POD SPEEDZONE: GAME GUIDE by Wolf Feather/Jamie Stafford FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM Initial Version Completed: October 17. 2002 FINAL VERSION Completed: October 27, 2002 ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== CONTENTS Spacing and Length Permissions Introduction Getting Started Arcade Mode Cars Race Venues Power-ups Weapons Contact ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== INTRODUCTION First, an important note: This guides DOES NOT cover online gameplay for POD Speedzone, as I do not have online capabilities at this time. POD Speedzone is an interesting game. There have been many futuristic racing games in arcades and on various consoles. POD Speedzone certainly does not attempt to distinguish itself from the rest of the futuristic racing games in existence, but its is rather interesting and fun to play. This guide will lead players through the basics of gameplay in POD Speedzone. ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== GETTING STARTED First, bypass the opening movie. It is not interesting at all. In fact, the opening movie is absolutely unnecessary. Even worse, it is embarrassingly open-ended without having really presented any believable storyline to make an open ending worthwhile in any way. As with any game, begin by immediately going to the Options Menu. Here, it is important to become familiar with the controller configuration; fortunately, there are five configurations from which to choose, including steering with either the analog stick (rather difficult unless someone is an analog specialist) or the D-pad (the arrow buttons beneath the analog stick). Also, customize sounds and other aspects of the game, then head back to the Main Menu to get started. ==================================== ARCADE MODE For those who do not have the DreamCast console configured and wired for Internet access and online play, this is the only game mode available (other than Two Players Mode). The game presents a number of cars, each varying in both look and performance; two of the cars are not available, as they are apparently for online use only. Once a car has been selected, a race venue can be selected; again, one race venue is not also available unless online capability has been detected. ==================================== CARS Here are the various cars and their stats: Bulldog* Acceleration: 10 Brakes: 9 Shield: 6 Speed: 7 Boost: 7 Handling: 9 Cougar Acceleration: 8 Brakes: 5 Shield: 6 Speed: 8 Boost: 8 Handling: 10 Crab* Acceleration: 9 Brakes: 9 Shield: 8 Speed: 6 Boost: 10 Handling: 10 Piranha Acceleration: 9 Brakes: 10 Shield: 10 Speed: 6 Boost: 10 Handling: 8 Scarab Acceleration: 9 Brakes: 8 Shield: 8 Speed: 8 Boost: 8 Handling: 9 Sea Cat Acceleration: 8 Brakes: 9 Shield: 8 Speed: 10 Boost: 6 Handling: 9 Viper Acceleration: 8 Brakes: 10 Shield: 9 Speed: 8 Boost: 8 Handling: 10 Wasp Acceleration: 10 Brakes: 9 Shield: 8 Speed: 8 Boost: 8 Handling: 9 * This car is not available unless online capabilities have been detected. Each car comes equipped with shields and a fixed amount of Boost. Shields are destroyed due to collisions with ANYTHING, and once shields are gone, the next collision cripples the car and the race immediately ends. Shields and Boost can both be provisionally augmented by collecting the proper power-ups (see the Power-ups section below). ==================================== RACE VENUES Here are the racing venues available in POD Speedzone: Bridge Ride: As the name of this race venue indicates, there are quite a few bridges in for this circuit; some of these are essentially incomplete bridges, requiring plenty of boost to ensure the car can safely clear the gaps. Bridge Ride also includes several mechanical plant-like monsters (think angry Venus Flytraps covered with metal) which occasionally dip down to attempt to eat and otherwise hinder the cars in the race. This venue also has several run-off roads, but these do not lead anywhere, so it is important to not miss a turn and be forced to backtrack... especially since the cars in POD Speedzone do not come equipped with a Reverse gear. Canyon: This circuit takes place on a canyon floor; as such, the raceway is often bounded by tall rock cliffs. There are numerous junctions, allowing each car to take a different route; some of these routes do not contain actual roads, instead presenting simply sand (which is inherently slower than the paved raceways). There are a few mechanical entities which will occasionally attack the cars. K Zone: K Zone effectively combines the main features of both Bridge Ride and Canyon. This race venue also includes an unmarked junction (i.e., no directional indicators appear on-screen on approach) which yields extra power-ups; the CPU-controlled cars never take this route. Mines Web: Despite the name of this race venue, there are no miners here, and NO mining equipment to be found :-( This is a tight and twisting venue with numerous junctions and many mechanical creatures roaming about... many of them will attack the cars as they pass. Due to the multiple tight corners, aggressive drivers are likely to never finish races at this venue. Oddrock*: Unknown Volcano: This race venue presents a lot of elevated raceways and raceways through tunnels in the volcano. There are also unmarked junctions (i.e., no directional indicators appear on-screen on approach) which yield extra power-ups; the CPU-controlled cars never take these routes. Mechanical plant-like entities and swinging barrels of molten lava will try to block cars from passing cleanly. * This race venue is not available unless online capabilities have been detected. In many situations, the raceway is bounded by metal barriers; touching these barriers or any other obstacle will result in the car's shields fading away due to the incurred damage. In ALL situations, the raceway is extremely narrow, so passing must be done with care; this is an obvious benefit to the race leader, as there is not much raceway to protect when driving defensively. ==================================== POWER-UPS There are three power-ups which can be acquired during races. These are generally presented beside each other at various points on the circuit, and look like floating jewels of differing colors. Blue: This will add to the player's current Boost level. Each car begins with a limited quantity of Boost, so it is important to collect these blue power-ups as often as possible to be able to power toward the Finish Line on the final lap of a race. Red: This provides a temporary Boost for a fixed amount of time. The time length of this Boost cannot be altered (unlike normal Boost, which is only used for as long as the player presses the Boost button), so it is important to know each circuit well enough to determine when is and is not a good time to use this fixed-duration Boost. Yellow: This power-up adds to the car's shields. The car takes damage whenever it is involved in a collision or when attacked, so this will help to keep the car in a given race. ==================================== WEAPONS Two weapons can be collected (in the same manner as power- ups) during races. Orange: This is a Mine weapon. Upon activation, a land mine will be placed immediately behind the car, and will explode and cause damage to any car that happens upon it. This is a good weapon to use during defensive driving, especially if being tailed closely by competitors >:-) Pink: This is a Wave weapon. Upon activation, cars immediately ahead will be forced to stop momentarily. This is a nice weapon to use for offensive purposes, to make passing a little bit easier :-) ==================================== ==================================== ==================================== CONTACT For rants, raves, etc., contact me at FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM; also, if you have enjoyed this guide and feel that it has been helpful to you, I would certainly appreciate a small donation via PayPal (http://www.paypal.com/) using the above e-mail address. To find the latest version of this and all my other PSX/PS2/DC/Mac game guides, visit FeatherGuides at http://feathersites.angelcities.com/ ==================================== ==================================== ====================================