When a game like this one comes out, a large number of players thinks: “Oh no! Not another racer featuring cartoons characters!”. Well, don’t be so desperate… It’s true: Space Race, published by Infogrames, is a sort of kart racer featuring Looney Tunes characters, but…without karts. This time Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Sylvester and other members of the show have been involved in a crazy race, where riding weird rockets (carrot racer – Bugs Bunny, rocket scooter – Sylvester, hover ship – Daffy Duck, sabre jet - Elmer Fudd, hover chopper - Yosemite Sam etc…etc…) they must win with the help of luck and also something more…

The game, a port of the excellent Dreamcast title, is definitely a good addition to kart racers and also to the great number of games based on popular cartoon shows. Even if the idea that stands behind the project is not very original, developers succeeded in creating something different from the average kart racer, spicing it up a bit with a good dose of sense of humor.

Note: This is a review of the European PAL version of the game. The game should be released in U.S. on May 15, 2002.

The gameplay in itself is very similar to the one of several other kart racers. You can choose among different modes: Race, Time Trial, Challenge and Multiplayer (1-4 players). For each of them you have some options, like choosing number of laps to go (1, 3, 5, 7), enabling Acme gags, turbo boost and so on. Even if these modes are not original of this title, in fact nearly every other racing game has similar modes, the possibility to enable Acme events and other options is peculiar of Space Race.
Winning several races against five opponents in the different modes, the player gains Acme tokens useful to unlock new tracks, characters and events. Unlocking special items is not so hard, but it takes some time.
Acme gags are probably the most hilarious and interesting aspect of the whole gameplay. On each track, apart from special challenges’ ones, are dislocated several boxes, containing a wide variety of weapons typical of Looney Tunes universe: bombs, remote controls, rockets, giant boxing gloves, black holes, laser guns and many others. Using them at the right moment, you will be able to play bad tricks to your opponents. Gags are continuously originated by unlimited usage of this bizarre weaponry. Obviously, you will have also to take care of yourself, trying to avoid others’ traps. It won’t be so easy to ride your rocket and avoid black holes on the ground, pink elephants and pianos falling from the sky at the same time…
To improve your performance, green canisters containing fuel will be found on the track as well, and after collecting five of them, you will be able to use the turbo boost. Some races are only based on wise usage of the boost.