18: No Second Prize

Number 18
(191.8 points)
No Second Prize
1993: 19 (32.8)
1994: 44 (34.2)
1995: 25 (60.8)
1996: 37 (64.0)

A motorcycle racer, in 3D, played with a mouse, on an Amiga 500? You'd better believe it.

No Second Prize sees you choose a motorcyclist and gives you a first-person view from your bike as you race around a number of tracks. There are two notable aspects of the game, the first being the fast 3D graphics: although a faster Amiga will reduce framerate drops when new scenery appears, it's perfectly playable on a stock A500. The other notable feature is the control system: the game exclusively uses the mouse and keyboard, with the buttons controlling acceleration and braking, while the keyboard adjusts the gears. You can change the mouse sensitivity within the game, and it's recommended to set it as low as possible, as fine control is essential for navigating the tracks and avoiding your opponents.

This took me by surprise: a driving game where I'm forced to use the mouse? But then I played it and realised that for a motorcycle, where you're turning by leaning left and right, the mouse is just perfect. The fine control you can gain from it had me weaving between opponents in no time, and it wasn't long before I was very competitive and having a great time. This seriously needs more attention, even today.

Recommended TOSEC disk(s):
No Second Prize (1992)(Thalion)[cr Ministry]