Pitstop 2

Programmed by ?
Software house Epyx

Reviewed by Shane 'Chain' Mussell

INTRO
This is my first ever review and I’ve decided to review the most memorable game of the mid eighties, ‘Pitstop II’ by Epyx Software Inc. Excuse the shoddy style but remember this is a review not a masterpiece like this website 8o) [I LOVE this guy!]

RUINED JOYSTICKS!
Pitstop was one of the founding games of the C64, being released around the time of Pole Position on Atari console which was at an all time high. Then came along Pitstop 2 and joystick retailers became every C64 owner’s friend. Pitstop 2, along with Dropzone (another review) [yes please] were the main reason I got into electronics, I made a nice bit of money repairing joysticks. Enough of this what about the game?

TEARING IT UP.
Pitstop 2 has to be the most fun game for 2 players on the C64, tearing round the tracks in Formula 1 cars overtaking and trying not to touch the sides round the bends. It had it all, great graphics and total addiction, the only thing that would stop people playing was a bad arm, and that made you just want to get back into the driving seat again and again. I always remember saying "Right this time I’m not going to press too hard on the Joystick this time" only to find myself cursing after playing the longest race! Look at the simple graphics against one of the bigger boys today and you’d wonder why people played it, but in those days that was the dog’s danglies! What of the content? You could race around one of six tracks single player, go for the Grand Circuit which was all six one after the other, or go for blood against your friends (soon to be greatest enemies when they snap your joystick in half).

Of the six tracks everyone’s favourite had to be Hockenheim or "The one with the least corners". So if you were brave enough or just plain drunk, you would take the challenge and try the Grand Circuit at not 3 or even 6 laps but the downright aching arm 9 laps, with five minute breaks between tracks for bandages and ice to be applied. And then there were the pitstops (why else the name?) they require a certain amount of skill, if you pitted too early you could lose, and if you waited too long you ran out of fuel halfway round. Then there were the tyre changes; one of the ways to ensure victory over the computer was to force them into the pits at the start of the race. They would then change the tyres and refuel while you managed half a lap! When you did pit it was a race against the pump to change all the tyres and remove the fuel line before it over filled your car and started again!

To Sum Up. One of the best damn games I've ever played (And let me tell you, I've played a few). The only bad thing’s about this game were the amount of Joysticks you went through while playing it, and the speed at which the cars accelerated away from stop, it almost felt as if you were pushing a Skoda uphill. But once you’d got to just the right speed everything was ‘just right’, apart from when someone decides to use you as a barrier (No names mentioned you know who you are). If you haven’t played this then you should hide your head in shame.

Overall 9/10 Great game but lets face it, nothing’s going to beat Elite!