See, it's not a kart racer. Because they drive rockets. See?
No, I don't see, really, but that's not to say that Looney Tunes Space Race is a bad game. Far from it. It's just not particularly inventive. While I prefer it to Wacky Races, it has less 'stuff' to do. In the end, it's all down to which you personally prefer.
In Space Race, you'll find yourself as one of a handful of Looney Tunes characters, piloting some sort of flying thingie on courses around the galaxy. Each racer handles differently, of course, and you'll have to experiment to find the one that suits you the most. Foghorn Leghorn and Lola Bunny narrate the races, often providing 'witty commentary' (read: mocking statements) when you get your butt kicked. All the while, you're picking up various weapons, er, gags, and using them on your opponents. It's nothing you haven't seen before, but it has a few unique touches on this fun-yet-tired genre.
First of all, very few places on the tracks have rails or walls that keep you on them. The first few play sessions that you have will irritate the hell out of you, as you fall off of both sides of the track constantly. The game only gets harder as it progresses, with some tracks having large sections barely wide enough for one vehicle. It's reminiscent of some of the hairier segments of F-Zero X, and it can be both exhilirating and frustrating.
Secondly, at least in the single-player game, I've never seen a racer where it's so simple to go to the back of the pack, only to shoot forward soon afterwards. You gain super boost power by picking up five batteries, and careful use of it can rocket you past every other racer on the track. Of course, then you have to worry about all the gags hitting you. It's a nice thing, as I can't remember how many kart racing games I've played where once you're out of the loop, you're out permanently. Of course, it can be frustrating as well, as places change right before the finish line.
The gags are pretty standard, although fitting with the Looney Tunes theme. There's lots of heavy objects to drop on people, an extendable punching glove, a Portable Hole, and more. There's an invulnerability item as well, which is nice when you're in first and getting bombarded by all of the other racers.
There are a few oddities. You can get caught on the wrong side of the 'railing', making you slide for miles down the rail at a reduced speed because your racer won't quite fall off but won't quite make it back onto the track. And you 'fall' whenever you go over the rails, whether there's ground there or not. It sometimes looks nonsensical, even for a Looney Tunes game. The tracks go from pretty original to rather droll straight racing back to original near the end of the game, which makes for inconsistent levels of interest. And the unlocking scheme is a little too convoluted for my tastes. But it's all fun in the end.
And don't forget multiplayer. While not as solid as CTR or Speed Punks, it's certainly enjoyable, and a nice way to waste an hour or two. If you own any of the aforementioned racers, though, you'll find yourself soon going back to those more-polished efforts.
