The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

CRAZEE RIDER

 

 

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette, ADFS 1D00 Disc And DFS 1D00 Disc

 

Game Type          : Arcade Motorcycle Racing

Authors            : Kevin Edwards

Standalone Release(s)   : 1985: CRAZEE RIDER, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95 (Tape), £12.95

                    (5.25" Disc), £14.95 (ADFS Disc)

                    1989: CRAZEE RIDER, Superior/Blue Ribbon, £2.99

Compilation Release(s) : 1987: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 2, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128

Supplier            : SUPERIOR/ACORNSOFT

Disc compatibility     : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00

 

 

Instructions

The objective of the game is to achieve as high a score as possible by:

 

(a) finishing in qualifying position (the first six) on as many racetracks as you can,

(b) earning bonus points by knocking other riders off their bikes.

 

You can push other riders off their bikes at any stage during the game. It is particularly easy to do so at the start of the race by steering alternately left then right: usually 4 or 5 riders can be pushed off their bikes during this "crazee" scramble at the start. At the end of the race, you will hear a finishing bell as you complete the lap, and your bike will gradually slow down to a stop - during this slowing-down phase you will often be able to knock one or two more riders off their bikes.

 

A map of the current race circuit is shown at the top of the game screen. Your bike is shown on the map as a small moving square and the start/finish line is also indicated. Your speed and your current position in the race is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Each race has 60 participants.

 

At the start of the race the red, amber and green starting lights are shown. Wait for the green light to appear before you start to accelerate. If you try to accelerate before the green light appears, you will be penalised and your bike will stall.

 

Keep clear of the edges of the road as much as possible. If you veer towards the road edges your bike will gradually slow down until you steer away.

 

Crashes

There are three types of crash that may occur:

 

(1)  If you steer into another bike and your bike is in front of the other bike, you will knock the opposing rider off his bike. A small "hit token" is placed at the top-right of the screen, and you are awarded a bonus score at the end of the race.

(2)  If there is a shunt between your bike and an opposing bike which is just in front of you, a side collision will occur and your bike will simply lose some speed.

(3)  If you drive right up the back end of an opposing bike, then it's a full rear crash: your speed will be reduced considerably and your bike will be disabled for a short period of time.

 

Bonus Points

Whenever you knock an opposing rider off his bike, a "hit token" appears at the top-right of the screen. Then, at the end of the game, you score a 200-point bonus for every rider knocked off.

 

Game Controls

Z - Steer left,   X - Steer right,   * - Accelerate,   ? - Decelerate

<ESCAPE> - Exit from game,   S - Sound on/off,   H - Halt on/off

K - Toggle joystick/keyboard,   J - Toggle joystick type: D = Digital, P = Plus 1

 

Standard joystick movements apply. The type of joystick interface is shown bottom right of the screen. The digital interface recommended is First Byte.

 

Title Page Controls

C - Change colours

Press the "C" key on the title pages before restarting  the game. You can now change the foreground colours to any colour except black by pressing the "1","2" or "3"  keys. Press SPACE to exit from the colour-change mode.

 

1-6

Select to start the game on racetrack 1 to 6 (only available if you have qualified from all the preceding racetracks)

 

The Racetracks

* Le Mans           (France)          * Misano            (Italy)

* Anderstorp        (Sweden)          * Silverstone       (U.K)

* Paul Richard      (France)          * Nurburgring       (W. Germany)

* Brands Hatch      (U.K)

 

JUMP option

You can jump immediately to the start of the race on racetracks 1-6 provided you have already qualified from all the preceding racetracks in a previous game. To do so, press the "1", "2", "3", "4", "5" or "6" key whilst on the title pages. You will hear an audible beep confirming your selection, and the next race will take place on the chosen racetrack.

 

However, to see the codewords on completion of the 7th, 14th and 21st racetracks you must not use the JUMP option.

 

 

Instructions' Source   : PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 2 (Superior) Inner Inlay

 

Review (Electron User) - "On Yer Bike!"

Don your crash helmet and zip up your letters. You'll need nimble fingers, fast reactions and a kamikaze streak if you are to survive CRAZEE RIDER, a superb motorcycle race game.

 

The screen display shows your bike, speedometer, race position indicator and view of the track. At the top is a bird's eye view of the race track - there are seven in all.

 

As the starting lights change to green, 59 bikes fly past as you accelerate towards the first bend.

 

The micro cheats here as the computer controlled bikes accelerate to maximum speed instantly, whereas it'll take you at least half a mile.

 

Luckily, your racer has been tuned by the best mechanics in the business and they have managed to squeeze a few extra horses out of the engine. This means, flat out on the straight, chin on the handlebars you can easily overtake the fastest of the micro bikes and work your way up the field.

 

The back markers can be a problem as they have an annoying habit of getting in the way at the worst possible movement, usually in the middle of a bend.

 

These aren't easy to negotiate, but you can see what's coming up by looking at the plan view of the track at the top of the screen. Your position is shown as a large red dot.

 

After discovering you can't crash or go off the track, my first instinct was to simply hold the throttle wide open. I soon discovered this wasn't the best tactic however and your speed drops rapidly as you near the edge of the track or ram the bike in front.

 

It soon becomes clear that it's best to follow the racing line through the bends. With one eye on your speedo and one finger on the brake, swing from outside the track to inside and slide back out again by snapping the throttle open as you exit the bend.

 

Although CRAZEE RIDER is a fair simulation of a motorcycle race it's not intended to be accurate. It's more of a cross between an arcade game and a simulation.  Points are gained by riding round the track and passing the opposition. You can also ride alongside the computer bikes and ram them off the track to gain bonus points.

 

Providing you finish in the first six you move on to race at the next track. It'll take a few laps to familiarise yourself with the layout, but unfortunately, you aren't awarded this luxury.

 

CRAZEE RIDER is an exciting game - it's fast, challenging and there's plenty to keep you entertained.

 

Sound ........................... 8

Graphics ........................ 8

Playability .................... 10

Value for money ................ 10

Overall ......................... 9

 

Joanne Hutcheson, ELECTRON USER 4.12