I’ll give this to Ratalaika Games – that company certainly knows how to cater to the retro crowd.
It’s been releasing a number of classics from the older days for a newer generation to enjoy, including shoot-em-ups like Gynoug (Wings of Wor) and Gleylancer. But its latest pick is a little oddball, a Mario Kart clone that I completely forgot all about.
Rider’s Spirits originally released in 1994 and was quite obscure for its time. It utilizes Mode 7 technology in a similar manner to the 16-bit Kart, but with original characters and its own smattering of modes.
It’s cheap, going for a mere $6, but you get what you pay for. Despite great features and two-player local options, it barely rises above average when it comes to looks and gameplay. It’s a decent cheap thrill, but don’t be surprised if this motivates you to play Mario Kart instead.
On the Road Again
Rider’s Spirits allows you to choose from eight different racers (including a dude in a chicken suit!), each with their own special attributes. But their general controls are about the same, as you can steer around a track while accelerating and braking, and using the shoulder buttons for tight turns.
The gameplay is…all right, I guess? It’s functional and easy enough to navigate turns, but it just feels like it’s off by a little bit. There’s nothing to motivate you to keep going through more races, outside of having a friend in tow. It also doesn’t help that the performance is as smooth as, say, the legendary 16-bit Super Mario Kart. We’ll get to that when we talk about graphics.
It does feature a lot of modes, though. There’s a decent Battle Race option, the ability to tackle the Rider’s GP campaign, and even weird little ones like Chicken Run (not based on the animated film) and Endurance. The two-player option is nice to have as well, and Ratalaika even included other things like changing up the visual layout and even rewinding (in case a power-up hits you, I guess?).
But, again, the gameplay just feels general at best. There’s nothing here to make it stand out from other countless racing clones, and there are times power-ups will hit you cheaply out of nowhere – even more so than any given Kart game. The end result is a game that yearns to be something greater, but can’t quite get out of the gate.
Still, if you don’t mind spending $5, it might strike your curiosity for a few hours. Will it keep it? Well…
Not Such a Spirited Presentation
The big problem with Rider’s Spirits is that it wears its age on its sleeve. No, scratch that. It wears its age on both of its sleeves and its collar and practically the whole shirt.
Visually, the game stutters. It’s nowhere nearly as smooth as Mario Kart, despite the use of Mode 7 technology. The track layouts are alright but a bit uninspired, and it’s all too easy to veer off a turn and lose a few places in the process. The driver design is alright, but the one that really stands out to us is the dude in the chicken suit. Otherwise, it’s typical design.
The sound also doesn’t do much for the game. The music is okay but there’s hardly anything here that you’d consider “catchy;” and the sound effects are meager at best, without even a single peep to signify differences with the racers. It definitely fits the 16-bit mold, but that may seem too old hat for some of you.
Dead Man’s Curve
To be fair, I am glad that Ratalaika gave a chance to Rider’s Spirits, and budgeted it at a price that won’t break gamers looking for cheap thrills. Sadly, however, the fact of the matter is the game simply hasn’t aged that well. It’s a mere Mario Kart clone with very little inspiration to go for it, though some people may find it suitable enough to try it out for a few laps.
But, yeah, these Spirits haven’t exactly aged like wine, I’m afraid.
GAMERHUB RATING: 2.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to Ratalaika Games for the review code! You can get the game now on Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch!
