Product Description

Other than sporting a really cool name (come on, you know you like "Bombad"), Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing also offers some really big heads. Seriously, some hardcore Star Wars fans might disapprove of this whimsical kart-racing game based on their beloved franchise, but the less uptight will appreciate seeing Darth Maul, Yoda, Boss Nass, and others scaled down to Tiny Tunes dimensions. The object of the game is to race around movie-inspired tracks, picking up dozens of power-ups (including speed and shield boosts and some vehicle-specific tuners), and, of course, being the first to cross the finish line. And rather than having the technical sophistication of a game like Star Wars Starfighter, the controls here are easy enough for the youngest Jedis to master.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4059 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: ACTIVISION
• Released on: 2001-05-25
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
There's nothing quite like a little bit of console-based karting action. The fast-paced visuals, the fiendishly dangerous-looking weapons and the thrill of racing against a variety of opponents is a combination few can resist. Add the Star Wars moniker, and you should have the perfect game.

Super Bombad Racing is an interesting release from Lucas Learning, combining the rigid canon of the Star Wars universe with more than a little humour. This is apparent from the off, thanks to the funky title music and the playable characters, all of whom have small bodies and really big heads.

The cartoony style sets the tone for a game which grows on you like some evil mould the more you play it. The initial tracks are a little weak--nice and wide with smooth turns but nothing that promotes the fast and furious action kart racers demand. However, battle your way through the first couple of circuits as mini-Maul, mini-Yoda or the insipid mini-Anakin and the city of Theed opens its doors, giving the first indication of just how much fun this game can be.

Graphically it's a visual treat; everything moves along at a firm 60fps with no noticeable slowdown and the little tweaks made to the play arenas really bring it life--keep an eye out for Jabba the Hutt and the excellent Jawas. The sonics are a bit below par, just a set of chunky tunes and some horrible voice acting for the racers--Obi-Wan sounds more like Sean Connery than Ewan McGregor--but this gripe aside, SBR provides everything you need for an evening's entertainment, especially in the rush to get to the mystery racers, who include a certain dark-helmeted chap

SBR really comes into its own in multi-player mode, when the gloves come off and up to four folks can battle it out with a multitap. It's the closest in a while we've come to Mario Kart-style action, and is massively entertaining, especially when nailing JarJar with a burst of multi-coloured energy--excellent! It certainly won't be to everyone's taste, and it's a pretty radical departure from the usual style of Star Wars fun, but for all that it's engrossing in one player mode and downright hilarious in multiplayer. --Chris Russell

DailyRadar.com
Super Bombad Racing is a kart racer, it's based on the Star Wars universe and it comes from Lucas Learning--but somehow it manages to rise quite competently above those normally negative factors. It's aimed towards a younger market, but the visuals are good, the controls are great and the game manages to elicit more endearment out of The Phantom Menace than a crate full of unwanted Jar Jar dolls. The game features two primary modes of play--race and arena modes. Racing-- across nine exotic courses--can be played with one to four players, and there's a team mode, too. The especially hardcore can save a race as a Challenge Race to be played again later, and taking first in the big circuit unlocks the race mirror mode, effectively doubling your choices. The arena mode features four dedicated tracks for flying about and pummeling the competition. Most of the levels are sprawling, intricate affairs piled high with plenty of alternating routes. As with all wacky racers, the key to success is a combination of finding the right craft and rider and the key shortcuts and items, and simply steering well--it's a classic formula, and well implemented here. Controls are simple yet suitably in-depth. Gadgets are a big part of the genre, and Super Bombad Racing's got them--a whole lot of them. There are more than two dozen items to be had, including a probe droid (which seeks out the leader of the pack), a tractor beam and numerous variants on the mine. There's also an occasional power-up that gives each of the racers an especially useful special attack. Queen Amidala can blind the competition, Jar Jar can use his tongue to latch onto another racer and slingshot himself forward, and Yoda can cause all of the other racers to temporarily flip upside down. Visually, this game is quite the little charmer--somewhere between the world of Sanrio and Lego Land, but Star Wars-style, if you can imagine such a thing. There's plenty of onscreen action at all times, and all of it is animated--including the droids, space traffic, hangar doors and plasma chutes. Effects such as the numerous crackling light storms that accompany each weapon are quite nice--crisp and colorful--and so are the lighting and mirror effects. When we first started playing this title, we found ourselves wanting to like it more--something about its inherent silliness makes it quite endearing, and the off-kilter approach to a familiar set of icons is a refreshing change for a license that often takes itself too seriously. While it's a bit on the easy side, it's good for those of gamers who live for more than a bit of the old bloodshed. And, of course, those many rabid Star Wars fans. --DailyRadar.com

Customer Reviews

the force is ???? in this one
Even being a star wars fan doesn't help save this game for me. Its just a very average kart game and has very limited come back appeal. Its not a patch on crash nitro or bomberkart. Unless your really a die hard fan of star wars stay clear of this one.

The definition of mediocrity
I wanted to love this game. I expected to hate this game. After clocking a few hours on it I'm still undecided. Ever since Mario and co stepped off the platform and into their under sized, over powered conveyances, there's been a race to repeat the success of Mario Kart, unfortunately, this tends to involve taking a bunch of familiar characters and putting them into funny cars with the occasional power up for good measure. And, in the case of this game, giving them big heads. To date, none of them have come close to matching the original. But ignoring its obvious roots, how does SW:SBR stand as its own game? Well it's not bad, the graphics are cute, cartoony, but over all a little bland, especially in the track design (which is even more disappointing considering the jerky animation). The racing gameplay is likewise not bad, the crafts hover along quite happily and control easily enough, it's just a shame it lacks any sense of speed. Add to that the fact that losing positions is a whole lot easier than gaining them, and you have an occasionally frustrating time that seems to rely on not who's the better driver, but who happens to be in the lead when everyone crosses the finishing line. Thankfully the game is redeemed a little in the battle section with some ok arenas which are instantly recognisable from the film. It's an enjoyable laugh, best enjoyed with friends, and a large foam glove to point at the loser. All in all this is an average game, nothing more, nothing less, but with enough tongue in cheek smiles to keep you entertained.

Do you miss Mario Kart?
As a keen gamer, I still look back in anger at the day I traded in my SNES. Along with some games that will never be rivalled, such as Super Bomber Man, was a fantastic little racing game which set the standard for all computer racing games - Super Mario Kart. Addictive, competetive, obssesive. The ultimate racer! The PSX never had anything to rival the two player races and battles, or even the sadism of using a homing shell. The PS2 so far hasn't really offered any kind of addiction, until now. Super Bombad Racing is a beatiful display of what a karting style games should be like. The graphics are very slick, and move without any slowdown or breaks in the landscape. There is so much to this game, including some favourite Star Wars characters, multiplay, sadism, and everything you got from Mario Kart. This is the kind of game you can spend the whole night playing, and because of the 4 player modes, you will be playing this game for years to come! Just invite your 3 closest friends and enjoy the best thing since Super Mario Kart.