The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home

Summary

The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home is a racing video game published by SouthPeak Interactive that was released for the PlayStation in 1999. The game was later released for Game Boy Color and Microsoft Windows in 2000. It is based on the television show, The Dukes of Hazzard. Waylon Jennings, James Best, Ben Jones, Sonny Shroyer, and Tom Wopat reprised their characters by providing their voices to the PC and PlayStation versions of the game. A sequel titled The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out was released in 2000.

The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home
North American PlayStation cover art
Developer(s)Sinister Games (PS, PC)
Spellbound (GBC)
Publisher(s)
SeriesThe Dukes of Hazzard
Platform(s)Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
ReleasePlayStation
  • NA: December 1, 1999
  • EU: 2000
Windows
Game Boy Color
  • NA: November 7, 2000
  • EU: 2000
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay edit

The player plays as Bo and Luke Duke who is racing to pay off the Duke farm. The player must play through missions that include Bo and Luke outrunning Rosco, Cletus and Enos, and saving their cousin Daisy Duke from Black Jack Perril who wants revenge on their uncle Jesse Duke.

Reception edit

The Game Boy Color version received "favorable" reviews, and the PlayStation version received "mixed" reviews, while the PC version received "unfavorable" reviews, according to video game review aggregator GameRankings.[3][4][5]

Chris Carle of IGN said of the PlayStation version, "The missions can get tedious, even though some are truly challenging. The stunt physics are fun and the various vehicles are a hoot. All in all, it is a decent ride while it lasts." Carle also criticized the game's cutscenes: "The characters look downright goofy. Uncle Jesse resembles Dr. Zaius from Planet of the Apes and Luke Duke could easily be on display at your local zoo."[21]

Scott Steinberg of the same website praised the PC version's three multiplayer modes, but also said, "It's hard to decide which is worse, primitive 3D visuals, ugly ass rendered movies or the non-interactive backgrounds. Thank heaven the vehicle models don't suck." He also praised the soundtrack, voice-overs and Waylon Jennings' narration, but criticized the game's sound effects, as well as the gameplay, stating that the General Lee "turns like a concrete mixer. If you can keep it in a straight line for more than fifteen seconds, you might enjoy the varied styles of play."[20]

Craig Harris said of the Game Boy Color version, "The graphics [...] are downright hideous. Everything about the imagery -- cars, land texture, buildings, cutscene characters -- have an ugly, dithered and blocky construction, and it makes the game that much more difficult to look at when driving around Hazzard County. [...] The game doesn't offer anything more than just driving levels, but the missions vary enough to continue through the adventure to the very end of the tale in Hazzard County."[19]

Adam Pavlacka of NextGen's April 2000 issue called the PlayStation version "A mediocre racing game that survives on the license alone. Barely."[23] Eight issues later, Kevin Rice called the PC version "Just a bad ol' game, never meanin' no harm, but with gameplay like this, it winds up doing plenty."[22]

The D-Pad Destroyer of GamePro said of the PlayStation version in one review, "Fans of the Dukes will get into this game just because they get to drive the General Lee and outmaneuver Roscoe and Cletus. Others should give the game a rent first, because the sub-par graphics and the funky controls will turn off most hardcore driving-game fans. Racing For Home just doesn't beat all you ever saw."[27][b] In another GamePro review, Four-Eyed Dragon said of the same console version, "even with lackluster graphics, Dukes of Hazzard maintains a fun pace. Duke [sic] fans will enjoy the fond memories, while young drivers will get caught up in the simple but well-paced gameplay."[28][c] However, GameZone gave the PC version five out of ten, saying, "There is some fun to be had watching the cut-scenes, which are just as poorly acted as their syndicated inspiration. Outside of that, I find it very hard to recommend this game to anyone other than racing fans who still own their Dukes of Hazzard Underoos. The rest of you should steer clear. (No pun intended.)"[29]

One AllGame review gave the PlayStation version three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying that it "definitely brought to fore my inner 11-year-old."[30] Later, in another AllGame review, Anthony Baize gave the PC version a similar score of three-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "a great game for gamers wanting to drive a fast car and use their brains at the same time. Fans of the television series will love the animated interludes and the cast of characters will most likely amuse players who have never seen the TV program. This is a solid title that won't disappoint fans of the genre."[31]

The game sold more than 400,000 units.[32]

Notes edit

  1. ^ In GameFan's viewpoint of the PlayStation version, three critics gave it each a score of 85, 52, and 60.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and control, 4.5/5 for sound, and 4/5 for overall fun factor in one review.
  3. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version 3.5/5 for graphics, 5/5 for sound, and two 4.5/5 scores for control and fun factor in another review.

References edit

  1. ^ IGN staff (October 10, 2000). "News Briefs". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  2. ^ Bye, John "Gestalt" (June 30, 2000). "New UK releases". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  6. ^ Goble, Gordon (October 10, 2000). "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on November 18, 2000. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  7. ^ Ham, Tom (December 17, 1999). "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  8. ^ Price, Tom (December 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 197. Ziff Davis. p. 151. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "The Dukes of Hazzard [Racing for Home] (PS)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 128. Ziff Davis. March 2000. p. 146. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Conlin, Shaun (January 17, 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard Racing for Home (PSX)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on November 12, 2003. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Goldsmith, Tom (July 31, 2000). "[The] Dukes Of Hazzard: Racing For Home (PC)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 29, 2001. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  12. ^ Taylor, Martin (June 10, 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PSOne)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 7, 2001. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PS)". Game Informer. No. 83. March 2000.
  14. ^ Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (February 2000). "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PS)". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 2. Shinno Media. p. 29. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  15. ^ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Ngo, George "Eggo"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (February 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard [Racing for Home] (PS)". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 2. Shinno Media. p. 12. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  16. ^ Boss Hogg (January 2000). "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home Review (PS)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  17. ^ Wolpaw, Erik (October 6, 2000). "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home Review (PC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 8, 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (December 27, 1999). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home Review (PS)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 4, 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Harris, Craig (November 30, 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (GBC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Steinberg, Scott (October 10, 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Carle, Chris (January 6, 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard - Racing for Home (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Rice, Kevin (December 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PC)". NextGen. No. 72. Imagine Media. p. 145. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  23. ^ a b Pavlacka, Adam (April 2000). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PS)". NextGen. No. 64. Imagine Media. p. 89. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  24. ^ "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home". Nintendo Power. Vol. 143. Nintendo of America. April 2001.
  25. ^ MacDonald, Mark (February 2000). "The Dukes of Hazzard [Racing for Home]". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 3, no. 5. Ziff Davis. p. 93. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  26. ^ "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home". PC Gamer. Imagine Media. 2001.
  27. ^ The D-Pad Destroyer (December 17, 1999). "[The] Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on September 28, 2004. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  28. ^ Four-Eyed Dragon (February 2000). "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PS)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 137. IDG. p. 92. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  29. ^ Kemuel (October 16, 2000). "The Dukes of Hazzard--Racing for Home Review on PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  30. ^ "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home reviews". MobyGames. Atari SA. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  31. ^ Baize, Anthony. "The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  32. ^ "Mia Hamm Soccer 64, The Dukes of Hazzard and The Flintstones Bedrock Bowling Headline SouthPeak Interactive's Lineup for E3 2000". SouthPeak Interactive. May 11, 2000. Archived from the original on June 21, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2022.

External links edit

  • The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home at MobyGames
  • The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home (Game Boy Color) at MobyGames