-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smurf Racer! FAQ and Strategy Guide for the Playstation by Sam Skinner
Copyright Sam Skinner 2012. See the final section of this guide for more
information on the copyright.
*NOTE TO NEW READERS* Please read the copyright section before any other
section of this guide the very first time you access this file.
Guide started on 7-10-2012
Version 1.00 completed on 07-10-2012
Version 1.01 completed on 09-25-2018
My E-mail = Arguro AT hotmail.com
Please direct any questions, comments or corrections to my e-mail. Thanks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To jump to any section, press crtl and F and enter the code that is in
parenthesis ( ) in the box that pops up.
Introduction (INTR)
Controls (CONT)
Game Play Modes (GPLY)
Mechanics (MECH)
Characters (CHAR)
Strategy (STRA)
-The Village (VILL)
-The Big Caste (CAST)
-Forbidden Zone (FBZN)
-Astro Smurf's Challenge (ASCH)
-Flag Race (FLAG)
FAQS (FAQS)
Version History (HIST)
Copyright Information (COPY)
Smurf Racer is a cute little racing combat game for the Sony Playstation. The
game is designed to be an introduction into the genera. It is designed for
children, but is easily enjoyed by adults as well. There is an expert mode
for more advanced players which provides a small challenge. The game is,
however, still very easy and can be beaten in one sitting.
There are options for three different languages (as is the case with most
Smurf games) English, French and Spanish are your choices. For all purposes,
this entire guide is based on the English version of Expert mode, unless
specified otherwise.
These are the default controls. You can change the controls through the menu
if this set up doesn't work for you. There are three configurations.
Configuration One:
X accelerates
O breaks (reverse if not moving)
Square shoots missiles
Triangle uses special weapon
Start pauses
R1 jumps
L1 honks horn
Directional pad moves
Left stick also moves
Configuration two switches the functions of square and circle.
Configuration three does the same as two as well as switches triangle and R1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gameplay Modes (GPLY)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are four different ways to play Smurf Racer. Single race, championship,
flag race, and two player are the four modes from which you can choose.
Single race is best for anyone who is playing the game for the first time, or
anyone who is having trouble with a specific race. You can choose single race
mode and then choose any of the races to race against three computer
controlled enemies. This works well if you are having trouble beating a race
and want to practice it. Any time records you set here are saved.
Championship race is essentially the default mode for any racing game. This
mode pits you in a series of races, starting out fairly easy and ending with a
secret one. You must score first place in each race and cannot advance until
you secure the top spot. Should you fail, you have the option of redoing the
race. You cannot choose the order in which you race and they get
progressively harder as you go along. The idea is to the first one to cross
the finish line three times. You do not have to be in first every time, just
the last time.
Flag Capture is basically a battle mode. There is only one map and it is an
open near circle with objects and ramps. The goal is to collect as many flags
as you can and when the timer runs out, whoever has the most flags is the
winner.
Two player mode will grant you access to essentially the same levels as above,
but with a friend controlling the character instead of the game. The game
will be spit screen along the horizontal, which does limit your line of sight.
The mechanics of this game are basically what you would expect in any racing
game, sans a few discrepancies. The idea of the game is to race around a
course that is generally in a circle and be the first one to complete it three
times. All throughout will be several objects that both help and hinder you.
First and foremost you need to be aware of what you see on your screen. At
the top will be a missile and an object (the object is specific to a
character, like a weight for Hefty). There is a number under the missile.
This number indicates how many you have in reserve. You can hold up to ten
missiles at one. If you touch any more, you won't collect them.
The object is your special weapon. The characters section has a detailed list
of each object. These are collected by driving through a barrel. Barrels are
scattered throughout every race. There are usually only three in any given
section, so if you are in fourth place, you may not get a barrel.
You can only hold one special object at a time. If you place one and no one
hits it, it will disappear on the next lap.
The biggest thing to note are the differences between easy and expert modes.
-Easy mode moves slowly and the other racers are not as aggressive.
-Expert mode moves slightly faster, has more aggressive racers and has a time
restriction. At the top of the screen, on the far right when in expert mode
will be a counter that moves backwards. This is your timer and when it runs
out, Brainy Smurf has to come rescue you. You can increase the timer by
looking for a set of keys, one on either side of the track. You must drive in
between them to increase your time. The time allotted should almost always be
enough to get you to the next set of keys, even if you have a mishap or two on
the way.
There will often be large blue arrows that point you in the direction you need
to move. They usually come before curves and help you determine what is
coming up. There will sometimes be multiple paths you can take. One is
typically shorter than the other and they are outlined below in the strategy
section.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Characters (CHAR)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are a total of twelve different racers within the game. Eight are
available at the start and four can be unlocked. There are no game play
differences between them, just visual differences. They all have different
weapons, but each weapon acts the same as any other. They are as follows:
Papa Smurf
- Uses magic vials to slow an enemy. He always has a red hat.
Smurfette
- Uses hearts to slow an enemy. She has blonde hair and is the only female.
Chef Smurf
- Dives a spoon and fork car and uses his cakes to slow an enemy. He always
wears a chef hat.
Jokey Smurf
- Drives a giant yellow present. Uses exploding presents to slow enemies
Harmony Smurf
- Drives a keyboard. Has magical notes that slow enemies
Hefty Smurf
- Uses a giant weight to slow enemies. He is the only Smurf with a tattoo.
Handy Smurf
- Drives a screw driver and always has a pencil behind his ear. He uses nails
to slow enemies.
Painter Smurf
- Uses paint to slow enemies and always drives a paint brush. He wears a red
jacket.
Wild Smurf
- He wears a hat made of green leaves and drives a leaf for a car. He uses
spiked chestnuts as his weapon and is unlocked by beating the third race.
King Smurf
- he is unlocked by beating the sixth race and he always wears a golden crown
and uses said crows to slow enemies.
Super Drive Smurf
- He is a car mechanic and wears racing goggles and a scarf. He uses wrenches
to slow his opponents. He is unlocked by beating the ninth race.
Astro Smurf
- He is unlocked by beating the hidden tenth level. He uses stars to slow
enemies and always wears a space helmet and space suit.
***Update!!!*** I just now got the joke with Astro Smurf's name.... Astro
Smurf... AstroTurf.... Somebody is clever!
The first thing to note is that the strategy is essentially the same, whether
you are in easy or expert mode since the main difference between the two modes
is the time.
No matter the race, you should always be aware of large ramps that you fly off
of. You will want to aim yourself for your landing and always hold down the
direction you need to go before landing. This turns your cart into the
position and prevents you from crashing into a wall.
When shooting rockets, they always go straight in front of you. Remember this
when there is a curve up ahead. The enemy racer in front of you will start to
go around the curve so you need to aim yourself slightly in front of him or
her to shoot her when taking a curve.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The Village (VILL)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Village
The Village is a simple course and is the first one in the game. You will
race around a small area. There is one large jump that is easy to take.
Near the beginning will be a giant mushroom. The track goes through it, but
you can avoid it and take a shorter path if you go to the right of it. The
other racers will always go into it and you can avoid the bottle neck by
slipping off to the right.
Near the finish line, there is a split you can take. Taking the shorter rout
is a quicker turn to the right. The longer route is a longer turn, but leads
to an invincibility potion. This is the route you should take in the first
two laps. Always take the short route on the third lap.
Around the Dam
Around the damn is another simple track. It has no alternative routes and is
very straight forward. Always try to place your special object right where
the rocket boosters are (all red ones). The other Smurfs typically charge
right into them. Also, always aim for the green invincibility potions. They
are key in surviving the crowded areas of the race.
In the Trees
This race is a bit tough with one area that doubles back on its self and a
couple of forks to take. You will really want to avoid all forks, since they
are basically an S curve through the straight path. There are bonuses such as
an extra couple of missiles, but not worth it since you will be in first place
should you take the straight path. Missiles don't do you any good if you are
in first.
This is also the first race where you can unlock a new playable character.
Wild Smurf will be in this race and he races a leaf car. You must finish in
first place to be able to select him from the racer lists.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Big Castle (CAST)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Snow Castle
Snow Castle is the first race in the Big Castle. It has one large fork in it.
Close to the end, you will come down a big hill then you will start to climb
back up. Just past a set of rocket boosters will be a fork. The left side
takes you around an S curve that climbs back up to the castle slowly. The
right fork is a much more steeper climb and includes a ninety degree turn to
get back to the finish line. The right fork is the one you want to take for
two reasons. It is less traveled by the computer controlled racers and is
slightly shorter.
You will also want to take note of the first big descent down a hill. Just
after you pass under a stone archway with three barrels you will come to a
frozen pond. You cannot see which way you need to go, but you want to make a
gradual turn to the left to get back to the road. Too sharp of a turn will
have you spin around and be going the wrong direction.
Inside the Walls
At the very beginning of the race will be a fork. Take the straight path
every time. Never go to the right because it is a much longer path and
includes way too many turns. When you see the king sitting on the throne,
always take the right path for the shorter distance. Move slowly around the S
curves, tapping the acceleration button if you need to. This is the only race
I had to do twice in expert mode because of the first fork, so do not take it.
You should try to make an attempt to press the jump button when taking the
straight path at the beginning of the lap. If you grab the rocket right
before you slope down and hit jump, you will go up on the table, rather than
under it, and the path is slightly shorter. If you miss, it is no big deal.
The Royal Neighborhood
This race has several deviations from the path that you can take, but
shouldn't. All of them are longer and involve curves. Stick to the straight
path and curve only when you have to and this race will become much easier.
Also, you should avoid the wooden cart at the finish line. It is a jump that
is a little fun to take, but if you don't hit it just right, you will stop and
lose all momentum. Go around it on the left side.
This race also features a new character, King Smurf. He drives a crown. beat
this race and come in first and you can use him as your racer if you so
choose.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forbidden Zone (FBZN)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion is a steep increase in difficulty. It features many
twists and turns and will double over on its self several times. There are
many spider webs that look like they will stop you, but do not. You can drive
right through them without being hindered.
There is one area that goes up a hill. At the top of the hill, you see a
clock and it looks like you have to turn, but do not turn. You actually have
to go through the bottom of the clock. The path opens up at the very last
second, so be patient and go straight ahead.
The Gloomy Swamp
This course is chalked full of turns, some 180 degrees. Also, from here on
out, you can fall off the course into the water or other out of bounds area.
If you do, Brainy Smurf will rescue you, but you will fall behind the other
racers. It is best to stay away from the edges of the track, especially when
there is no barrier to prevent you from falling. There are thankfully no
forks in this race, so if you stick to the visible track and follow the
arrows, you will do just fine.
Gargamel's Laboratory
Gargamel's Laboratory is the last of the regular races. It will feature Super
Drive Smurf and the unlock able character should you come in first place. He
drives a blue and green car and throws wrenches at you. This race has several
quirks. There looks to be a lot of open space that you can drive through, but
in fact cannot. There are several invisible walls. As long as you stay on
the visible track, you should not run head long into any invisible wall. You
will probably bump up against them several times, but it shouldn't slow you
down.
There is one area of concern here. There will be a long ramp at the bottom of
which has rocket boosters. If you snag the booster as you go up, you will
shoot off the top and smash into a wall. It is wise to avoid the rockets.
The computer may zoom past you here, but it isn't worth the headache of
completely stopping when you hit the wall.
Astro Smurf's Challenge is the toughest race in the game. Right off the bat,
you are thrown into the race with no visual of the track from above or the
ability to choose an overview. You essentially have to race blind.
There are many lava pits into which you can fall. Should you do so, Brainy
will rescue you, but it costs you time. You want to take it slow, especially
for the first lap. You will find it best to actually lag behind a little bit
and let the other racers go in front of you, just to get a feel of all the
twists and turns.
There are two areas of concern to be aware of. Early on in the race, you will
go up a hill. When you emerge at the top, the arrow points right, but you
actually need to jut left just a little bit before going right. If you go
right at the top of the hill, you fall into a lava pit.
You also need to avoid the rocket boosters because of their instability except
in one area. You will go left around a large lava pit then hit a small
incline. At the top will be some rockets. You need to grab one in order to
make the jump. If you miss, you will fall into the pit.
Astro Smurf is the one with the space helmet on. He goes a little faster than
everyone else, so you need to be aggressive. You can easily beat him if you
think smart and use caution around blind corners.
You will need to beat every race in both easy and expert on championship mode
in order to have beat the game one hundred percent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flag Race (FLAG)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flag race is a one on one battle for flag collection. It can be played
against the computer or against a friend. The goal is to collect the most
flags and have the most in your possession before time runs out.
Since there is only one map, this mode gets boring fast. The best idea is to
go up the high road to the plateau to grab all the flags up there first.
There is also an invincibility potion up here.
Avoid crashing. If you hit a wall too hard, you lose two flags. You also
lose two flags if you are shot by your opponent.
If you do lose flags, they are always lost right where you were hit. Just
stop and go back and grab them. Computer controlled opponents will always
shoot you and keep on driving, so there is no reason you cannot go back and
grab them.
Since there are nineteen total flags, you need to control at least ten to win.
The odd number assures no ties. You can win with less if there are flags that
have not been picked up.
The best strategy is to collect ten flags then drive around the perimeter. It
is unlikely that you will be shot by the opponent. Since the level is so huge
and there is only one other racer, trying to battle for all the flags becomes
tedious fast. Just grab the flags and wait out the timer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best Times (TIME)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This section is up for challengers. These are the best times. If you have a
better time, please send it to me WITH photographic proof. Times are best set
in Expert mode, but I did set my best time for The Village in Easy.
The Village
- 1:32:59 by Sam Skinner
Around the Dam
- 1:46:46 by Sam Skinner
In the Trees
- 1:58:89 by Sam Skinner
The Snow Castle
- 2:57:13 by Sam Skinner
Inside the Walls
- 2:04:13 by Sam Skinner
The Royal Neighborhood
- 2:08:29 by Sam Skinner
The Haunted Mansion
-4:24:19 by Sam Skinner
The Gloomy Swamp
- 3:59:13 by Sam Skinner
Gargamel's Laboratory
- 4:21:63 by Sam Skinner
Astro Smurf's Challenge
- 4:49:86 by Sam Skinner
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What is this game?
A: Smurf Racer is a battle kart racing game for the Sony Playstation. It
features characters from the cartoon the Smurfs racing around several tracks
set up within their world, battling one another for first place using objects
to hinder one another from accomplishing this goal. The game is very
reminiscent of Mario Kart.
Q: Who made this game?
A: The game was developed by Artificial Mind and Movement and produced by
Infogrames in 2001.
Q: Do either of these companies still make games?
A: Artificial Mind and Movement still does, although the do so under a new
name. They now call themselves Behaviour and are based in Montreal, Quebec,
Canada. Some recent games they have made are Wet and Naughty Bear (both of
which I enjoyed). Infogrames is now under the name Atari (which has changed
hands more times than I can remember over the years). I don't really know the
details, but a quick google search can turn up a plethora of information on
them.
Q: I played for a while, quit and came back. None of my progress saved.
What happened?
A: After you finish a race in first place, you need to select the "save
game" option you are presented. Saving takes one block and you can save up to
four games.
Q: I did save my game and it still isn't there. What is going on?
A: You need to load your game as well. Remember that this game is from
before the time of auto save and auto load that we are all accustomed to now.
From the main menu, select Load game and load the save file. You need to have
a memory card in your Playstation.
Q: I am playing this on a Playstation 2. Can I save on a PS2 memory card?
A: No. No Playstation 1 games can be saved on a Playstation 2's memory card.
You can use a PS1 memory card in your PS2, however. I always keep one PS1 and
one PS2 memory card in my PS2 at all times.
Q: This is not your first guide for a Smurfs game. You seem to like them.
A: That's not really a question, but I will answer it anyway. I do love the
Smurfs. They were one of my absolute favorite things when I was a child. I
am a cynical adult now and one of only a few things in the entire world that
makes me happy is the innocence of the Smurfs and the nostalgic memories they
invoke. Any time I can combine my passion for the Smurfs with my passion for
video games, all feels right in the world for just a few moments.
Q: What is up with Brainy Smurf in this game?
A: That is my biggest quarrel with this game. First and foremost, the voice
over just isn't Brainy. That is to be expected, but what isn't is the total
destruction of his essence. Brainy in this game seems to be wise beyond all,
even Papa Smurf, which just feels wrong. What should have happened, was have
Papa Smurf be the guide for the game and have Brainy Smurf as a racer. It
sort of feels like the designers just were not familiar with the Smurfs
franchise.
Q: What's next for the Smurf franchise?
A: After the release of the Smurf movie last year, a sequel is planned for
the summer of 2013. Check out www.smurf.com for more information.
Q: I am stuck on X in level Y. Can you help me?
A: It should already be covered in the step by step walkthrough up above, but
if for some reason it isn't, please send me an e-mail and I will attempt to
answer your question.
Q: You screwed up in a section/strategy/area/itsprobablyjustatypo! Don't
you spell check everything?
A: No, I don't. There are bound to be mistakes throughout this guide. The
only way they can be corrected is if you e-mail me and nicely explain to me
where and how I messed up. Credit will be given where credit is due. My e-
mail is at the beginning of this guide.
Q: Where can I get this game?
A: This game is not an easy one to find, but it is by no means rare. It can
be had for as little as $5 US. Online websites that specialize in the sales
of old video games such as eBay, Amazon, and Gamegravel are your best bets.
Also, most cities have at least one retail store that specializes in older
games. Pawn shops are also known to carry older games. Please respect these
different retail outlets and purchase the game if you desire to own it. Just
because Nintendo doesn't make money on the sale of old games doesn't mean
other peoples' livelihood isn't invested in such sales. I cannot and will not
endorse or support emulation of this or any other title and I will not relay
any information pertaining to such practices. I personally bought my copy for
$4.99 from a store in Boise, Idaho called VIP Game Store (best place in the
Treasure Valley to buy video games) on May 6th, 2012.
Q: Can I host this guide on my site?
A: No. I do not allow anyone to use my guides without expressed, written
permission. I do not give permission unless I am asked, specifically, about
this guide. I do not like automated e-mails. I will most likely only allow
my guide to be hosted on a small website, usually one centered around the
game or system my guide is for. For more information, see the Copyright
section of this guide, at the bottom. Use of this guide without my
permission is considered theft and will be reported to the proper
authorities.
Q: How do I contact you about this guide?
A: E-mail is the best way to do so. My e-mail can be found at the beginning
or the end of this guide, just remember to take the numbers 123 out of it
because they do not belong. I keep them there to prevent auto scanning
websites from obtaining my e-mail address. I am not big on the instant
messenger services any more, so it is unlikely that you can contact me that
way. If e-mail is not an option, you can send me a private message through
Gamefaqs message system.
Q: What other guides have you done?
A: Just simply click on the name Arguro at the very top or the very bottom
(orange text in a black box) of this guide and it will take you to my
contributor page. From there you can see all the different things I have
contributed to Gamefaqs.
Q: I really like your guides. Can I donate money to you in support?
A: If you really want to, you can send a Pay Pal payment to my e-mail
address which is at the top or bottom of this guide. Please understand that
any donated money does not mean I will name you in my guide. It also does
not mean I will do any special work for you and it certainly does not give
you any rights to host this guide or publish it anywhere. I do not want the
user to feel obligated to pay me in any means. This is a free guide for
personal, private home use. I will not reject your offer to pay me, but I do
not want you to feel it is necessary. If you do decide to donate to me,
please only donate what amount you are comfortable with, even if it is a
single penny. Once a donation is made, it is final and there will be no
refunds. This is an odd question and I debated about adding it for a long
time, but when I saw other FAQ authors had a similar question, I felt it
would be a valid addition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Version History (HIST)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Version 1.00 completed on July 10th, 2012 at 2:10 pm Mountain Time
--Version included the guide in full, including the introduction, controls,
game modes, mechanics, characters, strategy, best times, FAQs, version
history, and copyright information sections. Guide is complete. Further
updates will only be for typo corrections and or time records. Twelve total
pages when printed. 30.5 KB
Version 1.01 completed on September 25th, 2018 at 8:53 PM Mountain Time
--Version included the resubmittal of the guide. I also updated my name, e-
mail and copyright. Twelve total pages when printed. 30.7 KB
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright information (COPY)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guide is the copyright of Sam Skinner 2012-2018.
This guide may not be reproduced on any website or in print form without my
expressed, handwritten consent. The user is hereby granted permission to
store this guide on his or her hard drive under the following conditions: 1.
The hard drive may only be accessed by the user and his or her immediate
family; 2. The guide is kept fully intact, i.e. no section, paragraph, word,
letter or punctuation mark is missing from the guide; 3. This section is
kept stored with the guide and is read before any other section is read when
the individual accesses the guide for the first time. The user is also
hereby allowed to print this guide in any fashion as he or she sees fit,
provided that this section in its entirety is included with the printed
version. The printed version must not be sold or given away under any
circumstance. This guide may only be hosted on one (1) website, that site
being www.gamefaqs.com. If you want to use this guide on your website, you
must send me an e-mail to Arguro AT Hotmail.com and please specify which guide
you want to host. I ask that you specify so that I know you actually are
interested in my work and that I am not reading an automated e-mail that scans
FAQS for email addresses. If you do not specify the guide and include
specific reasons why you would like to host it, I will NOT allow to host it at
any time now or in the future. I reserve the right to determine what sites
may and may not host this guide as well as the right to as for monetary
compensation for the hosting of this guide as I see fit. Failure to abide by
these rules set forth is a violation of US copyright law and is subject to
persecution. Further use of this guide is considered acceptance of these
rules set forth. If you do not agree with these rules, do not use this guide.
This game is the copyright of Infogrames and Artificial Mind and Movement,
2001. The Smurf name, characters, world and concept are the copyright of
Peyo. I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies and any
aforementioned employment, partnership or association is purely accidental and
unintended.
