Tux Racer is a fantasy type racing game. Tux is the famous Linux pinguin. He glides down from several hills covered with ice and snow. While gliding you have to pick up all the herring in the level, but you also have to reach the finish within a little amount of time.
If you are bored of all the serious racing games and want to try something different, this is a must have.
Nice game, allthough the graphics are not the best, but hey, it's freeware!
Reviewer: Peppermeg Surprisingly, I got this game for Christmas a while back. It's rather addictive: the premise of a "racing game" staring a penguin. The controls are simple (left/right like any other racing game) and after a while it just gets to be SO addicting!!! Getting used to the jumping technique is tricky so I highly recommend figuring out key release ticks and more to get the most out of your "Tux" racer. I also would advise getting used to the controls before getting on a higher level. Furthermore, the gameplay has no plot other than skiing to collect some fish for the penguin star of the game. There are three other characters you can play as, mixing up the rather dull back shot of Tux the Penguin every second of the game. And make sure to avoid all the rocks and trees! I think there is also a spin off (called Extreme Tux racer) that is also very interesting and should most definitely be looked in to.
One of the best tips I can give for this game is to get used to the "up" arrow key. It allows Tux to move faster and is absolutely necessary to get a good racing score. This, like jumping, also takes a while to get used to because the timing has to be almost exactly precise and you don't want to continue you run into trees and stones. That would defeat the purpose of a racing game.
The graphics of the game itself aren't too terrible. It's a 3D adventure and the trees and mountains and terrain look very good being that they were developed in the late nineties and early year 200. At least I believe it was released that year. The penguin, Tux, can be "boxy" at certain angles but is not drastically cubic like some old Mario games are. Finally, you are also able to see the amount of fish you college, the speed you are going and your time (in the upper left hand, right hand corners and the bottom right hand corner) which can aid you in your estimates of how much boost you need with your up key.
In sum, I would recommend this to someone trying out racing games. It is not close to the majesty of Diddy Kong Racing or Mario Kart, but it's simple charm keeps players captivated and bent on getting to the finish line; accomplishing what every gamer wants to accomplish: beating the clock!
