Screamer (video game)

Lead Foot (English Original title: Screamer ) was the name of a series of PC racing games that published the Italian developer Milestone 1995-1997 through Virgin Interactive. Two more titles with the name of lead foot also appeared, however, were developed by other studios and published only in German speaking countries under the well known name.

Titles available

Lead Foot (1995 )

The first part of the series was released in late 1995 and offered, similar to The Need for Speed ​​car racing game with sports car against computer opponents on public roads and racetracks. In contrast to its direct competitors lead foot was designed more action -heavy and reminded located on Ridge Racer. Also graphics and driving physics could not keep up with the competitors, and finally lead foot offered selectable vehicles only reality similar vehicles such as Bugatti EB 110 and Chevrolet Corvette C4, while NfS could score with licensed models.

In contrast to the later parts of the Milan-based developers were renamed in the programming of this game under the name Graffiti.

• PC Games 1/96: 88%, awarded the "PC Games Award "
• Power Play 1/96: 84 %, Award " Simply brilliant "
• PC Player 1/ 96: 82 %

Lead Foot 2 (1996 )

Only a year after its predecessor, appeared the second part and sat due to competition from Electronic Arts to a completely different and more convincing concept. Instead of street racing were cars and tracks with Rally characteristics in the foreground. Hazards was on round courses in Egypt, California and England. In championship mode further distances (Finland, South America, Switzerland ) could be unlocked. The player could choose between four fictional car types. The engine was extensively reworked and now looked much more realistic. Like its predecessor, also ran lead foot 2 under MS- DOS in the available resolutions of 320 × 240 and 640 × 480 pixels, but also offered a High Color mode with 65 336 colors.

Later, a Glide patch that let the game run on Voodoo cards appeared.

• PC Games 11/96: 88%, awarded the "PC Games Award "
• PC Action 11/96: 84 %, Award with "PC Action Gold"
• Power Play 11/96: 84 %, Award " Power Play hit "
• PC Player 11 /96: 4 stars ( equivalent to 80 %)

Lead Foot Rally ( 1997)

Another year later appeared with Lead Foot Rally, the third part, who continued the game content of its predecessor and also sat on international road driving. For use was further revised and now runnable under Windows 95 Lead Foot Engine. This could also be operated with the then very popular 3Dfx graphic cards using more modern texture filtering and higher speed. Despite excellent reviews lead foot rally marked the end of the series, which had last ventured a dubious balance between serious rally simulations in the type of rally championship series of Magnetic Fields and Funracern the Need For Speed ​​style. Milestone later developed the Superbike World Championship series for EA Sports and Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo.

• Power Play 1/98: 82 %
• PC Games 1/98: 81 %
• Game Star 1/ 98: 79 %
• PC Action 1/98: 76 %
• PC Player 1/ 98: 75 %

Lead Foot Fun ( 1997)

Under the name of Lead Foot Fun marketed Virgin Interactive also 1997 Funracer Ignition of the Swedish development studio UDS Interactive. The game itself was a simple controlled bird's-eye view racing game exotic scenarios and with a smorgasbord of quirky vehicles such as a police car, a school bus or a monster truck.

In France, the game under the name Fun Tracks was expelled.

• PC Player 10/97: 4 stars ( equivalent to 80 %)

Lead Foot Comic ( 1998)

Under the name of Lead Foot - The only wa ( h) re Formula 1 comic magazine launched the lead foot - Verlag 1998 a comic about Formula 1, which was later sold by Ehapa. The license rights to the protected title lead foot went back in 2001 to the author.

Lead foot off (2000)

Another publication of a game under the name of the prestigious series provides the in 2000 by Clevers under the actual name Pathfinder developed lead foot off dar. Here, the player controlled a SUV and had to cut a path under time pressure through the middle of the wilderness.

In the English-speaking world the game was arranged especially in the context of the series and was published under the name Screamer 4x4.

• PC Joker 1/2001: 79 %
• PC Player 1/ 2001: 73 %
• PC Action 2/2001: 73 %
• PC Games 1/2001: 69 %