Your Favorite Arcade-Style Racer?

[digitalpress]

Put away the Gran Turismo's, the Project Gothams, Sega GT's, the myriad Formula One games, or really any racing game that lets you choose the kind of shock absorbers you put on your vehicle. If you can do that, this isn't the kind of game I'm asking you about.

Think about all of the great arcade-style racers you've played over the years (let's just stick to CARS for this thread). Did Virtua Racing ever get topped? Are you a die-hard Daytona fan? Perhaps the smash'em-up style of the Destruction Derby series hooked you. Or maybe you're a rally fan and there's never been anything to top Sega Rally Championship in your mind?

Think back, and choose wisely! Don't forget to tell us why your favorite IS your favorite.

[Cauterize]

Outrun.... definately!
Its great driving a chick down the highway at top speeds in a convertible..... ahhh.... also the crash scenes are just great!

[-hellvin-]

Damn....you beat me to it cauterize because Outrun is my answer as well.

[Sniderman]

Anyone not answering "Pole Position" deserves to be flogged.

"Prepare to qualify!"

[Flack]

Outrun and Pole Position are both on my top 5 racer list, but since they've already been named I'll go with Sega's Turbo. We used to have the sit-down version of this game at the Mazzio's Pizza I used to work at, and I got really good at it after hours.

For honorable mention, I'll go new school and nominate Crazy Taxi.

[Cauterize]

Damn....you beat me to it cauterize because Outrun is my answer as well.

Mwuahahaha! LOL 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
if we were talkign bikes here Super Hang On gets my Thumbs up too... the music from that has been stapled to my brain!

[captain nintendo]

Anyone not answering "Pole Position" deserves to be flogged.

"Prepare to qualify!"


You beat me to it LOL

[Mr. Smashy]

There are too many racing games that I really enjoy. Maybe if you limited it to sub-genre and system, I could give you an answer.

I suppose that this weekend, the racing game that I played the most was Virtua Racing Deluxe on the 32X so I'll give that one my vote. Others that I played on the weekend were Virtua Racing (Genesis), Sega Rally Championship (Saturn), and Daytona USA (Saturn). I also had Sega GT running on my Dreamcast for a while but I didn't get around to playing it. I was also testing out an F1 racing game for the SegaCD but the disc was too screwed up to go beyond the FMV intro.

It was a good weekend for Sega racing games. :)

[Cauterize]

It was a good weekend for Sega racing games. :)

You made me realise... it's Sega releasing all the good ones..... (except mario Kart :-P )

[ddockery]

Pit Stop II on C64 all the way!

[Chunky]

Outrun, always, we played the damn thing just to change the radio stations.

Pole Position a good 2nd.

[Mr. Smashy]

You made me realise... it's Sega releasing all the good ones..... (except mario Kart :-P )

I'm also a big fan of the F-Zero games, the Excitebike games, the Rallisport Challenges, most of the Need for Speeds, some of the Ridge Racers, some Wipeouts, some Road Rashes, Pole Position, Uniracers, Wave Race 64, Rad Racer, and on and on and on. There are all kinds of great arcade-style racing games out there.

[digitalpress]

You made me realise... it's Sega releasing all the good ones..... (except mario Kart :-P )

I'm also a big fan of the F-Zero games, the Excitebike games, the Rallisport Challenges, most of the Need for Speeds, some of the Ridge Racers, some Wipeouts, some Road Rashes, Pole Position, Uniracers, Wave Race 64, Rad Racer, and on and on and on. There are all kinds of great arcade-style racing games out there.

Yeah but half the games you're listing aren't car races (see my initial post).

C'mon... PICK ONE! :)

[Mr. Smashy]

I guess that I missed that bit about the cars. :oops:
Regardless, I don't feel that cars necessarily make racing games any better. Take a game like Midnight Club where cars and bikes can race side by side in 8-player LAN action. Nothing much really changes.

[buttasuperb]

Rad Mobile

[Arcade Antics]

After some thought, it's TURBO.

Turbo's the one I played the most in the arcade. Monaco GP would be a close second.

Why Turbo?

Geared toward gamers with a short attention span? Check.
Loud, groovy racing sounds? Check. (That the echo in the tunnel!)
Gear shift? Check.
Cool gauges? Check.
LED score display? Check.
Tough but fair? Check.
Unlimited lives during qualify / one bonus car for qualifying? Check.

Yeah. Turbo rocks. :)

[davidleeroth]

Ohh ahh Sega Rally Championship.

Why? I paid +600€ for a Saturn and Sega Rally and I still think it's been the best playtime per buck deal I have made. Nevermind how much I shoved into it in the arcades.

I still play it weekly, for a 10 year old racing game with only 3/4 stages that's pretty impressive.

[digitalpress]

I guess that I missed that bit about the cars. :oops:
Regardless, I don't feel that cars necessarily make racing games any better. Take a game like Midnight Club where cars and bikes can race side by side in 8-player LAN action. Nothing much really changes.

Right!

In that case I'll put you down on my master list for "Midnight Club". Interesting choice!

I'm still undecided.

[Mr. Smashy]

But I already decided on Virtua Racing Deluxe.

[digitalpress]

But I already decided on Virtua Racing Deluxe.

I didn't pick that up as your "final answer". Right on.

<-- likes Sega!

[spoon]

Out Run. Spent so much on this game back in the day. Will hopefully be getting a cab sometime next year.

New school nominee Burnout 2 (Soon to be 3)

[pookninja]

i would also have to say outrun.i still play it quite often on my saturn(it is on the sega ages game,if you didnt know)i have always enjoyed that game,from the arcade,sms,to the almost arcade perfect saturn version.i believe outrun2 is going to come out for x-box this year,and i really want to play that.but since almost everybody is giving props to outrun(which is well deserved),
i will then also mention ridge racer.while not up there with alot of sega racers,its still a damn good arcade style racer(and some good tunes as well).

[GrayFox]

Sega Rally and Outrun are definately up there. Standing for 30 minutes playing the Upright Outrun in a Pizza Hut with people watching while I destroy the game (figuratively of course). Those were good times..

Sega Rally, just because it was so damned fun. In the arcade and on Saturn, of course.

Ahg, I can't wait to play Outrun 2.

[Flack]

After some thought, it's TURBO.

Loud, groovy racing sounds? Check.

Have you ever looked inside a Turbo cabinet? There were not one, not two, but THREE speakers in there. Two right up front for the sound effects, and a separate sub woofer JUST for the rumble of your car.

It's that kind of thing the MAME Generation missed out on.

I just thought of a backup pick.

POWER DRIFT.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Damn....you beat me to it cauterize because Outrun is my answer as well.

Ditto..

[evilmess]

In the pre 3D era I would have to pick Spy Hunter or OutRun. I played the hell out of both of those arcades. Is there an original version of Spy Hunter that runs in tate mode on a home console?

In the 3D era it's a tie between Virtua Racing (Genesis and 32x) and Sega Rally (and SR2). Any racing game you buy for the home console NEEDS to support at least 2 player racing and these do. Sega pretty much rocks the racing.

But my current all time favorite has to be NFS: Hot Pursuit 2 (PS2). Balls out racing and running from the law, who could ask for much more. :D

Honorable mention to Interstate '76 and it's red headed step-brother Vigilante 8.

[RCM]

Super GT is the best racer never to come home. Sega Rally for Saturn and Model 2 are awesome. Sega Rally 2 for Model 3B (right?), and Rallysport Challenge 2 all fucking rock!

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[davec]

Outrun for me too, love that vibrating steering wheel,

The cafteria in my college (SUNY New Paltz circa 1987 gasp!) had several awesome coin-ops where I spent much of my time instead of studying. Other treasured coin ops were Black Tiger and the awesome Double Dragon. Sheesh, where did the time go?

[anagrama]

Hmmm...

Outrun.... No, Daytona... No, Outrun... No, Daytona. But only if you've got 8-player link-up going on :)

[Cauterize]

outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun! outrun!
come one you know its the best! LOL

[Nez]

Oh come on no one mentioned my personal favorite. San Francisco rush. The arcade version. The game was soo fast and the high flying jumps were amazing. It had great engin noises and the crashes were amazing.(Every time you crashed your car would make a nuclear explosion)
The home version was good (N64) had some fun with frends doing insane jumps and pretending that the land scape was a skate park for cars.

Good times.

RUSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Stark]

I remember 2 racing games from my arcade days. Turbo and Outrun. I'd say Outrun would be my favorite of the 2. For those who never tried Turbo standing up grasping that wheel you have missed a gem. Are there any current stand-up racing games at the arcades now? Don't think so. I was never able to get that same feeling of immersion as in the arcade playing outrun on a console system.

http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/10/1061244488.jpghttp://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/images/10/1077301233.jpg

[Canadian Psycho]

I can't get enough of F-Zero X (and of the announcer for that matter!).

[dlads]

for me its got to be out a few i cant put it down to just one its just not that easy burn out 2 for two players on a nice big telly but for retro stuff like me then its great 1000 miles rally on arcade it kicks butt and im reliving some of those memories on my mame right now infact i just paused it to write this does anyone know of any not so old mame overhead rally games at all cos theres one and i just really cant think of the name of it its like a rally overhead type view racer with quite up to date graphics i think its mid 90s it was out any help would be gr8 thanx nice forum by the way this was my first ever forum message ever cheers :-)

[dlads]

Ok ok i loved out run too but didnt complete it on the arcade my dad stopped giving me 20 pences after a while so i was knackered MAME version seems easier and i agree with the immersing your self in a game stand up cabinets did add a lot to a game you dont see classics anymore so im going to make my own arcade hall and call it somthing really cheesy and sit at the end of the long room with all the change hehe ....anyway

[ubersaurus]

I LOVE F-Zero GX. Easily one of my favorite racing games of all time. AX is a blast to play too.

FZX has the better announcer and music, but just the sheer speed of GX makes me love.

[le geek]

I love Enduro, Outrun, Turbo Outrun, Outrunners, Virtua Racing Deluxe and Ridge Racer V, but...







I'm going with Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge on AMIGA!

BAM!

Ben

[Saabmeister]

I would say either Ridge Racer V or the sit-down Monaco GP,
But if I had to make a choice...




I t eould have to be Monaco GP.

[EnemyZero]

outrun is definitely lord of the arcade racers , but lately i been playing San Fransisco Rush 2049 like theres no tomorrow o.O

[Hakkenden]

Pole Position (not just to refrain from being flogged)
Or Rush 2

[Sotenga]

Outrun would have to be my fave, though I really didn't get into it much until last year, when I finally got to experience the game in a sit-down cabinet. "Heh, this is cool," I thought. I put the tune to Magical Sound Shower, naturally, and as I drove, I saw the first turn coming up... "...!!!!! HOLY FREAKING SHAZBOT!!! Did my own seat actually MOVE as I steered?!?" I was flabbergasted. Yu Suzuki's incredible cabinet design surprised and shocked me. It was estatic bliss. I'm glad to have played it more than once, and to have beaten the high score on one of those plays too. :D

[Sotenga]

Outrun would have to be my fave, though I really didn't get into it much until last year, when I finally got to experience the game in a sit-down cabinet. "Heh, this is cool," I thought. I put the tune to Magical Sound Shower, naturally, and as I drove, I saw the first turn coming up... "...!!!!! HOLY FREAKING SHAZBOT!!! Did my own seat actually MOVE as I steered?!?" I was flabbergasted. Yu Suzuki's incredible cabinet design surprised and shocked me. It was estatic bliss. I'm glad to have played it more than once, and to have beaten the high score on one of those plays too. :D

I also really love any F-Zero game, me having played the original since I was a child, and any Mario Kart game, but I'm not sure if we can count those as arcade-style racers. Other than that... meh. I'm not really fond of the whole racing genre. I actually suck at most of them. :embarrassed:

[Pedro Lambrini]

Here's my list by generation:

8 Bit = Death Race on the Vic 20 (first racer I played to death (excuse the expression!)

16 Bit = Lotus Turbo Challenge II on the Amiga (I actually lost a girlfriend to this game!)

32 Bit = Sega Rally or Manx TT on the Saturn (Just couldn't believe these games with the wheel)

64 Bit = Roadsters on the N64 (I don't really know why, it was just so smooth compared to any PS1 racer I can think off.)

128 Bit = Burnout 2 (It's just the epitomy of refinement in the arcade racer genre - so slick, smooth and responsive it makes you feel like a real demon!!)

An honourary mention goes to F-Zero GX. Only honourary cos it doesn't feature 'real' vehicles. But htis game is just so amazing, it just pisses all over Wipeout for race thrills. Absolutely blinding! :D

If I had to pick just one though it would have to be Lotus II on the Miggy. It just ate years off my life!

[Mitch_Naz]

Initial D

[Avenger]

Rad Mobile is possibly my most favourite racer ever...we have it at the arcade i work at....and i get free tokens...i love it :D! the experience cant be topped

[spoon]

I forgot to mention

Outrunners- I play this with Nicole a ton at Nickel world. Did this game only come in a two player sit down cab? I love the fact that the leader chooses which path to take. Makes racing to the checkpoint worth it.

San Francisco Rush-Any of them. They all rock. Even the home version are great fun.

Super Sprint/Champioship Sprint-One day, I will own one of these cabs. When that day comes, I will be unable to go into work becasue I'll be *sick*.

[HC Andersson]

The best: Outrun (Arcade version)

The meanest: Roadkill (CD32 version) (Tightly followed by Super Cars II)

The best controlled: Super Sprint (C64)

[DigitalSpace]

Burnout 2.

[dreamcaster]

Nominees:

Saturn
Daytona USA
Daytona USA: CCE
Destruction Derby
Sega Rally Championship

Xbox
RalliSport Challenge

GameCube
Burnout

PlayStation
Rally Cross
Ridge Racer Type-4

Dreamcast
Daytona USA 2001
Crazy Taxi
San Francisco Rush 2049
Sega Rally 2

Nintendo 64
San Francisco Rush

Which one's the winner in my opinion? Well, it's a close run between the two Sega Rally titles.

I pours heaps of coins into the arcade unit, and I still play the Saturn version ALL the time. However, Sega Rally 2 is a great evolution, and it's the game that made me fall in love with the Dreamcast.

Sorry - can't make a choice here.

Tie: Sega Rally Championship (Saturn) / Sega Rally 2 (Dreamcast)

[legov8]

For me it's the Cruis'n series and Burnout.

[Speedy_NES]

Cruis'n USA all the way :)

-Speedy

[Damaramu]

I've played a ton and the one game that still brings warm fuzzy feelings to me is.......

Daytona USA

ROOOOOLLLING STAAAAAARRRT!!!!!!!!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/Damaramu/daytona_usa_championship_circuit_edition.jpg[/i]

I've had way too much fun playing Daytona with my friends. We frequented an arcade that had 8 units set up (IIRC) and it was a blast each and every time we played. Whenever we needed a break from Street Fighting, that is. :wink 2:

[GamerNerd]

I also say Outrun, because it's a fun game to play & seeing 2 people fall out of their convertible after running into something.

[celerystalker]

Sega Rallu Championship.