By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.
In the fifth episode of “The Book of Boba Fett,” it was thrilling seeing The Mandalorian flying his newly constructed Naboo N-1 Starfighter through the very same canyons on Tatooine that young Anakin Skywalker raced through in “Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.”
That night, after watching the excellent episode, I broke out my Nintendo 64 and started to play one of my favourite racing video games “Star Wars Episode 1: Racer.” Twenty-three years later, the LucasArts game is still visually impressive. After seeing “The Phantom Menace,” I played “Racer” constantly after school, trying to break my previous lap records with every session. The more I played the game, the better my racing reflexes developed over time. At first, I would often crash and get frustrated. However, it didn’t take long before I’d pick up my Nintendo 64 controller, rally, and start another race.
image source: N64Today
I enjoyed racing on the various tracks on the ice planet. Was it Hoth? It could’ve been. I like thinking that it was, seeing that “Empire Strikes Back” is my favourite Star Wars film. I never played much multiplayer. I never liked the two-player split screen mode. My friends enjoyed playing the two-player mode, but my eyes could never adjust to the split screen for some strange reason. I couldn’t concentrate as well with the split screen. My controller skills were sloppy in that mode.
The boost function that you could activate when another podracer is closing in was a fun option. If you used it for too long your engine would suddenly explode. You had to keep an eye on your racer’s temperature.
The smack talk between podracers adds a humorous, competitive touch to the 1999 game. Jake Lloyd, the actor who portrayed Anakin Skywalker, provided voice-over for his character in the game. I never liked the two-headed commentators of the podrace in “The Phantom Menace.” They seem like they don’t belong in the Star Wars universe. They added some humour to the film, but I wish they would’ve been left out of the game.
Its, or there, name was Fodesinbeed Annodue. And I’m sure there’s a toy of them out there somewhere. I’m glad we didn’t see them thirty years older in “The Book of Boba Fett.”
For those of us that have been consumed by the beautiful silverball game, Stern Pinball has kept spoiling us with some brilliant innovations, including their new online platform, 
It is amazing how far technology has come in the last few decades, with a super computer in our pockets and gaming consoles that blur the line between reality and the virtual world.
By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.
image source: 
The silly season is upon once again! After the last couple of years we’ve had, we reckon it is time to spoil ourselves and our loved ones on some stuff that will spread the cheer.
Planes, trains and automobiles? No, magazines, comics and books, the retro gaming kind!
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