Starsky & Hutch
European PS2 cover art
Developer(s)Mind's Eye Productions[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Empire Interactive
EngineRenderWare
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, GameCube
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2 & Xbox
  • EU: 20 June 2003
  • NA: 9 September 2003
Game Boy Advance
  • EU: 26 September 2003
  • NA: 2004
GameCube
  • EU: 26 September 2003
  • NA: 31 August 2004[1]
Genre(s)Vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Starsky & Hutch is a vehicular combat video game by British studio Mind's Eye Productions and published by Empire Interactive based on the television series of the same name created by William Blinn. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance and GameCube.

Plot and gameplay

The game follows the adventures of David Michael Starsky and Kenneth 'Hutch' Hutchinson as they clean up Bay City in their Gran Torino.

The game features asymmetric multiplayer gameplay, in which one player controls Starsky as he drives the car whilst another controls Hutch as he shoots enemies and obstacles. These can be performed with various steering wheel and lightgun peripherals, such as the Guncon 2. In single player, players can drive as Starsky with shooting either set to free or auto aim.

The game consists of three 'seasons' consisting of several 'episodes'. In each episode, players need to complete objectives, such as chasing down criminals or escorting other vehicles, whilst also keeping Viewer Ratings high. Throughout the game there are various icons the player can either shoot or drive through, offering bonuses such as increased grip, higher viewer ratings and more powerful weapons, as well as special events such as jumping off ramps.

The game has a 70s style presentation and features the original voice of Huggy Bear, Antonio Fargas as the games narrator

Development and Release

The game was first announced to be in development by Empire Interactive on 24 April 2001, as a title for the PlayStation 2 and PC.[2] In July, it was announced that Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing would distribute and publish fifteen of their titles in North America, including Starsky & Hutch.[3]

An Xbox version was later announced for release, and on 16 July 2002, Empire announced a GameCube port and Game Boy Advance version would also be released although it was unsure if they would be released in the United States,[4]

Vivendi Universal soon dropped out of the publishing and distribution deal, and during E3 2003, Empire announced that Take-Two Interactive subsidiary Gotham Games would publish the title in North America except on Nintendo systems, where no publisher was confirmed, or if those versions would be released in North America.[5]

On 9 March 2004, The GameCube and Game Boy Advance versions finally saw North American releases when BAM! Entertainment announced they would distribute the two versions for Empire.[6] The company soon announced that the GCN version would be released on August 31, 2004, two weeks prior to the date.[7]

Reception

Starsky & Hutch received "mixed" reviews on all platforms except the Game Boy Advance version, which received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[11][12][9][10][8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ported to Xbox and GameCube by Supersonic Software and ported to Game Boy Advance by Spellbound.

References

  1. ↑ "BAM! Outlines its Calendar". 17 August 2004. Archived from the original on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  2. ↑ "Empire Goes with RenderWare". 23 April 2001.
  3. ↑ "Vivendi Universal to Publish Six Empire Games in US". 12 July 2001. Archived from the original on 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  4. ↑ "Starsky and Hutch Reassigned". 16 July 2002.
  5. ↑ "E3 2003: Starsky & Hutch & Gotham". 13 May 2003. Archived from the original on 2013-09-07. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  6. ↑ "BAM! SIGNS EXCLUSIVE STARSKY & HUTCH™ VIDEOGAME DEAL". Archived from the original on 2004-06-04.
  7. ↑ "BAM! Outlines its Calendar". 17 August 2004. Archived from the original on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  8. 1 2 "Starsky & Hutch for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Starsky & Hutch for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Starsky & Hutch for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Starsky & Hutch for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Starsky & Hutch for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 Edge staff (August 2003). "Starsky & Hutch (PC, PS2, Xbox)". Edge. No. 126.
  14. 1 2 EGM staff (November 2003). "Starsky & Hutch (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 172. p. 173.
  15. ↑ Reed, Kristan (3 July 2003). "Starsky & Hutch (PS2)". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  16. ↑ Leeper, Justin (October 2003). "Starsky & Hutch (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 126. p. 123. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  17. ↑ Zoss, Jeremy (October 2003). "Starsky & Hutch (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 126. p. 136. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  18. ↑ Pong Sifu (9 September 2003). "Starsky & Hutch Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on 8 February 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  19. ↑ Silverman, Ben (September 2003). "Starsky & Hutch Review (PS2)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  20. ↑ Davis, Ryan (30 September 2004). "Starsky & Hutch Review (GC)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 Davis, Ryan (19 September 2003). "Starsky & Hutch Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  22. ↑ Meston, Zach (10 September 2003). "GameSpy: Starsky & Hutch (PS2)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  23. ↑ Meston, Zach (10 October 2003). "GameSpy: Starsky & Hutch (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 18 December 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  24. ↑ Romano, Natalie (30 September 2004). "Starsky & Hutch - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  25. ↑ Rgerbino (14 October 2003). "Starsky & Hutch - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  26. ↑ Wrentmore, John (21 September 2003). "Starsky & Hutch - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  27. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (28 September 2004). "Starsky and Hutch Review (GCN)". IGN. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  28. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (16 October 2003). "Starsky and Hutch Review (PC)". IGN. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  29. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (9 September 2003). "Starsky and Hutch (PS2)". IGN. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  30. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (12 September 2003). "Starsky and Hutch Review (Xbox)". IGN. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  31. 1 2 "Starsky & Hutch". Nintendo Power. Vol. 180. June 2004. p. 121.
  32. ↑ "Starsky & Hutch". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. November 2003. p. 142.
  33. ↑ "Starsky & Hutch". Official Xbox Magazine. November 2003. p. 102.
  34. ↑ Osborn, Chuck (April 2004). "Starsky & Hutch". PC Gamer: 68. Archived from the original on 25 September 2004. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  35. 1 2 Robischon, Noah (17 October 2003). "Starsky & Hutch (PS2, Xbox)". Entertainment Weekly. No. 733. p. L2T 20. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  36. 1 2 "Starsky & Hutch (PS2, Xbox)". Playboy: 32. August 2003.
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