Not-So-Enhanced For Windows 95
A Review of Grid Runner
by Jason Bednarik
I'm sure that many of us remember the video games of yore. Pac Man, Asteroids, Defender, Missle Command, and of course, Q*Bert. If you're lucky, you might be able to find some of these classics lying around at the local flea market or swap shop. Classic arcades are cropping up all over the U.S. which feature restored machines of the glory days in gaming. Now, Virgin Interactive and Radical Entertainment have brought forth what they hope will be a new classic : Grid Runner.
Among other things, Grid Runner sports a unique (and somewhat construed) plot. Ships passing through the "safe" Gridonian Asteriod Field are disappearing and the Galactic Government wants to know why. They need a group of explorers to find out what is causing the occurances. Axxel and Tara are friends and explorers who are offered the job. While exploring, they come across an abandoned ship that has a distress signal. Axxel boards the ship hoping to save someone, but soon realizes that it is merely an elaborate trap set by the evil Empress Vorga (where did she come from?)! You are Axxel -- become a "Grid Runner" and compete in the vast network of mazes... or die!
After initially reading a similar (but much longer) introduction in the instruction manual, I wondered what this game would be like. First of all, the intro didn't make much sense; there are two explorers and one boards a ship, only to find himself trapped in a maze by the diabolical Vorga. Who is Vorga and how did she get on the ship? That makes absolutely no sense and has practically no relation to the apparent storyline! This storyline sounds like it was created by a grade school kid for literature class! What were the writers thinking?
Besides having to put up with the awful plot, dealing with the graphics and sound was an entirely new horror. Looking closely at the instruction manual, I noticed a small insignia bearing the words, "Designed for Windows 95." That was a barrel of laughs if I do say so myself! Not only were the graphics drab and uninteresting, but they were bad enough to remind me of the original 8-bit systems from Sega and Nintendo (remember those dinosaurs?) Honestly speaking, the graphics quality reminded me of such ancient games as Q*Bert, Digger, or even Donkey Kong (the orignal). In addition to poor resolution, the animation was skipping and washed-out, even on my lowest setting of 256 colors.
As if the graphics were bad enough, Grid Runner had to annoy the player constantly with low-quality sound effects and oddly-placed beeps. Luckily, there was an option to turn off the incessant and very monotonous background music. Somehow, the soundtrack just doesn't fit the action or even the game itself.
As for the action itself, there isn't much to be had. Using my Gravis Gamepad was too much of a hassle, mainly because after trying for two hours to set it up, Grid Runner ignored it. Finally, I resorted to playing the old-fashioned way -- using the keyboard. Not only is using the keyboard difficult, but it also puts significant strain on the wrists and hands. Using the keyboard for control could be difficult for younger players who may not be as adept with it.
Not only was Grid Runner difficult to set up, but its poor audio and video quality crippled the product from the start. Secondly, its usage of Windows 95 technologies was non-existant, as was the support for the Gravis Gamepad. Added in was a contrived plot and weak storyline. All of these factors combined created a very forgettable experience with Grid Runner. Unless you're looking to waste money on a recycled 8-bit pc game, don't purchase Grid Runner.
Gamer's Zone Scorecard
| Product: | Grid Runner |
| Company: | Virgin Interactive Entertainment |
| Cost: | $39.95 |
System Requirements:
Windows 95, 486DX/66 Mhz Processor,
8 MB RAM, Double Speed CD-ROM drive,
VESA local bus or PCI Video Card,
Microsoft Compatible Mouse,
Sound Blaster compatible sound card,
Joystick optional.
Breakdown:
Fun Factor 1
Graphics 1
Sound 1
Interface 2
Replayability 1
Overall Score:
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