ZX Computing


Speed King II

Publisher: Mastertronic
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K

 
Published in ZX Computing #34

A high calibre motorcycle race simulation from Mastertronic

Speed King II

If you want to add a motorcycle simulation game to your software collection, look no further. Speed King II is an excellent package, crammed with options that for a budget price offers outstanding value for money.

For starters there are nice tracks to choose from, ranging from Silverstone (the easiest) to Brands Hatch (the hardest). The race action itself has been pitched at just the right degree of difficulty. You start at the back of the grid with nineteen other riders to overtake on your way to the finishing line. It's impossible to crash; hit another rider and your speed plummets to zero as it does when you career off the track. While lacking in realism this makes for a better game as there's nothing more annoying than being eliminated for a tiny mistake.

The handling of the bike (there are keyboard, Interface 2 and Kempston options) is very responsive and unlike some motorcycle games does not require pinpoint accuracy on every turn; missing the optimum line or cornering too fast will just result in a rapid drop down the field.

The number of laps can be varied from 1 to 9 and as well as the one player game there's also a two-player option with a split screen display.

With such a range of options available, Speed King II will undoubtedly give hours of racing pleasure because if you find the track too simple you can go on to a harder one or alternatively cut down the number of laps.

To keep track of your progress there is an after-race display which gives your placing, best placing so far, your fastest lap and the current lap record.

For the race game fanatic Speed King II can be highly recommended.