Star Wars: Episode I Racer, which can also be seen written as Star Wars Episode I: Racer, Star Wars: Episode I: Racer, or simply Star Wars: Racer, represents a racing experience crafted by LucasArts and made available for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, Macintosh, and Dreamcast systems.
This title immerses players in the high-speed world of podracing, directly inspired by the iconic podracing sequence featured in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. Gamers take control of one of 23 distinct podracers (or 25 if you include the cheat code replacements found in the Nintendo 64 version) and compete across 25 diverse tracks set on 8 unique planets. Several actors from the film, including Jake Lloyd, Andrew Secombe, Lewis MacLeod, Greg Proops, and Scott Capurro, have reprised their characters' voices from the movie.
The game allows players to participate in a tournament. Achieving a first, second, or third-place finish rewards the player with prize money (if this option is selected) and unlocks the track's champion. While not all tracks offer unlockable racers, securing a race victory also unlocks new tracks for competition. The prize money earned can then be used by players to acquire enhancements and upgrades for their podracers.
- Cy Yunga - Takes the place of "Bullseye" Navior
- Jinn Reeso - Takes the place of Mars Guo
The PC iteration distinguishes itself with unique cheat codes, additional cutscenes for track introductions, and an opening cinematic (scenes recreated with in-game assets from the N64 version). Notably, the PC version's opening movie depicts Sebulba knocking Gasgano out of the Boonta Eve Classic, even though other sources indicate Gasgano finished the race. The PC version offers superior music quality (playing directly from the CD in WAV format) and employs vector graphics for the speedometer, resulting in a visually enhanced effect compared to the N64's raster graphics. Furthermore, the title screen differs, and the PC version supports multiplayer via IPX, unlike the single-platform multiplayer of other versions.
The Nintendo Game Boy Color version presents a significantly altered gameplay experience compared to its counterparts. Races take the form of single-lap drag races, where players compete against a designated track favorite. Victory grants the player a new playable character. Initially, only Anakin Skywalker is available as a playable character. While nearly all racers from other versions appear, only a select few planets are featured in this version: Tatooine, Ando Prime, Baroonda, Mon Gazza, and Malastare. Each planet offers four distinct courses. After completing four races on a planet, players can challenge Sebulba to a duel. Winning earns them Sebulba's podracer, while losing a subsequent race results in the loss of Sebulba's pod until it is re-unlocked.
- Tatooine Tatooine drag course 1 (vs. Teemto Pagalies) Tatooine drag course 2 (vs. Ark "Bumpy" Roose) Tatooine drag course 3 (vs. Mawhonic) Tatooine drag course 4 (vs. Gasgano)
- Ando Prime Ando Prime drag course 1 (vs. Slide Paramita) Ando Prime drag course 2 (vs. Fud Sang) Ando Prime drag course 3 (vs. Ebe Endocott) Ando Prime drag course 4 (vs. Aldar Beedo)
- Baroonda Baroonda drag course 1 (vs. "Bullseye" Navior) Baroonda drag course 2 (vs. Toy Dampner) Baroonda drag course 3 (vs. Wan Sandage) Baroonda drag course 4 (vs. Clegg Holdfast)
- Mon Gazza Mon Gazza drag course 1 (vs. Ody Mandrell) Mon Gazza drag course 2 (vs. Mars Guo) Mon Gazza drag course 3 (vs. Ben Quadinaros) Mon Gazza drag course 4 (vs. Boles Roor)
- Malastare Malastare drag course 1 (vs. Dud Bolt) Malastare drag course 2 (vs. Bozzie Baranta) Malastare drag course 3 (vs. Elan Mak) Malastare drag course 4 (vs. Ratts Tyerell)
- Any drag course (vs. Sebulba)
After two decades and one year since its initial launch, the game was re-released in HD for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, now boasting local multiplayer capabilities. Initially slated for release on May 12, 2020, it faced a delay before finally arriving on June 23 of the same year. The Switch version also incorporates motion controls, enabling players to manipulate the individual throttles of the podracer's twin engines through motion.
The Xbox One version saw its release on October 27, 2020.
In the Episode I novel and movie, Anakin Skywalker's podracer achieved a recorded speed of 941 kph (approximately 585 mph), earning it the distinction of "Fastest Podracer in the Galaxy". Episode I Racer deviates from this established fact, as podracers, when utilizing maximum acceleration, are capable of reaching speeds of 1046.1 kph (650 mph) without the use of boosting.
Furthermore, within the game, Ben Quadinaros's podracer possesses a boost thrust of +643.7 kph (400 mph), which is twice the boost thrust of Anakin's pod, measured at 321.9 kph (200 mph). This grants Quadinaros's pod an impressive top speed of 1,689.8 kph (1,050 mph), making it the fastest among all podracers on a level surface.
Interestingly, the game also depicts Anakin Skywalker potentially competing on various planets, even being a favored racer on Baroonda, despite limited evidence suggesting he ever raced outside of Tatooine. Consequently, any involvement he may have had with podracing on these other planets is likely considered non-canon within the Legends continuity.
- UPC 023272653422; April 30 , 2001 ; LucasArts Entertainment Company ; LucasArts Archive Series edition [7] [8]