Razor Freestyle Scooter
DeveloperShaba Games (PS)
Crawfish Interactive (GBC/GBA)
Titanium Studios (DC/N64)
PublisherCrave EntertainmentEU: Ubi Soft
PlatformsPlayStation, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64
ReleasedPlayStation
NA: December 12, 2000[1]; EU: March 30, 2001Game Boy Color
NA: June 14, 2001[2]; EU: June 15, 2001Dreamcast
NA: August 9, 2001[3]; EU: April 26, 2002Game Boy Advance
NA: November 20, 2001; EU: December 7, 2001Nintendo 64
NA: November 27, 2001
GenreSports
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

Razor Freestyle Scooter, known as Freestyle Scooter in Europe, is a 2000 extreme sports game developed by Shaba Games and published by Crave Entertainment for the PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64.

Gameplay

Licensed by RazorUSA, a company that makes scooters and safety equipment,[4] Razor Freestyle Scooter has player controlling one of ten characters though a series of three environments while trying to perform various stunts and aerial maneuvers (a total of 45 moves are available in the game).[5] The game was unlicensed outside of North America and released in Europe as Freestyle Scooter.

Built using the Grind Session skateboarding engine,[citation needed] the game follows a group of kids whose friends have been captured by an evil giant robot. Players complete challenges across the main levels to unlock special stages, where they can rescue the captured characters. After each rescue, players return to the main levels with a more difficult set of challenges. The game ends when all special levels are completed and all friends, including Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Tito Ortiz, have been rescued.[6]

The soundtrack features pop-punk artists such as Ex Number Five, Never Too Late and Sick Shift.[5]

Reception

The PlayStation and Dreamcast versions received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7][8] David Chen of NextGen said that the former was "Far too easy, but it leaves you wondering why the big guys can't come up with new stuff too."[9] Marc Saltzman of The Cincinnati Enquirer described it as a "fun but easy diversion that's geared more towards the younger or casual gamer".[5]

Reviewing the NTSC Dreamcast release, Martin Mathers of Dreamcast Magazine UK likened the title to the Tony Hawk's series of games, giving it a score of 62% and arguing that, "For all the incredibly well borrowed ideas it has, the developers appear to have forgotten to do anything extra on top of them to make the game worth owning."[10]

Iron Thumbs of GamePro's March 2001 issue called the PlayStation version "a great game for Razor enthusiasts who like simple—very simple—gameplay."[11][a] Three issues later, however, Bro Buzz's early review said that the Game Boy Color version was "likely aimed at kids who don't own Razors. If you've got one, you'll have more fun ridin', not playin'."[12][b]

Notes

  1. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version 4/5 for graphics, two 4.5/5 scores for sound and control, and 3.5/5 for fun factor.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the Game Boy Color version two 2.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, and two 3/5 scores for sound and control in an early review.

References

  1. ^ "New Razor Scooter Game Ships To Stores Today". Crave Entertainment. December 12, 2000. Archived from the original on March 9, 2001. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Crave's 'Razor™ Freestyle Scooter' for Game Boy® Color Rolls into Stores". Crave Entertainment. June 14, 2001. Archived from the original on July 20, 2001. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Crave's 'Razor Freestyle Scooter' Offers All the Fun of the Real Kick Scooter for the Dreamcast". Crave Entertainment. August 9, 2001. Archived from the original on September 10, 2001. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Steinberg, Nick (October 10, 2019). "THPS: 5 Rip Offs That Failed (& 5 That Were Actually Good)". TheGamer. Archived February 16, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Saltzman, Marc (February 6, 2001). "Razor Freestyle Scooter (PS)". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on April 19, 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  6. ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (November 21, 2012). "Razor Freestyle Scooter Review". GameSpot. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  7. ^ "Razor Freestyle Scooter critic reviews (DC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived February 11, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Razor Freestyle Scooter critic reviews (PS)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived October 14, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Chen, David (April 2001). "Razor Freestyle Scooter (PS)". NextGen. No. 76. Imagine Media. p. 85. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  10. ^ Mathers, Martin (2001). "Razor Freestyle Scooter". Dreamcast Magazine UK. No. 34. Paragon Publishing. pp. 28–29. Archived April 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  11. ^ Iron Thumbs (March 2001). "Razor Freestyle Scooter (PS)". GamePro. No. 150. IDG. p. 85. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Bro Buzz (June 2001). "Razor Freestyle Scooter Review (GBA)". GamePro. No. 153. IDG. p. 99. Archived December 12, 2004 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 27, 2024.