Plane Crazy (video game)

Plane Crazy is a airplane combat/racing video game for Microsoft Windows and Sony PlayStation in which contestants pilot racing planes through 3D courses. Plane Crazy was based around arcade racers rather than flight simulation, focusing on action rather than realism. It was in fact originally planned for release in arcades as one of the first games to use Microsoft and Intel's Windows-based arcade system.[3] The game supported the Heat.net (Windows) and Multiplay (PS1) multiplayer gaming system, with up to eight players allowed in one race.

Plane Crazy
Developer(s)Inner Workings
Publisher(s)SegaSoft (PC)
Europress (PS1)
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
ReleaseSeptember 30, 1998[1] (PC, North America)
September 15, 1999[2] (PS1)
Genre(s)Plane racing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Gameplay
The starting line of the level "Border Dash".

Plane Crazy had three game modes for PC:

  • "Quick Race" - Allowed you to play a single level against seven AI opponents.
  • "Ghost Race" - Time trial mode.
  • "Championship" - Expanded below.

Plane Crazy had four game modes for PS1:

  • "Championship"
  • "Extreme Championship"
  • "Single Race"
  • "Best Times"

In Plane Crazy the player pilots a fast, cartoon-like plane, built for speed across a variety of levels. The objective of each level is to reach the end as fast as possible. Planes either bounce or explode when they come into contact with other structures, terrain, or even other planes. They then respawn, invincible for a short amount of time.

There are three types of planes: the light and fast plane that cannot take much damage, the evenly balanced plane and the heavy plane which is slower but can take more punishment. Each of these planes can be upgraded and customized.

Throughout each map there are blue vortexes dotted at given locations, that give a random upgrade/weapons to the plane. These power-ups give players an advantage over the other opponents, making game play more hectic. "Black Cat" grants invincibility for a short amount of time. "Rocket Boosts" increases the planes speed dramatically for a few seconds, depending on the rocket's level (small, large, large*3). Sometimes a player may be given a weapon which could fire a random homing missile at a random opponent in front of the plane. That player will than be sent an "Incoming!" message where the player can try to dodge the projectile. If the missile should hit, that player's plane could be temporarily disabled or plummet to the ground. Each plane is also given three blue torpedoes, which can be used to trigger environmental hazards for other players or open short-cuts.[4]

Plane Crazy featured online play, using the Heat.net multiplayer gaming system. It allowed eight players on one server at one time.

Championship Mode

Against seven other opponents. The objective of each level is to make it to the finish before the other players do. Throughout the course there are checkpoints that give you additional time. If the player should run out of time their engine would cut out leading their plane to veer and descend. if the plane were to touch anything they would crash leading to a game over. the only way to avoid this is to reach a checkpoint before hitting an obstacle. upon completing a level the player will be rewarded with a cash payout for upgrading their plane, the cash reward is increased the further into the championship with the highest value being $1000.

sometimes a bonus reward may be available giving the player an extra cash payout, the highest bonus payout is $1000.

When the last race is complete the player may be given a trophy based on their position.

Reception

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it two stars out of five, and stated that "The graphics are pretty, but in today's age of gaming, pretty pictures just aren't enough to make a game great. And with this one, they hardly come close."[5]

OPM UK's review said "Who wants to expend loads of effort tying to master the tricky controls for so little reward" and gave it a 4 out of 10.[4]

See also
  • SkyDrift (a similar game released in 2011)

References
  1. https://www.gamefaqs.com/company/12883-inner-workings-ltd
  2. psxdatacenter.com: Plane Crazy
  3. Webb, Marcus (August 1997). "Microsoft, Intel, & Allies Plan Fall Arcade Debut". Next Generation. No. 32. Imagine Media. p. 28.
  4. Official UK Playstation Magazine - Issue 048 (Future Publishing)(GB). August 1999. pp. 102.
  5. "Finals". Next Generation. No. 48. Imagine Media. December 1998. p. 138.
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