Battlecars (video game)

Did You Know?

• Battlecars was developed using BASIC by SLUG, a Harlow co-operative of programmers who formerly worked for Red Shift.
• Julian Gollop developed the Designer program that allows players to edit cars.
• The game came with a sixteen-page instruction manual.

Gameplay

Up to two players battle each other or the computer using vehicles equipped with armor, weapons, and components such as missiles, mines, machine guns, lasers, oil, and smoke. Players can fight on a racetrack, in an arena called the Autodrome, or on the streets of Slug City. On the racetrack, navigation through a narrow circuit emphasizes rough terrain and a clock. The Autodrome is a bare arena for two cars to focus on combat. Slug City offers narrow streets for car battles. A player can face the computer or a second player on the racetrack or Autodrome, but Slug City is only for two human players. Except when racing, the primary goal is to find and destroy the opponent's car. Gas stations and service garages provide fuel or repairs but leave a player vulnerable to attack. Cars realistically drift when turning at high speed. The screen displays the driving area, a venue map, speed, fuel, damage, and weapon information. Two-player mode gives each player their own screen. Twelve keyboard keys control each car and its weapons. Eight car configurations are available, and the included Designer program allows players to customize vehicles.

Reception

Roger Kean previewed Battlecars in Crash #9, describing it as rather more straightforward than expected from a company immersed in the occult, and noted the handling of high speed vehicles as quite alarmingly realistic. Kevin Westbury reviewed the game for White Dwarf #60, giving it an overall rating of 8 out of 10, stating it is fast, furious and great fun, combining simple operations with complex play. Bob Wade in Personal Computer Games called it a bleak view of an automotive future but terrific to play. Computer and Video Games was critical, saying it is one thing to have a good idea for a game but another to write the program. Your Sinclair elaborated that the horrid thing kept crashing.