New York race

New York Race is a futuristic racing game developed by Kalisto Entertainment and released on November 2001. The game is loosely based on the Luc Besson’s science fiction film, The Fifth Element. The game is available via CDROM installation. It comes in two modes—single player gameplay and two-player.

New York Race features up to 25 unlockable vehicles. Each vehicle has different advantages and disadvantages. These 25 vehicles can be categorized into three—Hovercars, Speeders, and Cruisers. Hovercars are considered “all round” vehicles that can hover in location, hence the name. Speeders are fast but prone to damages because of weak shielding capabilities. On the other hand, Cruisers are the slowest of the bunch, but can withstand more damages.

New York Race game environment accommodates not just horizontal racing gameplay, but also vertical. The environment is several miles wide and a few miles high, giving a three-dimensional feel to the game. The game is set in New York featuring 12 race courses. These 12 courses are divided into 4 district groups—Slums, Chinatown, Middle Class, and Jet Set.  The Slums are set at the base or the ground, with dingy surroundings including tracks in the Dumps or the Sewers. Chinatown is characterized by beautiful Oriental surroundings and bright city lights. The Middle Class courses happen at the middle with fairly bright businesses and streets. The Jet Set courses are set at the top of the towers, snaking through New York’s high rises.