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USA RACER - PlayStation FAQ

by J Woodrow <[email protected]>

Version 1.1 - 24/04/2002

_________________________________________________________________________

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_________________________________________________________________________

T H E U L T I M A T E R A C E T H R O U G H T H E U S A !
_________________________________________________________________________

USA RACER - PLAYSTATION

Released: March 2002
Developers: Davilex
Publisher: -

[This game was released as 'US Racer' in North America]

_________________________________________________________________________

C O N T E N T S
_______________

INTRODUCTION
PLAYING THE GAME

Race type: TIME TRIAL
New York
Yosemite
Los Angeles

Race type: SINGLE RACE

Race type: TOURNAMENT

1 PARK TRIAL
----------
Yosemite (2)
Grand Canyon

[win City License]

2 CITY TRIAL
----------
Los Angeles (2)
New York (2)
Chicago
Las Vegas

[win US Racer License]

3 US RACE
-------
Chicago (2)
Yosemite (3)
Los Angeles (3)
Grand Canyon (2)

[unlock Miami]

Miami
Las Vegas (2)
New York (3)

[unlock Washington DC]

Washington DC

_________________________________________________________________________

I N T R O D U C T I O N
_______________________

We open on an Arizona desert scene reminiscent of Dryfield in Parasite
Eve II. Tumbleweed drifts across an arid cactus patch and the camera pans
over creaking wind-vanes to an abandoned homestead where a Park Patrol
Deputy dozes in the shade of a wooden porch, staking out the nearby
highway. He doesn't know what is about to hit him...

Streaking down that highway are "6 typical US Racers; 'Pops' from Utah,
'The Duke' from Texas, 'The Bolt' from New York, 'Slam D' from Chicago,
'Holl E' from California and 'Suave' from Miami". Crazy names; Crazy
Guys. (And Girl.) We are led to believe that these are part of a
clandestine group who race illegally across the United States for cash
and glory. Now you can join them - if you can prove your worth.

From New York to LA by way of Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas and Washington
DC, you must fight off your rivals to claim those city streets as your
own, and there is still time in between to take in the scenery as you
battle through Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.

"Let America be your racecourse!"

_________________________________________________________________________

P L A Y I N G T H E G A M E
_____________________________

The language selection screen provides a big clue that the developers of
this game are from Holland, and they have made a bold attempt to capture
the flavour of each of six big cities of the US contrasted with the wide-
open spaces of two National Parks. Davilex have had success with budget
titles like London Racer (in the UK), A2 Racer (Benelux), Autobahn Raser
(German territories), Paris-Marseilles Racing (France), and Europe Racer
(EU) for both PlayStation and PC platforms. These games featured nearly
photo-realistic backdrops to create an impressive 'naturalistic' racing
environment, but the developers have decided to go for a less literal and
therefore more inventive and sometimes even quite fantastic racing
experience for USA Racer.

For sure, the cities all feature their respective familiar landmarks such
as The Statue of Liberty in New York, and the Hollywood sign in the hills
above Los Angeles, but they are no more than tokens in the artistic
background. This game has less in common with authentic driving games
like Metropolis Street Racer or Driver (or even any of those earlier
Davilex titles), than non-realistic racing games like Mario Cart or Micro
Machines. Just like those games, USA Racer makes a virtue of depicting a
fantasy environment, and it is no less fun to play for all that.

So let's play!

[You will need a Memory Card with two free slots if you wish to save your
progress. The game plays just fine on PS2, but you cannot Save.]

_________________________________________________________________
|
| Main menu
|_________________________________________________________________
|
|-------------------------
||||||||||||||||||||| Race
|-------------------------
| Highscores
|-------------------------
| Options
|-------------------------

At the Main menu choose 'Race'. You don't have any 'Highscores' yet and
the 'Options' shouldn't trouble you for the moment.

_________________________________________________________________
|
| Race menu
|_________________________________________________________________
|
|-------------------------
| Single race
|-------------------------
|||||||||||||| Time trial
|-------------------------
| Tournament
|-------------------------

Start with 'Time trial' as this will give you plenty of practice to get
to know the first couple of tracks. You will have no opponents and there
is no traffic to distract you.

_________________________________________________________________________

Race Type: T I M E T R I A L
_________________________________________________________________________

You first need to select which Racer you want to compete as. As mentioned
earlier, there are 6 colourful characters to choose from:

______________________________________________________________________
| |
| Character selection |
|______________________________________________________________________|
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'
| "POPS" - an old-timer Farmer from Utah. (That sounds like a |
| Limerick coming on...) He drives a pick-up full of Moonshine. |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| "JACK SADLER" - A Texas Oil Baron. He drives a 4x4 complete with bull|
| horns. We've only just started and the cliche meter is in the Red! |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| "TONY CORLEON" - A New York Cabdriver, driving a New York Cab. |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| "HOLL E" - Her CV says 'Actress'. (Model, Actress... Whatever.) |
| A California Girl with a catalytically-converted car. Probably. |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| "RICKY MORALES" - A 'Businessman' from Florida. He starts out in an |
| Orange sports car. A little bit like something out of Miami Vice... |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| "TYRONE O'NEAL" - A Truck driver. Drives a Truck. |
| |
======================================================================

All of these characters have a second bigger/badder vehicle waiting to be
unlocked. Scroll through and catch a glimpse of them. There are some
stylish Sports cars and a '50's 'Caddy' look-alike and even a Stretch
Limo and Wow! Look at the size of that truck!! I bet that's a lot of fun
to drive...

Well that's up to you!

It is a good idea to try the same track using each of these vehicles for
a direct comparison, to find which one suits you best. There is a
surprisingly wide difference between them, although they all fall into
one of two groups - sluggish but easy to handle and strong, or fast,
twitchy and fragile. They all tend to look like remote-controlled model
cars on occasion. If you have a dual-shock pad you get a lovely 'kick'
when you pump some Nitro.

'Time trial' allows you to choose between three tracks. The only Park
track available in Time trial mode is Yosemite; Grand Canyon for the
moment is locked. The City tracks available at first are New York or Los
Angeles. Damage can be set to On/Off which won't make much difference on
this first run as there is nobody trying to bash you and you aren't going
to spend TOO much time crashing into walls...

_________________________________________________________________________

N E W Y O R K
______________

South Street
Wall Street
Broadway
Central Park
5th Avenue
Park Avenue
Grand Central Station
East River Driveway (FDR Dr.)
Brooklyn Bridge
Statue of Liberty

The Big Apple is the first offering on the menu, so it is as good a place
as any to start. You will have 4 laps of a twisty street circuit taking
in some of the city's most famous landmarks.

The controls are very simple, and in fact you'll probably only need Left
and Right, and X to accelerate. As on most driving games it seems, the
brake is SQUARE. But who needs it?

You will notice straight away that your car is very 'twitchy' and will
deform in an unrealistic manner as you swing left and right. This is your
clue that we are not playing Gran Turismo here.

As you motor off down the city streets you will come soon enough to a row
of Green 'wrench' icons right there in the middle of the road. Drive
straight through them and you see REPAIR! onscreen. Not a very difficult
concept to understand, so head straight for these if you start to pick up
damage along the way in your races. Similarly, there are pale Blue
chevrons which declare NITRO! and these give you an impressive speed
boost when you tap R2. It is very useful for powering through a tight
turn, so that you gain control quickly should you oversteer into a wall.

Look out for any handy jumps, as not only are these fun to try anyway but
you can often leap clear over your rivals when it is time to race, and
sometimes you will see a bonus hanging there in mid-air as well.

The course is simple enough, and the upcoming turns are usually shown by
concrete dividers with large Red arrows. Kind of hard to miss...

There is a novel idea in the inclusion of snippets of FM Radio, tailored
to the particular track you are on; Cruise Moosic for LA and Latino for
Miami and right now: funky Dance and inane chatter from WIZZ 102.3 FM for
New York. There are weather forecasts and traffic reports and later even
phone-ins and interviews, all mixed in seamlessly. It certainly adds a
lot of character to the game. These snippets are a bit on the short side
though, and because they are repeated over and over it can become a
little irritating... I don't know how often you can stand to be told by
"The WIIIIIZZZ Kid" that there is a tenth of a calorie in licking a
stamp!

There are many nice touches in the city environment, from blue Mail boxes
and phone booths to green street signs, all of which and more can be
scattered in your path, and while you are about it you can do a 'Cool
Hand Luke' job on all those parking meters! Look at the tv screens on
Broadway and also notice the lovely artwork on neon signs in bar windows
everywhere. Wouldn't you like a tall frosty one right now?

You should have seen enough of the city streets by the time your four
laps are over, so let's head across the country in a matter of minutes
and check out the West Coast - Via Yosemite.

_________________________________________________________________________

Y O S E M I T E
_______________

Yosemite Chapel
Yosemite Falls
Half Dome
El Capitan
Curry village

"KOLD 104 FM - 'Chill' Radio! It IS a beautiful day today... one of those
days that makes you wanna quit your job, buy a fast car and CRUISE cross
country..."

And what a contrast to the city Yosemite is; lovely country trails
winding through the trees and greenery with occasional glimpses of
granite mountain landmarks such as El capitan and the half Dome. Just
around the first bend is a Sierra Redwood grove, where you even get to
drive through a Giant Sequoia. Is that the Wawona Tunnel Tree I wonder?

Notice straight away that this is a very different racing environment
from the city. You can attack the grassy slopes and fly through the air
to cut corners, and so you should try every stunt you can manage to come
up with while you have the road to yourself.

Just as in New York, there are plenty of pick-ups, and they will be in
the same places when you start to race properly, so practice the optimum
line to sweep up whatever you need. Don't just store that Nitro - use
it! Experiment with dabs of R2 so that you get used to the sudden bursts
of speed and watch how fast your Nitro meter falls so that you can judge
how much you need to get you to the next batch. It will make all the
difference as far as winning or losing goes later on...

When you get to the road tunnel you will know that is nearly the end of
the lap, so save a boost of Nitro to ease past your opponents when you
find yourself in a race here.

After your four laps are over, it is time to hit the Coast.

_________________________________________________________________________

L O S A N G E L E S
____________________

Griffith Observatory
Sunset Strip
Hollywood Boulevard
Mann's Chinese Theater
Beverly Hills
Rodeo Drive
Santa Monica

"Again another bright and sunny day with temperatures reaching into the
mid '70's and cooling down to the upper '60's this evening..."

Ahhh LA. We love it! (Encore Radio KLAP one-oh-oh brings you the sounds.)

Start off in the Hollywood Hills and twist your way down the rocky track
past the Griffith Observatory and that famous sign (looking suspiciously
small though), and through the backlot of a film studio. And why not -
this is Hollywood! Try to ignore the 'seaming' going on in the roadway -
I don't think it is supposed to be the San Andreas fault...

Just as in New York, there are trash cans, newspaper stands, mail boxes,
lamp-posts and - oh yes! - more parking meters, all of which and more can
be gleefully demolished as you skate around the corners and speed along
the sunny boulevards. Try to work out the best line for cutting those
sharp turns and judging how much Nitro you need for the long stretches.
When it comes time to race here, the streets are a little more congested!

Zip past the skatepark and beachfront apartments of Santa Monica
Boulevard and line up a leap off the ramp (almost like Crazy Taxi), into
the storm drain. Have some fun scaling the verts, "Grease" style! There
are plenty of pick-ups down here, and you can really give it the gun in
the race proper. The tunnel signals the end of the lap.

When you have made a few circuits of Los Angeles and become thoroughly
used to handling all the different cars, wait for the loading screen and
this time choose 'Single race' and let's get started.

_________________________________________________________________________

Race Type: S I N G L E R A C E
_________________________________________________________________________

Once again you must choose your preferred character (or more importantly
their set of wheels), so by now you should know which one suits you.
Let's see how it stands up to a buffeting...

This is who you'll be up against:

_____________________________________________________________________
| |
| Character selection / Opponents |
|_____________________________________________________________________|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4 3 2 1 |
| |
| Pops v The Duke The Bolt Holl E |
| Jack Sadler v The Bolt Holl E Suave |
| Tony Corleon v Holl E Suave Slam D |
| Holl E v Suave Slam D Pops |
| Ricky Morales v Slam D Pops The Duke |
| Tyrone O'Neal v Pops The Duke The Bolt |
| |
=====================================================================

You next set the type of Race you want. You choose whether to go over 2,3
or 4 laps, with a Difficulty level of 'Easy' 'Normal' or 'Hard'. Damage
can be On or Off, and the Police can also be set to On or Off. It's not
much fun without them though, is it?

It is good to see that the other cars behave in an individual and nearly
realistic manner - they will crash and spin out and seem to fight fair
even if they are a little less than predictable. Depending which level
you choose (Easy, Normal or Hard) they will show varying degrees of
aggression, but overall they are easy to cope with. Listen for the rasps
of their engines coming up behind you to give you some warning that you
are coming within rammable range. (You have R1 for the rear-view mirror,
but the pace is usually hectic, so don't rely on it.)

On the 'Hard' setting it becomes a Bash-fest. Everybody will be out to
get you - not only the cops and your racing rivals, but buses and taxis
and every other car will go out of its way to 'accidentally' cut you off
or block you. The others seem to be having just as hard a time of it, and
they will happily sabotage each other, so there is no need to feel you
are being picked on. Pretty soon the track will be scattered with smoking
wreckage.

Keep an eye on the damage meter. You will know you are in trouble when
your car starts to resemble Leno's chin and smoke starts pouring out.
Just run over as many Green pick-ups as you can from time to time and you
should be OK.

There doesn't seem to be much advantage in using the Nitro when you are
being buffeted or blocked by an opponent - they just seem to stay with
you. I suggest you use it like a jockey's whip, and give your car a whiff
of gas whenever you crash, just to remind it to 'get it together' and
head back in the right direction. Then just give it short bursts to stay
up with the pack. You are in trouble if you have a 'thirsty' car (such as
The Duke's) and you waste it too soon when there is a sprint for the
line, so always keep one in the chamber.

Once again, the only tracks available are New York, Yosemite and Los
Angeles, so your earlier practice should pay off. Now it is time for the
Real Thing!

_________________________________________________________________________

Race Type: T O U R N A M E N T
_________________________________________________________________________

For the Time trial and Single races, you just get started straight away,
but when it comes time to start the Tournament you can give your vehicle
the once-over in the garage before each race. To begin with you have a
budget of precisely $0. Oh dear. You need to earn some cash in order to
upgrade. At first the difference will be barely noticeable, but the more
cash you can round up, the more work you can afford to have done, and
eventually all the cars become quite meaty. A better idea if you have
only a little cash in the bank is to max. out the 'Nitro', which will
give you an important boost off the start line in the next round. As you
contest each round you will certainly sustain damage, which needs to be
repaired if your vehicle crossed the line in a very bad state. You will
soon have almost too much money, so don't hold back on the garage bills.

A fun idea is the facility to change the colour of your Motor - just
scroll down until 'Color' is highlighted, then move the slider back and
forth. That is quite impressive! Of course there is only one colour a New
York taxi should be, but it is definitely an improvement to make Ricky's
Sports job a lovely deep Italian Red, and Holl E should have a Pink car I
think. Try giving the same paint job to 'Slam D'- I wonder what he thinks
of that? You can have any colour you want, even if it's black.

You must complete certain Trials to prove you are good enough to compete
with the Big Boys (and Girl). First there is a run through Yosemite for
the Park Trial, which will unlock the Grand Canyon track only when you
complete it. If your combined results are then good enough (a first and a
third or two seconds should do it), you will earn a City License.
Complete the first four City tracks with enough points and you are
awarded a full US Racer License.

The comparison with the likes of the Mario Racing games is inevitable
when you see the manner of your progress through USA Racer. You need to
collect Cash which is represented by dollar icons in various colours for
different amounts, which you simply drive over to collect (you don't have
to be spot-on). There are also the two now familiar types of 'Power-ups',
namely "Nitro" and "Repair", each in two strengths: Small and Big. As
before, small ones are scattered liberally along the courses but the
larger ones are usually a little less accessible, and so you may need to
temporarily sacrifice your racing position to collect them. Remember that
short dabs of Nitro work best, as once you have a head of steam, you
don't increase speed further and it will just be wasted. You'll get the
idea very quickly.

There is a complication in that the traffic often seems to loiter right
in front of the goodies you need to collect, so you will need to do some
twisty driving or aggressive shoving (with the inevitable damage that
leads to) to claim your rewards. If there is too much chaos around your
target, it may be better to mark the spot and claim it next lap when
traffic should have cleared.

You should take the time to explore all the 'off-line' areas; they like
to make you work for the big pick-ups. Look to see if there are areas
reached by a leap off a slope that will land you back on the track with a
bonus snagged on the way (especially on the National Park tracks). The
Big money is often quite difficult to spot as you flash by; after a
couple of tries you should remember where they are placed, and be able to
align yourself properly on the next lap. Once you collect the money it is
safely banked, but you will soon notice that the Power-ups return to be
collected again in the same place on every lap. Handy.

There are sometimes shortcuts and diversions you can take, so you must
decide: Nitro or Bucks? Repair or Big Bucks? The Big Bucks are usually
placed a little off the racing line, so you will need to build up a good
lead if you want to take the risk of diverting to bag it. If you see a
$1000 pick-up sitting temptingly off-line, you have to ask yourself, "Do
I need the cash now or will it cost me a place on the podium?"

You get 10 points for the Win, 8 for Second and 6 for Third. Last place
is for Losers!

_________________________________________________________________________

1: P A R K T R I A L
__________________

_________________________________________________________________
|
| Tournaments
|_________________________________________________________________
|
|----------------------- Park Trial
|||||||||||| Park Trial
|----------------------- Rewarded Track:
| City Trial Grand Canyon
|-----------------------
| US Race
|-----------------------
|
| Your driving skills will first be thoroughly tested. In 2 tracks
| through America's most famous national parks you must prove you
| can handle your car like a pro.
|
------------------------------------------------------------------

_________________________________________________________________________

Y O S E M I T E (2)
_______________

Cash available: $7500

Straight away there is a decision - left for Nitro/right for Cash? Well,
it's an easy $500...

There is a trail of petty cash along the road and then another left/right
dilemma - 3 small Repair or 2 x $500? Remember there are only two laps,
so do the cash collection while you are able. Look to the left past the 3
Nitros on the grass around the next bend to spot an easy $1000 by
Yosemite Chapel.

Another split route (3 x $200 cash trail or Nitro) then it's over the
wooden bridge. As you emerge from the long cave passage there is a Big
Nitro bonus clearly on view, but you have to go well off-line to climb up
to it. Try to get it only on the first lap so that you have plenty of
time to rejoin the pack. Just around the corner from this is a $1000
pick-up, also slightly hidden off-line, so if you have got the first one
you may as well carry on over the grassy crest and swoop down to scoop
this too. (If you are in a desperate race there is no time for this.)
Similarly, there is another Big Nitro hidden in a dip over the grassy
bank after the 3 Nitro v Repair straight section that comes shortly
afterward. Clamber up the bank (where there is a bush), to cut the corner
and you should fall right onto it.

Down through the next trail, there are plenty of pick-ups all along the
road to replenish your stocks, so instead of collecting the trail of
Nitro to the left around the corner by the cabins, go right to collect
all that Cash. Also try to grab the 2 x $500 to the left of the tunnel on
the first lap and go for the Nitro to the right on the last lap, so that
you can power past any remaining challengers in the sprint for the line.

Any damage is carried over to the next round, so try to drag yourself
over the line in reasonable condition, or face a hefty garage bill.

_________________________________________________________________________

G R A N D C A N Y O N
______________________

Cash available: $7500

This should be your first visit to this track, and it is quite different
from the others. There are lots of sharp twists and turns, high curved
walls and long, long drops. Well, it IS a canyon!

The first trick on this section - as on most of the others - is to steer
clear of whoever is number 3 ahead of you on the start line - they seem
to have been programmed to make your life difficult. 'The Duke' (assuming
you are not yet racing as that character) is a certified nutcase. His
'Win at all costs' mentality seems to consist of doing everything
possible to block you. You can sell him a dummy at the start by shaping
up to take him on one side and then switch quickly to the other. Of
course, all the other characters will be trying to do the same thing,
with varying degrees of determination.

'Canyon Country' KRAC 91 FM keeps you company.

Soon enough there is a tight left hairpin where you will encounter a good
deal of traffic chaos more than likely, so stay out of it and just
collect whatever you can and leave the rest for the second lap. Now there
is that long dizzying drop down to the canyon floor with your rivals
battering you all the way. This is like Smuggler's Run! If you can stay
between the lighter coloured bands along the bottom of the walls it will
go easier.

Watch for the wooden bridge - you need to aim between the markers as it
isn't easy to see in the dark shadows. Can you launch high enough to bag
that $1000 shining high up there on the bend inside the steep cave?
(There is a Nitro booster just ahead of it if you need it.)

Right after this there is a quick decision to be made, where you see a
tempting Big Nitro pick-up glinting in an alcove to the right. You can
explore the mines back there, and they are packed with Cash and Nitro;
you don't lose too much time if you can manage to just power through.
Many times you will even manage to stay out of trouble by going that way
and emerge at the head of the chasing pack.

_________________________________________________________________
| |
| Win License |
|_________________________________________________________________|
|_________________________________________________________________|
| | | |
| | Congratulations! You've won your City | |
| | License. You may now enter the City Trial. | |
| | Good luck! | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |____________________________________________| |
|__________| | OK | |_________|
| |_________________|____|_____________________| |
| |

_________________________________________________________________________

2: C I T Y T R I A L
__________________

_______________________________________________________________________
|
| Tournaments
|_______________________________________________________________________
|
|----------------------- City Trial
| Park Trial
|----------------------- Rewarded Tracks:
|||||||||||||City Trial Chicago and Las Vegas
|-----------------------
| US Race Points needed for admittance to City Trial:
|----------------------- 15
|
| You have crossed the parks successfully. Now you must show that
| you're also an excellent driver in dense city traffic. You will be
| put to the test in 4 major American cities, like New York,
| Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

_________________________________________________________________________

L O S A N G E L E S (2)
____________________

The first $1000 bonus is tucked away to the right just inside the
entrance to the Studio backlot and don't miss the two $500 pick-ups
partly disguised among the benches on the left as you exit that area.

There is a nice $1000 cash bonus left out on the sidewalk in Beverly
Hills as well as the smaller amounts right there in the road. Maybe the
streets really are paved with gold? Just down Sunset Strip by the purple
"City Eyes" billboard is another $1000 hidden among those roadworks. Surf
on over and it's a WIPEOUT!!

Don't forget to keep an eye on your damage meter and top it up with
whatever is handy, as you will again have to make those choices between
Cash or Goodies. I think it is best to focus on the cash first lap
around, and then depending on how you are placed in the race, spend the
last lap drawing up an advantage with Nitro and just taking whatever is
left in your path.

Keep a last spurt of rocket-fuel for the sprint to the line as always.

_________________________________________________________________________

C H I C A G O
_____________

Buckingham Fountain
Union Station
'The Loop'
Sears Tower
Picasso's "Baboon"
Marina City
Michigan Avenue Bridge
McGraw-Hill Building
John Hancock Center
Navy Pier
Magnificent Mile

Once you have unlocked a track, your game is automatically Saved and so
you can step back (with the Triangle button) and practice in Single Race
mode. It will pay off for you to know the courses before you have to
race. If you are confident, then this should be Your Kinda Town.

Cash available: $5500

"WRAP 97 dot 3 FM - Still no sunny day... awwww. It will stay cloudy. The
temperature is in the mid-70's - what's up with that? Anyway, let's heat
it up with some GOOD tunes!" Hmmm. Shouldn't they be on the 'K' band? No-
wom-SANE?

There is a string of $500 pick-ups shortly after the beginning (just
under the El), and then the only $1000 pick-up in the Windy City is
tucked away beside the Picasso Sculpture on the right a couple of turns
later.

To make up for the lack of Big cash on this run, there is something
better. Just before the end of the lap is a ramp up to Lake Shore Drive.
At the foot of this is what looks like an ordinary 'Big Nitro' bonus, but
turns out to be an 'INVULNERABLE' pick-up! Your vehicle will glow with a
faint pulsing light... This means that for a short time you can go nuts
and barge into everybody and everything and not receive any damage!!

You may have already missed the other one, slightly hidden on the right
as you come around the riverfront on Wacker Drive, so go for that on the
next lap and pound your rivals. It's too bad that they don't last very
long, but still...

_________________________________________________________________________

N E W Y O R K (2)
______________

There is a full $7500 available on your return to New York, and most of
it is on view, but you will have your hands full with all the traffic if
you are trying to get every cent on the first lap. Don't miss the two
$500's in the central area between the benches on Broadway and there are
two more slightly disguised among the pot plants on the right a couple of
turns later.

There is a nice $1000 bonus for getting Big Air off the ramp along
Central Park, and there is another Big cash bonus tight on the left side
on the turn in front of Grand Central Station - you can get it by losing
a little speed as you collect the Small Nitros and then diving between
the lamp post on the corner.

There is also plenty of cash up on the Expressway (the last $500 bonus is
a little tricky to see), which you will need to collect on the first lap,
as that is well past the finish line next time around.

_________________________________________________________________________

L A S V E G A S
________________

"KRAP 107 FM - Rolling Radio. We ALWAYS play the Lucky Numbers!"

Now that you have shown you are able to battle through this far, the
tracks become tougher and your opponents more determined to impede you.
There are a lot more cops on patrol and most of them seem to be coming
your way!

Take a tip and try and keep some space between you and the rest of the
pack. Particularly tricky is the off-ramp from the access road to the
airport - if there is a traffic jam here, hang back or you will be
battered by everybody. Even well behind them is better than attempting to
jostle your way along those narrow streets, as you will very quickly pick
up a lot of damage and there are too few pick-ups on these streets for
comfort.

You will need to plan a strategy if you are going for the full dollar
round-up. Approaching 'The Strip' you will see cash on both sides of the
median, so choose one side on your first lap and remember to switch next
time around. All the Big Bucks are here, where the famous casinos are
(where else?)

There are some beautiful effects in this level. The neon shining on the
pools and fountains and the glittering lights of The Strip are quite a
contrast to the darkness of the desert run past the Hoover Dam - and you
can even see the water glinting there. Not too much time to admire the
scenery though, as you will face a constant stream of crashing vehicles,
before you see the airport looming out of the darkness the second time
around, to let you know you are nearly home free.

________________________________________________________________
| |
| Win License |
|________________________________________________________________|
|________________________________________________________________|
| | | |
| | Fantastic! You've won your US Racer | |
| | License. You may now enter the US Race. | |
| | Have a great ride! | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |__________________________________________| |
|__________| | OK | |__________|
| |_________________|____|___________________| |
| |

You have won your US Racer License, so everything except Miami and
Washington are now open to you. If you would like to get more practice on
those new tracks, step back through the menu to try 'Single Race' again,
but if you are ready for it you can now continue straight to the heart of
the game - the 'US Race' part of the Tournament!

_________________________________________________________________________

3: U S R A C E
____________

_____________________________________________________________________
|
| Tournaments
|_____________________________________________________________________
|
|----------------------- US Race
| Park Trial
|----------------------- Rewarded Tracks:
| City Trial Miami and Washington
|-----------------------
||||||||||||||| US Race Points needed for admittance to US Race:
|----------------------- 25
|
|
| This is the real thing! Now you have to show you're the best driver
| of them all, in 8 tracks varieing from Yosemite to Miami.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

_________________________________________________________________________

C H I C A G O (2)
_____________

Everything is just as you remember it, but there is a lot more traffic,
and all of the drivers are going bonkers. Buses, trucks and taxis all
'accidentally' impede you and there is a constant cacophony of sirens as
police cars charge from all directions.

[I'm assuming you are playing the 'Hard' game here - come on, USA RACER
isn't THAT difficult!]

Make the best use of those 'INVINCIBLE' pick-ups. Try to use them to
spend some time battering your rivals, because surprisingly often you can
knock one or other of them out of the race completely! Just watch your
damage meter, because all too soon the charm wears off.

_________________________________________________________________________

Y O S E M I T E (3)
_______________

Now that you know where it is all stashed, spend the first lap collecting
all that cash. Even if you get tangled up making a diversion, the game
programmers play fair and you will usually find one or more of the others
have crashed out along the way and you still have a whole lap to catch
the leader. Only when you have a full sack of cash can you deem it the
perfect round.

________________________________________________________________________

L O S A N G E L E S (3)
____________________

Once again the aggression level is upped considerably, and also as
expected the general public insist on dawdling by the pick-ups. You
should know this course very well by now, so I don't expect you to emerge
with anything less than the full $7500.

_________________________________________________________________________

G R A N D C A N Y O N (2)
______________________

Only your second visit, and the last with the present character anyway,
so I hope you remember where all those pick-ups are. Of course it isn't
necessary to collect all the cash, and actually you don't need very much
of it at all (if any) because your prize money is enough to afford
running repairs before each stage. You can certainly finish the game
without purchasing upgrades too; it's just to give you something to do
apart from winning.

At least this time you can investigate those mines thoroughly, and have
some fun bouncing around the steep canyons, just like Tony Hawks. THIS
time you'll get that $1000 up that wall...

________________________________________________________________
| |
| Progress Tournament |
|________________________________________________________________|
|________________________________________________________________|
| | | |
| | You have unlocked Miami for Single Track | |
| | and Timetrial-Mode | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |__________________________________________| |
|__________| | OK | |__________|
| |_________________|____|___________________| |
| |

_________________________________________________________________________

M I A M I
_________

Ocean Drive
SoBe
Alton Road
Julia Tuttle Causeway
NW 22nd Avenue
Granada Blvd
S. Bayshore Drive
Brickell Avenue
Airlines Arena
Bayside Marketplace

This is your first and only visit to the Sunshine State, so maybe take a
(Spring) break from all that crashing and shoving and take a cruise
around Miami in Time trial mode.

Perhaps nowhere else looks so strange without people on the sidewalks,
because that is what sunny Miami Beach is all about. The developers have
certainly captured the essence of the architecture though, with the
bright tropical pinks, blues, yellow, purple and green of the gorgeous
Deco hotels on Ocean Drive and the rest of the Miami Beach area. Of
course there is much more to the city than the beach, and soon you are
speeding over the causeway and the designers give just a hint of the
depressing mess that is Downtown Miami. Speeding quickly on down Bayshore
Drive, we are soon checking out the swanky condo towers of Brickell
Avenue and the business district. A nice touch is the Cruise Liner in
Biscayne Bay. You can also see yachts from the MacArthur Causeway back to
the 'Billion Dollar Sandbar'. By now you should have a taste for the
Latin Rhythm of WOOP Radio 98 FM.

To business then...

As the race starts, notice the first couple of pick-ups are on the
beachfront to the right. The first $1000 is on the 'wrong' side of the
causeway toll booths, at the end of a trail of cash. There is a Nitro
boost on the 'proper' side which you can get on the next lap.

Over the causeway and you won't want to hang about in that insalubrious
district - it looks a bit dodgy. But there are two $200's on the left
around the corner. When you join NW 22nd Avenue, collect the smaller
amounts on the left before looking to the right (when that road becomes
Granada Avenue) for a $500 bonus, and then the second Big one shortly
after it on the sidewalk. You can cross to the opposite left for two
$500's, or pick them up on the second lap. The last Big one is again out
in the open, on the sidewalk to the left just before the overhead signs
for the Airport, along with some small change a little beyond it. There
is another $500 pick-up on the grass to the right just before the finish
line, and there are other Goodies further along, so sweep that side on
your second lap. That should all make a Grand Total of $7500. Not too
shabby.

I hope amongst all that cash-collecting you managed to stay ahead of the
others? Remember it is not vital to win, but you don't want to be coming
last. Choose 'Restart' if that soomehow happens.

_________________________________________________________________________

L A S V E G A S (2)
________________

Here we are back in the Bright Light City. They do say it always draws
you back.

[Waddya know... I just 'got' the name of the Radio Station. I thought it
was something to do with the music they were playing - or possibly what
the DJ was talking.]

Everything is sitting right where you remember it, and everybody is just
as determined to stop you getting it. Be sure to watch out for that
'Duke' boy - he crazy for sure! You will likely as not pick up a police
escort down The Strip, and they seem to like to barge you going through
the narrow road at the golf course, but you can easily lose them once you
hit the open road of the desert. Don't forget that it is a long drive out
past the dam and there are no pick-ups after you leave the golf course
until well past the start of the lap. Your best defence when you are out
of Nitro is to weave amongst the oncoming traffic, and just hope the
faster cars get tangled up. Sometimes when you block them, you get a
helpful 'boost' up the backside (at the cost of a little damage).

The traffic report lets you know about your progress:

"...massive traffic jam in Central Las Vegas, caused by a group of maniac
'Racers' racing through the city. A police pursuit causing several
accidents along West Flamingo Road and Eastern Avenue has not yet been
successful..."

Nice one! (If you have been driving sedately and staying out of trouble,
then of course you won't hear this.)

It should now be a point of pride to you to collect the full $7500. You
could be the first person ever to leave Las Vegas with more money than
when they arrived!

_________________________________________________________________________

N E W Y O R K (3)
______________

On your final visit to NYC the pick-ups are a little more scarce it seems
- or perhaps it is just that the police are more determined to stop you
getting them easily. Or it could be the unwelcome arrival of half a
hundred bloody great trucks and buses! Those familiar blue and white
Transit Authority buses certainly add to the authentic atmosphere, but
those can't possibly be genuine New York trucks because they are not
covered in graffiti...

You can sweep the top of the Expressway at the very start, so that on the
next lap you can simply dash through up there if there is a posse on your
tail and heavy traffic down below. You may need that Nitro if your rivals
are pressing you hard. Don't forget to make that leap off the ramp for
one of the three $1000 pick-ups; you will be doing very well if you bag
all the cash this time.

Do you know why there is a toll of $1.50 coming INTO Manhattan but none
going out? Because nobody leaving has that kind of cash.

Except you.

_________________________________________________________________________

W A S H I N G T O N D C
________________________

Independence Avenue
Smithsonian "Castle"
Hirschhorn Museum
Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
Constitution Avenue
Pennsylvania Ave
The White House
FBI Headquarters
National Gallery of Art
Capitol
Air and Space Museum

By the time you get to The Nation's Capital, it seems that the word has
gone out to John Q. Public to perform any bone-headed maneouvre to slow
your progress. If you have any of the heavy motors, give them plenty
back; if not, then try to anticipate which way they'll swerve and do the
best you can to keep from taking too much harassment.

Perhaps go for a taxi ride first in Time trial mode and listen to the </pre><pre id="faqspan-2">
Rock sounds of 'Radio Freedom' WIGS 96 FM while you tour DC, and see what
you can expect in the race.

It is certainly worth a leisurely cruise down the elegant Avenues anyway
just to admire the sights. There is the Smithsonian and of course The
White House and it stirs the heart to see the Lincoln Memorial pop up
complete with Abe looking sternly down. What would he make of all this
foolishness?

(There is a little programmers' joke at the National Gallery of Art.)

This track is a little different to the others. The wide roads make it
almost like a Formula One racetrack with added lamp posts and some hot-
dog carts thrown in as well. The course is pretty much a circuit around
The Mall. 'Road closed'? Not to a certified bona fide electrified Speed
King like you. Load up the last section of the Tournament and -
Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

There is a bit more cash to be earned this time, and although it is all
on view, you may have your hands full fighting off everybody else before
you can grab it all. There is a wide ramp halfway along Pennsylvania
Avenue, and if you hit it bang in the middle you will snag all of the
bonuses; if you miss one then you can pick it up next time. There are
only two laps, so don't end up with a 7-10 split!

You probably already have more cash than you can spend, so collecting it
all is just for that sense of achievement when you finally dash across
the finishing line and it is all over.

________________________________________________________________
| |
| You won the Tournament! |
|________________________________________________________________|
|________________________________________________________________|
| | | |
| | Fabulous driving! You've really showed | |
| | who's the true king of the road. You are | |
| | the winner of the US Race! A giant cheque| |
| | and this cool car are all yours now. | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |__________________________________________| |
|__________| | OK | |__________|
| |_________________|____|___________________| |
| |

Now that you have won the 'cool car' you have only got to do it another
five times to complete the set! Good Luck, and Drive Carefully...

__________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

USA RACER - PLAYSTATION

Released: March 2002
Developers: Davilex
Publisher: -

_________________________________________________________________________

(c) J Woodrow 2002

<[email protected]>