Speedboat Attack

• Title — Speedboat Attack • Developer — Criterion Studios • Publisher — Telstar Electronic Studios • Released — 1997 • Platforms — Windows • Genre — Racing

At its core, the gameplay of Speedboat Attack revolves around high-speed maneuvering of a boat around 10 distinct courses, from the paradisiac coastal landscapes of the Balearic Loop to the otherworldly Terra Incognita. Players must pass through checkpoints to receive a time extension and avoid running out of time. There are 3 difficulty levels in total: newcomer, master, and ace. As the difficulty level increases, there is less time to reach the next checkpoint and competing boats will pose more of a challenge. The player may choose one of 5 boat types, each one differing with respect to acceleration, speed, handling and armor. During a race, it is possible to toggle between different views, such as cockpit view and third-person view. The game can be played in two configurations: "Race" keeps the focus on outmaneuvering opponents and beating the clock, whereas "Combat" provides a more action-oriented and dynamic experience. There are many elements exclusive to the "Combat" mode, including hazards and ammunition pickups for the machine gun and rocket launcher, as well as shortcuts. • Illustration — Cockpit view gameplay in Speedboat Attack. It has a radar map, a damage indicator and ammo counters. When a boat is under fire, any hits landed will make its armor meter decrease, greatly reducing its speed. This meter can only be refilled at a repair dock. Therefore, players are encouraged to avoid any damage while maintaining a high pace. Speedboat Attack offers 3 different modes. Time trial mode is a straightforward race against the clock, where the players are able to save and compete against their best times. Arcade mode pits the player against 5 competing boats to see who is the fastest. Championship mode consists of a series of races following a league format, often with slightly modified versions of previous courses (for example, racing during nighttime). Lastly, the game also has a multiplayer element, both locally and online via LAN or through the Internet.