Fanclub Das Freakmagazin 1/FANCLUB1.ISO/losung/micromac.txt

Text File | 1996-05-13 | 48KB | 826 lines

~Micro Machines

A complete track-by-track guide  -  By Simon Burrows


Before we   start,  I'd   just like   to  say that  when I give a
direction in ''s then  I mean  as you  view it, looking down onto
the track.   So,  for example,  if  you imagine  having a bird's-
eye-view of  the map,  and I  say 'right'  then I'm talking about
something towards  the right of this map - not right of the track
or sommit' else!!!


~               *                *                *


~Race 1 - The Breakfast Bends

Now that   you've  finally   got past   the  memory    conflicts,
SoundBlaster set-ups, and  video-mode configurations  - it's time
to start  your first race.   This one will take place on top of a
messy breakfast  table, full  of waffles,   oranges, spilt  milk,
and, corn  flakes!!   With this  course, staying  on the track is
very important.   All  the blockages  ready to foil your attempts
to win   the  race   are off  the track.  The only thing that you
could   construe as  an on-track  blockage is  the huge waffle at
the 'top'  of   the course.     Don't   worry about this, though,
because it  just acts as a ramp and will not get in your way.  In
fact, if  you can  manage to  stay  on the  track all  the time -
only straying  off to  cut the  top-left and  top-right corners -
you should  be safe  at all  times and  have a  free-ride to    a
comfortable   win. When  you've finished  the race, though, don't
think   you can   have  a   quick breakfast snack before the next
race 'cos  if you  do you'll  get indigestion  and you'll  come a
pathetic second. Hah!!


~Race 2 - Desktop Drop-off

This race  is really fun to do, and with a bit of practice can be
a synch  to beat   the  other  cars on.   It  takes place  on the
standard type  of student's  desk   - pencils,   rulers and books
everywhere; spilt  ink; huge  A4 folders and upturned books; and,
of course,  lots of  incorrect sums!!  I find  that starting  the
race,  you  shouldn't  hold  down  accelerate straight away,  but
rather hold  on a  fraction of  a second before cutting the first
corner.    Don't  worry   - this   is the best way of dodging the
pre-race pile-up   which  always occurs when the flag goes down!!
Because the race  is played  over two  desks, you  have to  ind a
way of  getting between  them   both on   two  occasions.   Once,
this is   done  by  using a closed folder  as a  ramp.  This jump
will always  be safe as long as you take it  fast and  don't move
around too much in mid-air.  The other is taken by going over two
rulers stretched  over the  desks.   Beware though, one of  these
rulers  (that to the right of the screen)  has a rubber on it, so
stick to   the other!!   In order to retain speed, cut corners at
both the   bottom-left and bottom-right corners - saving you from
braking to  avoid   the ensuing   fall  off the desk.  Apart from
that, stick  to the  track as  much as you can and beware for the
narrowed track  which occurs  in two  places at  the 'top' of the
course!!

~Race 3 - Oilcan Alley

So, you've braved the breakfast table and the desktop - next stop
is the  this little  course -  the "Oilcan  Alley".   During this
race, you  will find  a   few  places    where  glue    has  been
ceaselessly splodged   onto  thetrack, and  more close-by.   This
glue can   be  very   dangerous to   your chances of  winning the
race, so   be  careful   as you approach it and if you're feeling
confident, shunt  some other  cars into it as you pass.  In fact,
I've found   that if  you follow  the outside line of the track -
rather than   the  track  itself - you should end up with no more
than the  winner's medal   and  lots   of kisses    from  envious
onlookers!!   Remember though,  this  method does  need a  little
concentration.    There  are two  things that   might  leave  you
sobbing  in the corner - one is the narrow gaps made up of screws
and pencils laid over the edges of the marked out course.   These
need   to be   either dodged  completely by  driving  wide around
them, or masterly driven-through by moving into the centre of the
track as  you pass  their threat.   The other is the four patches
of oil found on the track.  These will affect you if you take the
outside line, so, for  these, you must go even wider if you don't
want to be slowed to a snail's pace as you drive over them.  As a
general guide: one patch is soon after  the start,  on the  first
straight;   another two   are  at the 'top' of the course on that
straight; and  a fourth is on the straight at the 'bottom' of the
course, approaching the finishing line.


~Race 4 - Sandy Straights

Hey, at   last,  we've   reached our  first 'difficult'  course!!
Here we  brave what   can  only   be described   as a  children's
sand-pit -  that is,  unless this   house  has   a beach   for  a
garden!!    The  few problems here include miniature  streams for
you to   sink  into; perfectly  constructed sand-castles to  bump
off;   and tiny   little  beach-spades  to watch  out for!!   You
don't   need to worry too much about the spades since you can run
over   all but   their  handles without slowing down at all.  The
sand-castles are   a  bit more of a nuisance, but not fatal.  All
you do  if you  hit one  is either  bump off them or stop-dead in
front of  them.   Just pay  a little   care  to    them,  though,
because they   can  lose you  a few vital seconds if  one gets in
your path.   The third problem I mentioned is the 'streams'.   If
you   follow the   marked out  course the  whole time, you should
only  encounter these once a lap.  Each time you do, the trick is
to use  the wooden  ramp kindly  constructed by  a handy workman,
just ready  to help   you over  the water.  In order to make sure
you don't  mess this  bit up,   slow  down as you reach the final
corner before  the hazard, then flick over  it before  taking the
right turn   to avoid  yet more water. Apart from  that, you just
need a  little fine-tuning  to the way you take the corners.   If
you accelerate  into them,  you will  soon find yourself slipping
and   sliding around   as though  you've got slick tyres on a wet
race course.     Instead,   brake a  little into the corners then
accelerate out  of   them -  just like  a nervous  little learner
should always  do!! That's  covered   everything apart   from the
two long   straights  down the  'right' of   the track  where you
can just  accelerate like  mad  -  you deserve it!!!


~Race 5 - Oatmeal in Overdrive

Just couldn't  keep away,  heh?   Well, this kitchen is certainly
cute with  such an  intricately  pattered  table-cloth!!    Not!!
Anyway, this  time you  will find that the table has been changed
around a  little to  add variety  to the  races.   The  same  old
hazards are  there: the  oranges, the waffles, the juice  and the
milk -  but this time you get the added fun of free-wheeling over
a big   box  of   "Toppies" breakfast  cereal!!  As you begin the
race,   quickly drift   over to the right of the track so you are
just off it,  to the  inside.   This, as  long as  you don't  hit
the   waffle dangerously poised to block your way, will steer you
clear of the sticky orange juice lying ahead in the middle of the
track, and  should give  you a  healthy  lead over your misguided
friends who  don't get  the same  idea, and instead, slow down to
walking speed  as they  trundle over  it!!   After that, cut  the
first  corner completely,  then continue  the  very  easy course,
following   the way-marked  route, until you reach the "Toppies".
Here, straighten  up quickly then speed up dramatically to ensure
you hit  the ramp   dead-on  and  clear the  box with  ease.  The
rest of  the track  should prove   as  easy   as saying    "MILK"
backwards, with the only danger being the  other drops  of orange
juice, dripped  near to  the others,  but just the  other side of
the start/finish  line.  Just steer wide of these and, a few laps
later, victory will be yours!!


~Race 6 - The Cue Ball Circuit

Now it's  time for a little light entertainment with a jolly good
game of pool.  Well, we could play pool if someone worked out the
rules, got  rid of  all the  annoying green  balls, and made sure
that the  chalk was  on the  cues, not   in  the   centre of  the
action!!    Oh well, I suppose we could make a  little track  and
race   our Formula  1 micro-machines  around it instead, couldn't
we ??    Anyway, when you begin the race you will soon learn that
this race  is a  really fun  one to  compete in - but still a bit
tough!    You need  to learn  early on  that it is possible to go
at full  speed for   90%  of  the course,  only slowing  down for
the remaining  10% when  you   are approaching   the playing-card
ramps, going   up  them,   and turning  corners  on the  sides of
the table.   These  will all need to be taken slowly  if you  are
to  avoid messing  around with falling off the sides, and  losing
valuable  time.  Other obstacles include all the pool balls lying
around, and   the  pockets.    The   balls  don't   seem to  roll
around at   all  but there are so many of them that you will have
to be  on your toes  and stick  to the  path if  you're going  to
avoid   them all.  There is  only one  pocket on  the track which
you do  have to  go through  and that   is the  one at the bottom
right. All  the others  are to be left well alone  if you  are to
avoid lengthy  delays!!   Approach this   pocket  as straight  as
possible  and avoid  at all  costs  the  possibility  of rattling
around   in the   jaws of  it.   If  you  do  manage  to  get  in
successfully   (and only  one car  can at  a time)   you  will be
whisked away to finally  submerge back into view again, this time
coming out  from the  centre-right pocket!   Once you have gone a
little further  along, around  a  few  bends,  you  will  finally
approach the  ramps up  onto the side of the table.  As I've said
already, these need to be approached and dealt with slowly if  it
isn't   going to   end in tears.  however, as soon as you've made
the   90 degree  turn after  them and have straightened up on the
side of the table, it's time to accelerate to full speed again as
you go  down the  straight -  this is the perfect time to make up
valuable time on your opponents!


~Race 7 - Handy-Man's Curve

There is   little  to   say about   this track because it is very
similar to  "Oilcan Alley"   in  both   appearance and play.  The
trick, once  again, is  to take   refuge on  the outside  line of
the marked   out track and stay there.   You will  still have  to
make   sure you   dodge  the glue  and the  splodges of  oil, but
none of   these  are   too difficult   with  a   little practice.
Other hazards  include the  2 over-sized  screwdrivers but  there
shouldn't prove   too  much   of a problem so long as you keep to
the basic  line of   the  track.   Watch out  for the two hairpin
bends as  these can  be costly  if   overshot.     But  remember,
you'll get  really caught  up of  you take them early because the
inside of  both of  them are  full of bolts and screws.   Another
important   thing to  remember is that it is possible to get in a
real mess  if you  miss something, get banged off the track by an
opponent, or   take  a   corner too  early or  late.  If you find
yourself in  such a   situation,  seemingly miles  from the track
with several  obstacles in your  way, calmly  take yourself  back
by   the   quickest   route,   not hurrying  else you'll  end  up
getting even more stuck!!


~Race 8 - Bermuda Bathtub

This level   is really going to test your skills in this game and
it will  often seem  like a  good long  soak in  a hot  tub would
be   much   more  enjoyable  than    this  treacherous    course.
However,   I'm   sure   you're adventurous side  will win  out in
the end  and it  will be  time to  climb into your  speedboat and
join in   the  fun.    The   course itself has few obstacles, but
still is  very difficult.  Your opponents will make sure of that.
The   only way   to  win   the course is to whiz round at maximum
speed making  few or no mistakes and being downright bad-tempered
to all  your opponents.     The   best way to do this is to shunt
them off  into the  frothy bubbles   along  both   sides of   the
course   every time  you get the chance.  Make sure you don't get
caught up  in it yourself, though!!  The one obstacle  you really
need to  worry about  is the  whirlpool.   This is  right in  the
middle   of the course at the 'bottom' of the level, by the taps.
Going near  the side  of this  will drag you off course into the
bubbles,  and  slamming  into  the  centre  will  result  in  you
being completely  washed  away down  the plug  hole - that wastes
many valuable  seconds.    The  only  way I  can see  to get past
this without  losing too  much time   is  to    drive  your  boat
straight into  the bubbles,  tap-side of  the whirl.   This  will
slow   you down  a bit,  but at  least you  leave the danger well
alone.   When you have gone well past it, pull yourself back onto
the track,  straighten up,  then accelerate  like mad to catch up
with the  opposition   again.    Another   problem    you    will
encounter   is   the gormless  rubber   duck which  seems to have
strayed into  the middle  of the  course to   the 'right'  of the
track. Obviously, this  needs to be taken by driving  around it -
I  suggest down  the left  of the  track.  The  final point worth
mentioning is   the  tunnel.    The   needs  to   be  taken  dead
straight if  you don't  want to  rattle around  in it's mouth and
make a  real hash  of it.   This  is also  a good  place to  ruin
other driver's  chances of   winning  the race.   If  you get the
chance, and  you're feeling  brave, try   to shunt  them slightly
off course so they miss the tunnel-entrance -  watch out  though,
they   sometimes do  the same  thing to you. Of course,  once you
get into   the tunnel,  you musn't go left or right there either,
otherwise you   will be  blindly fiddling around trying to emerge
at the right end of it and will look a right fool!!!


~Race 9 - Sahara Sand-pit

This   track   is   another   simple  one,  but  still  difficult
and   very competitive.  The   obstacles are   mostly around  the
edges   of the   track  leaving you   free,  so  long as  you can
follow the  way-marked route,  of their  hassles.   Instead,  you
have   to worry   about  the other  cars.   By this stage  of the
game, they   are becoming more and more devious so be careful. At
the start  of the  race you  need to  follow the  track round the
first right   hand  bend,   then slow down in order to take first
the left,  then the  90 degree  right, safely.  As soon as you've
done that,  head off at full  speed down  the 'top' straight.  As
with "The  Sandy Straights", as long as you don't hit the handle,
the spade is harmless.  Now follows two wooden  bridges over  the
stream,   much easier   than  the ramp  on the  previous sand-pit
level, I   must say  - then a few sand-castles.  Thesecastles are
easily avoided  by keeping  to the  track and if you can do this,
you also get  three or four longish straights to boost the speed.
Another  thing   to remember   is that  the rocks and rock  pools
around the edges  of  parts of the track are bad news so a bit of
slowing down etc., on the  corners is  sometimes the  only way to
stay  out of  trouble and,  more  importantly,  stay  in front!!!


~Race 10 - The potted Passages

At last,  we've reached  another location  in the game - that is,
unless the  bubbles   in the   bath have  been skilfully  painted
like hedges  with apples  on,  and the rest of the water has been
drained so  the bath  could be covered  with mini  paving-slabs!!
Anyway, this  level actually  does remind  me  a lot  of "Bermuda
Bathtub" because  of the  franticness of  it. Unless you  can get
in front  and stay  in front, you can never succeed even if  most
things   you do   are  perfect!      As   you   have  undoubtedly
noticed, you  are now controlling mini remote-control helicopters
which, unlikely  that  it may  seem, feel  almost the same as the
other vehicles  except it's  a little easier to turn with them, I
think.  One problem in this track  is the  other drivers.   These
seem  much   more  persistent   and  determined  in  this  level,
especially when  it comes to ramming you around and ruining  your
line   into the   next  corner!   I said that you need to keep in
front, well,  unlike what you might think, this doesn't mean that
you have   to accelerate the whole time - no such luck!  In fact,
because of  the   annoying bushes  sticking out in several places
around the  track, you  will   have to  coax on  the brakes  in a
few places   if  you   are to  continue to  go around  in a  good
general direction!   Three places to look for, and be careful at,
are the  narrow parts of the track.  These, being the bottom-left
and right   and  top-left   can  be    nearly    impossible    to
accomplish at full speed.  If you win, congratulate yourself with
one of the gardener's best apples!!!!


~Race 11 - (I've forgotten what this is called)

This is another simple track which shouldn't prove too difficult.
There are  plenty   of straights,   and, you  get to  drive along
this excellent  table cloth   again.  They   must use   a  strong
biological powder  to clean these orange juice stains though, you
know, because  they seem  to move on every track  that appears on
this table,  but, the  old ones  never leave a mark -  weird heh?
Anyway,   as I   was   saying,   there  are  plenty  of straights
which  will give  you  a  good  chance to  catch up some valuable
seconds on   the  opposition.   These  appear as  one huge one at
the far-'left',  one   at the  far-'right', and,  a shorter  one,
also towards  the 'right'.   Watch out  though, the corner to the
'top' of  the far-'right'  straight is   really  tight    and  if
you're  not  careful  you'll  end  up plummeting of  the edge  of
the   desk.    If  you   can't think  of anything  better to try,
simply take  it quite  slowly and  cruise round the corner - most
other cars  wont do  this and  will really mess up!!  You'll also
need to be  careful at the 'bottom' of that same straight because
you need  to have  straightened   up before  you reach the cereal
packet just  around the corner.   The rest  of it is really quite
simple.   When the  orange juice  is in the way, dodge around and
you shouldn't  find further  obstacles off  the track   to bother
you.   The one  waffle that's in this way is the same as in  race
one   - you   can  drive   straight over   it.  And, hey, if that
apple didn't   fill  you   up from  the previous  track, get your
blood-sugar level  up   with a   tasty  bowl   of "Toppies"  when
you've  finally won the race!!!


~Race 12 - Bermuda Bathtub  (not too original!!!!!!!!!)

This might   seem  to  be as fun as "The Cue Ball Circuit" when I
say that you may  as well  hold down  the accelerate  button  99%
of   the   time, however, those  bubbles don't  seem to  give the
same edge  as the glossy green pool  table -  maybe it's  because
we've had two baths already and things are  getting a bit boring,
not to  mention TOO clean.  Anyway, the 1% of  the time you don't
really want to hold down the accelerate key is where you  have to
pass another  plug-hole whirlpool.  More of  that later.  At  the
start of  the race, you will begin by skimming over an all-in-one
shampoo and   conditioner  bottle     (or    sommit'  like  that,
anyway).   Next you get  the rest  of you clean by passing over a
beautiful green  bar of  soap, then   you  pass    that  gormless
rubber duck   again  - it  ain't moved  much 'as  it??   The only
one of   these obstacles you need dodge is the duck which  can be
taken by   going  down  either side  of it.   You  now follow the
basic course   of  the track  to the  'bottom' of  the level with
nothing to   really get  in your  way.   A good  time to  do some
serious ramming  if you  ask me.  After this, you'll meet up with
the straight  and soon   enough,   half-way  along  this,  you'll
find   the   aforementioned whirlpool.     Even this    is  easy,
though, because   either  side  of it is clear for  you to plough
through the  bubbles then accelerate away again. Just be  careful
not   to be too complacent because not only will it take valuable
seconds for  you to  be replaced onto the track if you get sucked
down into  it, but  you will also be put back at the start of the
straight again which  means you've  got to  do get  back past  it
again  - what a bind!!!


~Race 13 - Bedroom Battlefield

After all   that racing  around on the breakfast table, the sand-
pit, the  pool table,   and the  work-desk, it's  finally time to
head upstairs  and catch  forty  winks before  the next race.  No
such luck  I'm afraid.   No,  actually, it's   time for  the 13th
race in  the series,  this time  taking place  on    a  beautiful
purple carpet   in  the   kid's  bedroom  with  such obstacles as
playing cards,   marbles,  dice  and chequers.  The most fun part
about   this game  is the  fact that it's time to don those tanks
at last  and   have a   real battle  of the toys!  And, hey, what
makes things  even better   is that  because you  start of at the
back of the grid, you can shoot  the other  three tanks  straight
away   and   immediately   give yourself  a head start over them.
Watch out,  though, throughout the rest of the  race you  will be
shot at  by the  opposition at every opportunity so keep  on your
toes!!   The most  important thing to think about during the race
is the  fact that  the whole way around, there are things you can
collide with.   If  you do collide with these obstacles, not only
will you  thunder to   a  complete halt,  but you will also leave
yourself completely  open to  attack from  behind as you struggle
around the  object.   I suggest  that instead of going full speed
around the  track, you try to get around without having  to stop,
using a   lower  speed   as the  way to make this possible.   And
surely,  the one  place you musn't go full pelt is where you come
across the   draught's  board.    The  bast plan  here is to slow
right down  and make  your way  around the black and white pieces
expertly, hardly hitting  one.  Apart from that, just keep going,
watch your back, and play nasty with all the opposition!!


~Race 14 - Pitfall Pockets

Well after   the  rather slow antics in the tanks in the bedroom,
one getsthe chance  to take  on the  opposite extreme now and use
the F1  cars on  the pool  table again.    This  track  has  been
expertly laid  out once  again, and you  must really  concentrate
the   whole time   if  you   are going   to  survive.    There is
hardly any  straight track  to thunder down, and that which there
is, always   seems  to   come to   an  abrupt halt  with a tricky
corner at   the end of it.  This is another race where you can go
at full  speed nearly  all of  the time  but you must learn it as
well as  you can  so you  don't   mess up. The obstacles are very
similar to  that on  the last  pool table   (obviously)   so  the
gameplay can  often be  similar.   As with that level,  take your
time approaching,  going-over, and departing the card ramps which
lead of an on to the raised edges of the table.  If you don't, it
is more  than likely  that you'll  go plummeting over the side of
the table   or  get  stuck somewhere  you'd really rather not be.
Another tip  is   to try   to learn  the corners. By this I don't
mean practice  the track  time and  time  again  until  you  have
perfected it,  but more  look out  for things  which will  remind
you  of the best way to do things.  Doing this will make sure you
cut down  on overshooting  or taking too soon, the tricky corners
of this table-top speed trap!


~Race 15 - Pencil Plateau

This is   another  exciting   race with plenty of jumping between
different  platforms.    Fortunately,  though,  it  is  blatantly
obvious which  direction to go,  so you  shouldn't have  too many
problems.    By  now, of  course, things  are   getting tough  so
watch   out   for   several   tricky   corners, annoyingly placed
obstacles and   narrow  bridging   rulers.  Right at the start of
the race,   fire  down the  accelerator and take the first corner
early to   avoid  spinning   straight off   the table again.  Now
follow the track around  a bit,  going in  between the  ruler and
the open  folder, trying your best to miss both as they sometimes
put you  off course.   Now  you can   go  round   a little  more,
slowing down  dramatically to  take the  left hand   bend so  you
don't  lose your footing in the ink and fall off the table again.
Now follows  the huge straight where you can really hit the pedal
to the   metal!!     Be careful  when you take the open-book-jump
because soon  afterwards you  will have  to move  to your  left a
bit in  order to  take the  ruler bridge.  The best way to do it,
in fact,  is to  jump using  the left  hand side of the open-book
because you  should then be on-line for the bridge anyway without
having to  make any alterations! Once over  the bridge,  take the
next long  straight going  all the  way to  the 'bottom'   of the
screen.   Remember to watch out here, because at the bottom there
is a  really tricky corner.  You must slow right down as you come
level   with the  open book so you don't either hit the obstacles
to the  inside   of the  track, or  fall off  the  table  to  the
outside!   Now you  take on  another straight  with two  narrowed
points along  it somewhere.  Simply take   to  the centre  of the
track and  you should  be alright.   Soon  you'll find   yourself
going   back up  the screen  again in a rather wiggly shape, then
reaching the   second  ruler   bridge.    This  one   is twice as
narrow as   the  other   one so   be  very  careful as you cross.
What makes  things more   difficult  is  that as  soon as  you're
over it,  you need to turn first  right, then  left, in  order to
avoid plenty   of  stationary stationary!     After accomplishing
this you   need  to straighten  right up for the  two folder jump
over the  gaps in  the table.   As  soon as you are straight, get
back up  to top  speed again  because there's nothing to stop you
until   you are   over the  second of the two.  When you do reach
this point,  slow  down just  past the closed folder and take the
U-bend round  and over   the second  narrow ruler  bridge.   Take
this one  with as  much caution as  before, then  take the  final
few bends  around the  book, the  open folder   and  the   ruler.
Finally you   should  reach   the   finishingline, just  in  time
for........another two laps!!!


~Race 16 - The Dare-devil Dunes

After those  rather hair-raising  jumps and  corners in  the last
race, this  one is   a  lot   safer and  slower  to  race  round,
although you should still stay on your toes.  There are still the
same problems:   the  streams, the  sand-castles, the  spades and
the dunes,  but these  are more  difficult to pass than  the last
time we   embraced such  a sandy  circuit!  You must remember the
general driving  tactic from  "Sandy Straights"  where you slowed
into  the corners then accelerated out of them.  This should stop
you from  slipping around  too much.  At the start of the circuit
you must take a  dangerous corner  around to  the right  to avoid
the three pools immediately in  front of  you.  Next, take the u-
bend around  and use  the wooden  ramp   as an   aid over a third
water pool.   Now go right, hop over the blade of the spade, then
take the  sharp left,  followed by  another u-bend  over  a fifth
water-pool.    This part  can be  quite difficult  so concentrate
and  use the brakes every time.  When you've completed that,  you
get  the  first straight  of the  track - a good place to go full
speed and make up a few valuable seconds on the opposition. Next,
you come up  against a   very  difficult   section of  the  track
which will take a  good deal  of   practice to  perfect. You will
have to go over two zigzags in the  path,  closely guarded by two
water-pools ready to highlight any mistakes you  make! The reward
for completing that section is another long straight  followed by
a few ninety degree bends to take you around the lone sandcastle.
Whatever you  do, don't crash into this as it wastes another  few
valuable seconds! Finally you will take the last straight heading
towards the last water-pool. Take this  corner down the centre of
the  track, going in between the  pool and  the rocks.   You will
soon  be  back  at the  start/finish line again!  Now, hey,  that
wasn't too difficult was it?   and the  good news  is, that's the
last time you'll have to venture out  doors into the sand-pit so,
for now, you can relax and play in the rocks and pools for a bit!


~Race 17 - The Shrubbery Twist

This track  makes a  change from  the few  difficult ones we have
been going  through lately.  The trick with this one is to get in
front at  the start  then stay   in  front   the whole time. This
might sound  obvious, but  it is  the perfect   way  to  take the
track on.  The fact that there is a lot of vegetation means  that
each   corner should  be taken a certain way if you want to  stay
in   front and not be forever spinning around trying to get loose
from   the brambles.   At the start of the race, try to get ahead
by taking  the   first corner  down the  inside line.   When  you
reach   the straight  at   the 'top' of the course, try to take a
line at  the 'bottom'  of the  track so you are ready to take the
turn at  the end. When you get to the  turn, make  sure you  take
it   with a   smooth  action   so you   go  straight between  the
vegetation, not  bumping from  one side  to the other. Next, pull
in right   a  bit,   then take   the  short straight continuously
steering towards   the fan  to stop  it from blowing you into the
bushes. Once  past   the fan,  go  through  the  chicane  in  one
straight line.   If you try to take it's curves properly you will
often mess  up and  end up  going in  all  the wrong  directions.
Through the  chicane, take the final two bends, and  the 'bottom'
straight, down   the  inside   line for   an  easy cruise to  the
finish   line. Whilst  you collect  the  winner's  trophy, ponder
for  a moment  on why  there is a fan heater in the middle of the
garden!!    In between pencils and pool balls perhaps, but now in
between apples and brambles!!


~Race 18 - Perilous Pit Stop

This one   has  got  to be  the most  tedious and  boring of  the
courses! Throughout  the   whole track  you'll come  across blobs
of glue,  pools of  oil and   the usual screws and bolts.  You'll
probably hardly  stay in  top speed  for more than two seconds at
all!!  As you begin the race, keep to the bottom of the track and
you should  avoid the  first few  glue patches.  As you  take the
wide u-bend,  move right  slightly so  you come out at the top of
the track   and keep  away from  the bolts  to the  inside of the
course.    Now  move   back in  a bit  as you come along the next
straight so  you approach   the  next   bend in the centre of the
track. As  you take  the bend,  move   back to  the right  of the
track again  to avoid more glue. Continue 'up'  the screen  along
the   next straight.   Avoid  the  glue by going slightly off the
track in  between that  and the  bolt.  Now you take the bend  to
the   left where   you  should go  right of  the next  glue patch
before rejoining  the track after it.  As you go back left again,
cut in between the screw on the inside of the course and the glue
in the  middle of  the   track.   Continue 'down',  following the
laid out  track avoiding more glue  as you  go.  Finally you will
reach the  right then left bends that lead  into a tiny straight.
On that straight, don't go to the left of the  glue because  that
will   lead you   into  several   bolts.   Instead drive straight
through it   or  fly!!!!    After  taking the last left hand turn
you'll   come back   to  the   start/finish line   again!!    And
remember folks,  if   you're running out of petrol with more laps
to do,  that handy  oil bottle   to  the  right might  substitute
fuel  for a  little while at least!!!


~Race 19 - Wide Awake War Zone

This one   is  just   as simple to do as the previous tank course
but still  difficult as   well    (?). Those  devious programmers
have made  sure that  there's always  a match-box,  a marble or a
dice just  in the  wrong place  for you!   One  thing that  is in
your favour,  though, is that there's plenty of  opportunities to
cut corners.     The two places you shouldn't try to  do this are
the books  near the start of the course and the chess board three
quarters of  the way  around.  At the chess-board, in fact, it is
vital  that you  do go through it otherwise you'll be blown up as
you get  back   onto the   track.     These two  obstacles should
both be  taken slowly to  make sure you complete them without any
hiccups and so should the u-bend  at the  'bottom' of the course,
near the  end.   To give you a head-start on this course, do like
you did  on "Bedroom  Battlefield", and  quickly blast   away all
the tanks.     Now take  this chance  to  get  as  far  ahead  as
possible.    From  here on  in it's just a matter of staying away
from the   opposition and cutting corners when you can.  Also, be
careful at the  places where  you slow  down because that's where
the enemy  will target  you   the most.    When  you've won,  you
might   like to   note  that children  these   days must  be  too
computer orientated  because the draught pieces haven't  moved an
inch since the last time we were here, even if it was  six tracks
ago!!   Tut, tut.  I blame  it on  the  parents  you know!!!!



~Race 20 - Crayon Canyons

Before we  start, I'd  just like to say that there are no crayons
on these  canyons.    Anyway, this  course is  another  fast  one
in   places,  but certainly not a full-throttle one all the time!
It is full of straights and these  are usually  taken as  fast as
possible.    However,  you will usually find  that you  then have
to brake  hard to  take the  tight turns  that follow!     At the
start, accelerate  forward to  take the  first folder jump, then,
soon after  landing,  turn hard left to miss a dangerous drop off
the   table.    Next,  move   around the  bend to the left before
easing right  again  to miss  a second drop-off, this time into a
'canyon'.   Now take  the   narrowed track   through  the  middle
and   ease  right  again, speeding all  the time  but making sure
you hit  the ruler dead centre to stay safe. As you go around the
open folder  and pencils,  prepare to  make the  tight  left hand
turn so   you don't come off the table again, then, straighten up
so you're   in  line  with both  sets of rulers, and you're ready
to   speed all   the  way down the long straight at the 'left' of
the track.  When you  get to the bottom of this straight, cut the
corner ever-so-slightly  so you  don't overshoot  the  bend  then
straighten up  again for the fourth  ruler   bridge.  Once safely
across this,  turn left  with the  track  and    take  the  short
straight up  to the  left hand bend.  Here, slow slightly so  you
have   time to  straighten slightly  in time to hit bridge number
five safely. Over the bridge, slow down and take the next bend at
medium pace  so you  stay on  the track all the time.  Now slowly
roll over  the blue   folder  very  slowly otherwise  you'll lose
control and  end up  plummeting down   into  the   canyon.   Once
you're over  it, keep  slow until  you're round   the right  hand
bend  and straight enough to take the next bridge at  full speed.
When   you're set   up, hit the throttle and fire down this,  the
longest   straight of   the course.   At the end, take the series
of  bends around  the folders  and  books  a  bit  slower  before
speeding down   the  'bottom'  straight, slowing for the narrower
part and  left-hand turn.  Finally, speed back 'up' the track and
over the last two folder jumps  for a  comfortable finish  to the
lap.   Of course,  if you  don't want   to  win  and feel  like a
little light entertainment, why not drive off  the road  a little
and onto   one  of those open folders.  I'm sure one of them must
have a cool little essay or something interesting!


~Race 21 - Soap Lake City

There's not   much  to say about this track since it is so simple
even one  of the  rubber ducks  could complete  it in  a new  lap
record.   The one  real difference  between   this and  the first
bath-tub level  at least,  is that  this one   is  quite   a  bit
longer and  more competitive  so watch out.  At the start,  coast
around the  first couple  of bends,  making sure that you stay on
the inside  line all  the time.  As you get round the second bend
and onto   the  straight at  the 'right', ease on the accelerator
and slide  across to  the right  hand side  of the track.  As you
approach the bend slow a  little and  go all the way around it in
the centre  of the  track. Now  move  back to the inside again to
get past  the rubber duck, and stay there for  the next few bends
into the 'bottom' straight.  If you aren't still there, get right
to the 'top' of the track and go that side of the whirlpool. Now,
still on   that  inside line,  take the next bend past the second
rubber  duck then  take a  central line  for the first of the two
tunnels. As  soon as  you're out  the other  end, move around the
corner and  slow down   enough to  make sure  you're right in the
middle line  for the  next tunnel.  Go through  this as well then
slide over the soap and around the next  few corners.   All  this
before   taking the   last,  victorious straight.   If you  like,
just  for an  adventure, why don't you pretend that there  aren't
and   laps left   and  dig your  way through the suds all the way
into the middle of the level.  Yep, I thought you'd think it was
a good idea!


~Race 22 - The Leafy Bends

This one,   I  must   admit, is   very  similar   to  the    last
helicopter   one except  it's  a little  more exciting  and there
are more   sprinklers  to cause  havoc!    The start is also very
similar to  the other  chopper level  in the  fact that  you must
try to  push your  opponents over  to the left hand side  so your
can take   the  inside line  down t-he  right.  The fan, straight
after   this is   also the  same.  The best way to get past it is
to get  into the  centre of  the track  then steer into it as you
cruise past.  After   this you  will need to take the inside line
again along  the 'top' straight  before making  sure you  get the
correct angle  down the diagonal passage at the 'top-left'.  Make
sure whilst  you are  going down  this that you don't bump around
from side  to side  because this  will lose  too much  time.  The
next diagonal  is the  same, then  you come  to another straight.
Dodge past  the sprinklers as best you can, keeping down the left
side   of the   track  for   best results. At the 'bottom' you'll
reach the  penultimate   straight where    you'll  have    to  be
careful not   to get overtaken 'cos you often will!  The best way
to stop  this from happening is to  dodge from  side to  side and
dodge anybody   trying it, into the hedges.   Now make  the final
diagonal just  as 'smoothly' as before  (if you are going to stay
ahead), before  finally turning  and taking  the  home  straight.
And now,  since this was the last race out in the garden you make
some lovely  cuttings of  these miniature  apple plants and plant
some lovely petunias!


~Race 23 - Chalk Dust Chicane

This one   is  really fun  to do but they're getting so difficult
you'll be  glad there's  only two more tracks left after it.  The
action takes  place on two  pool tables  - a  big one and a small
one -  and there  is lots  of jumping  in   between pockets   and
plenty   of dodging   the  pool balls.  In fact, these  balls are
so well   placed  that you're gonna' have to be so careful if you
want to  miss every single one of them.  The action starts on the
small table, and the first bit's easy.  Head around the left hand
bend and   fire  straight into  the heart  of the  top-left  hand
pocket. This will take  you to  the top-right  hand pocket of the
big table  where you will have  to make  a big lap all around the
table.  Your best bet is to stay on  the track  all the  time and
slow down   when   you   think  it's necessary to  hold onto  the
corners.    As   you  follow   the track  round, there are  a few
points of   danger:  one is  the bottom-right  pocket.    As  you
approach this  slow down  and take  the inside  line so you don't
enter; the  second one  is the  where the  two balls  narrow  the
track.   Here, go  in between   the     two  before   taking  the
chicane   diagonally  and  then straightening up; the last one is
just after  this when you must take the left bend  very carefully
so you   are  ready,   going straight   into    the  right-middle
pocket.  That will  then take  you back  to the small table again
where you'll  emerge from  the middle-left  pocket.   From there,
zoom straight  across   the table  right  into  the  middle-right
pocket which  will than  take  you to  the bottom-right pocket of
the same  table.   From this follow the  diagonal track  and slow
down at the card ramp so you don't fall.  Once on the side of the
table, turn  right and  head all  the way  up the  length  of the
table - making sure you evade the middle-left pocket there -  and
then   slow to take the card ramp back onto the table again. From
here   you just  cruise around the remaining few corners and back
to the  start/finish   straight!    If  you can manage that three
times without  coming last  then you're  certainly on  course for
reaching the final race!


~Race 24 - Go For It!

Guess what?     Yep, you're  right, they  still haven't  moved  a
single piece  in that  chess board.   Actually,  it surprises  me
how they  can move  it around  into  a new  position on the track
without all the pieces sliding about.   I guess  it's a  magnetic
set!!    Anyway,  we're far too busy to worry about  how the kids
spend their time in this micro-machine's house now we've  reached
track   24 of  25!!!  The race itself has very similar tactics to
the other  two tank  levels.   You can  still cut all the corners
apart from   the  chess board  and you can still blast your three
opponents into  oblivion   at the   start  of   the race  to give
yourself a  head-start over  them.    Be  careful though,  if you
make one mistake on this course they will  have you  for tea  and
you'll   probably never catch up again! When you reach the chess-
board, take  the left-hand  route until  you reach the centre  of
the   board at  the left edge to make it over to the track again.
Got it??     As  I've already  said, it's possible to cut all the
corners, but  this is  really important  on the zigzags where too
much time  is lost  fiddling about  when following  the 'correct'
route.   Instead, treat it  like you  have done  the chicanes  on
other   tracks.      Drive diagonally,  straight   through  them.
When   you have  won, why  not take  a minute  to think about the
normal toys  kids have  in their  bedrooms. Okay, draughts maybe,
dice, marbles  and Lego yes, but matches!!  As they say "Matches,
matches never touch.  They can hurt you very much!!"


~Race 25 - The Champion!

Phew, so   now we're  here -  track 25!!  It's a pity they didn't
spend a  bit more   time  on  this one really because it is quite
boring for a last level... Oh  well, the only thing to do is make
it look  like race  one by  winning it  by over one lap.  No such
luck I'm afraid.  In fact, you'd be lucky to  win full-stop,  and
more  likely to  come third or fourth.  Of course, to  become the
supreme champion  you must  come first  on this race so obviously
you're not   going  to be  supreme champion,  are  you??    (only
kiddin'). Oh   well,  enough of  the moaning,  let's get  on with
making sure you do as well as possible under the circumstances...
Right at  the start you  must be alert because no sooner have you
pressed the accelerator to start the  race then  to have to brake
hard again  to take  the first  turn without plummeting  over the
edge!!   Once around the bend, head down the straight and  slow a
bit in  order to  take the  two u-bends successfully. When around
the second   u-bend,  drive down  the inside line of the track so
you are  lined up  to go over the right hand ruler on the bridge.
Don't be  tempted to take the left-hand ruler because that option
is blocked  by a  stray  rubber.   Now burn  some rubber  all the
way down the straight making sure  you stay  on the same line all
the way  down so you take the second ruler  bridge as  well. When
you get  near the  end -  in line  with the far-end  of the  open
folder   - slow   right  down so  you can  take the  turn  whilst
avoiding the   ink  slick   in the   middle  of   the track.  Now
straighten up   after  the bend  and get yourself into a position
which you are sure  is the  centre of  the track.   When  you are
sure, burn  some rubber  again   and fly  through the  two narrow
sections of the track and over a  third ruler  bridge.  This next
bit is  very difficult but at the same time  you must keep going.
Because there  is nothing  inside the  'U' in  the  track doesn't
mean you  can cut  the corner.  In fact, you must go all the  way
to where  the track  doubles back on itself before you can do the
same   thing.  The problem is, though, whilst worrying about that
you also  have   to slow right down to stop yourself from falling
off the  edge of the table, and, when you have made the turn, you
also have  to quickly  straighten up   and  accelerate   away  in
order to  get over  the  next  ruler  bridge  successfully    and
quickly.   Once back  on the  previous table gain,make the  right
hand turn then push hard on the accelerator and thunder over both
folders.    As soon as you've landed the second time, hit hard on
the   brakes so   you can make the turn without straying onto the
wrong bit  of  track which would surely be a big mistake.  As you
go round  this bend, straighten  up for  the next ruler and apply
the same  tactics once on the  next table  as you  did on the one
before.   However, this one is made a  little easier  by the fact
that the bend is wider and the margin of error  is bigger.   Now,
back on  the starting  table again,  make sure  you stay   on the
right bit  of track  and don't  cut corners  onto  the  next  bit
otherwise   you'll be   blown  up.    Make  your way  around  the
three quarters  circle   and cruise  up to the final start/finish
line.  Two laps later you'll  have completed  the game.   Whether
is 1st   place  or  4th place, this  is very satisfying!!  (A lot
like finishing this walk-thru' really!!)

I thank you  (and you thank me too!!)

~    =============
~By: Simon Burrows
~    =============