ArcadeRacingCENTRAL

@Ganner Definitely not an asset-flip game. It's got an OG Doom/Black Metal soundtrack, and it's really great, haha!

Tried the demo on Steam just now. Had to quit the demo and insta-buy. Same controls as Tony Hawk almost exactly, but with extra bike tricks and combat. There's bullet-time too. Brilliant stuff, I highly recommend it already!

@Inc SEGA have a history of not being able to stick with a good thing and making weird decisions. It's pretty par for the course for them, unfortunately.

Yakuza is the exception, I guess, but that's about it.

@The21zonz They say it is, if you watch the video.

@HotGoomba "Truly one of the greatest games ever made, one of the few good things Ubisoft had a contribution with..."

That's a pretty hyperbolic statement. Ubisoft were pretty amazing util they started milking the PoP reboot, Far Cry & Assassin's Creed, they made so much gold.

@Lizuka Over-exposure creates apathy, then you all just lie down and take what you're given. It's been a slow-road to all-digital by design, and all the big boys had the time to make DRM Digital Life work for them. Small changes over time with less and less ownership over your games collection has created the mess of today.

I hope people keep banging on about Game Key-Cards. It's a horrible practice and shouldn't be a thing. And I'm saying that as somebody who is by-and-large entirely digital these days.

I'm digital because the few decades has shown that that's where the real preservation lies - I've still got ROMS from 1998 on a hard drive - but that doesn't mean that true physical releases shouldn't exist for those who want them.

Nintendo is a horrible company, and I'm pretty annoyed that they've infected the OG Switch with this garbage too. I haven't purchased a Switch 2 yet, and likely won't if nothing changes in this regard. Nintendo need a reality check, but yeah, that's not going to happen with everybody taking them at face value driven by trends and FOMO.

I purchased FAST Fusion literally just to reward Shin'en Multimedia and to support a modern arcade racer, but I doubt I'll ever be playing it on a Switch 2.

Is it 'debunked' or is it taking the word of some Twitter hero who has given no proof to prove otherwise?

History kinda says that Codies days are numbered, and have been ever since they took happy money from EA.

PowerA make some of the nastiest third-party controllers out there, and at a price that they really shouldn't be asking. I'd go MOHJON/BIGBIGWON, FLYDIGI, Machenike or even the 8bitDo Ultimate over anything they produce. PowerA are EBGames shelf filler here in Australia.

I'd totally go for some of the cooler Chinese budget controllers you can find online. My favourite for the Switch so far is the BIGBIGWON Blitz. Bluetooth only, but phenomenal, and one of the only Bluetooth controllers I can handle. The Blitz 2 looks great too, haven't tried it yet, though!

Also, I know it's for clicks, but New Star GP is absolutely nothing like Virtua Racing. It is WAY more inline with the old PS1 Bizarre Creations Formula one games, just arcade-ified

There's a demo on Steam if anybody feels like giving it a shot - it's a lot of fun with some great controls and presentation! It's definitely not a blurry game, more like a 3D low-res version of Super Skidmarks, but cuter.

@MSpudley Yeah, it's an absolute hidden gem, for sure! Even in Early Access on PC it was incredibly polished, and the final game is excellent. I haven't double-dipped on Switch yet because of the frame-rate issues, but when I eventually jump aboard the Switch 2 train, I'll definitely grab it

It runs a perfect 120fps on my Ally X at 13w (the lowest power profile, for what it's worth), so can see it running just as well on Switch 2, definitely a smooth 60 in handheld mode. If not more, thanks to how low the power requirements for the game are, and how well the devs are able to get to grips with the hardware.

@JaxonH I'm the complete opposite. I find F-Zero controls almost too good and incredibly shallow.

I like weight & air-brakes. F-Zero is more about racing the pack and managing boost and damage without the addition of mastering the more complex controls of the actual vehicle itself. Definitely not my thing.

It'd be classic WipEout every day of the week for me

Disappointing and backwards. They could have had both immediacy AND analog inputs with a simple trigger stop.

Racers will continue to suffer and play second fiddle to everything else, thanks to Nintendo.

I'm still getting one, though

@N00BiSH I mean, there's also people like me who will almost never buy a AAA game, but I'll pay for the Switch 2/ Mario Kart World combo purely for the gameplay. My gaming diet consists of Indie Games and Emulation. I'm not really even into Nintendo, and pretty much find Mario + Co cringey, but I know the game is going to be good, and it'll last me a long, long time.

I'm buying a Switch 2 for this, FAST Fusion and Ridge Racer, haha!

@OldManHermit It's a mix of both with a wicked sense of humour. The hammy acting is part of the charm - I dig them a lot!

@RadioHedgeFund A company like EA already has everybody ear-marked to be replaced by AI anyways, that's what makes them evil. They've been ruining peoples 'jobs and livelihoods' for a long, long time, it'd be nice if there was just an end to the madness.

It's good to see a complacent, risk-averse company suffering.

I really hope they suffer more - enough to humble them and remind them of where they came from.

@LikelySatan Love Nitronic Rush. SF Rush Stunt mode, but expanded!

We have extremely similar tastes when it comes to racers, it seems

@Shiryu Yeah, I backed it to. The Switch keys weren't ready on release, so everyone got Steam keys. I'll be double-dipping for sure, although I didn't get the physical

@F-ZeroX Oh yeah, for sure! And no problemo! I just don't want people to be scared away if they're fans. But again, if you're a legit Arcade Racing fan, a 7/10 would never scare you off, haha!

Looking forward to the inevitable @Shiryu videos on YouTube - it's completely his thaaaang

@Ristar24 Yeah, SEGA Rally Plus is the ultimate version of that game. They re-built that game from the ground up for the Saturn, and it plays even better than the Arcade version, at least for me it does

I'm not sure if we'll ever get another one that plays just as well - it was definitely lighting in a bottle, and none of it's own sequels can even touch it!

@daveMcFlave Hyper Magazine here in Australia gave CastleVania Symphony of the Night a score in the 70s out of a possible 100 back in the 1997... but we know how THAT one goes these days

And in regards to taking what you want from reviews, then that's the way to do it! Having your own opinion on anything is the way to go, and berating others for differences in them is soooo 2024

@Ristar24 Awesome! Well, enjoy the game, it's pretty phenomenal. The difficulty could use some tweaking in a future sequel, but all-in-all, I really dig it; I hope you do too!

And in regards to OutRun, exactly how I see things. Another example - I got SEGA Rally in 1997, and with 4 courses and only 3 cars, I've not stopped playing it since, either.

@JayJ There's not enough out there. We're only just starting to get ones that have a legit level of quality to them

@PikaPhantom I still haven't tested it out myself! Thanks for the reminder!

@Sylamp A 7/10 is still a good score, but yeah, VHR deserves a bit more IMO.

I'm working on my own review of it, but all of this reminds me of how in the 90s, reviewers used to give lower scores to 2D fighters, and anything 2D in general, really. 3D games also got over-rated. 2D games were seen as out-of-vogue and dated, but with the benefit of hindsight, only the top percentage of great 3D fighters aged well at all. These days, 2D fighters new and old, across the board, are much easier to jump in to and appreciate... for most people, I still love 32-Bit 3D fighters the MOST <3

Arcade Racing games are in the same kinda boat these days, I feel. They're definitely out-of-vogue, unless it's a big-name open-world game or is combative and focuses on multi-player.

People don't seem to get - or want to get - that replayability doesn't always have to come from combat, multi-player, Season Passes and the like. It can come from yourself and trying to get as good at a course, or with a vehicle, as possible. For me, it's all about just getting better at stuff.

I think it's a life-lesson in general, really, but tis the age we live in!

@Ristar24 I love the art-style of VHR, but I'm definitely not into the character design, and I find the visual appeal of the actual vehicles lacking, because they didn't receive the same love and attention.

@Shiryu New Star GP is definitely one of the best arcade racers of the year. I got in on it when it was on Steam Early Access and it's been nothing but a delight. It is so completely underrated, which is a shame.

If you're heavy into Arcade Racing games, then there's a lot here to keep you coming back. People tend to forget that Time Trials are a thing, and the course designs are brilliant.

I, at least, find myself going back to it time and again to conquer the courses and beat my own times and ghosts.

Quality-wise, this is up there with New Star for polish (eclipsing the Switch port), and Slipstream for gameplay. This seems to be one made especially for us old-school gamers

I guess sarcasm doesn't come across in a basic reply on a video game website if you don't add anything to clue us in; the last statement of your comment reads quite literally.

@LikelySatan A lot of us are from migrant families. I'm a Serbian/Hungarian Australian living in a country town built by Italians. Migrants literally helped build this country, and have been doing so for generations.

But you know, let's generalize.

@Ristar24 I backed Slipstream when it was on Kickstarter, actually, haha! I'm an AI opponent in the game, the green dude with the backwards cap

Victory Heat Rally is the best arcade racer released in AN AGE. I love the fact that the focus is on the racing, and it didn't chicken out and become a kart racer from the Kickstarter to release with yet more car combat.

I still play it a tonne, and definitely recommend it to anybody after a real arcade racer

This one is legitimately great. I've had it on PC for a while now, and it's up there!

I had one for the Switch, loved it until it stopped working, and now rarely play my Switch. There is no scenario in the future where the mClassic will be useful other than for legacy hardware, since everything from this point on will have built-in image reconstruction.

My ROG Ally X does a pretty amazing job of gaming either at Native 1080p, or making 720p/900p damned-near native on a handheld screen.

I wanted to love this, but it feels too much like the mobile game that it is, and the controls are NOT well translated to gamepad controls. It definitely feels like you should be tapping left & right on a screen rather than using an analog stick.

I'm pretty forgiving with these titles, but even I raised an eyebrow or two. Be warned.

@LadyCharlie Very true. I'm eyeing off an ASUS ROG Ally X at the moment

@Max_the_German I think it's running at a solid 30 in that trailer, but it definitely looks weird - something is going on there. But yeah, if it is running at 30fps, that definitely tracks because it runs at a solid 30 in an emulator environment. On real hardware, there is a lot more slowdown.

@MSaturn Agreed. I'm sure it is great for some people, and that is cool, but personally I'm really disliking the pretentious, cozy-style games that are being showcased here. So many gimmicks, and they're obviously hoping to be the next viral social media break-out.

I think all of these dev's definitely have a lot of talent, but I find the subject matter pretty off-putting myself.

Also, so much vocal fry. The voice over in that Yars trailer made me queasy, I couldn't skip it fast enough.

Antonblast and Cat Quest III (though not my ideal aesthetic) look pretty great though.

I don't mean to be so negative, but it all seems really transparent, shallow and trend-chasing.

I can attest to the quality of this game on Steam. The controls are amazing, performance is flawless and the game has DEPTH. It's still pick-up-and-play, though, with definite room to get better and better at the game. A lot of games don't get Career Mode pacing right, but this one absolutely does - it's phenomenal.

If the performance of the Switch version is as stable as the experience I've already had, then New Star GP is a blanket recommendation to ANY arcade racing fan, no matter what.

I am not into visual novels at all, but I absolutely adored Mothman 1966. I haven't tried Varney Lake or this one yet, but I most definitely will.

I guess a visual novels appeal is entirely the story, writing, setting and vibe. At least in the case of Mothman 1966, it was written incredibly well, and was totally 50s/60s pulp; a vibe I love. It also reminded me a little of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, with a bit of The X Files in there too.

If you're into all of the above, then I would say you'll enjoy these. I know what's in store for me from this series, so I'll be grabbing Varney Lake and Bahnsen Knights at some point.

You won't catch me investing any time into a modern anime-style VN. Characterization of modern anime characters is something I find incredibly off-putting. Gimme Snatcher, Dead of the Brain and all the classic anime movies any day.

The more arcade racers, the better. It's nice to see a 'dead' genre getting new life, and it just happens to be my absolute favourite genre in all of gaming.

New Star GP is a bit special. I've put a fair chunk of time into the Steam release, and it's great. The game came out firing on all cylinders, and it's only gotten better during early access.

The crew management and perks system, along with the pitstop system really gives it some strategic depth, all the while everything stays nice and arcade-y.

I wouldn't worry too much about analog acceleration and braking in this one... I've tried the digital controls on PC with a third-party Switch Pro controller to see what it would be like on the Switch, and it's absolutely fine

Also, this is nothing like Virtua Racing. People see flat-shaded F1 and think VR, and whilst I can see the correlation, the game is not 'trying' to be like that game, nor does it control that way.

If anything, this is very much like a more colourful take on the PS1 Formula One series by Bizarre Creations, which is awesome

@RobynAlecksys And just going to click 'ignore' on this idiocy.

Got this recently on PC and Switch, and have been hopping back and forth between them. The Switch port is incredible. I thought the pre-Echoes version was great on Switch, and I started playing just before Echoes. And then Echoes dropped; jeez... the leap in visual fidelity is immense. Genuinely impressive.

Honestly, the Switch version is fantastic to play. Loving the game.

@-wc- Agreed. I think the level of control you have over Lara is amazing in the original games. You need to be precise and measured, and the levels are built around that. I don't think I've ever, EVER had the controls let me down. If I bungled something up, it was totally down to me. The 'aged like milk' thing I'm seeing bandied about is pretty tone-deaf. Play the tutorial Manor mission in the game, and you'll have every thing you need to succeed. I've always thought Tomb Raider had amazing controls, and my opinion has never changed.

I don't like to hate too much on anything, but I really couldn't stand Anniversary. The controls felt more modern, sure, but having again tried it recently, they are far from dependable. And the levels felt nothing like their original counterparts. It was completely missing the sense of wonder and (mostly) solitude that the original had. Even the music was average, and not at all memorable.

But anyhoo, this was an amazing announcement, and has shot straight to the top of my most wanted list

Just got the Early Access on Steam, and I can safely say it's my favourite racing game in an absolute AGE. Awesome controls, loads of content already, brilliant music and tonnes of depth for an arcade racer.

It's not a straight-up arcade style racer like Daytona or anything like that, it's like an arcade take on Formula 1 with definite 90s vibes. Pit stops are actually fun, and there's definitely some strategy to the racing, but it's all super light-hearted and really well implemented.

I absolutely love it. It's so polished already, I can't imagine how they could improve it.

@Ryu_Niiyama So only teenagers play games?

@NintendoByNature The Ninjawarriors Again was a single-plane game, and on top of being a fantastic game, it had a real nice amount of depth. There's a few single-plane brawlers that are pretty damned great; I wouldn't write it off just yet.

@Zuljaras Awesome! My Birthday is the 3rd of March... will be getting the physical as a present to myself!

@LikelySatan And that's fine, you can do what you want. I am saying that it's the business practice that is wrong... and falling for this very particular tactic makes you a chump. You can buy however many of whatever you want, that's cool. I have definitely done it in the past when I used to collect! It's different now, though.

@Bunkerneath But it shouldn't be the way of things, that's what I am saying.

Again, nothing wrong with supporting devs, but business practices where they're banking on multiple sales from the same person kinda rubs me the wrong way these days. I am not saying it can't happen, just be transparent about it upfront.

I'm really disagree with these physical releases being announced after an initial digital release. Expecting people to buy things twice + more over if they want a physical is a really dodgy practice these days that doesn't get the negative press that it should.

Should we just be expected to hold out for a physical on the off chance that it may happen, or you know, support the developer and initial digital release at full price?

There really needs to be some sort of official early-adopters digital release, with full knowledge of a physical release coming in the pipeline. I purchased this on launch because Joymasher are awesome, it looked fantastic and I wanted to support the dev team - not because I couldn't wait for a physical. I could have definitely gone that route though, had I known it was in the pipeline.

Buying the same thing twice doesn't make you a super-fan, it makes you a chump.

The times we live in, eh?

@Serpenterror The Saturn and PSX versions ran at 60fps though (EDIT: admittedly with the occasional slowdown). And they were absolutely far from awful, they were always considered good ports way back when. Is there some kind of revisionist history-thing going on with it these days?

Real hardware Saturn capture:
https://youtu.be/0qBiGOAAMec?t=1359

@Danondorf I was an Xbox guy during that era, and I am not a fan of Smash. I literally purchased Gamecube controllers to use on PC, and it was love at first hold.

So, not 100% then