Star Wars Episode I: Racer Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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's perfect? No. It's just like we remember? Yes, and it's awesome.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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