Star Wars Episode I: Racer Reviews
It's very much showing its age, but this remaster does just enough to prove that Racer would've been a good game with or without the Star Wars licence.
Quotation forthcoming.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Star Wars Episode I: Racer is still a very exciting game, but the remaster is quite lazy. If you are ready to put up with the outdated visuals, then the race can give you a few hours of fun. Especially if you like Star Wars.
Review in Russian | Read full review
More than anything, this game being both 20 years old and incredibly fun is a clear sign that a modern Podracing title should absolutely be a thing.
Ultimately, your preexisting feelings toward Star Wars Episode I: Racer will determine your experience with it.
The central loop of 'race, win, upgrade, race' is certainly compelling while it lasts, and if you have fond memories of Star Wars Episode I: Racer from your childhood this is as good a way to relive them as possible – just don't expect any huge overhauls from the original game. Star Wars Episode I: Racer sets itself apart from the likes of Wipeout with its earnest take on the popular licence, and it's still fun to relive one of the best scenes in the prequel trilogy, but it's a long way from being one of the best racers on Switch.
Star Wars Episode 1 : Racer could have been a nice port on Switch, but the game still suffers from too many flaws to really satisfy. Fast and exhilarating, this Switch version seems unfinished, and features bugs, poping and clipping effects, without mentionning a horribly compressed soundtrack that does not justice to its brilliant composer.
Review in French | Read full review
It hurts to see that those memories remain as simple memories and that this re-release didn’t scratch the nostalgia itch as much as I wanted it too.
In an alternate universe somewhere we'd be lamenting why the studio didn't make a Pod Racing game instead.
This port is certainly nothing to write home about, but the core game is a classic, priced at just $14.99. Nostalgia, and the ability to play in handheld mode, are enough to recommend STAR WARS Episode I Racer on the Nintendo Switch eShop to fans.
As mentioned at the beginning of the review, your appreciation of Star Wars: Episode I: Racer appearing on the Switch will heavily depend on the rose tint of your glasses. On the one hand, the presentation is especially rough, and the lack of difficulty for most of the campaign makes the task of unlocking everything a chore — at least until the final few races become competitive. On the other hand, the sense of speed in races is still present, and the track design isn't bad when you consider how fast things are going. While those who have played the game before might get a kick out of being able to play it again on a modern, portable machine, others may be fine leaving this one alone.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer takes the classic Nintendo 64 game and brings it to modern platforms with some nice improvements.
This is a very straightforward port of a game from 1999. Motion controls are its most substantial update and they ultimately fail to impress. That being said, even the most bare bones port leaves us with an amazing racing game with gameplay that has excellently stood the test of time.
A competent port of a Nintendo 64 classic, Star Wars Episode I: Racer looks great with the added spit-shine, controls tightly, and performs excellently, with no slowdown in frame-rate. Loading screens have also been removed entirely, which was not really an issue in the original versions, but it is something that should be commended here. At a budget price, many will be pleased that this will help them re-live a piece of nostalgia, and for those on the fence, do not hesitate as this is a great quality port in both docked and handheld modes, yet it will leave others wondering what Aspyr could have done by adding in an online multiplayer and improved AI.
Star Wars Episode 1 Racer brings back a simplistic nostalgic racing game that captures the joys of podracing.
Despite its occasional quirks and missed opportunities, Racer delivers on a consistent, mostly-bug-free performance that made me pine for both LucasArts’ heyday, and the golden age of high-speed futuristic racers, which have all but disappeared as a sub-genre.
A much-improved frame rate and an HD sheen give Star Wars Episode I: Racer a new lease of life. This thoughtful update ensures the game is much more than a trip down memory lane. Despite its age, it remains one of the best sci-fi racers you can play on Nintendo Switch or PS4.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer was a great game in its time, which knew how to transmit the feeling of speed and frenzy of pod racing to the living room of our house and this port has got that same feeling of wanting to go faster and face rivals in the highest difficulties. An improvement of textures and resolution suits the game well since we have the sensations of 20 years ago in HD resolution.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Star Wars Episode I: Racer is a product of its time. Although its gameplay remains fast and fun even when compared to more current titles, its content and graphic presentation denounce that this is a game of the last century, and the remastering does little to mitigate that fact. How much it will matter, honestly, is a personal matter for each player.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ultimately, we get a classic game with a prettier look for some simple racing – and that’s exactly what this needed to be. Star Wars fans should be perfectly content with adding this to their library.