The Race

I played The Race a long time ago, finishing the game in third place. (Somewhere between a good and bad ending.) Recently, I decided to try picking it up again for another round, and ended up in third place again. Interestingly, I was still able to remember the solutions to some of those puzzles all those years ago.

The writing (minus some annoying fourth wall breaking) is fairly solid, and goes for a more minimalistic style, rather than the wordy approach which is more common for choicescript games today. You pick a partner, and have to complete a set of stages with sufficient speed to avoid getting eliminated at each round. The puzzles here can get challenging, and randomly tapping and picking options isn’t going to get you to a win state. You will need to think about how you will complete the puzzles, and the threat of failure is real in some areas. Not to mention, the game can be pretty cruel to players who try to explore at times. (Spoiler - click to show)Getting robbed :(

It’s good for a playthrough or two, to try to see how well you can do. Folks who like puzzles in choicegames could try this out. You could probably beat the game in less than an hour, but it’s still a pretty solid experience if you want the challenge.

There is apparently a hidden subplot in the game, but I’m not sure how to reach it.

This is a very good choicescript game where you start a team and then race against 8 other teams. The losing team at each stage is booted out.

I really enjoyed this game, though I only got 1 out of 15 accomplishments when I won. It really feels like a gameshow, and it's always nervewracking trying the puzzles, because you know someone's competing against you.

Puzzles include searching for clues, remembering directions, typing in answers to cryptography, etc.

There is a hidden plotline which I didn't find out enough about.

Would play again, and strongly recommend.

The Race portrays a puzzle-based race for 50 million dollars through the most scenic locations of Peru. With one friend at your sight, you must defeat eight other teams striving for the prize by interpreting clues, thinking up the fastest ways to get from A to B, and solving puzzles along the way.

In terms of writing and characterisation, The Race is not very memorable, though the Peruvian setting partly makes up for this. However, as a puzzle-rich piece of CYOA, it is fun and of considerable interest. Anyone who would like to think about how puzzle design in a multiple choice medium works, should take a look at this piece. The Race is also to recommend to all those who simply want to play such a game.

(I do think that the piece would have been improved by scenery photographs to accompany the location descriptions.)