Oh, leave it up to Kotaku to write an article that barely references Daytona USA to spark interest in the game again.
The 1990s were a great time for arcade racing games. Daytona, Cruis'n USA, the original Ridge Racer...but for all the quality on offer there, my friends and I spent more time and money on one game than any other.
And that game was Namco's Ace Driver.
It's not a bad article. It goes to mention the game's horrible rubber-banding is so bad that whoever was in last place was pretty much destined to win. Therefore, everyone drove as slowly as possible without running out of time so they could slingshot into first at the end. A concept so f***tarded that even Midway couldn't think it up.
The 1990s were a great time for arcade racing games. Daytona, Cruis'n USA, the original Ridge Racer...but for all the quality on offer there, my friends and I spent more time and money on one game than any other.
And that game was Namco's Ace Driver.
It's not a bad article. It goes to mention the game's horrible rubber-banding is so bad that whoever was in last place was pretty much destined to win. Therefore, everyone drove as slowly as possible without running out of time so they could slingshot into first at the end. A concept so f***tarded that even Midway couldn't think it up.
Rubber-band AI or multiplayer ain't new. Daytona USA has lots of rubber-banding but you can disable it if you like. But Ace Driver sounds worse than any other rubber-band racer I've seen.
Is it just me or is Namco pretty much stealing Sega's ideas? Or is it the other way around? I'm looking at the list of Namco arcade games as well as Sega arcade games and they share many similarities. I can only do so much research so if you find any more, feel free to add via comments:
Shiatload of Sega arcade games = Shiatload of Namco arcade games
Daytona USA = Ridge Racer
Virtua Fighter = Tekken
Virtua Cop = Time Crisis
Indy 500 = Ace Driver
Turbo = Pole Position
Super Monaco GP = Final Lap
Super Hang-On = Suzuka 8 Hours
Initial D Arcade Stage = Wangan Midnight Tune
Top Skater = Alpine Racer
Edit: Last Bronx = Soul Edge
Doesn't matter, if you take away Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig-Dug, etc., Sega whips Namco's ass any day of the week. Which brings me to....
Daytona USA vs. Ridge Racer. Ridge Racer ain't bad but it's not as "intricate" or skillful of a racer as Daytona. That is, in Ridge Racer, the physics are even less realistic and you can ping-pong your way around the track like that. But that's just me. The game does a good job of differentiating itself from Daytona. The only thing Ridge Racer really has over Daytona is that Namco is producing all sorts of new RR games while you have to twist Sega's arm just to get a basic XBL/PSN port. Namco deserves props since they've been so prolific in the arcade era.
And now I present to you dudes the coolest song I've heard in the last 5 minutes:
Is it just me or is Namco pretty much stealing Sega's ideas? Or is it the other way around? I'm looking at the list of Namco arcade games as well as Sega arcade games and they share many similarities. I can only do so much research so if you find any more, feel free to add via comments:
Shiatload of Sega arcade games = Shiatload of Namco arcade games
Daytona USA = Ridge Racer
Virtua Fighter = Tekken
Virtua Cop = Time Crisis
Indy 500 = Ace Driver
Turbo = Pole Position
Super Monaco GP = Final Lap
Super Hang-On = Suzuka 8 Hours
Initial D Arcade Stage = Wangan Midnight Tune
Top Skater = Alpine Racer
Edit: Last Bronx = Soul Edge
Doesn't matter, if you take away Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig-Dug, etc., Sega whips Namco's ass any day of the week. Which brings me to....
Daytona USA vs. Ridge Racer. Ridge Racer ain't bad but it's not as "intricate" or skillful of a racer as Daytona. That is, in Ridge Racer, the physics are even less realistic and you can ping-pong your way around the track like that. But that's just me. The game does a good job of differentiating itself from Daytona. The only thing Ridge Racer really has over Daytona is that Namco is producing all sorts of new RR games while you have to twist Sega's arm just to get a basic XBL/PSN port. Namco deserves props since they've been so prolific in the arcade era.
And now I present to you dudes the coolest song I've heard in the last 5 minutes:
