Daytona USAReview by: John Hokanson Jr Daytona USA pits you (the driver) against a maximum of 39 other cars, in a hard core race toward the finish line. A port of the very popular arcade game, Daytona is a first generation title that doesn't exactly do the Saturn justice, yet still remains fun. Filled with options, Daytona will appeal to both the daredevil-esque speed demon, and your average Sunday driver. With only three tracks to pick from, replay value can take a dive. But the additions and secrets (such as the ability to play as a *Horse* no less) will keep the game from gathering dust on your shelf at least for a while. You can either play Saturn or Arcade mode. The difference is that Saturn mode omits the timer from checkpoint to checkpoint. You can also set how many laps you want to race. The difficulty of the other drivers. And the controls. The graphics are nicely texture-mapped and are rendered well. The game appears to suffer from a inordinant amount of popup. This can take away from the realism but the gameplay remains intact. Furthermore, the Resolution is not arcade quality, and seems a little pixilated. When compared against the newer Daytona CE, the resolution can seem even more dithered. Add to this the reletively low framerate, and you have a much less then perfect port. You are allowed four different views (close behind the car, far behind the car, inside the car with the dashboard and hood showing, or inside the car without the dashboard and hood showing), which can be changed on the fly by using the L and R buttons. Sound is well done. Tires screech. Engines roar. Even the crowds in the bleachers cheer as you rocket past them. The Music however, doesn't get nearly as much praise. While the instrumentals are well done, the vocals are annoying and repetitive. The guy they got to sing them obviously has no talent and you just wish you had the ability to run him over. Control is good. You'll find yourself using the brake allot on those tight hairpin turns. The game doesn't take kindly to you slamming on the brakes real fast, or turning the steering wheel really quickly. Doing so will inevitably result in a spin out, or the loss of control. In all, Daytona USA is a fun game. And a nice value when packaged with the Saturn "three-pack" deal. But If you don't get the three-pack I'd advise going for the upgraded "Circuit Edition."
Results Features, Funfactor, and Replayability: 7.5
Graphics: 8 Overall: 7.2 |