Simple, undemanding but exciting racer
Anyone looking for a simple, slick, arcade-style driving experience will find some entertainment here in Screamer. It might not be as complex or as deep as Gran Turismo, but for a Need For Speed-style piece of sheer, pedal-to-the-metal racing action, it certainly delivers the goods. Screamer offers players six tracks to race on and a handful of cars to get to grips with, each with the option of manual or automatic gears. Game modes include single races, championship and fun extras like cone hitting to add longevity. Races play out in similar fashion to other games like Ridge Racer or Daytona, with players required to hit checkpoints before their time runs out in order to rack up the points. Visually too, Screamer doesn't really do anything particularly different from the aforementioned games, but the tracks are nicely detailed, colourful and pretty varied, with plenty of background eye candy to distract you from the action. Where the game really scores is in its sense of speed and everything rips along at a fair old pace which ensures Screamer lives up to its name and provides an exciting driving experience. The game starts out relatively easy but the AI of your rivals soon ramps up considerably and they prove to be highly aggressive drivers, providing plenty of challenge even for experienced racing fans. Sound too is pretty impressive, with some cool effects that add to the atmosphere. While lacking in customisation and options, Screamer is certainly a fun, albeit simple, racer which provides plenty of exciting driving action.
