• ID = PS0443
• STYLE = Futuristic Racing
• DEV. = SCEA Santa Monica
• PUB. = Sony CEA, Inc.
• R-DATE = Oct-17-2001
• ESRB = T / For Teen
• PLAYERS = 1-2 players
• LIST PRICE = $39.99
  

Kinetica provides pure arcade-style racing with several original twists, the foremost of which is the use of kinetic suits--scientifically advanced exoskeletons that fuse with individuals, allowing them to harness excessive speed, incredible agility, and the ability to adhere to almost any surface. Antigravity maneuvers are essential to going ballistic on high-G vertical climbs and maintaining stability at terminal speeds. Moreover, the maneuverability of the kinetic suits allows racers to perform insane stunts and draft behind opponents to enhance the suits' speed.

Each of the 12-plus tracks set in six different racing environments has its own unique personality, design tempo, and challenging obstacles. Kinetica tracks are specifically designed to allow the pure competitive nature of racing to assert itself in the most dramatic ways possible, including offering multiple line corners, alternative crossover pathways, and more. Finely tuned artificial intelligence will keep you on edge as each opposing kinetic racer adapts and adjusts its driving over the course of the race. Using strategically timed turbo boosts, planning Boost Syphons, and drafting off opponents will stimulate the competitive element within the interactive field of racers.

Description 2:
It’s a genuine revolution in racing, and its unique formula has landed on the PlayStation 2. Kinetic Skins, a type of futuristic exoskeletons, have been scientifically fused with human beings to create racing machines unlike anything the world has ever seen. The result lies somewhere in between a high-speed motorcycle and a vicious animal, but one thing is for sure these things can race. In addition to the amazing speeds you’ll experience, the number of tricks you’ll be able to pull off is sky high.

Gravity-defying stunts of all sorts are par for the course, as you race through six futuristic environments. With 11 tracks in all, there’s no shortage of gameplay or variety in KINETICA, and each locale has a different surface for you to master. Choose your racer and head out into the heat, battling against computer opponents or friends. The multiplayer options are outstanding, the graphics are revolutionary, and the replay value is incredible in this instant classic.

• 11 tracks.
• Amazing physics.
• Cool graphics.
• Tons of tricks.
• Two-player action.

Amazon.com Review
Kinetica illustrates the point that you need more than speed and flashy graphics to make a good high-speed racing game. Sure, the racing here is fast, but design issues quickly turn it into a wreck of a title.

Like the Wipeout and Extreme G games, Kinetica features futuristic car designs, a bumping techno soundtrack, and racetracks that defy the laws of physics and logic. In the world of Kinetica, you don't merely race in cars, you become a car. You race wearing one of several special suits that feature souped-up wheels and engines, and choose from a variety of drivers. Each combination of suit and driver performs differently and withstands varying amounts of damage.

In order to finish in a decent place, your racer must locate power-ups and perform stunts in the air and on the ground. Successfully completing a stunt will increase your speed boosts. It's just as important for you to learn the many alternate routes each track offers. Every other racer is out to get you and will try to smash or disable you in a variety of ways.

Once racing begins, Kinetica crashes and burns. The racing is blindingly fast, which makes it very hard to concentrate on performing the trickier stunts. Often you can't see far into the distance, which leads to frequent crashes into walls and other obstacles. You can easily fall completely off a track because of the overly frantic action.

The awkward track design and the number of challenges you face each moment severely limits the fun factor for players. The game also experiences some occasionally drastic slowdowns when more than two racers are onscreen at once. Kinetica's original gameplay ideas should have stayed in the shop for more fine tuning. --Mark Brooks

Pros:
Blazingly fast driving action.
Stunts and wild tracks.

Cons:
A little too much action to concentrate on attaining objectives.
Poor visibility leads to many collisions.
Frustrating slowdowns during the most heated parts of a race.