- Here. we. GO!!!
Sprint Vector is a Virtual Reality Competitive Multiplayer Racing Game, developed by Survios. At the time of its release, it was noteworthy for being the only racing game powered by arm-swing motion. To move, player must swing their arms as if they were running, or skating, or pulling themselves through the environment bodily. It's Better Than It Sounds, and even makes for a decent workout.
The Sprint Vector competition is an intergalactic racing event where competitors from across space and time run, climb, and glide through dangerous obstacle courses at the behest of their eccentric host and/or kidnapper, Mr. Entertainment. Mr. E has promised that the winner of the Sprint Vector competition will be granted whatever their heart desires, which is more than enough to motivate the skilled and eccentric racers to give their all.
It's possible that this is a lie, and it's all just a scheme to rake in tons of money from advertising endorsements. But never mind that, let's talk about our competitors!
The original roster of Sprint Vector racers includes:
- Daxx, racing for HYPE! He's the most famous guerrilla artist in the galaxy, with a reputation for being able to evade the authorities and tag the hardest-to-reach spots in the cosmos.
- Cosmo, racing for THRILLS! An escapee from a Super-Soldier project, Cosmo combines a carefree nature with absolute confidence.
- Hendrix, racing for CASH! An intimidating figure with a head like a hammerhead shark, Hendrix is a criminal tycoon with activities spanning hundreds of worlds. Unlike some competitors, Hendrix actually volunteered to join this year's competition.
- Luna, racing for LOVE! Luna is a multidimensional superbeing whose body in this universe manifested from the fallout of a dead star. Mr. Entertainment waited for millenia for her to hatch from that star, and immediately offered her a place in the race.
- Kai, racing for VENGEANCE! Amphibian royalty on her home world, Kai lost all she had when a rival clan murdered her family and drained her ancestral pond. In the years since, she has committed herself totally to avenging them, and her deep study of combat made her a natural fit for Sprint Vector.
- Dakota, racing for JUSTICE! The only survivor of a failed attempt to colonize Brutellon-7, the Savage Beast Planet of the galactic rim. Her predatory instincts and hardened mindset drew Mr. Entertainment's attention and earned her a spot.
- Nikki, racing for FAME! An Idol Singer famous for her massive zero-g raves and interdimensional dance floors, Nikki is a pioneer of movement and music. And she's got an unbelievable follower count.
- Piston, racing for THE RUSH! Captain "Speed Freak" Piston is the founder of the Galactic Aviation Alliance, a cosmic superteam combating crime and piracy in the galactic rim. Mr. Entertainment hopes his abilities and public profile will be a big ratings draw.
Later, the roster expanded to include:
- Mr. Entertainment, racing for SPRINT VECTOR! Why is the host of the show also a contestant? Probably it's a Ratings Stunt.
- Princess Shran, racing for ...whatever. Shran is Mr. E's lazy, spoiled, perpetually disinterested co-host. We assume she's either racing to troll the other racers and temporarily relieve her boredom, or because Mr. Entertainment is making her do it.
- Necho, racing for HER PEOPLE! Necho is the cyborg queen and sole survivor of a planet that was devoured by its neighboring sun. Her peoples' consciousness live on inside her, and her hope is that victory in Sprint Vector will restore her long-lost home and allow the souls within her to live once again.
- Rockslide, racing for A BODY! Rockslide is a sentient comet who explored the vastness of space for millenia. Mr. Entertainment has given him a bipedal body to race in, and he'll get to keep it if he wins. But if he loses, he has to teach Mr. Entertainment all the secrets of the universe.
Sprint Vector provides examples of:
- Acid Pool: All over the planet Allgood, home to the Toxic Barrage, Sludge Blitz, Machine Death, and Industrial Havoc tracks.
- Artificial Brilliance: The AI can use shortcuts and powerups just like the player can, and will sometimes find pathways not visible to the player.
- Astral Finale: The Cosmic Odyssey track, set in close proximity to a black hole and possibly wormholes into other dimensions.
- And Your Reward Is Clothes: The only purpose of stars you win in competitive races or challenge maps is to buy new outfits for the racers.
- Announcer Chatter: Mr. Entertainment and Princess Shran keep up a steady stream of dialog in every competitive race, talking about the player's performance, Leaning on the Fourth Wall commentary about racing mechanics, and advertising. None of this changes if Shran or Mr. E are also racing.
- Awesome, but Impractical: Gliding. It's fun to stick out your arms and pretend you're a superhero, but gliding is slower than your top speed on the ground or on gripstreams.
- Bottomless Pit: The latter stages have plenty of these. In particular Outer Vegas and Cosmic Odyssey are both tracks hanging entirely in empty space.
- Cheerful Child: Luna.
- Competitive Multiplayer: Players can compete for high scores or race against each other directly on the tracks. Survios arranges "Happy Hours" and competitive events to help wrangle Sprint Vector's user base into the same place at the same time.
- Convection, Schmonvection: The aptly-named Burning Necropolis track is full of firetraps and lava pits, both of which are only dangerous if you touch them.
- Crapsaccharine World: Planet Allgood is said to be a beautiful, pristine planet, because all the toxic waste and industrial machinery has been buried beneath the surface.
- Deadly Game: The obstacle courses on Sprint Vector are lethal by any standard. The racers can't die in-game, but Princess Shran's commentary suggests that there have been fatalities in the past and that she's disappointed that none have happened yet this season.
- Death World: Arguably, everywhere that the Sprint Vector courses take place on. And then there's Dakota's homeworld of Brutellon-7...Dakota: "I wasn't the fastest, but I didn't get eaten. This world is strange..."
- Forced Prize Fight: The intro cutscene and Mr. E's dialog make it clear that at least some of the Sprint Vector contestants were tricked, coerced, or outright kidnapped and made to participate in a death race.
- Great Gazoo: Mr. Entertainment has shades of this, moreso if he really does have the ability to grant the racers' wishes. He manipulates all manner of galactic powers to produce Sprint Vector, as evidenced by the range of characters he forces to race and the galactic princess he has as his co-host. And yet, he's seemingly beholden to powers even greater than himself - his corporate sponsors.
- Homing Projectile: Crash and Hornet Barrage missiles
- It's All About Me: Most of the racers have this attitude.
- Lethal Lava Land: The Burning Necropolis.
- Nitro Boost: The Nitro powerup. Also, the Overdrive powerup removes the normal limit on your top speed - but you still need to swing your arms.
- Product Placement: Expect to hear a lot of "Sprint Vector is brought to you by" - followed by an ad spot for a fictional product that is unappealing, unhealthy, absurd, directly tied to one of the competitors, or a combination of the above.
- Shifting Sand Land: The entire planet of Duat, complete with Ancient Egypt aesthetics. The courses on this world eschew common desert hazards in favor of tombs full of traps. Pharoah's Scrapyard, Ra's Revenge, the Burning Necropolis, and Edge of Amenti tracks are set here.
- Show Within a Show: Everything happening in Sprint Vector is broadcast live... on all channels... even in alternate dimensions.Mr. E.: "Sprint Vector! The only legally mandated form of entertainment!"
- Slippy-Slidey Ice World: Asgard Beta, home to the Winter Rush, Aesir Village, Castle Valhalla, and Fimbul Tundra tracks.
- Songs in the Key of Panic: The music tempo increases when the player reaches the last checkpoint on a course.
- Super Drowning Skills: Averted in a strange way - the player starts to lose health when they make contact with water or other liquid hazards. They don't actually sink into it until their health is depleted.
- Unusual User Interface - Mr. E' s computer uses a touch screen and holographic keyboard, both of which he can operate with his butt.
- Up, Up and Away!: Make this motion while in midair to start gliding. Fun, but not especially fast.
- Trash Talk: Most of the racers' lines consist of this. Don't expect them to stop if they lose, either.
- Tron Lines: A part of the Sprint Vector track design, which helps to distinguish the track from the background of the course. Also prominent in Outer Vegas and Cosmic Odyssey.
- TV Head Robot: Mr. Entertainment.
- Visual Pun: Necho (pronounced "Neko") is a cat-like cyborg.
