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LOTUS III: THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE (AMI)
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a.k.a. Lotus II: RECS
Publisher: Gremlin Graphics. Developer: Magnetic Fields. Released: 1992. Genre: Racing. Other versions: SMD; AST; PC. Posted 20th June 2020. By Tom Clare © 2020 |
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We tend to remember great games for taking bold technical steps or venturing brave innovations. Then again, sometimes sweeping changes aren’t necessary. A sequel may need just a few small, smart touches, to help realise its potential. Lotus III, the third and final entry in Magnetic Fields’ trilogy of supremely playable racing games, is a prime example of this. It’s very difficult to think of a more complete arcade racer from the 16-bit era, which is a statement in itself. But it’s very much a case of evolution, not revolution. L3 plays very similarly to its predecessors, with the reintegration of championship races and the impressive new Constructor RECS track definition tool proving highly significant. These two small amendments see the game’s longevity transformed from a lingering question mark, into an abundant strength. As a result, it’s a legacy title for Amiga owners.
The Ultimate Challenge unites the arcade, checkpoint racing of its direct predecessor Lotus Turbo Challenge II with the grid races of the original Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge. The melding of the two means it caters for fans of Outrun and the against-the-clock arcade thrill, as well as acknowledging the competitive racing element of more contemporary competition such as Jaguar XJ220 and Magnetic Fields’ own SNES classic Top Gear. An easy-to-use, track definition tool allows the player to dictate the profile of circuits. Easy-to-use counters cover everything from the amount of track-side scenery, to the prevalence of gradients, the sharpness of the corners, whether a route is A-to-B or a looped circuit, even the length of the races. This means you can come up with a loose guide for the kind of race you fancy tackling, in a matter of seconds. An intuitive code system allows for the revisiting of track profiles, with the option to input as many as ten of them into a user-defined championship. Alternatively, you can pick between three difficulties and just go racing.
Just you, a Lotus Esprit, the open road... and lots of other Lotus Esprit drivers
By 1992, Lotus was a rapidly diminishing force in motor racing, but the allure of their classic vehicles remained a romanticist’s dream, and this time around, there are three stunning models to choose between. Naturally, it stars series’ mainstay the Esprit, a gas-guzzler with monstrous speed that’s tempered by slightly heavy handling. Alternatively, you can plump for the compact green M200, a good all-rounder, or the sleek Elan, a nimble but less pacey model. Checkpoint races play out just as they did in LTC2, with the player weaving through traffic to reach the next time top-up, with additional points awarded for the number of seconds you’re left with at the chequered flag.
It remains head and shoulders above the competition in terms of performance, with a smooth, rapid update and the best, most responsive handling to feature in a Lotus game. Though it’s often taken for granted, in reality, there are very few racers on the Amiga that produced anything like the sensation of speed that Lotus III manages to capture. There’s more than a dozen different track environments, many of which feature environmental conditions that affect the way cars control. Dakar-style desert roads produce a bumpy ride and tangible understeer; blizzard-strewn snow tracks throw in treacherous ice patches and hyper-twitchy handling. There’s wide, high-altitude routes with gales easing your car across lanes. Some courses are blanketed with fog, whilst others are characterised by narrow roads, making overtaking tricky. They’re simply amazing, each offering something a little different in the way of a challenge.
It remains head and shoulders above the competition in terms of performance, with a smooth, rapid update and the best, most responsive handling to feature in a Lotus game. Though it’s often taken for granted, in reality, there are very few racers on the Amiga that produced anything like the sensation of speed that Lotus III manages to capture. There’s more than a dozen different track environments, many of which feature environmental conditions that affect the way cars control. Dakar-style desert roads produce a bumpy ride and tangible understeer; blizzard-strewn snow tracks throw in treacherous ice patches and hyper-twitchy handling. There’s wide, high-altitude routes with gales easing your car across lanes. Some courses are blanketed with fog, whilst others are characterised by narrow roads, making overtaking tricky. They’re simply amazing, each offering something a little different in the way of a challenge.
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Even better than the arcade races are the 20-competitor Grand Prix events. Here, you’ll have to cut through the field from the back. Refuelling adds to the intrigue. This is relatively simple: after stopping in a designated spot, the fuel bar refills, bit by bit. The longer you remain, the more time is lost to the chasing pack, so it’s key to gauge not only when to stop and how much fuel you’ll need to make it to the finish. It’s absorbing, and brings a lot of fun to proceedings, especially in two-player.
Lotus III looks a peach. Locations offer a full range of environmental challenges, and there’s a few creative settings to admire, including the startling, otherworldly sci-fi course with its boost zones. Elsewhere, there’s dual-lane motorways complete with a contraflow of traffic and trucks crossing at intersections, which is all very reminiscent of Road Rash. Other vehicles are colourful and strongly defined, and scale pretty convincingly. There’s a tendency now and then for routes to feel a touch sparse, but it’s blemish-free. There are no weird visual quirks, no incongruous collisions, nor any scenery popping randomly into the road.
Lotus III looks a peach. Locations offer a full range of environmental challenges, and there’s a few creative settings to admire, including the startling, otherworldly sci-fi course with its boost zones. Elsewhere, there’s dual-lane motorways complete with a contraflow of traffic and trucks crossing at intersections, which is all very reminiscent of Road Rash. Other vehicles are colourful and strongly defined, and scale pretty convincingly. There’s a tendency now and then for routes to feel a touch sparse, but it’s blemish-free. There are no weird visual quirks, no incongruous collisions, nor any scenery popping randomly into the road.
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Whether played in single-player or split-screen with a friend, Lotus III will offer countless hours of speedy racing fun
Menus are dry but functional, whilst the car select screens are extremely pretty. There’s a nice throwback to Outrun in the form of the BGM select, with the iconic radio replaced with an in-car CD player. From there, the player can choose between five different tunes, or the option to play instead with sound effects. The effects represent the only area in which the game suffers noticeably next to the Mega Drive version, as whilst the engine note is okay, the screeches of the tyres are rather gutless. Still, it makes up for this with some thumping music, which positively sings on the Amiga. Following Barry Leitch’s work is no mean feat, but Patrick Phelan’s output here is mostly fantastic, gifting a strong, driving beat to race along to.
It’s hard to think of a 16-bit racer that delivers such smooth, rapid thrills as the Lotus games. In essence, Lotus III retains all the best bits from its brilliant predecessors, whilst its track defining tool offers vast replay value. Thanks to the new structure and options, you can tailor the kind of gaming session you want. Whether it’s a quick-fire, uncomplicated blast against the clock or a longer, more involved championship with a sprinkling of tactics, the game is a joy. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel and yet, thanks to the expansive track options provided by the RECS tool, it’s one I’ve returned to again and again. With a friend, it’s completely essential, because as a two-player racer, there’s little on the home computers that can touch it.
It’s hard to think of a 16-bit racer that delivers such smooth, rapid thrills as the Lotus games. In essence, Lotus III retains all the best bits from its brilliant predecessors, whilst its track defining tool offers vast replay value. Thanks to the new structure and options, you can tailor the kind of gaming session you want. Whether it’s a quick-fire, uncomplicated blast against the clock or a longer, more involved championship with a sprinkling of tactics, the game is a joy. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel and yet, thanks to the expansive track options provided by the RECS tool, it’s one I’ve returned to again and again. With a friend, it’s completely essential, because as a two-player racer, there’s little on the home computers that can touch it.
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VERDICT
"Lotus III retains all the best bits from its brilliant predecessors, whilst its track defining tool offers vast replay value. With a friend, it’s completely essential, because as a two-player racer, there’s little on the home computers that can touch it." OVERALL: 9/10 |