8.6 /10 1 Votes
Initial release date 1997 | 8.5/10 IGN Genre Racing video game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Modes Single-player video game, Multiplayer video game Similar SegaSoft games, Racing video games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plane Crazy, released on September 30, 1998, is a racing game in which contestants pilot racing planes through a number of 3D courses. Plane Crazy owed more to kart style racing games rather than flight sims, and made a few concessions to realism, relying instead on fast-paced action. Published by SegaSoft, the game supported the Heat.net multiplayer gaming system, with up to eight players allowed in one race.
Gameplay
In Plane Crazy the player pilots a fast, cartoon like plane, built for speed across a variety of levels against seven other opponents. The objective of each level is to make it to the finish as fast as possible and try to finish first before the other players do. There is also a set time limit where players must fly through checkpoints dotted along the course. The timer resets once you have flown through the checkpoint. If the player should fail, and don't reach the checkpoint before the timer runs out, the plane will veer out of control and crash, and it will be "Game Over".
Planes explode when they come into contact with other structures, terrain, or even other planes. They then respawn, invincible for a short amount of time. There are three types of planes: the light and fast plane that cannot take much damage, the evenly balanced plane and the heavy plane which is slower but can take more punishment. Each of these planes can be upgraded and customized. Nine different levels are included, each with their own themes, songs, and styles. Settings include a canyon, a dock, a jungle and even a city.
Throughout each map there are certain blue vortexes dotted at given locations, that give small random temporary buffs (upgrades)/weapons to the plane. These small power-ups give players a certain "edge" or advantage over the other opponents, making game play more hectic. Such as the "Black Cat", which grants invincibility for a short amount of time. Or even Rocket Boosts, which increases the planes speed dramatically for only a few seconds, depending on the rocket boosts level. Sometimes a player may be given a weapon which could fire a random homing missile at a random opponent in front of the plane. That player will than be sent a warning or a "Incoming!" message where the player can try and dodge the projectile. If the missile should hit tho, that player's plane could be temporarily disabled and plummet to the ground, which usually results in the plane crashing. Each plane is also given three blue torpedoes, which can be used to trigger environmental hazards for other players or shortcuts. Plane Crazy features online play, using the Heat.net multiplayer gaming system. It allows eight players on one server at one time.
