Running From Rosco Dukes Of Hazzard Game

The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out is a racing video game developed by Sinister Games and published by SouthPeak Interactive in North America and Ubi Soft in Europe for the PlayStation in 2000. It is based on the television series, The Dukes of Hazzard, which aired from 1979 to 1985; and is a sequel to the 1999 racing video game, The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home, also developed.

The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out is a racing video game developed by Sinister Games and published by SouthPeak Interactive in North America and Ubi Soft in Europe for the PlayStation in 2000. It is based on the television series, The Dukes of Hazzard, which aired from 1979 to 1985; and is a sequel to the 1999 racing video game, The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home, also developed by Sinister Games.^[1]

Gameplay[edit]

Like the first game, its story is told through a series of animated cutscenes: disguised as a geologist named Melanie Shaw, Daisy Duke's childhood friend Missy Law comes to Hazzard County with plans to rob Hazzard Bank and frame Daisy for the crime.^[2][3] Gameplay is similar to its predecessor and primarily consists of the player completing tasks and beating time challenges, collecting icons, delivering passengers to specific destinations, and running errands for characters, while avoiding Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and Deputy Enos Strate.^[2][3][4] The player plays as Bo Duke, Luke Duke, and Jesse Duke.^[2] Unlike its predecessor, the game also allows the player to play as Daisy, and introduces an open world environment.^[2] A free-roaming joyride mode removes all enemies and allows the player to explore all of Hazzard County,^[2][3] including locations from the television series such as the Boar's Nest.^[2]

The game features 18 levels, most of which are played while driving the General Lee; six levels are played as Daisy,^[2] who drives a Jeep.^[3]Country rock music plays during each level.^[2] The game features a total of eight soundtracks, which can be changed by the player.^[3] Items such as wrenches can be collected to repair the player's vehicle when it takes too much damage, while nitro gas can be used to give the player a temporary increase of speed. A multiplayer option is also available, in which players can compete against each other in a variety of game modes.^[2][3][4] Other vehicles, including Jesse's truck, can be selected during multiplayer mode.^[3]

Development[edit]

The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out was developed by Sinister Games, using an updated version of its predecessor's game engine.^[5] Many actors from the television series provided their voices to their respective characters in the game: John Schneider (Bo Duke), Tom Wopat (Luke Duke), Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke), James Best (Rosco), Sonny Shroyer (Enos), Ben Jones (Cooter Davenport), and Waylon Jennings (The Balladeer).^[1][3][5]

Reception[edit]

The game received 'mixed' reviews according to video game review aggregatorMetacritic.^[6]

Frank Provo of GameSpot said that 'despite a few gameplay touch-ups and a plot change, the game is a carbon copy of the first.' Provo praised the game's open-world environment, and also wrote, 'The characters are smoothly rendered and nicely animated, but they better resemble lifeless marionettes than actual human beings. On more than one occasion, you may find yourself wondering if Jesse Duke is actually some demon.' Provo noted that 'as odd as it may seem, the game's namesake, Daisy, only participates in six of the game's missions.' Provo also wrote that 'slowdown and texture warping' were not as much of an issue in the game as they were in its predecessor, but criticized its 'pathetically poor' artificial intelligence and wrote, 'Unfortunately, roadway improvements are the game's only major gameplay enhancement. All 18 of the game's missions are just as nonsensical, bug-laden, and straightforward as those found in the first Dukes game.' Provo concluded that only fans of the television series would be interested in the game, which he wrote 'is just far too buggy, easy, and uninspiring to hold your attention for more than a few hours, let alone a standard rental period.'^[2]

Chris Carle of IGN also felt that the game would only appeal to fans of the television series, and wrote, 'Since Southpeak didn't feel comfortable simply repackaging its old game in a new box, the company made a conciliatory effort to try to make Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes it Out a bit different. But trust me, they didn't. [..] In fact, you could probably buy two copies of Racing For Home and pretend one was a new game. You'd barely know the difference.' Carle noted that while the game contained 'a little more variety' over its predecessor, 'you still spend the majority of your time on the same boring roads. [..] Southpeak has also made the levels about twice as long, which definitely adds challenge. The drawback, however, is that in almost every track, there is a point where everything will stop and the second half of the track will load. This is absolutely inexcusable. It kills momentum, it seriously cuts down on fun, and it's lame.' Carle also criticized the slow response time of the game's controls: 'In a racing game, bad control makes for a bad game. That's definitely the story here.'^[3]

Carle praised the game's variety of vehicle selection as a 'significant improvement' over the previous game, but wrote that they all 'have the same sluggish control.' Carle wrote that the vehicles were 'probably the best looking part of the game,' noting, 'The downfall of the first Dukes game was the rather weak, unvaried textures. This trend continues here, except that each level is twice as long, and presents twice the opportunity to disappoint. It's not that the graphics are awful. They're passable, but they're bland and unimaginative. After a couple missions on the Hazzard backroads, you'll be dying to see something besides rolling fields, endless fences, trees, and corn. This game has lots of corn. The cutscenes aren't much better. Acer navarro motherboard drivers. It looks like they used the same Planet of the Apes character models as in the first game. The best looking characters are Roscoe P. Coltrane and Enos, and even they look like Claymation mutants.' Carle called the game's sound effects 'rather weak,' and said the vehicle engine sounds were 'especially cheesy.' Carle concluded that, 'In addition to lacking innovation, it just gets plain boring as you slug through the 18 missions. Bottom line: it's like watching a bad re-run'.^[3]

Jon Thompson of AllGame criticized the game's 'fairly boring and repetitive' gameplay, and wrote that it was 'essentially the same as its weak predecessor'. Thompson criticized the game's 'disturbing looking CG-rendered characters' and complained that 'most of the game involves running errands' for characters. Thompson wrote that 'for a game made this late in the system's life, it sure does look ugly. It's grainy, the famous PlayStation distortion is in full effect, and the only two colors that seem to be in the developer's palate are brown and green. It's another reason that one gets lost so easily; everything looks the same. And if you're big into banjo music.. you won't like the sound here one bit. True connoisseurs of good, old-fashioned bluegrass will hate the generic chase music that blares here, as will most anyone else.' Thompson said, 'The two-player modes are fine for a couple of plays but fail to sustain their excitement beyond that,' and concluded that 'there just isn't enough of a hook here unless you're a tremendous fan of the show.'^[4]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abAhmed, Shahed (September 27, 2000). 'Dukes II in November'. GameSpot. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
2. ^ ^abcdefghijkProvo, Frank (January 31, 2001). 'The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out Review'. GameSpot. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
3. ^ ^abcdefghijkCarle, Chris (December 21, 2000). '[The] Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out'. IGN. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
4. ^ ^abcdThompson, Jon. 'The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out - Review'. AllGame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014.
5. ^ ^abStahl, Ben (September 19, 2000). 'The Dukes of Hazzard 2 Preview'. GameSpot. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
6. ^ ^ab'The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out for PlayStation Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
7. ^EGM staff (February 2001). 'The Dukes of Hazzard 2: Daisy Dukes It Out'. Electronic Gaming Monthly.
8. ^Rybicki, Joe (February 2001). 'The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out (PS)'. Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Archived from the original on April 18, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2016.

External links[edit]

• The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out at MobyGames

The Dukes of Hazzard is a 1984 racing video game developed and published by Coleco for their ColecoVision game console and Coleco Adam computer.^[1]Elite Systems released a different game with the same title for the ZX Spectrum computer on February 23, 1985.^[2][3] Both versions are based on the television series of the same name.

Atari had previously made two separate attempts to release an Atari 2600 video game based on the series, but both versions failed to materialize.

Gameplay[edit]

In the Coleco version, the player controls the General Lee and must drive through Hazzard County. The game's premise concerns Daisy Duke, who has been abducted by Jeremiah Stinge. The player's goal is to catch Stinge by passing his blue car, while avoiding Boss Hogg. The game ends if the player is stopped by Boss Hogg or if the player wrecks the General Lee. The game requires that the player drive at a perfect speed; driving too slow results in the player being caught by Hogg, while driving too fast can result in a vehicle collision with oncoming traffic. A rear-view mirror provides the player with a way to look out for Hogg. The player must also avoid obstacles such as oil slicks and damaged bridges. The game makes use of the ColecoVision's Expansion Module #2 steering wheel/pedal peripheral, and additionally requires that the player shift gears.^[1][4][5][6]

The ZX Spectrum version uses a different premise: Boss Hogg threatens to seize the General Lee as collateral unless Bo Duke and Luke Duke can provide $5,000 owed to him. Bo and Luke enter the Annual Hazzard County Cross Country Road Race, hoping to win the first-place prize of $5,000, but Hogg and the Hazzard County police attempt to halt their efforts. The game is played as a continuously scrolling roadway, with the General Lee travelling from left to right. Controlling the General Lee, the player can change lanes and speed. Enemy vehicles can be avoided or destroyed by the player using dynamite sticks. However, Daisy and her Jeep must not be destroyed. Other enemies include helicopters.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Development[edit]

The Coleco version was announced in January 1984, at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[11]The Dukes of Hazzard was one of only five games to utilize the ColecoVision's Expansion Module #2.^[4]Lawrence Schick worked as a designer on the Coleco version.^[12]Paul Jaquays also worked as a designer on the Coleco version; Jaquays referred to it as one of the games that 'didn't do what we had hoped,' saying it was 'a license we were stuck with and did what we could with it.'^[13] The ZX Spectrum version was developed to feature nearly 100 different animated frames of the General Lee.^[2][14]

Reception[edit]

Jeff Silva of Expandable Computer News, who rated the Coleco version 7 out of 10, praised the sound and graphics, and wrote that the game, 'in its simplicity, captures perfectly the one-dimensional themes of the original TV show. It is difficult at first because shifting is much like shifting a manual transmission, so it takes a while to get the hang of it. The rear view mirror on the screen is a great addition.' Silva concluded that the game was a 'fun, though simple-minded chase through Hazzard County.'^[6]

Phil Wiswell and Bernie Dekoven of Enter magazine wrote a positive review of the Coleco version: 'Believe it or not, this game is good. [..] We were worried that this game would only appeal to Dukes of Hazzard fans, and not be much fun to play. But, in fact, we think you'll like this game whether or not you care for the Duke boys and their TV show. It's a tough driving game that challenges you from start to finish.' Wiswell and Dekoven called the game's rear-view mirror 'a neat idea, though you don't get to use it enough.'^[5] Brett Alan Weiss of AllGame wrote that the Coleco version 'is not quite on par with more traditional racers from the era such as Turbo, Pole Position or even Pitstop.'^[4]

Crash magazine rated the ZX Spectrum version 63 percent and praised the graphics but criticized the gameplay.^[7]Crash later wrote that 'there isn't much, except the General Lee graphics, to connect the game with the TV series.'^[8]Your Computer rated the ZX Spectrum version three stars and wrote, 'The screen display is excellent and the game is rather more playable than some of Elite's previous offerings.'^[9]Computer and Video Games said that Dukes of Hazzard fans would enjoy the ZX Spectrum version, writing that while it 'isn't as spectacular as one of those amazing stunts you see the General Lee perform on TV, it ain't bad either. [..] The graphics are nice and the scrolling pretty smooth.' The magazine wrote that the game can become addicting upon getting used to the controls.^[10]

Home Computing Weekly, which gave the ZX Spectrum version two stars out of five, called the game 'boring', in part because of the inability to change its difficulty settings. The publication noted 'the limited graphics are very well-drawn, the sound is simple but effective and machine code ensures a smooth movement of vehicles and scrolling.'^[15] Three critics for Your Sinclair gave the ZX Spectrum version a negative review, criticizing the controls and poor collision detection, although one reviewer felt that the game had the potential to become a commercial success.^[16]

Cancelled Atari 2600 versions[edit]

Initially, Atari, Inc. attempted to revamp the graphics of an unreleased Atari 2600 port of their arcade game Stunt Cycle, to convert it into a Dukes of Hazzard game.^[17] For unknown reasons, Atari abandoned the idea.^[17] In November 1982, Atari Age reported about a new video game in development at Atari that would be based on a popular CBS television series,^[18] later revealed to be The Dukes of Hazzard,^[19] for the Atari 2600.^[17]

Mark R. Hahn, the game's sole programmer, had a development team stationed in New York, while the majority of Atari's staff was based in California. Hahn claimed that the California team did not provide much assistance to his team,^[17] saying, 'There was a lot of competition between the New York and California offices. Nobody from marketing (which was in California) was willing to tell me they didn't like the game. So I did demos of several screens, they said they liked them, and then I got working on game play.'^[20]

Hahn said the game was still in development in 1983, when Atari, for unknown reasons, chose to have the unfinished game burned onto a large number of ROM chips. Atari abruptly cancelled the game before the chips were to be placed into cartridges and shipped.^[21] The game was nearly completed.^[22] Atari was not satisfied with the game's graphics, which were lacking in comparison to other games the company was releasing at the time.^[20] Hahn only learned of the game's cancellation from the secretary of an Atari VIP, and said, 'I had put months of very long days and weekends into the game. I was a bit upset.'^[20]Atari Age reported the game's cancellation in September 1983.^[19]

The game would have had the player control the General Lee, with the goal being to break Daisy out of jail before Boss Hogg can get to her, while also avoiding Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and Deputy Enos Strate in their police vehicles. The game contained many glitches and gameplay issues. One of the game's major glitches included Rosco and Enos abruptly ramming the General Lee if it got too close to their vehicles, resulting in the player losing a life.^[17]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'The Dukes of Hazzard Cartridge Instructions (Coleco)'. Coleco. 1984. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
2. ^ ^ab'Software Selection New Releases'. Home Computing Weekly. March 12, 1985. p. 5. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
3. ^'The Dukes of Hazzard (ZX Spectrum)'. Crash. March 1985. p. 4–5. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
4. ^ ^abcWeiss, Brett Alan. 'The Dukes of Hazzard - Overview'. AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
5. ^ ^abWiswell, Phil; Dekoven, Bernie (November 1984). 'The Dukes of Hazzard (Coleco)'. Enter. p. 16. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
6. ^ ^abSilva, Jeff (November 1984). 'Product Review: The Dukes of Hazzard'. Expandable Computer News. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
7. ^ ^ab'Dukes of Hazzard (ZX Spectrum)'. Crash. April 1985. p. 36. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
8. ^ ^ab'Ties-Ins Part One'. Crash. December 1987. p. 34. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
9. ^ ^ab'Dukes of Hazzard (ZX Spectrum)'. Your Computer. May 1985. p. 45. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
10. ^ ^ab'Dukes of Hazzard (ZX Spectrum)'. Computer and Video Games. May 1985. p. 100. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
11. ^Halfhill, Tom R. (April 1984). 'More Than 170 Programs'. Compute!. pp. 26, 28. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
12. ^'Larence Schick Credits'. SwashbucklingAdventure.net. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
13. ^Kozlowski, Nathan (May 12, 2008). 'Coleco Chat'(PDF). Coleco Nation. p. 8. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
14. ^'Imagine that . . '. Sinclair User. April 1985. p. 15. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
15. ^'The Dukes of Hazzard (ZX Spectrum)'. Home Computing Weekly. April 1985. p. 11. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
16. ^'Joystick Jury'. Your Sinclair. June 1985. pp. 51, 54. Retrieved September 4, 2016. The score out of five at the end of each person's review is based on their experience of the game. But that's pretty subjective…so they also use the HIT and MISS system to indicate its potential as a commercial success.
17. ^ ^abcde'Dukes of Hazzard (Atari 2600)'. AtariProtos.com. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
18. ^'TV Hit To Hit Home Game Screens'(PDF). Atari Age. November 1982. p. 10. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
19. ^ ^ab'Game-Grams'(PDF). Atari Age. September 1983. p. 25. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
20. ^ ^abcStilphen, Scott (January 16, 2005). 'Mark Hahn interview'. DigitPress.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2005.
21. ^'The Dukes of Hazzard (Atari 2600)'. 2600Connection.com. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
22. ^Fahs, Travis (May 5, 2008). 'Beta Blue, Vol. 1'. IGN. Retrieved August 14, 2016.