Vigilante 8

Download Vigilante 8 and join the high-octane world of vehicular combat! Choose your unique vehicle, arm it with devastating weapons, and battle in explosive, action-packed arenas. Are you ready to wreak havoc? Play now!
a game by Activision, and Luxoflux Corp.
Genres: Action, Racing
Platforms: Nintendo 64Nintendo 64, GameBoy Color, Playstation, PSX
Editor Rating: 8/10, based on 11 reviews, 16 reviews are shown
User Rating: 7.0/10 - 23 votes
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See also: Car Games, Vigilante Games
Vigilante 8
Vigilante 8
Vigilante 8

No wonder car insurance is so high. Activision is releasing Vigilante 8. yet another game in the densely populated combat/driving genre. Although the company says it isn't Interstate 76 for the PSX. the game has a definite funky '70s feel to it. It will also feature 12 fully 30 battle arenas with completely destructible environments and a dozen pumped-up ammo-intense cars. Blast a bud in the two-player mode or fight against the game's ramped-up A.I. as you cruise through the Southwest. The game will also feature a new 3D graphics engine, so be prepared for actual environmental scarring, car-crash realism, and heavy-duty 3D explosions. Exercise your right to bear harm this March.

Download Vigilante 8

Nintendo 64

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
GBC

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Playstation

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
PSX

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

Last month, we gave you sneak peeks at this hot new game from the four-man team at Luxoflux. We finally got a chance to play it in-depth, and while the controls still need to be tweaked, we're pretty excited at what we've played so far. This '70s funkadelic take on the combat driving genre has what it takes to bump Twisted Metal 1 and 2 from the throne.

The vehicles are fairly interesting. They consist of classic muscle cars, pickup trucks and even a school bus, apparently a very popular vehicle with the focus/testing groups (in the words of an Activision associate producer, "Kid's love this f****** bus!").

Each of the cars come with a standard machine gun. To pick up more powerful armaments (see sidebar), you must drive around the large levels and pick up weapon icons. If you can find the secret weapon crate, you can access that character's unique special power. Beezwax, for example, can launch a swarm of mutant bees that can make short work of any car.

What really distinguishes this game from its competition, however, isn't the cars or the weapons; it's the awesome game engine. When you damage the front end, your hood can pop loose. When you get shot, you can see the bullet holes. If you get...ahem, rear-ended, your tail pipe and bumpers can be knocked loose. Windshields can shatter. You can start avalanches on the snowy mountains. You can almost feel the bumpy or slippery terrain underneath your wheels. In other words, this game engine is one of the finest we've seen in a while. It's extremely detailed and realistic--it really must be seen and played to be appreciated.

Vigilante 8 will include a One-player Quest Mode (where you follow a character's story line), a One-player Arcade Mode (where you can just jump in and fight against one to four other cars) and a Two-player Mode. Right now, the two-player game is only one-on-one, but that may change to become a free-for-all that may include up to four more cpu opponents (for a total of six cars in battle).

We've been waiting for a better-looking Twisted Metal-type game, and Vigilante 8 may be the answer. This is Activision's '70s muscle car version of the popular car combat games by SCEA.

All around, this preview version of V-8 looks better than the Twisted Metals. Everything from the textures to the animation looks more realistic. Beyond that, the basic idea (drive around and shoot everything in sight) is the same. Each of the 12 cars has a basic machine gun, as well as a special weapon. For example, the camper truck is equipped with an arsenal of killer bees, while the school bus shoots out toxic fumes.

We're pretty excited about this great-looking game. As we get more on it, we'll keep you updated.

  • MANUFACTURER - Luxoflux
  • THEME - ACTION
  • NUMBER OF PLAYERS - 1 or 2

On the PC, Activision has had good success with a '70s driving/combat game, Interstate '76. The formula worked so well, they decided to bring that funky retro feel to the PlayStation.

Vigilante 8 will be Activision's answer to Sony's Twisted Metal series. The difference is, this newer game is graphically superior (from early looks so far) and it takes place in the '70s.

The 12 super-charged muscle cars are all armed with high-tech weaponry, like side-mounted laser guns. All of the combat takes place on off-road terrains, which contain secret areas and power-ups.

Activision is currently tweaking V8, to insure that car and off-road terrain physics behave realistically, but at the same time, keeping the game speed fast enough to provide gamers a good time. If V8 can keep up with Twisted Metal 2 like Activision thinks it can, then people won't help but have fun playing it. After all, the game offers muscle cars, guns and off-roading...how can you go wrong with that formula?

Vigilante 8 injects some high-octane visual excitement into the combat/vehide genre, but it falls short of the Twisted Metal hall of fame due to faulty controls. That's a real shame, because V8 has some of the best graphics and level designs of any vehicle shooter for the PlayStation yet: Pop-up and clipping problems are kept to a minimum, huge explosions fill the screen, and the interactive stage elemerits will make you blink in disbelief. The airplane graveyard, for instance, has vintage B-52 bombers you can chase down the runway and blow to pieces as they try to take off.

Even though V8's graphics scream, sluggish and inaccurate controls frequently stall the fun. Taking tight high-speed turns is a chore, and peeling around 180 degrees is almost impossible. It's also easy to get hung up on a tight incline or in a corner where all you can do is helplessly scream "Move!" at the screen.

V8's minimal plot pits Vigilantes (the good guys) against Coyotes (the bad guys) for control of the country's oil reserves. You choose from one of eight crazed drivers and their specialized muscle cars, including a Cleopatra Jones-ish cyborg in a 75 Palomino and a beauty queen turned F.B.I. agent in a '67 Rattler.

Overall, Vigilante 8 is worth a test-drive rental for fans of the genre. If the controls had spent more time in the shop, V8 could have been one topnotch lean, mean driving machine.

ProTips:

  • Don't drop land mines in a careless fashion; you could run over them by mistake and damage your own car.
  • Drop land mines along the runways in the Aircraft Graveyard stage. This should keep any planes from taking off.
  • In the Ghost Town level, follow the trains and shoot the crates off the flatbed car to collect some awesome firepower.
  • In the Ski Resort stage, ride the cable car to the top of the mountain and then rain missiles on your opponents.
  • For the Coyotes, Lokl is one of the best drivers, His 73 Glenn 4x4 has the right combination of size and speed, and his Scatter missiles pack a big punch, too.

Graphics

Vigilante 8's incredible visuals are filled with eye candy and excellent details. The rendered cinema opening is a thing of beauty.

Control

Sluggish and unresponsive controls occasionally put the fun in neutral. It will take some real patience to keep driving this V8.

Sound

The low-key hard country and 70s funkadelic tunes make for good drivin'. The sound effects also shine, but some of the dialogue spoken by various characters is lame and groan-worthy.

Fun Factor

Vigilante 8's graphics and huge levels purr away, but the poor controls put some sugar in the tank. While V8 isn't a lemon, it does get stuck in the combat-vehicle "B" lot.

Nintendo 64 owners have long requested, "I want to blow up lots of cars on my N64!" Now, thanks to Vigilante 8 from Luxoflux and Activision, they'll be able to--to the fullest extent. Some of you may remember Vigilante 8 on the PlayStation and the way it pushed the PlayStation to its graphical limits. Well, V8 is essentially the same game on the N64 except for N64-style graphics, a speedier frame-rate and some other exclusive features.

In case you're not familiar with Vigilante 8, the game has a Mad Max feel--that is, if the actors in the movie were played by the members of the P-funk group Parliament--who drive '70s muscle cars--with levels that take place in the American Southwest. Basically, think of a fancy Twisted Metal or Rogue Trip where you try to kill all of the other guys and gals in a level, with a variety of strange vehicles, loads of weapons and, yes, an Area 51 level. But since it's the first of its kind on the system, there isn't anything really to compare V8 to...well, except to V8 on the PlayStation.

Here's what's new to the N64: First, the N64 version ofV8 features a slew of new multiplayer modes including Brawl, Smear and Survival modes. Brawl Mode is two vs. two team play, Smear Mode is three players against one poor sap, and Survival Mode is an all-out Deathmatch Mode where every gamer is for him/herself. In addition to these multiplayer modes, V8 on the N64 gives you a Quest Mode for the popular alien character from the PlayStation version, and a two-player co-operative Quest Mode. Of course, the music has been N64-ized with a MIDI soundtrack instead of one that streams off of a CD. V8 also supports the RAM Expansion Pak for an impressive hi-res mode with a decent frame-rate.

So how did Luxoflux and Activision come up with all of these additions to an already solid title? By checking on Usenet, reading through e-mails and listening to focus groups concerning the PlayStation V8, they found people wanted more from the multiplayer mode, a quest for the alien and the other features listed above. Luxoflux and Activision are putting them in, and we're getting a better game because of it--not just some rehashed piece of crap.

Like the PlayStation version, V8 on the N64 still has fully destructible 3D arenas, secrets within levels and a story for each character in the Quest Mode. Although the one-player can be a lot of fun, the real thrill of playing car combat games comes from the multiplayer mode(s), and Vigilante 8 is no different in this respect. The four-player modes are easy to get into thanks to the four controller ports already available on the N64, and from what we've seen so far, the frame-rate doesn't suffer much from the intense graphics.

Don your flares and take to the streets!

Do you remember the Seventies? Big haircuts, bigger trousers, Party Sevens, chunky medallions and hugely impractical shoes. Oh, and if Vigilante 8 is to be believed, gangs of heavily-armed motorists running riot in the western United States. Well, sounds a lot more fun than the real thing!

Converted from the PlayStation game, which itself was based on the PC title Interstate '76, Vigilante 8 is set in an alternate 1970s where groups of Mad Max-style automotive terrorists are blasting around the place, blowing stuff up and being generally troublesome.

The Coyotes (for 'tis they) are attempting to seize control of America's depleting oil supplies, and a group of vigilantes (named, thrillingly, the Vigilantes) hired by the citizenry is trying to stop them. That's what passes for a plot.

Not that it matters. Once you get into the game, things are very simple - if it's got wheels, blow it up! Each vehicle in Vigilante S's world comes complete with its very own factory-fitted machine gun and enough ammunition to fight a small war. This might sound ideal for those fed up of being caught in jams on the M25, but In the harsh world of 1970s America it's not nearly deadly enough. Luckily, your car can also support up to three bolt-on weapons systems as well, and as luck would have it these are scattered liberally throughout the landscape for you to find. In addition to these, each car has its own distinctive superweapon - these only have a limited number of shots, but anything hit by them will be heading to the nearest scrapyard quicker than you can say "Starsky".

A Bad Mother-(Shut Your Mouth)

Vigilante 8 supports up to four players. The one-player game has three modes: Quest, Arcade and Survival. Arcade is a straightforward 'kill 'em all' rampage on a single level, while Survival pits, you against waves of increasing numbers of enemies. The aim is just to see how long you can last before being blown to pieces!

The Quest mode is the real meat of the game. In this, each character visits four different stages to fulfil their own agendas - whether it's making it big in Hollywood or being taken away by extraterrestrials - by destroying particular enemies and defending certain buildings from attack (or, if you're playing as one of the Coyotes, by blasting them to atoms). Completing each character's mission is the key to unlocking the hidden characters within the game, shown by a little league table affair in the Options menu. Completing a mission also unlocks a 'movie', although it's really just a bunch of still pictures with some text scrolling underneath. No FMV for you, Nintendo boy.

One nice feature is the way that the missions can also be completed in the two-player co-operative game, which obviously makes things a lot easier. Dealing with multiple enemies can be tricky, especially when they're all ganging up on you, so having a mate to draw their fire and pop up for sneak attacks not only adds to the fun of the game, but makes those secrets much more accessible.

We Got A Convoy

The four-player game is tremendous fun - it's almost Goldeneye on wheels. All the terrain and obstacles in the one-player game are present, so smart players can use level features like flame jets or tidal waves to their advantage.

Incredibly, Vigilante 8 manages to keep the speed up even with four people blasting away at each other. There is occasional slowdown when things get really hectic, but for the most part multiplayer games are as fast as the one-player game, at the slight expense of framerate.

Even without an Expansion Pak, Vigilante 8 has looks on its side. The scenery is well-detailed (plus almost all of it can be destroyed) and varied, and annoyances like fogging are kept to a minimum by the clever way the landscapes are drawn - distant scenery is filled in as a coloured silhouette, so its shape obscures the sky backdrops without slowing things down. As you get closer, the textures gradually fade in. It doesn't completely eliminate pop-up, but it's a damn sight better than having everything vanish into a Turok-style haze.

Overview

Not long after the PlayStation was released, I remember hearing about a game called Twisted Metal. Everyone was talking about this awesome new game and that it was nothing like you had ever seen before. Surprisingly, it was nothing like I had seen before and up to the release of Twisted Metal 2 it is nothing like I have seen since, until now. Nearly three years later, somebody (Activision) has finally stepped up and released a game that not only challenges the Twisted Metal series but surpasses it in many respects. So sit back, strap on a rocket launcher and get ready to hit the mean streets of 1975.

Vigilante 8 takes place in 1975 during a major oil shortage. Since we US citizens love our vehicles, we depend on oil, not to mention the US economy thrives off of it. The shortages were causing people to do whatever it took to get their hand on fuel resulting in riots and crime. All law enforcement personnel were gathered in the major metropolitan areas which left the outlying areas unprotected. It turns out that the oil shortage was mandated by a foreign consortium that was seeking to control the world's trade. To help to achieve this goal, they have promised to pay Sid $100 million if he could crash the US economy. He has started targeting the US oil refineries and other installations around the Southwestern US. After a period of time, the good folks that lived in these outlying areas were tired of the hell that Sid and his gang were raising so they decided to fight back. As if this is not enough, the US Government has been developing a new arsenal for the military based on UFO technology. Sid tries to break in and steal these weapons but the resistance group shows up and blows the party. In the chaos and fighting, the weapons manage to get spread out across the land and they can be commanded by those who obtain them. What happens next is really up to you.

Gameplay

Normally, I don't spend that much time setting up the scene for a game. The back stories are usually a stretch and don't have much to do with the actual gameplay. The story in Vigilante 8 has everything to do with the gameplay so I felt it was an important part of the game. As you play the game, you will now understand why your missions are what they are and you will also understand the different environments you will be up against.

This game is basically broken up into two different modes with two different teams. You can either play as a Coyote, one of Sid's team, and try to bring down the economy or you can play as one of the Vigilantes who tried to stop the Coyotes from succeeding. Each side has four different cars to choose from before unlocking the extras. Your team is determined by which of the cars you choose and it also determines your mission in quest mode. Quest mode is one of the two available modes and is the best one-player mode. You basically pick your car and depending on whether you choose a Vigilante or Coyote, you will have a series of missions to perform. If you pick a Vigilante, your mission has you protecting certain landmarks or installations from the Coyotes. If you pick a Coyote, your mission will have you blasting targets that are critical to the US economy. Depending on which gang you choose to represent, you will only be opposed by members of the other gangs. For example, if you choose to be a Coyote, all of your opponents will be from the Vigilantes. Got it?

The second mode is the Arcade mode. This is basically a battle to the death. You pick your car and then you pick the cars you want to go up against and then you just go at it. In the arcade mode you can select up to 12 enemy vehicles to battle against. The whole gang concept is now thrown out the window and it is now every man and woman for themselves. Unfortunately, you are everyone's primary target and they all come after you and pretty much leave each other alone. I thought this was kind of lame because you were the center of everyone's attention instead of keeping the fighting spread out among everyone.

I may have gotten a little ahead of myself. I have not really described what type of game this is. If you have never heard of or played Twisted Metal, you have no clue what to expect. This game is a vehicular combat game. That means you drive around in a vehicle and have combat with other vehicles. All of the vehicles have a standard machine gun but you can find weapons out in the playing environment and use them. The object of the game is different depending on the game mode you choose but the underlying object is always the same: stay alive while blasting the stuff out of your opponents.

As with Twisted Metal, the vehicles are a big part of the game. One thing that TM did that made it so cool was that the different vehicles and characters were easily recognizable. You knew who was who by what they drove and what their special attacks were. Vigilante 8 tries to do the same thing but I feel falls a little bit short. I think they did do a good job with the different vehicles but for the most part, you don't really get the same feeling of association. There are a couple of drivers who are quite noticeable and you will remember them, like Beezwax, an old bee keeper who drives a clunky old pickup truck with a camper on the back. You could always remember this guy when he comes barreling down on you.

One of the great things about this game is that everything is destructible. You can blast the crap out of anything and everything. Nothing is safe. See that tree? Blast it. That little shed? See ya. If you can see it, you can pretty much rest assured that it will blow up. This was so cool because I would spend a lot of time riding around blowing stuff up just to find hidden weapons. I think that this is probably the single coolest thing about this game.

Another thing that I really thought was incredible was the weapons. I am not talking about just the weapons themselves but the way they look on your vehicle. Whenever you pick up a new weapon, you actually see if affix to your vehicle. When you run out of ammo, you see the weapon fall off the car. There are even weapons that will knock the weapons off of your opponents vehicle so you can pick them up. It was great because you do not have to cycle through a list of available weapons. All you need to do is look at your vehicle and you will know what was available. I think that this is revolutionary and I can almost bet that it will be copied in many games to come in the future.

Complaints about the game? Yeah, I had a couple of minor ones. First, the quests for each vehicle were a bit on the short side. You only have to meet four objectives and you are done. Granted, you could try it with different vehicles but it is still a little short. Also, I had a little bit of a problem with the analog control. The game does support the Dual Shock (very cool) but I don't really like heavy action games that use the same control stick for both steering and gas/brakes. There were a number of times that I would try and loop around while shooting only to stop and start turning in the opposite direction because I was pushing the stick a little diagonal. Other than that, I really did not have any complaints.

Graphics

Like I said above, everything is destructible. You can blast away everything and it looks awesome. This game has some great backgrounds and arenas in which the combat takes place. There are weather conditions that include rain and snow, mini-tornadoes that will pick up and fling your car if you happen to drive into them and boulders that crash down on you. I really liked the way the weapons were actually affixed to my car so I could see what was available. Finally, the vehicles themselves look great as well. Everything from the big yellow school bus to the Pacer-looking car were very cool to look at.

Bottom Line

This game will definitely appeal to fans of Twisted Metal. If you did not like those games, I would still recommend giving this one a look because it does have a little bit of a different feel to it. Overall, I think we may be seeing some revolutionary new features but the gameplay itself is not revolutionary. I will never get tired of blowing things up in this game just for the hell of it. I don't think you will either.

Do you remember the Seventies? Big haircuts, bigger trousers, Party Sevens, chunky medallions and hugely impractical shoes. Oh, and if Vigilante 8 is to be believed, gangs of heavily-armed motorists running riot in the western United States. Well, sounds a lot more fun than the real thing!

Converted from the PlayStation game, which itself was based on the PC title Interstate '76, Vigilante 8 is set in an alternate 1970s where groups of Mad Max-style automotive terrorists are blasting around the place, blowing stuff up and being generally troublesome.

The Coyotes (for 'tis they) are attempting to seize control of America's depleting oil supplies, and a group of vigilantes (named, thrillingly, the Vigilantes) hired by the citizenry is trying to stop them. That's what passes for a plot.

Not that it matters. Once you get into the game, things are very simple - if it's got wheels, blow it up! Each vehicle in Vigilante 8's world comes complete with its very own factory-fitted machine gun and enough ammunition to fight a small war. This might sound ideal for those fed up of being caught in jams on the M25, but in the harsh world of 1970's America it's not nearly deadly enough. Luckily, your car can also support up to three bolt-on weapons systems as well, and as luck would have it these are scattered liberally throughout the landscape for you to find. In addition to these, each car has its own distinctive super weapon -- these only have a limited number of shots, but anything hit by them will be heading to the nearest scrapyard quicker than you can say "Starsky".

A Bad Mother -- (Shut Your Mouth)

Vigilante 8 supports up to four players. The one-player game has three modes: Quest, Arcade and Survival. Arcade is a straightforward 'kill' em all' rampage on a single level, while Survival pits you against waves of increasing numbers of enemies. The aim is just to see how long you can last before being blown to pieces!

We're In The Movies

Well, not exactly. Unless an old magic lantern show is your version of a trip to the Odeon. Each character has their own 'movie', which plays -- well, flips through stills -- when they complete their own quest missions. Here's how Chassey Blue's life turns out...

The Quest mode is the real meat of the game. In this, each character visits four different stages to fulfil their own agendas -- whether it's making it big in Hollywood or being taken away by extraterrestrials -- by destroying particular enemies and defending certain buildings from attack (or, if you're playing as one of the Coyotes, by blasting them to atoms). Completing each character's mission is the key to unlocking the hidden characters within the game, shown by a little league table affair in the Options menu. Completing a mission also unlocks a 'movie', although it's really just a bunch of still pictures with some text scrolling underneath. No FMV for you, Nintendo boy.

One nice feature is the way that the missions can also be completed in the two-player co-operative game, which obviously makes things a lot easier. Dealing with multiple enemies can be tricky, especially when they're all ganging up on you, so having a mate to draw their fire and pop up for sneak attacks not only adds to the fun of the game, but makes those secrets much more accessible.

We Got A Convoy

The four-player game is tremendous fun -- it's almost Goldeneye on wheels. All the terrain and obstacles in the one-player game are present, so smart players can use level features like flame jets or tidal waves to their advantage.

Incredibly, Vigilante 8 manages to keep the speed up even with four people blasting away at each other. There is occasional slowdown when things get really hectic, but for the most part multiplayer games are as fast as the one-player game, at the slight expense of frame rate.

Even without an Expansion Pak, Vigilante 8 has looks on its side. The scenery is well-detailed (plus almost all of it can be destroyed) and varied, and annoyances like fogging are kept to a minimum by the clever way the landscapes are drawn -- distant scenery is filled in as a coloured silhouette, so its shape obscures the sky backdrops without slowing things down. As you get closer, the textures gradually fade in. It doesn't completely eliminate pop-up, but it's a damn sight better than having everything vanish into a Turok-style haze.

Although there's a sort of PlayStation-like feel to the visuals, which isn't surprising given the game's roots, it doesn't really matter -- everything's moving so fast you don't have time to gripe. Besides, if you're playing with an Expansion Pak it's miles ahead of Sony's box anyway. There is a slight speed drop with the Expansion Pak, especially in four-player games, so if deathmatches are your thing you might be better off keeping it in lores.

As far as audio goes, it's more or less what you'd expect -- roaring V8 engines, wincing crashes, rumbling explosions and nondescript guitar 'rawk'. There's also some speech to add a little redneck I flavour, though snappy Tarantinoesque dialogue isn't on the menu. Turn the sound on your TV up and neighbours will think you're doing some engine tuning in your living room.

Smokey And The Bandit

Every game has its annoying quirks, and Vigilante 8 is no exception. The way the screen split in two-player games always defaults to the less-than-helpful vertical split is a pain, as this is just about the least useful way imaginable of playing a game that depends on you being able to see the landscape. Visually, some of the polygon shapes -- both for vehicles and scenery -- change as you get closer, with a very obvious pop from one model to another as extra detail is added in. It doesn't affect the gameplay at all, but it is rather disconcerting. There's also some dodgy clipping, as quite often you can drive straight through obstacles and other cars. It's as though only the front bumper of your car has any collision detection on it. What is this, Ridge Racer?

But who cares? Vigilante 8 is roaring good fun to play, and that's the most important thing. The presence of secret characters and tracks means there's some longevity in there (though admittedly, the two-player co-operative mode means you'll probably find them all fairly quickly). The multiplayer game is also excellent, and the upcoming Cmageddon will be hard-pressed to better it. If you want driving mayhem with a funky Seventies groove, Vigilante S delivers a high-octane treat. Yee-hah!

Vigilantes Coyotes

Chassey Blue

An FBI agent who left the Bureau to join the Vigilantes, Chassey also has her sights set on Hollywood.

  1. Car: '67 Rattler
  2. Special Weapon: Gridlock

Sheila

Convoy's young niece, Sheila is a wild child whose reason for joining the Vigilantes is fun, fun, fun!

  1. Car: '74 Strider
  2. Special Weapon: Tantrum Gun

Slik Clyde

Big collars, bigger hair -- Clyde thinks he's cool, and plans to depose Convoy as Vigilante boss.

  1. Car: '70 Clydesdale
  2. Special Weapon: White Lightning

Jonh Torque

Convoy's right-hand man, Torque is the master of badass tunes with an afro that just won't quit.

  1. Car: '69 Jefferson
  2. Special Weapon: Bass Quake

Dave

Peace, man! Hippie Dave is a UFO nut who joined the Vigilantes to see if the truth is out there.

  1. Car: '70 Van
  2. Special Weapon: Invade

Convoy

The leader of the Vigilantes, this big-'tached cowboy trucker is as hard as they come.

  1. Car: '72 Moth Truck
  2. Special Weapon: Explosive Tyres

Loki

A former military pilot who once worked at the Site-4 secret base, Loki is obsessed with flying a UFO.

  1. Car: '73 Glenn 4x4
  2. Special Weapon: Scatter Missiles

Boogie

Medallion alert! Big-trousered Boogie likes nothing more than strutting his funky stuff at the disco.

  1. Car: '76 Leprechaun
  2. Special Weapon: Disco Inferno

Houston

The leather-clad cyborg chick's programming gives her no choice but to fight with the Coyotes.

  1. Car: '75 Palamino
  2. Special Weapon: Super Fantastic Death Ray 3-AX

Beezwax

A redneck farmer driven mad by government radioactive waste, Beezwax is out for revenge!

  1. Car: '70 Stag Pickup
  2. Special Weapon: Gamma Swarm

Molo

A New York kid, porky dork Molo stole his school bus and headed west to join the Coyotes.

  1. Car: '66 School Bus
  2. Special Weapon: Oil Slick

Sid Burn

The Coyotes' leader, Burn intends to destroy the US oil supply and claim $100 million as payment.

  1. Car: '69 Manta
  2. Special Weapon: Double Cannon

Nearly a year ago, Activision decided to jump into the highly competitive PSX car combat market. It seemed that everyone was trying to challenge Twisted Metal for the car combat crown. Fast forward to today and you will find that while the PSX is loaded with these games, the N64 is starved for them. In fact, they have nothing that even comes close to the auto carnage offered on the PSX, until now. Activision now has the opportunity to lead the pack and set the bar for car combat on the N64, and let me just say they did a pretty darn good job.

After playing the game for about 30 seconds, it became very obvious to me that this game was a direct port of the PSX version in terms of the back-story, characters and majority of the combat arenas. With that in mind, please read my review of the PSX version of Vigilante 8, then come back and I will give you the lowdown on the changes that have been made between the versions.

Gameplay

Not everything is the same between this version and the PSX version. Before I go into the differences, I do want to mention one thing that is the same. This game is a blast to blow stuff up in. That was one of the major draws to the PSX version and it still holds true for this version. If you enjoy blowing up everything, from trees to buildings to other players, you will be in heaven. Just like the PSX counterpart, if you see it, most likely it can be blown up. Bottom line is that is what this game is all about.

Ok, now on to the differences. First off, I complained about control in the PSX version. I had some control difficulties with the PSX version, but these issues have pretty much been resolved in this version. The problem I was having with the PSX version had to do with the forward and reverse controls being poorly located, causing me to go in reverse when I was trying to turn, and other similar issues. Well, the control scheme is laid out differently on the N64 version, requiring you to hold a button down and the stick in a direction before you will head that direction. What this means is that you really have to try to go forward or backwards now. Fixing this problem made me smile.

Another thing that is different is that they have added a couple of bonus arenas to shoot for. The game starts with eight arenas that are very similar to the PSX arenas, but there are a couple of N64 exclusive arenas, including a bright cartoony-looking arena. This will give veteran players something new to shoot for if they have already played through the PSX version.

The last improvement in terms of gameplay comes on the multiplayer front. They have added a four-player split-screen option that allows you to blast away at your three closest friends. I think it is now official. Nintendo 64 is the console of choice if you are looking for four-player action. I personally don't like playing games that are split down that small, but a lot of people really enjoy it. I will say that if there is any game on the N64 that I enjoy playing in split-screen mode, this is it. There is just something more satisfying about blowing up your buddies. The game also has a two-player cooperative mode, which is more up my alley. I really enjoy games that let you play in tandem and I wish more games would add this feature in. A big pat on the back to Activision for getting this in the game.

I do think it needs to be mentioned that the missions are basically the same as the PSX game, so if you have played through it, your only motivation to play through this game is to unlock a couple of new arenas. I think the missions are way too short and can be too easy at times. Don't get me wrong. They are fun, but they just seem to end a bit too soon.

Graphics

The other area where the game has been upgraded is in the graphics department. Everything is crisp and clear and the game even plays in a high resolution mode if you have the Expansion Pak. The game does suffer from a little slowdown when there is a lot of action on the screen and the explosions can look a little grainy, but other than that the game looks great. I think the vehicles were more detailed and cleaner-looking as well as the arenas. The game has a surprisingly low amount of fogging that we have all come to expect from the N64, which is always a plus in my book.

Bottom Line

Overall, this game is not leaps and bounds above the PSX version, but if you do not own a PSX this game is worth picking up. As of this writing, you will not find anything else like it on the N64. If you enjoy blowing stuff up, you should be good and satisfied after a few rounds. Also, if multiplayer is your thing, car combat games really cater to multiplayer action so you should be blowing up your buddies for hours on end. The single player is a bit short and anticlimactic, but still worth playing for a while.

People say:

7.5

Surprisingly, V8 is the first serious contender to unseat the popular Twisted Metal 2 so far. The best thing about this vehicle combat game is its large and graphically superb 3D environments. Tons of lighting effects, lens flares and detailed textures make locations such as the Hoover Dam and Casino City look convincing. Just about everything in each area can be destroyed, sometimes with very chaotic and fiery consequences. The old-style cars have plenty of personality--how could they not when they consist of pick-up trucks with campers and huge tank-like sedans? Even better, the excellent physics engine really brings each car and level to life, especially when skidding over an icy ski slope, thundering over towering hills, or taking a vicious missile hit. Unfortunately, V8's weapons aren't designed as well as the rest of the game. Just about every one of them autolocks onto its target, taking away the most challenging element in a combat game--aiming. As a result, gameplay heavily consists of hide-and-seeking as combatants attempt to avoid lockons. In many of the one-player missions, it's possible to kill enemies by lobbing firepower from a perch far away with little chance of being hit. This big flaw isn't a fatal one, but it does prevent V8 from toppling the king of this genre, TM2.

7.0

As a single-player experience this is pretty much what you'd expect from a car blaster. The weapons look great, the enemy Al is adequate, and the scenery can be completely trashed to allow access to power-ups. As a multiplayer game, it could be better. It takes too long to destroy your opponent, and you tend to end up picking a straight road and "jousting" up and down it to get things over and done with.

8.0

I must state the obvious: If you like Twisted Metal in any way, you HAVE to check out Vigilante 8. Luxoflux has raised the bar of quality in every conceivable area: graphics and animation, sound, level design and realistic game physics. Totally destructible environments is the icing on the cake. The action can drag on at times, since all the vehicles can take a great deal of damage before dying off, but that's a very minor complain.

9.0

V8 is a fine example of a good game. The graphics and interface are slick, the control is tight, and most importantly, the game plays well. There are no weird glitches, and the minor pop-up problems go unnoticed, thanks to the intense action. Besides, you just have to love the funky music and characters. Although the game may seem easy at first, it can get quite tricky if you don't plan your attack. The 2P Mode is a lot of fun.

Vigilante 8 roars onto the N64 with groovy graphical improvements and multiplayer options aplenty. PlayStation car-combat fans will be envious of the game's visuals; smooth textures do wonders for both the vehicles and the southwestern terrain, while the frame rates totally sweet Even at this early stage, there's no discernible slowdown during play--and only a hint of it when the screen is filled with special effects. The build we tried, however, featured fog effects on some levels to mask draw-in on the horizon. Hopefully, this haze will be minimized before release.

New gameplay elements include a quest for the alien, while new play modes include Brawl, Smear, and Survival. Two players can now go on cooperative quests, and Activision will make full use of the N64s built-in controller ports, offering three- and four-player battles. With good controls already in place and a funky new soundtrack on the way, Vigilante 8 looks ready to claim the 64-bit car-combat crown.

Vigilante 8 brings car combat to the Nintendo 64 at last--and what an explosive 64-bit debut for the genre! This baby's had a tune-up since it hit the PlayStation roadways, making this years model worth more than just a test drive.

Ridin' Shotgun

V8 takes place in an alternate 1975 where rival automotive gangs rule the Southwest in the midst of an oil shortage. Each gang member has a unique car, weapon, and quest, but they all share the same tools of the trade: rockets, mortars, mines, and leadpumping machine guns!

The gameplay hasn't strayed from its PlayStation incarnation--there's plenty of chaotic blasting in airport graveyards, through casinos, and on the slopes of a ski resort. The bad guys' goals (destroy stuff!) are easier to achieve than the good guys' (defend stuff!), but you'll want to play through every character's quest to unlock the game's goodies. Up to four players can battle it out in cooperative quests, head-to-head battles, team games, and the three-on-one Smear mode. Through it all. the controls feel instantly comfortable and quite responsive.

What a Wonderful World

V8s interactive stages make the game much more enjoyable and its world more engrossing. While you whale away on punks and fools, you can catch a ride in a blimp, knock around boulders, dodge exploding manhole covers, trigger avalanches, and destroy buildings to reveal power-ups. The terrains a veritable treasure trove, and it's worth exploring.

And what a nice-looking world you have to explore. The Nintendo 64s graphical power really comes into play here; the levels are filled with crisp objects and coated with smooth textures. Plus, Luxoflux (the developers) put the pedal to the metal to get a fine frame rate.

The PlayStation game's 70s soundtrack returns, this time adding some pompous art rock to its established mix of funk and disco. The characters' melodramatic taunts sound a bit silly, but at least they're clear.

High Caliber

Vigilante 8 could have been a hack-job port of the PlayStation code, but instead, the games been retooled and tweaked for its new platform--and the effort shows. N64 car-combat fens, start your engines!

ProTips:

  • Fire your machine gun In short bursts to keep it from overheating.
  • Double-tap the accelerator to get a speed boost; it can help you make lumps or climb Inclines.
  • Molo and his '66 school bus appear once you've completed all of Houston 3 and Loki's missions.
  • Sometimes it's easier to protect an area as a Vigilante by leading the enemies away from it.
  • As a Coyote, the first thing to do is to complete your mission objectives. Finishing these unlocks hidden characters and levels.
  • Target Beeswax for elimination first--his Swarm special weapon is more annoying than most.
  • Big cars can (and should) ram small cars. The little guys, however, are better off using distance weapons to take out the behemoths.

Graphics

The N64 game clearly delivers crisper goods than the PlayStation version, even with the standard fog and minor pop-up problems. Those few flaws don't dull an otherwise gorgeous game.

Sound

Booming explosions, clear (if somewhat goofy) voices, and time-warp tunes ranging from funk to art rock add up to a positively groovy soundtrack.

Control

None of the control problems that some users experienced on the PlayStation crop up here--handling is smooth, responsive, and very arcade-like.

Fun Factor

With a four-player mode as well as expanded two-player options, the fun of blowing stuff to smithereens goes on and on. Vigilante 8 sets a great example for other N64 car combatants to follow.

The sequel to last year's sleeper hit, Vigilante 8: Second Offense promises more fun, better graphics, and fester car chases. At E3, V8SO looked like it was coming together especially well, sporting crisp, clean crashes, spectacular explosion effects, and another bass-quakin' soundtrack. The new characters and totally new tracks are set in wastelands across the U.S. It's another round of motorized mauling, and it could be another hit for Activision.

In a parallel universe circa 1975, a gang of rogue drivers calling themselves the Coyote Gang raids a secret military base in the Southwest, and all the weapons technology at the base falls into their hands. Desperate times cail for desperate measures, and a grassroots militia group called the Vigilantes bands together to protect their small towns and outposts against the gang. Militia group, meet hi-tech weaponry. What ensues in Vigilante 8 is a free-for-all combat racing game that may turn out to be the definitive Twisted Metal killer.

In this bash-n-crash automotive Armageddon, you select one of 12 cars, each with a character-intense theme, like Boogie's Disco car and his special weapon, the Disco Ball. You then battle it out in one of eight arenas, running down your opponents and blowing them back to the junkyard with missiles, rockets, land mines, and more.

One major difference between this game and Twisted Metal is that while the backgrounds are not only fully destructible, they're textured with potholes, dips, craters, and hills...lots of them. So as you tear through a level blowing up buildings and destroying non-enemy environments, watch out for sudden drops and slippery slopes--you may even find a hidden area or two while doing so.

Hot Rods From Hell

The eight fully amped muscle cars also have a definite 70s look and feel to them, since they're modeled after actual cars of the period. You may find yourself driving a souped-up faux Camaro, an over-the-top Gremlin, or a fully armed Chevelle. And since each driver is a psychic extension of their vehicle, expect such 70s artifacts as bell-bottoms, rhinestones, afros, and fhore.

The unique environments imbue the game with a feeling that is genuinely desolate and deserted. For example, one area near the Hoover Dam in Nevada looks like a fully operational power plant without workers. Imagine leaping over the dam and blasting cars below the perimeter wall. In other areas, like the oil fields, you destroy oil rigs and observation towers, which in turn topple over and damage other cars.

What the Funk?

Although early in the developmental stage, the game plays as fast as Twisted Metal, though the graphics look much smoother and the cars are much more interesting. The explosions are on the programmers' list of things to work on, as is the music. Murali Tegulapalle, producer of Vigilante 8, told CamePro, 'The music will have a definitely funky fee! to it. Think back to the classic tunes of the 70s, and you'll get an idea^ of where the game is going musically."

So why not call this game Interstate 76 for the PlayStation? Interstate 76 was more of a strategy/action game, with long stretches of mission-based logic," says Tegulapalle. "Vigilante 8 is the rip-roaring, action-intense cousin of 176, with more shooting and faster driving."

Vigilante Justice

Activision wants players to experience combat racing like never before, and it's close to the mark. Although the game does resemble Twisted Metal in concept, a strong story line and cleaner graphics should help Vigilante 8 burn the blacktop when it's released in May.

This killer car game is being touted as the successor to Twisted Metal, and so far, the hype looks justified. Vigilante 8 is a fast-paced, brutal driving game where the objective is to turn enemy cars into junk heaps by bombarding them with explosives, rockets, machine guns, and anything else you can pick up. In the latest version we played, unfortunately, the developers increased the game's difficulty to a rate that's almost unplayable and certainly unfair--which is a shame, because in earlier versions, the A.I. was set perfectly, creating the right mix of fast driving and sustainable damage. Activision claims it will fix this in the final revision. Besides that, the game's graphics and sound are immaculate, with little pop-up and a top-of-the-line funk soundtrack. Vigilante 8 should be the Twisted sister we've been waiting for--if they tone down her temperament.

Snapshots and Media

Playstation Screenshots

Nintendo 64/N64 Screenshots

GameBoy Color Screenshots

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