Game Review of:
Viper Racing 
by Larry Grosskopf 

The minimum requirements for this program are a Windows 95/98 operating system with a Pentium 133 MHZ processor, 32 MB of RAM, a 4X CD-ROM drive, 15 MB of hard drive space, any 2 MB 3D graphics card, DirectX 6.0 and a 16 bit sound card. Recommended optimal performance would be to have a Pentium 200 MHZ or faster processor with 80 MB hard drive space available. 

This game is a very realistic driving simulation featuring the Dodge Viper with a choice of as many as eight different tracks. There are also three different levels of what I would call driving ability, “arcade”, “intermediate” and “simulation.” The difference in difficulty level between the three levels is significant. You also have the option of choosing a 3, 8 or 20 lap race. The “quick race” was the first thing I did after I installed the game. This race, by default is on a banked, semi-oval track with 7 other drivers to contend with. One of the features of the game is that the other drivers are set up to simulate actually being a live driver with humanistic reflexes and responses. It seemed just like I was racing against a group of live race competitors. This is, in my opinion, one of the nicer features. It makes you feel like you are actually engaged in the mechanics of racing. In other words, it can be quite frustrating until you increase your skill level to match that of the computers simulated drivers. Another nice feature is that the program allows you to control how many drivers you race against one all the way up to seven. 

I would be amiss if I did not emphasize the quality of the 3D graphics that allow for skid marks, transparent car windows, and movement that seems to reflect a real racing environment. Another interesting option is that you can turn “damage” on or off. With damage “on”, when your car is damaged, performance will be affected accordingly and the damage will be represented by dents, smoke, and so forth on the screen. Now, don’t anyone tell Sierra, but if you want to, you can even have a little fun with the other drivers and turn around and go the opposite way or drive all over the infield, but watch out for crashing into the buildings. That flexibility makes for an interesting game, especially watching as the other drivers spin out trying to avoid you. Not only that but with damage “off,” you can engineer spectacular crashes, without doing damage to the cars. Of course, don’t do this when any teenagers are around, because we don’t want to set a bad example now, do we? I found it useful to leave damage off during the early portions of the learning curve, as I had many more spin-outs, accidents and crashes than I would have hoped for. With damage on, there is more realism, but less allowance for mistakes during the race. The game provides for your choice of graphics detail including not only screen resolution, but also distance and detail quality and game effects like smoke, tire skid marks, and reflections. Even though you start from the same position in each race, you can vary the race details by choosing a different class car or by painting the car a different color chosen from the excellent Paint Kit menu. Synchronization of sounds with nice visual effects makes this game very realistic. I certainly enjoy playing it and would recommend it to others. 

There are a number of other characteristics that set this game apart. One of them is the ability to go into career mode, in which you can work your way up the ladder by racing 20 different races on eight tracks, earning 40 different Viper upgrades along the way. The built –in four levels of “racing leagues” provide plenty of experience for the novice to turn himself into a pro. The “Garage” lets you to tinker with and adjust your car’s setup including the aerodynamics, ABS braking, yaw control (cornering), traction, chassis, gearing, alignment and drivetrain. 

Playing the game on your home computer is not the only option you are offered, either. You may have multi-player games, play with others on a LAN (local area network) or on the Internet. Direct connection via modem with one other computer is also an option. Menus for this game allow you to choose one of 12 perspectives from which an ongoing race is viewed onscreen. Before I forget, let me mention one other Main Menu option, which is “Replay.” Once you have completed a race, you can save it for later viewing or view it immediately. However, when you’ve had a particularly bad race, take my advice and just skip that  part, it’s embarrassing. 

The physical control options for this game include the keyboard, joystick or a racing wheel. I did find it difficult steering, using my basic joystick. Of course, I do usually drive as fast as I can in this game. Don’t think that might have anything to do with my problems, do you? No, me neither. I want to believe that I would do much better with a wheel, but don’t tell my wife I have my eye on one of those babies. 

Documentation for this product is extremely well-done. Sierra provides a book with nice descriptions of the menus, diagrams of all eight available racetracks, as well as setup tips for your car for each racetrack. There is a chapter on the “Garage” as well as a brief history of the Dodge Viper. There are appendices for troubleshooting, racing terms, credits, contacting Sierra and contact information for their 24-hour, automated technical support. 

This product is available from the Sierra Home website at or it may also be available in local retail stores, although I have not seen this product. Suggested online retail price is $29.95. Sierra offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied for any reason with this product, even if you buy it retail.