Hi-Octane

1995

platform

PC ( MS-DOS ), PlayStation , Sega Saturn

Subject

Game mode

Single player , multiplayer ( LAN , hot seat , split screen )

control

Keyboard , joystick , gamepad

system advantages
preconditions

486 - CPU
8 MB RAM
4 MB HDD storage
2 × CD-ROM drive

medium

1 CD

language

German

Current version

1.2

Age rating

USK

PEGI

Hi-Octane is a racing game by Bullfrog Productions that was released in 1995 for the PC , Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn . Executive producer was Peter Molyneux . Characteristic of the racing game are the wide stretches and the resulting free space for the player, as well as the high game speed. The game struggled to assert itself in the market as the racing game WipEout , which appeared in direct competition, received better reviews from Psygnosis . In addition, the graphics engine used was not particularly powerful, which resulted in a shorter view range compared to other contemporary racing games.

Gameplay

In Hi-Octane you have the choice between six hovercrafts , which differ in their maximum speed, armor, firepower and weight. There are six different racetracks with different levels of difficulty and different surroundings, such as desert areas or roads in large cities.

Available weapons are missiles and a minigun . While the missiles cause more damage, the player only has a limited amount of ammunition. The minigun, on the other hand, has no ammunition limit, but can heat up under continuous fire and fail for a short time if overheated. The vehicle consumes gasoline while driving. If the petrol should run out on the route, the vehicle will stop, but after a while the tank will be filled with some petrol so that it can continue driving. The protective shields lose their durability under fire and the vehicle is destroyed when the shields are used up. Then it takes some time to "recover". A death does not mean the end, but adds up negatively to the player rating.

The player can use a turbo button to speed up the vehicle for a short time. However, the turbo consumes a small amount of rocket ammunition.

There are sections on the routes that allow ammunition, shields and gasoline to be recharged. In addition, this function also fulfills the power- ups placed on the track . There are also special powerups that increase the damage of the minigun or rocket, as well as boost the turbo.

A special feature of the game mechanics is that the different types of vehicles have different sizes on the outside, but are the same size in the event of a collision. Accordingly, the distance to an object can in certain circumstances be less than the bodywork would actually allow before you collide with it.

There are four different camera angles from which you can view the vehicle while driving. Three of them are from behind at different distances and one view to look backwards.

extension

Bullfrog Productions released an expansion for the game in the same year, which was released for the DOS version in the form of a patch and for the Sega Saturn. This contained three new routes and four new game modes.

Trivia

Although the game shows different values for maximum speed, armor, firepower and weight of the vehicles, the actual values of all vehicles are the same.

Web links

Hi-Octane at MobyGames (English)

Individual evidence

↑ Alex "Please Buy My Stuff" Trowers: Not a mechanic persee, but in Hi Octane we simply displayed different stats for vehicles without ever actually changing them under the hood. In: @BulkPaint. September 1, 2017, accessed December 21, 2017 .

[1] Alex "Please Buy My Stuff" Trowers: Not a mechanic persee, but in Hi Octane we simply displayed different stats for vehicles without ever actually changing them under the hood. In: @BulkPaint. September 1, 2017, accessed December 21, 2017 .