Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Project-X Special Edition revamps the classic shoot ’em up action with smoother pacing and a more forgiving difficulty curve. The core mechanics remain intact: players pilot a heavily armed starfighter through waves of enemy ships, turrets, and massive bosses. Thanks to the debugged code and fine-tuned hitboxes, collisions feel fairer, and power-up drops are more consistent, making it easier for newcomers to stay alive while still providing seasoned veterans with a solid challenge.

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On the other side of the compilation, F17 Challenge delivers high-speed, semi-simulated racing thrills. You choose from futuristic prototype prototypes, each with distinct handling characteristics. The game emphasizes tight cornering and strategic boost management, rewarding players who learn each track’s nuances. Although it lacks an in-depth physics model, the balance between accessibility and depth keeps races exciting from start to finish.

What sets this CD32 edition apart is how both titles leverage the console’s hardware. Quick loading times pave the way for uninterrupted play sessions, and the optional autofire and throttle controls give players more ways to tweak their experience. Whether you’re chaining combos in Project-X or eking out every last bit of speed in F17, the controls remain responsive and customizable to a variety of gamepads.

Graphics

Project-X Special Edition shines with richly detailed 2D sprites and layered parallax backgrounds that scroll at multiple speeds. Enemy designs range from sleek spacecraft to hulking dreadnoughts, and the explosion effects are both bright and satisfying. The CD32’s enhanced color palette ensures that laser fire and power-up animations pop against often chaotic backdrops, helping players track the action more easily.

F17 Challenge adopts a rudimentary polygonal style that was ambitious for its time. Tracks feature rolling hills, distant horizon lines, and populated grandstands, all rendered in crisp wireframe textures. While the draw distance can cause occasional pop-in of environmental objects, the sense of velocity remains visceral thanks to well-executed motion blur effects and dynamic skyboxes that shift as you barrel down straights.

Across both games, the compilation feels cohesive thanks to consistent frame rates and minimal slowdown, even when the screen is crowded with enemies or nearby AI racers. The contrast in graphical styles highlights the diversity of game genres while showcasing what the CD32 was capable of when developers optimized their code. Together, they form an aesthetically pleasing pair that stands up surprisingly well decades after their initial releases.

Story

Project-X Special Edition opts for a straightforward narrative: you’re part of an elite defense force dispatched to neutralize an alien armada threatening Earth. The manual provides brief chapter intros, but most of the storytelling unfolds through level naming and end-level congratulatory text. It’s minimalist by design, focusing on arcade-style immediacy rather than complex plot twists.

F17 Challenge offers a touch more context, casting you as a pilot competing in a global racing championship to prove your mettle. Between races, small snippets of dialogue hint at rivalries and sponsorship dramas, giving a sense of progression beyond simply finishing first. Yet, like its shoot ’em up counterpart, the emphasis remains on gameplay rather than cinematic storytelling.

While neither title delivers a blockbuster narrative, the light story framing succeeds in setting the mood. The instruction manuals expand on lore and pilot profiles, encouraging players to imagine their own backstories as they dive into the action. For retro enthusiasts, this kind of sparse storytelling can be endearing, preserving the authentic 16-bit era vibe.

Overall Experience

This double-feature release offers tremendous value for fans of both shooters and racers. You effectively get two full games—each optimized for the CD32’s hardware—in one affordable package. The updated Project-X experience and the long-awaited CD32 debut of F17 Challenge combine to create hours of varied entertainment, whether you’re chasing high scores or circuit championships.

Installation is a breeze: pop in the disc, and the title menu lets you switch between games with a single button press. Both titles support quick save states through the CD32 operating system, making it easier than ever to pick up where you left off without resorting to lengthy password screens. This modern convenience meshes well with the old-school arcade sensibility.

For collectors and newcomers alike, Project-X Special Edition & F17 Challenge is a compelling addition to any retro gaming library. It not only preserves two historically significant titles but also enhances them, ensuring they remain accessible and enjoyable today. If you’re after pulse-pounding space battles or breakneck racing, this compilation delivers on both fronts with style and substance.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10