Mauro Xavier, perhaps best known for his work on Final Fight MD, doesn’t stop. Seriously, I don’t think he ever sleeps. I imagine him sitting in front of his PC, wires extending from the machine and jacked into his arms. His eyes remain static and open as lines of code run down his pupils. He is one with the device, channeling his sheer will and creativity into it as easily as a master sculptor would mold simple clay. The game compiles before him, materializing on his screen as a new 16-bit title, one that will captivate audiences as easily as it flowed from his unresting mind…
… and this was just a typical Monday night.
Since no one has ever seen Xavier’s process, no one can prove to me that this wasn’t how it happened! I don’t know how else to explain how he’s able to produce so much quality work for the Genesis so quickly. We had barely finished salivating over Final Fight MD in July 2024 when Xavier announced his latest project: Driftin’ Rage for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. His new 16-bit racing title drew inspiration from genre stalwarts like OutRun and Top Gear, but promised to add a fresh, exciting twist of mechanics and modes. Xavier made the game available on his Patreon, posting a video on YouTube featuring some of the game’s aspects, from the title screen to driver profiles, a music selection screen, and an early version of the time-attack mode. The project said something about the timelessness of old consoles and the passion of developers to continue to build out their libraries years later.
Fast forward a year or so, and the game is now in an alpha state, giving us a clearer idea of what’s to come Perhaps one of the most interesting things about Driftin’ Rage is how it emphasizes choice and customization. Players can select from a diverse pool of global drivers, each with their own set of stats: strength, dexterity, intelligence, and luck; and these affect performance on the racetrack. There are vehicles and motorcycles too, with characteristics split between speed, defense, handling, and turbo. It introduces a strategy element to the game, where players must balance driver and vehicle strengths to improve their win odds. I’m intrigued by Xavier’s attempt to add more depth to the racing by appealing to RPG-style gameplay. It looks like it should offer greater replay value than just simple arcade racing.
As audiovisual presentation is concerned, Driftin’ Rage seems (sounds?) like it want to put the Genesis’s YM2612 chip through its paces thanks to a soundtrack by Cyberdeous. Like OutRun, the user will be able to choose their soundtrack via an in-game radio, once more individualizing individual competitions. Xavier has also suggested diversity of environments within the game, stating courses will experience distinct weather conditions, from behaviors to continuous graphical themes.
In the future, Driftin’ Rage will have a robust set of modes. Besides the default Race, there is Road Rage (weapon-based combat racing with power-ups), Face Off (two-car duel), Time Attack (tracks where moving hazards such as tornadoes and landslides roam), and Eliminator (one of them dies each lap). These differences will keep the gameplay fresh while still being enjoyable for both casual arcade racing players and gamers seeking more frantic or tactical gameplay experiences.
The demo that already exists is limited but promising. The three tracks (France, Germany, and Russia) are all present, along with a basic race mode. Five cars, three motorbikes, and twelve drivers can be selected, with the ability to race against a maximum of five others on the track. Despite this being an early build, the demo captures the spirit of classic 16-bit racers and provides a glimpse of depth that Xavier aims to incorporate into the finished game. If his attention to detail is anything like what we’ve seen in Final Fight MD, we’re in for a real treat.
The full game will consist of twelve routes to drive across the globe, from the snowy Cumbres De Nieve in Spain to Serra De Petrópolis in Brazil and Ataru Expressway in Japan. There will be other destinations such as England, the USA, Canada, Thailand, Mexico, France, Russia, Germany, and Senegal. By combining a diverse mix of courses, RPG-style vehicle and driver systems, and multiple racing modes, Xavier is turning Driftin’ Rage into an essential download for the Mega Drive homebrew scene. It is both a love letter to old-school racers and a fresh interpretation of what can be done with 16-bit racing games.
There’s no word so far about publishing, but we’re sure Xavier will find a way to get this game into our hot little hands. We’ll be back with a preview when a version that’s further along comes out, as well as a full review upon release.
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