Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now

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Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now
European cover art
European cover art
Developer(s)Stainless Games
Aqua Pacific (PS1/GBC)
Software Creations (N64)
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Darren Barnett
Designer(s)Patrick Buckland
Neil Barnden
Programmer(s)Patrick Buckland
Artist(s)Neil Barnden
Composer(s)Iron Maiden
Sentience
Allister Brimble (GBC)
EngineBlazing Renderer
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color
Release
November 6, 1998
  • Windows
    • EU: November 6, 1998
    • NA: November 24, 1998[1]
    Mac OS
    • NA: April 1999
    Nintendo 64
    PlayStation
    • EU: October 8, 1999
    Game Boy Color
    • EU: 1999
    • NA: March 22, 2000
Genre(s)Vehicular combat, racing
Mode(s)Single-player

Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now is a vehicular combat video game, the sequel to Carmageddon, and released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows. The game was developed by Stainless Games and published by Sales Curve Interactive in Europe and Interplay Entertainment in North America. Ports for Mac OS, PlayStation and Nintendo 64 (the latter as Carmageddon 64) were released in 1999. A 2D version for the Game Boy Color was released in Europe in 1999, and in North America in 2000.

Gameplay[edit]

On the starting grid of the first level (Windows version)

Like its predecessor, Carmageddon II was subject to criticism for the level of violence portrayed in the game. It is rated 15+ by ELSPA. In some countries, the pedestrians (and animals) are zombies, and blood is turned to green slime, while in Germany, aliens replaced the pedestrians. Internet-released 'blood patches' restore the original human pedestrians. The blood pack was later released in the United Kingdom in 1999, earning the game an 18 certificate.[3]

Carmageddon II was the first Carmageddon game to feature hardware acceleration, this was used for the higher quality damage models and higher quality levels.

Carmageddon II features new damage models for the vehicles, this includes car bodywork damage such as fenders and vehicle spoilers. Cars can also be split in half, instantly wasting them, but only if it is not repaired before it touches terrain.

Unlike the first game, Carmageddon II does not have "stealworthy cars", which are cars that have a chance to be taken if wrecked in a race and instead any car wrecked can be purchased.

Reception[edit]

The PC version received "favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator GameRankings, while the console versions received much lower scores.[6]

Official UK PlayStation Magazine was scathing of the gameplay of the PlayStation version, saying that "no amount of pureed pedestrian can cover its faults."[25] The Nintendo 64 port was ill-received, being N64 Magazine's lowest rated game at 8% from 1999 till 2004.[23] Hyper, on the other hand, gave the same port 85%, calling it "a success, and probably more suited to the Nintendo 64 than it ever was on the PC, as this is big arcade-style silly action."[28]

Carmageddon 64 was nominated for the "Worst Game" award at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2000 Awards, which went to Spirit of Speed 1937.[29] Carmageddon II (PC) was included in the retrospective book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die, which was originally published in 2010.[30]

Music[edit]

The game features a heavy metal soundtrack. Four original songs by Iron Maiden are included:

Music by Sentience is also used.[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ IGN staff (November 24, 1998). "News Briefs". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 17, 1999. Retrieved April 25, 2021. Now Shipping: Interplay is now shipping Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now...
  2. ^ IGN staff (July 26, 2000). "Carmageddon 64 Ships?". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Burgess, Andrew (November 16, 1998). "But it's only a game..." The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.(subscription required)
  4. ^ "Carmageddon for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Carmageddon 64 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "Carmageddon for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  8. ^ White, Jason. "Carmageddon (GBC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  9. ^ Ottoson, Joe. "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now (MAC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  10. ^ Ottoson, Joe. "Carmageddon 64 - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  11. ^ Allen, Christopher. "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  12. ^ Mahood, Andy (January 21, 1999). "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  13. ^ Bauman, Steve (January 12, 1999). "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2003. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  14. ^ Brown, Ken (April 1999). "Main Street, USA (Carmageddon 2 Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 177. Ziff Davis. p. 170. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  15. ^ "Carmageddon 64". GameFan. Shinno Media. July 27, 2000.
  16. ^ Dr. Moo (February 1999). "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  17. ^ Provo, Frank (April 3, 2000). "Carmageddon Review (GBC)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  18. ^ Lopez, Miguel (August 15, 2000). "Carmageddon 64 Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  19. ^ Kasavin, Greg (January 6, 1999). "Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  20. ^ Nix, Marc (April 11, 2000). "Carmageddon (GBC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  21. ^ Casamassina, Matt (July 28, 2000). "Carmageddon 64". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  22. ^ Merriweather, Kip (April 8, 1999). "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  23. ^ a b Weaver, Tim (Christmas 1999). "Carmageddon 64". N64 Magazine. No. 36. Future Publishing. p. 62. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  24. ^ "Carmageddon 64". Nintendo Power. Vol. 133. Nintendo of America. June 2000.
  25. ^ a b Wilton, Pete (January 2000). "Carmageddon". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 54. Future Publishing. p. 125. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  26. ^ Egger, Dan (February 1999). "Carmageddon 2 [sic]". PC Accelerator. No. 6. Imagine Media. p. 100. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  27. ^ Durham Jr., Joel (April 1999). "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now". PC Gamer. Vol. 6, no. 4. Imagine Media. p. 96. Archived from the original on December 7, 1999. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  28. ^ Dry, Frank (July 1999). "Carmageddon 64". Hyper. No. 69. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 45. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  29. ^ GameSpot staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000 (Worst Game Runners-Up)". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on June 28, 2001. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  30. ^ Mott, Tony (2010). 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. p. 356. ISBN 978-0-7893-2090-2.
  31. ^ "Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved September 20, 2020.

External links[edit]