Virtua Racing

[Melf]

When it was first released in 1994, Virtua Racing wowed gamers with its incredible use of polygons and its $100 price tag. The exorbitant cost (the highest for the time) was due to it being the one and only game to ever make use of the powerful Sega Virtual Processor, or SVP chip. Until the 32X got a port a year later, this was the only way to play the arcade hit at home, and it was darn close to having a real Model 1 arcade board. It may be outdated now, but Virtua Racing's place in Genesis history is assured. Read our full review (http://www.sega-16.com/2007/03/virtua-racing/) and see why this one is still worth tracking down.

[Benjamin]

As impressive as the DSP chip and Virtua Racing should be, I've always thought that the existence of F-22 Interceptor, Road Rash, and the excellent (albeit 32-bit addon) version on the 32-X really diminish the achievement. I used to love Virtua Racing, but unfortunately, I think I'm a bit of a graphics whore when it comes to dated polygon titles, and I just don't see the point of playing it when I could be playing Test Drive Le Mans and other excellent modern racers.

[Joe Redifer]

This is a great game to have for about $5 complete.


the polygons are incredibly choppy.
Actually they're pretty damn smooth, moving anywhere between 24 and 30fps which was incredible back in 1940 when this game was released. Unfortunately it seems that the polygons themselves are limited to only 16 colors or so. The color seems much lower than most Genesis games.

[evildragon]

the only thing i couldn't stand about this game, was the fact that when in the car, you really had a hard time seeing ahead..

not to mention, as my step brother says, the cars sound like vacuum cleaners..

[108 Stars]

The game was even a bit more expensive here. It cost 199,-DM, roughly 99,-€.
At first, Sega even announced to charge 279,-DM for it, that would have been more than the price for the console.

[Mr Smith]

Strange, I didn't notice the word "tosh" anywhere in that review.

[kevinski]

The frame rate isn't bad at all, in my opinion. As has already been stated, it moves at very close to 24fps, which certainly isn't too bad when you consider just how old this game is. I must say that Star Fox has aged much better, though.

[metalliqaz]

Hey great review! Where did you get the shots from? I never did get around to hooking mine up to that video capture card...

[Zebbe]

Did any of the SNES games with extra chips in them cost that much back then?

[McTom]

you know, since I got a 32X (with Virtua Racing) I never played the Genesis version again... it didn't work with the 32X and it was such a chore to unplug and plug the thing in. And yeah, it was expensive... I used to joke: I paid for any polygon in it!

[kinkyfriend85]

here's some interesting piece of what mobygames says about the chip

"
Trivia
This game caused a quite intresting problem for owners of phones. The SVP chip had a frequency that was so high it was picked up by the phones and they rang like crazy. It was enough to sure cause headaches!"

[evildragon]

here's some interesting piece of what mobygames says about the chip

"
Trivia
This game caused a quite intresting problem for owners of phones. The SVP chip had a frequency that was so high it was picked up by the phones and they rang like crazy. It was enough to sure cause headaches!"
I forgot about that, it is a true thing, but it makes no sense because it uses the crystal oscillator from the Genesis...

Back in the days, when we had a "cordless phone", big white brick that had this long telescopic antenna, and it would ring everytime this game was started, but only when the game started...

[Joe Redifer]

metalliqaz, I provided the screenshots, though I did not convert them to GIF. I think I either provided them in PNG or JPG. PNG kicks everyone's ass!

[Elusive]

Ever noticed how, in the second track (the bridge level), there's an area that's accessible in the 32X version that isn't in the Mega Drive version?

When you take a medium right, then go under the bridge and take an easy left which brings you onto the bridge for the checkpoint - the area of track to your left is barriered off, forcing you to use the road. In the 32X version, you can go straight through these barriers, and follow the shape of the road like usual with the concrete wall on your right.

[108 Stars]

I find it funny that the most expensive MD-game ever now is one of the cheapest you can get.

[Rusty Venture]

I must say that Star Fox has aged much better, though.

Thats the only Super FX chip game to age well.

That racing game with the cartoony cars has some serious frame rate issues.




Did any of the SNES games with extra chips in them cost that much back then?

They might have either been at regular price ($50-60) or slightly more, but nowhere near $100.

[David J.]

I think this game sucks... well the Genesis version. Yeah it's all impressive and amazing that there was a Genesis game with a 3D chip, but aged awfuly. I can barely play it, while I have no problems with the 32X or the Saturn versions.

I had a LOT of fun with the Arcade version back in the day, damn good game.

[Lan-Di]

Ever noticed how, in the second track (the bridge level), there's an area that's accessible in the 32X version that isn't in the Mega Drive version?

When you take a medium right, then go under the bridge and take an easy left which brings you onto the bridge for the checkpoint - the area of track to your left is barriered off, forcing you to use the road. In the 32X version, you can go straight through these barriers, and follow the shape of the road like usual with the concrete wall on your right.

Yep.. I, also, seem to remember that, huge void to the far right of that area, in the 32X version. :) Why didn't they just seal that part off? :S

[Kollision]

To be frank, I don't see much of a difference between VR on the Genesis and on the 32X.

I have a question regarding the emulation of VR for the Genesis: why I can't run the several rom versions in the various emulators I have? They all freeze at the SEGA logo!

[Genesis Knight]

Have you actually played both versions? Yourself, I mean. Not just looked at screenshots? Because that statement doesn't make sense.

[Zebbe]

I have a question regarding the emulation of VR for the Genesis: why I can't run the several rom versions in the various emulators I have? They all freeze at the SEGA logo!

Uhh, the SVP chip, maybe? :confused:

[Iron Lizard]

Strange, I didn't notice the word "tosh" anywhere in that review.

Yes we don't use the word "tosh" enough we should throw it around some more.

[Kollision]

Have you actually played both versions? Yourself, I mean. Not just looked at screenshots? Because that statement doesn't make sense.I played both versions yesterday, one after the other, and my statement refers mostly to gameplay, not considering extras stages et al.

Anyway, I don't think there's such a huuuge gap between the 2 graphically speaking.


Uhh, the SVP chip, maybe?Hehe.... thought it could also be emulated....

[KnightWarrior]

I played both..I like the 32X version better, but I have no problem playing the genny one

[KenshiroX]

Graphics look pretty good on this one. Might pick it up someday.

[repeatafterme]

Played this to death on the megadrive back in the day, bought the saturn version a year ago and it just doesn't feel right. Just seems off some how. So found the md version again and have realised just how bad i've got at it :-) Does the 32x version handle like the md or the saturn?

[MN12BIRD]

My Review of the game...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ_ZH_OT2Jg

[17daysolderthannes]

Did any of the SNES games with extra chips in them cost that much back then?

Super FX, I remember doom was like $75 or so, maybe as much as $80 or $90 at some stores. What a rip too, the SNES port had a TERRIBLE frame rate.

[Joe Redifer]

The link in the first post isn't working.

[Mr Smith]

Hehe.... thought it could also be emulated....
It can be now
http://www.megadrivechamps.org/frantic.gif
(Although I'm not sure if it was worth it. Virtua Racing is tosh)

[neptun]

The quality of graphics between Virtua Racing and Star Fox was gigantic. Much more polygons, faster drawing, more speed and almost no slow downs. Virtua Racing was an incredible game to that time.
Unfortunately lacked of just three courses. So the motivation was the speed permanently. It was a litte bit to much arcade style and i think for that price, this was a big disadvantage against Star Fox for instance. Star Fox couldnt match up to VR optic but it was the better game definitely.
Whatever, i loved to play this title espacially in the multi player mode.

[Suppafly]

Just for your information:

THis game can be emulated.

It runs realy nice on the genesis emulator for Gp2x Console (Picodrive)

[Bablefish]

I think the cart for the Genesis actually plays better than the 32X version

[The Sports Guy]

I disagree. I think the 32X version is WAY more fun. It almost feels like your in that original, "sweet jesus" 1993 V.R. cabinet.

[ary incorparated]

Yes we don't use the word "tosh" enough we should throw it around some more.

Posh is Tosh.

[thedaemon]

The only problem with racing games on 16 bit (32 bit considering 32x) is the lack of analog controls. While 2d style racing games (Outrun) are fine with d-pads, i find it severely lacking to drive a 3d game with such inaccurate controls.

[Kollision]

I don't see why analog control makes it better for racing games...

[slip81]

I don't see why analog control makes it better for racing games...

I think it kinda depends on the game really, for arcade racers I'm fine with thumbsticks, as I think powersliding and drifting is way easier, but for some reason I just can't play Gran Turismo with anything other than the D-pad.

Anyway, I must be remembering wrong, cause I coulda sworn that when I rented the genesis original that it got really choppy at some points. The 32x version was great though, I remember it was the second game I got for the system (the first being the craptastic DOOM).

[Timstuff]

I should try and get ahold of this game some time. $10 is not a high price for one of the games that defied the "no 3D" claims often made about the Genesis, especially considering it was $100 when it launched. Also, I'd be able to save my Genesis the humiliation of having a 32x inserted into its cart slot.

[djtwok]

I got virtua racing for genesis today, complete with manual for 6€.

[NRGS]

cool i rember trying to get this as a kid.

[JDB]

sorry for bumping.. but I have a question that's been plaguing me.. I'm not sure whether it was the MD or 32X version... but...

WHERE'S THE SHEEP!?!

I'm sure there is one.. but I just can't find it now (I think it was on the acropolis stage)

[Jesse813]

Pretty Good game w/ great graphics, could use more tracks though.

[vintagegamecrazy]

I agree with Jesse, this game is handled pretty well but the present tracks aren't enough to keep it enjoyable aside from casual and occasional plays.

[ThugsRook]

the 32X version is way better :cool:

[Speedle]

great article Melf thourghly enjoyed reading it!

[Devil N]

I just did some testing of PAL/NTSC compatibility and PAL optimization of the games in my collection, and Virtua Racing is a weird one. Instead of running 17% slower as with most games, the PAL version of VR is actually faster than its NTSC counterpart. To compare, I recorded the first lap of Big Forest, which takes about 41 seconds, using Kega Fusion in both the [E] and [U] roms. In the US version the running time of the recording was the expected 41 seconds. In the European version, it was 37 seconds! Quite unexpected...

[ThugsRook]

I just did some testing of PAL/NTSC compatibility and PAL optimization of the games in my collection, and Virtua Racing is a weird one. Instead of running 17% slower as with most games, the PAL version of VR is actually faster than its NTSC counterpart. To compare, I recorded the first lap of Big Forest, which takes about 41 seconds, using Kega Fusion in both the [E] and [U] roms. In the US version the running time of the recording was the expected 41 seconds. In the European version, it was 37 seconds! Quite unexpected...
yup, same is true for VRD.

the (J) version of VRD has an extra options screen too. (in English)

[grolt]

Nice review. I've yet to play the Genesis version, but the 32X version is a much better port than the Saturn version. Part of that reason is that because AM2 was busy programming the 32X version, the Saturn port was turned over to Time Warner Interactive. As a result the visuals are far from optimized, and look much worse than the 32X version. Even the Genesis version, at least in screenshots, looks to be truer to the arcade. The Saturn version does have Redbook audio, though, and a ton of new tracks, which is nice, but considering it's an arcade port all I'm really concerned about is the faithfulness of the arcade experience, and on that the 32X delivers.

I hope to get the Genny version soon. Shame they never used the SVP chip for anything else, but that's just another example of how all the future possibilities of the Genesis were dumped in favor of all of SEGA's failed future prospects.

[mrpj]

I'd recommend this game. I was impressed by the gameplay and graphics, it's still very playable today. I find it difficult to go back to some sports/racing games of that era after playing more recent versions, but I don't think this game falls into that category. The lack of tracks would usually be a problem for me too, but the 3 that are there are good and kept me coming back to try to beat my best times. Sounds are good too, so if you're looking for a racing game for Mega Drive/Genesis then definitely give this a look.

[jerry coeurl]

Picked this up today, complete for just a few dollars. Plays really smoothly, and the graphics are really charming in their primitive way. Never played much Virtua Racing although I did try the 32X version once for about 5 minutes. But yeah, so far I like it. Can't wait to try out 2 player.

[PHANTOM2040]

The 3D is impressive on the genesis, 4 views of car is nice and actual good gameplay IMO complete with pit stops. This game looks much better than snes star fox for example. Star Fox looks closer to Star Cruiser, a genesis game released in 1990 by EA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIMEfxYh3lc

[16bitter]

Nice review. I've yet to play the Genesis version, but the 32X version is a much better port than the Saturn version. Part of that reason is that because AM2 was busy programming the 32X version, the Saturn port was turned over to Time Warner Interactive. As a result the visuals are far from optimized, and look much worse than the 32X version. Even the Genesis version, at least in screenshots, looks to be truer to the arcade. The Saturn version does have Redbook audio, though, and a ton of new tracks, which is nice, but considering it's an arcade port all I'm really concerned about is the faithfulness of the arcade experience, and on that the 32X delivers.

Just another argument against the 32X; wasted resources.

At every step it seemed that Sega was antipodal to itself; marketing fighting with R&D, specific dev divisions fighting with the hardware provided (only to then, as is the case with AM2 and Saturn, become oddly attached to that selfsame hardware), Sega of America being castrated by Japan because it was too successful, etc.

Sega from 1994/95 would have made a great reality show. This was the most interesting and entertaining period in the video game industry's history from the standpoint of market analysis, competition, hardware power and differentiation, and there's no doubt that Sega was the shining star...leading the pack at falling to pieces.

Not so much a case of the inmates running the asylum, but rather the world's most expensive, and parallel, abandoned zoo.

The dueling VR ports reminds me of how AM2 was allowed to toil on a VF3-to-Saturn port, continuing on this path even as the DC kit was finalized, only to then have Sega Corporate refuse to release the game because of the DC's launch. Thus begging the question of why they allowed resources to be wasted on this project right up to the eleventh hour.

Suzuki's insistence on working on a Saturn rather than a Dreamcast port was, yes, ridiculous. But even more ludicrous is that the moneymen allowed this to happen in the first place, only to then decide that, after the port was finished, nah, they weren't going to waste money on old tech.

Um, too late. That Sega, even after the mid-90s meltdown, continued to operate in such a manner tells me that the company got exactly what it had coming to it.

Thus all that time and quality was wasted on a dead system and a port that was a partial-birth abortion, while the hot new hardware was left with a no-name outsourced version of Sega's big Japanese app, leading to an ugly, lacking port.

When the board room guys have less sense -- as far as, at the least, resource management -- than the creative, artistic division(s), you know that you're talking about one screwball company.


I hope to get the Genny version soon. Shame they never used the SVP chip for anything else, but that's just another example of how all the future possibilities of the Genesis were dumped in favor of all of SEGA's failed future prospects.

Which were then dumped almost as quickly as the Genesis itself.

Beyond the Saturn issues, the conflation of a 32X port with a Genesis port that came a mere 5/6 months earlier is another example of Sega having no real focus on longform purpose, or even very good short-term market plans.

[QuickSciFi]

Is the Genesis version of Virtua Racing supposed to work through a 32X? I'm getting nothing.

[sheath]

No, the 32X and the Genesis version of Virtua Racing are incompatible.

[QuickSciFi]

Oh crud.

[Obviously]

I remember when a friend of mine got this game. He bragged about it and I was pretty jealous, jealous enough to ask for it for my birthday. My parents went and got me Lotus II instead because they couldn't find Virtua Racing anywhere. At the time I was pretty disappointed, though when I finally played the Genesis version of Virtua Racing I found out I liked Lotus II a lot more.