Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge |
Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge represents the concluding chapter in the Lotus racing franchise.
Gameplay
In Lotus III, gameplay merges features from previous entries, offering players the option to compete against rivals as seen in Lotus Turbo Challenge or engage in arcade-style time trials reminiscent of Lotus 2. The title preserves its two-player functionality and music selection, showcasing a soundtrack composed by Patrick Phelan, which has influenced numerous contemporary remixes. This installment introduces a third vehicle, the Lotus M200 concept car, broadening the range of choices for players. Although much of the visual content is reused from Lotus 2, several fresh environments have been incorporated.
The Genesis/Mega Drive edition was released under the name Lotus II: RECS, emphasizing its novel race track creation feature, though it was also simply titled Lotus II, depending on the market. The MS-DOS adaptation launched in 1993 carried the title Lotus: The Ultimate Challenge, replacing the Esprit Turbo SE with the Lotus Esprit S4; gameplay modifications between versions are minimal. This edition saw a re-release on CD-ROM in 1996.
A significant addition is the Racing Environment Construction Set (RECS), which allows users to design custom race circuits by adjusting parameters such as curves, elevation changes, obstacles, scenery themes, and opponent skill levels. These tracks can be raced solo or with a second player and saved using alphanumeric codes for later use or linked together into series comprising up to nine user-generated courses. While RECS facilitates rapid track creation without detailed editing capabilities, it restricts precise positioning of individual elements. The developer Magnetic Fields subsequently incorporated RECS into International Rally Championship.
Hidden within the Amiga and Genesis variants is a secret game accessible via specific passwords—CU AMIGA on Amiga and POD PLEASE on Genesis—which is an enhanced graphical remake of Southern and Morris' Commodore 64 title POD.
Reception
The Genesis version received a score of 5.4 out of 10 from Electronic Gaming Monthly, which commended the innovative course creation system but described the overall experience as largely repetitive compared to the original Lotus. In August 1994, Computer Gaming World awarded it 3.5 stars out of 5, ranking it highest among four reviewed racing games. They highlighted its "surprisingly realistic and consistent" vehicle handling, variety in tracks, and inclusion of a track editor, while suggesting that simulation enthusiasts might prefer World Circuit.
Conversely, Page 6 delivered a critical view of the sequel, implying a decline in series quality. PC Zone considered it somewhat underwhelming but still enjoyable, particularly in two-player mode. Matthew Squires from Amiga Power acknowledged its playability but felt that its time had passed. In contrast, David Reeves of OZAmiga Magazine recognized the series’ strong legacy and anticipated this release would uphold that reputation.
Reviews
- MicroMania (Spanish)
- PC Mania (Spanish)
- Computer Privat (Danish)
- Aktueller Software Markt (German)
- PC Games (German)
- Power Play (German)
- Świat Atari (Polish)
- Amiga Games (German)
- HiScore Professionel (Danish)
- The Games Machine Action Amiga (Italian)
- Superjuegos (Spanish)
- Computer Det Nye (Danish)