4 April 2012

Tuxrace - Slide down the hills with Tux the penguin

Tuxrace is a 3D game where the player controls Tux the penguin (the Linux mascot), who slides down snow and ice mountains to collect fish. As more food you collect the more points you get. For best results, Tux has to slide down as fast as possible and should use jumps for little stunts. The game reminds a lot of ski or snowboards games for consoles.


About the game

Best way to start the game is to complete the two tutorials. One is about basic commands, while the other one addresses jumps and special movements.
There are two game modes: Time Trial (be as fast as possible) and Classic mode where you have to collect points within a good time. Points are collected by catching fish and doing jumps. Move the N9 around to make front flips or side rolls while you are up in the air.


Control the penguin by moving the N9 and through onscreen buttons

Sometimes it's necessary that Tux paddles with his flippers to gain speed - or to stay longer in the air. But to much speed isn't always good, since you might lose control over the penguin. Therefore break to slow Tux down. Make sure you stay on the slope which are indicated with red gates.

Although there are about 10 different levels in Classic mode and a few more in Time trial, there is no big challenge in the game. Levels don't have to be unlocked and you don't have to reach the finish line within a given time limit. Nonetheless you can still try to beat your own records or just enjoy the race and jumps down the hills. This should be hilarious enough.

Tux gets very fast on all the ice and hills toss him high up in the air

Graphics and usability

Released in October 2000, the original Tux Racer is already an older game. Since then it appeared in different versions on various platforms. This doesn't mean though that the game looks old. It certainly doesn't use the capacities of the N9, but the screen resolution is great and the graphics look very neat. 

While the gameplay controls are amazing, the user menu isn't. Buttons are too small and not very responsive. This makes it hard to select levels and game modes if you don't tap the selection precisely.
Additionally I didn't find out how to pause or quit a running race, which made me swipe away (close) the game and restart it choosing a new race. But especially since Tuxrace is a free game, I think those issues are tolerable.
 Latest update solves both issues 

All in all the game is very fast and funny, with Tux a penguin who doesn't know any pain. You will know what I talk about once you played a level... Enjoy that free game - downloadable from Nokia Store.