice when you start a race in Re-Volt is that your view of the world is from the bottom up. And, dare we say it, the world has a nice shapely bottom. The feel of being in an environment made for creatures much larger than you adds a nice feel to the game. Back in the days of RC ProAm, and more recently with the Micro Machines games, you felt like you were racing a tiny car. Re-Volt turns the whole concept on its head by making it look like you're driving a normal car in a huge environment. Whether you're slamming into a basketball, driving under a car, or rocketing off a curb, you feel immersed in a world made for giants.
Back when we played the Re-Volt demo, we were awed by the stunningly realistic control. It felt just like driving a real RC car. Unfortunately, somewhere between the demo and the retail version, Iguana fragged up royally and changed the feel. They didn't do anything drastic, but for some reason, the full game is just not nearly as fun as the demo was. Re-Volt no longer feels like you're driving a RC car. It now feels like you're driving a small and nimble car. It's still fun and has an easy arcade feel, but the excitement is gone. "You've lost that RC feeling. Whoa, that RC feeling. You've lost that RC feeling now it's gone…gone…gone…whoa."