Gaming Target - GameCube: Tube Slider

Written by Jonathan Nicklas on May 07, 2003

Full Review: So fast, you'll forget what slow feels like.

Developed by Nintendo subsidiary NDCube, Tube Slider is a fast-paced futuristic racer, much like F-Zero. Reminiscent of NDCube's first work, not by coincidence F-Zero: Maximum Velocity for Game Boy Advance, this game also features unpredictable twists and turns. To get straight to the point, Tube Slider is a good first attempt on the GameCube.

To start things off, players choose from a wide variety of futuristic hover vehicles and slide through fully cylindrical race courses. With that said, Tube Slider looks fantastic. The tubes integrate futuristic designs with transparency effects and impressive attention to detail. With challenging twists and turns and simultaneously intense speed, Tube Sliders is a blast to play. Racing on the top, left, right, and bottom of tubes doesn't get any better than this and adds another dimension to gameplay. For example, a rival vehicle could be right above you. Likewise, great detail in layered backdrops far into the distance gets the job done with a certain amount of style. Finally, the artistry for vehicular designs is extremely impressive. Cars vary in shape and size and have unique performance capabilities.

Gameplay modes include Grand Prix, versus, time attack, and others. Grand Prix is a self-explanatory championship mode while up to four players can compete against each other in versus mode. Fortunately, without sacrificing the frame-rate, the game looks pretty good here as well. With gravity-defying race courses, the gameplay in Tube Slider is on a grand scale and as a result, multiplayer works well. At the end of the day however, with championship mode and only 10 tracks to its credit, overall replay remains a problem.

Aurally, background music in this game offers fully ambient tracks and guitar riffs with great distinction and incredible sound. Music in gameplay menus works fine as well and presentation doesn't disappoint. Apart from blazing tunes in the backgrounds, gameplay sound effects are limited to jumps and sliding. Otherwise, you won't find much, apart from deathly collisions and other subtleties.

Onscreen indicators include lap time, a course map, current lap, turbo gauges, and your speed. Turbo gauges offering turbo boosters increase close finishes for obvious reasons. Velocity pick-ups in the game offer temporary boosts in the same vein as Mario Kart or Diddy Kong Racing. In addition to speed-enhancing pick-ups, the game features Уlock-onФ gameplay strategy. Basically, players can drain off energy from a rival vehicle when the timing's right. For the rest of the game, lock-on plays an important role and is crucial to success. You won't last long without it.