Rollcage (video game)

:"A roll cage is also an automotive component."Infobox VG| title = Rollcage


caption=
developer = Attention To Detail
publisher = Psygnosis
designer =
released = March 24 1999
modes = Single player, Multiplayer
genre = Racing
series=
ratings = ESRB: E (Everyone)
USK: 12+
ELSPA: 3+
OFLC: G8+
platforms = PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
media = 1 CD-ROM
requirements= DirectX 6.0, Windows 95 (WIN)
input=Keyboard, mouse, Gamepad or joystick

"Rollcage" is an arcade-style racing game for Windows and PlayStation, developed by Attention to Detail, and published by Psygnosis. The Windows version was released in the UK on March 24, 1999. The game's selling point was its unique physics engine, in which cars could drive on walls or ceilings because of the airflow passing over them at extreme speeds. The game also featured an original soundtrack by Fatboy Slim. A sequel named Rollcage Stage II was released in 2000 for Windows and Playstation.The sequel includes 20 vehicles and a lot more tracks than the first game, and it's more accessible to novice players. There is also a training mode, a combat mode and multiplayer (up to 4 players split screen or more players on the internet or LAN). The [http://www.gorcx.net/ new Rollcage] is called RollcageX or RCX. It is a fan made clone, which is still in development.

The cars are all double sided so, they can be driven on either side. This is done by having the tires of the car larger than the body. The cars cannot be destroyed in the game.

Overview

Rollcage allows players to race as one of 6 cars and drivers. The drivers being: Tony, Lothar, Ria, Jet, Leon and Lenny. When the game is completed in "Easy" mode, "Hard" mode and a seventh mysterious driver (who now can race against you) are both unlocked. Completing "Hard" mode allows players to finally race as the seventh driver (a policeman named Yuri). He arguably has the best statistics in the game due to higher speed, grip, and acceleration statistics than anyone else. Only weakness being strength.

The racing modes available to choose from are: League, Arcade, Time attack and Multiplayer.

Tracks

There are 4 main "Worlds" in Rollcage; Neoto City, Harpoon Islands, Saphire Springs and Outworld, where the racing takes place.

*Neoto City is largely based on a city in Japan. This can be seen especially in the logo, as it is in the shape of Japan's national flag.
*Harpoon Islands are a series island tracks.
*Saphire Springs is an icy and snowy place, where it seems oil is being drilled.
*Outworld is a mining area, loosely based in a desert.

All of the races are held in each of these 4 worlds.

Weapons and Power-ups

There are many weapons and power-ups in the game, and they are an integral part of the game. If used carefully, weapons and power-ups can help a lot during racing. There are 2 slots for weapons in the game so at any one time, the player can have 2 weapons, and they can be the same type.

Homing Missile - This a missile, when fired will make its way to the leader of the race and will blow him up into the air. The car and driver will not die or get damaged (as the cars can not actually be destroyed by any means). The missile has a white tinge as it's travelling. When hit the car will go up in the air. Making for enough time (if the field is fairly bunched up), for the player to pass it.

Worm Hole - This is opens a worm hole in front of your car and when fired makes its way to the person directly in front of you, position wise. i.e. if you are 5^th it will make its way to 4^th. After that, it will teleport that car behind the car that cast the attack.

Standard Single Missile - This missile will fire and destroy anything that is targeted. Players can target other cars and thus this missile acts simillarly to a Homing Missile only that it will target cars that are viewable on the screen at the time, not first place specifically. This missile has a gold tinge to it when traveling, to distinguish it from the Homing Missile. When hit the car will be blown up into the air. This missile can also be used to destroy buildings, signs and other structures.

Shield - This shield is the only thing that can protect you from any type of attack. It completely covers the car much like a protective box. It depletes when it has suffered a specific amount of damage or when a single Homing Missile hits it. You can tell how much damage the shield has taken by looking at it's colour. When first invoked, it will be a shade of blue, slowly turning to red near the end of it's use.

Speed Boost - This gives the player a sudden burst of speed, causing the turbine exhaust flames of the car to turn gold (presumably because of the extra fuel/boost), when the Boost is wearing off, the exhaust flames turn white and finally back to the normal colour. This power-up can be used simultaneously if both item slots are Speed Boosts. When this happens, the speed is doubled compared to that of a single boost.

Ice Beam - This weapon looks like two lightning bolts coming out of the car. It causes cars around it to "freeze up" and will interfere with their traction control, causing them to understeer or oversteer depending on the angle and speed of the car.

Driller Missile - This weapon shoots out three missiles in a straight line, and will carry on going until it hits something solid, i.e., anything apart from another car, so it is possible to hit more than 1 car with this attack (so long as only one of the missiles hit it). When hit the car will be blown up in the air as per norm.

Continuum Warper - This weapon slows down every car in the game, apart from the attacking car. The weapon lasts longer the further down in position you are. That is, if the player was 6 ^th, it will last longer than if the player was 1^st.

As the player completes leagues, they will unlock certain tracks, and bonus bits. The bonus bits are multiplayer death matches where the only weapon is the Driller Missile and the only power-up is the Speed Boost. This is the only time in the game where the cars can be destroyed, but when destroyed, they are re-spawned.

References

* [http://www.gorcx.net/ RCX RollCageX Site] RollcageX, The new Rollcage game to continue from where Rollcage Stage II left us...
* [http://www.gorcx.net/forum/ RCX RollCageX Community Forum] Main forum for the RCX Rollcage Open Source Project.
* [http://www.planetrollcage.com/ Planet Rollcage fansite]
* [http://www.rollcagestage2.com/ Rollcage Stage 2 site]

* [http://www.gamestats.com/objects/011/011495/ Rollcage at GameStats]