The Fast and the Furious/Cruis'n

Cruis'n on the Wii is The Fast and the Furious in arcades. Yes- based on the hit movie in 2001, this 2004 arcade game was developed by Raw Thrills of the former Midway. The home version is "Cruis'n thanks to licensing rights. I have had some experience playing this arcade game. And so, I will tell you more about it here on "John's Race Space."

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The Fast and the Furious/Cruis'n

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Time to put this game in the spotlight. Get ready...


^ from: (YouTube) - Cruis'n went an entirely new direction with "The Fast and the Furious.".

Based on the hit movie, The Fast and the Furious is an arcade racing game released by Raw Thrills. Raw Thrills is of the former Midway crew responsible for many classic racing games of the 1990s including the Cruis'n series. This was the new direction of the series after the likes of Cruis'n Exotica.

This game, unlike the original Cruis'n games, take on a completely different style from the three Cruis'n games before it. This game takes on more of an illegal street racing approach. The action still takes place on city streets and some country roads. Unlike past Cruis'n titles, there is more of an upgrade system sort of like the Need for Speed games. There is still outrageous racing action, but the action is more close to Need for Speed than any Cruis'n. There are eight cars to a track (including yours) rather than the ten cars in the past Cruis'n titles. Even with two less cars, the action is still frenzied.

While this game is named after the famous movie, there is no storyline attachment to the movies in this game. So don't worry about trying to closely follow the story in this game as if it were tied to the movie.

About That Wii Title, Cruis'n...

The Nintendo Wii version of "The Fast and the Furious" was simply named Cruis'n, as to continue this series. The licensing rights to use the movie's name were denied, and so the home version of this game was simply named "Cruis'n" for the Wii.

Locations.

There are 10 locations in the Arcade version (some hidden locations), and Cruis'n has 12 locations across the United States. The action either takes place in California, New York, or the northeastern United States. Here is a look at all of the venues where you will be racing in this game:

• China Town (Easy) - take a ride around the eccentric and lively China Town of San Francisco, CA, USA.
• Race Wars (Easy) - a race on desert highways in an industrial sector.
• Times Square (Easy) - try to take a bite out of the Big Apple.
• Malibu (Medium) - everything from city streets to winding coastal roads await you here.
• Central Park (Medium) - race through Central Park and venture into uptown New York City.
• L.A. Ghetto (Medium) - can you survive the less glamourous side of Los Angeles?
• Golden Gate (Hard) - this track combines Golden Gate Park with San Francisco's industrial sector.
• New England (Hard) - a drive through beautiful country roads and villages in a Fall/Autumn setting.
• Hollywood (Extreme) - take on the glamourous streets of Los Angeles.
• Mulholland Drive (Extreme) - an insane course with twisty corners in an urban setting. Great for drifting.
• S.F. Tour (Extreme) - as the name implies, take a wacky tour of San Francisco with plenty of difficult roads.

Look for any shortcuts to help you get through traffic or even reduce your race time.

Cars.

Every vehicle in The Fast and the Furious are licensed vehicles. You can select any of the available cars in the game. You then can choose a certain upgrade to boost the performance of that automobile. If you have a PIN number to the arcade unit, you can access your progress easily through a certain code you made. The cars you race include a variety of sports cars and some classics. You can change the color of these machines and tack on upgrades at a time. Try to fully max out your car as you progress through the game. As you acquire more earnings, you are able to gain more upgrades and even get more cars.

Racing.

The racing in this game is fairly straightforward. Eight cars take to the grid as you try to beat all seven opponents to the Finish line. Perform various stunts to cut down your actual lap time. Try to find shortcuts to get an advantage on your opposition. If you have Nitrous installed, take advantage of the Nitrous to get a speed boost when you're trailing. Other than that... try to finish first!


Now that the basics have been covered, get ready for my Final Thoughts.

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The Fast and the Furious/Cruis'n: Final Thoughts

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While the Cruis'n series had its classic appeal, franchises must evolve. That was the case as this was the first Cruis'n type game under Raw Thrills apart from Midway doing the first three Cruis'n games. "The Fast and the Furious" is only a disappointment if you are looking for a game that closely follows the movie series. This is now a new direction for a long-running series, and it does not deviate too much outside of the outrageous racing style of the past games. It is very much a game to get into when at an arcade or for playing "Cruis'n" on the Nintendo Wii.





Keep on racin'! :) Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

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Hydro Thunder

Hydro Thunder provided aquatic racing fury when it was released in 1998. You're the best on the road. You're the best off road. Maybe you're the best in the air. But what about on water? If you're game, Midway challenges you to conquer the world of Hydro Thunder and its insane racing action. Get ready for some of the most insane racing action only Midway can provide.

NOTE: This post on Hydro Thunder mostly pertains to the Arcade version.

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Hydro Thunder

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Hydro Thunder. Get to know it.


^ from: (YouTube) - Get ready for high-powered action on the water with Hydro Thunder.

Hydro Thunder brings the insanity of Midway's style of racing to water. There are not many boat racing games out there. Surely Hydro Thunder is a more than admirable attempt at making an incredible boat racing game. This game hits hard. So if you're not ready to take on the thrills of boat racing, you may be excused from this conversation and this blog post.

Your goal is to take on an entire world of race tracks and try to prove your worth as king (or queen) of the water. Doing so requires you to defeat 15 other boats who want victory as badly as you do. If you succeed, you that 1st Place trophy awaits you. If you fail, you'll have to settle with defeat. These are no average boats you will be using. These are high-powered racing boats capable of insane speeds. Gain an edge either through charing your Booster or by finding shortcuts. Whatever it takes to win, do it!

Hydro Thunder would see home ports on PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2 (via Midway Arcade Treasures 3), Nintendo Gamecube (via Midway Arcade Treasures 3), XBOX (via Midway Arcade Treasures 3), and Dreamcast, and even PC. The popularity of Hydro Thunder would warrant a sequel in 2010 called Hydro Thunder Hurricane exclusively for XBOX 360.

Tracks.

The tracks feature a mix of closed circuits and open circuits. The easier courses take you around a watery race track and a trip through a jungle. Tougher circuits take you around an icy locale and even a disastrous course around a flooded New York City. There are three Easy courses, three Medium courses, three Hard courses, and four Bonus courses. Here is a little look at each course:

• Thunder Park (Easy) - three laps around a specially-designed water course.
• Lost Island (Easy) - a race around a tropical setting including caves and tropical forests.
• Arctic Circle (Easy) - a track around an icy locale.
• Greek Isles (Medium) - a challenging course around beautiful Greek islands.
• Lake Powell (Medium) - a canyon style stage under a beautiful sunset scene.
• The Far East (Medium) - a course in a Chinese style setting.
• Ship Graveyard (Hard) - a course in a compact industrial sector with boats and factories.
• Venice Canals (Hard) - power your way through the canals of beautiful Venice, Italy.
• N.Y. Disaster (Hard) - a challenging race around a ruined, flooded New York City.

• I'm not sharing the four Bonus courses! You're on your own for that! :P

Boats.

There are a handful of boats to choose from. Each boat features different performance advantages as well as the level of control each boat has. The easier boats are more nimble and not as fast. The harder boats are faster but tougher to control. You unlock more boats in the home versions of Hydro Thunder. As you start out, you have the following: Damn the Torpedoes, Midway, and Miss Behave. Later boats you unlock include Tidal Blade and Rad Hazard among others. There are also some bonus boats out there, so do what you can to unlock those extra boats.

Racing.

Races consist of 16 boats to a track (yours included). On the racing front, collect Nitros to gain an edge. These Nitros will fill your Booster so you can gain an extra speed and acceleration advantage during the course of a race. Blue Nitros give you four seconds of boost, and Red Nitros give you nine seconds of boost. Make sure to clear each of the checkpoints to have your time extended. The checkpoint areas are buoys with numbers on them.

--- Hydro Thunder: Final Thoughts ---

Hydro Thunder is one of the most exciting racing games ever created. It takes the insanity of games like the Cruis'n series and the RUSH games and translated them to boat racing. This game stands out in its own way as they are not as many quality boat racing titles. Surely, no boat racing game is THIS exciting. This is a title to enjoy if you find it in an arcade room or if you buy any of the home versions.

Video Preview.

This video is a sample of the game I blogged about all post long. This, however, is the Nintendo Gamecube version of "Hydro Thunder" (via "Midway Arcade Treasures 3") below:


^ Hydro Thunder (Midway Arcade Treasures 3, Gamecube) - Thunder Park (1st place) (10/4/09)


I hope you enjoyed this blog post.





Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

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Cruis'n Exotica

The third Cruis'n game was Cruis'n Exotica, released in 1999 by Midway. This title features a vastly fantasy tour of racing. If you thought the first two Cruis'n games were insane, you haven't seen ANYTHING yet! I will introduce "Cruis'n Exotica" to you all with this blog post.

NOTE: This blog post is based on the arcade version of Cruis'n Exotica.

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Cruis'n Exotica

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Let's do it...


^ from: (YouTube) - Get ready for a mind-blowing, totally fantasy racing experience in Cruis'n Exotica!

Cruis'n Exotica was released in 1999 to arcades and Nintendo 64. This is the first Cruis'n to feature licensed vehicles. Vehicles such as the Chevrolet Corvette C5 and the Hummer H1 are featured in this game. A major graphics overhaul was done with Cruis'n Exotica. Gone are the more flat shaded environments, and in comes environment mapping and some other nice visual effects. The game even runs smoother than Cruis'n USA and Cruis'n World. The arcade version even allows you to save your progress by typing in a keypad code. You can retain your lifetime earnings by simply entering this code at a Cruis'n Exotica unit.

Cruis'n Exotica itself is about outrageous and unreal racing action across a number of wild settings. Gone is trying to dodge pedestrian traffic in major cities. You are contending with things like massive animals, dangerous settings, and many unusual racing settings. You will find yourself racing in places ranging from the streets of Hong Kong to racing underwater in the lost city of Atlantis among other places. Get ready for one of the weirdest experiences ever in the realm of Cruis'n!

Cruis'n Exotica would get versions to the Nintendo 64 and (oddly enough) the Game Boy Color. I have not played a lot of this title to say I am experienced with it.

Locations.

You can race in a number of locations ranging from real-world locations to certain unique settings, such as racing underwater. When you do the Exotica Tour, you will be encountered with a series of races around the world. Prove your worth in these events, and you'll get to compete in one final race away from planet Earth.

• Hong Kong (Medium) - race the highways and city streets of Hong Kong at night.
• Vegas (Easy) - race on the streets of fabulous Las Vegas.
• Alaska (Medium) - this is a scenic race through The Last Frontier State. Includes a large cave.
• Atlantis (Easy) - an underwater stage including the lost city of Atlantis.
• India (Easy) - this is a race on the Indian subcontinent. Watch out for the elephants!
• Ireland (Hard) - a combination of ancient structures and country roads await you here.
• Korea (Easy) take on the country roads and structures of [South] Korea.
• Sahara (Medium) - take a wacky tour through the Sahara Desert in northern Africa.
• Holland (Hard) - windmills and city streets are the scene in this one.
• Amazon (Easy) - drive through the Amazon rain forest in South America. Watch out for dinosaurs!
• Tibet (Hard) - race on the lands of the former Tibet in southwestern China.
• Mars (Hard) - race on the Red Planet. You won on Earth and the moon (Cruis'n World); can you win on Mars as well?

Each venue features a handful of shortcuts and secret areas. There are also points where you can rack up some style points by executing jumps and turbos. Be mindful of these things and do your best to show you're the greatest driver in the game!

Vehicles.

A variety of vehicles await you. Everything from sports cars to oddball machines can be driven. There aren't many performance advantages to any car that I know of. You can change the driver of each car if you wish.

No licensed vehicles appear in the Nintendo 64 version of this game.

Racing.

You obviously want to finish 1st. What can help knock off some extra time from your lap is in performing stunts. Be sure to note which way the traffic flows so you don't get into head-on collisions. Also take note of any places where you can take shortcuts. Use these areas to gain an advantage over the competition.


Now that I have given you a bit of insight on Cruis'n Exotica, I'll offer some final thoughts. So read the next section for more on that.

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Cruis'n Exotica: Final Thoughts

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While I never played this game religiously in arcades, Cruis'n Exotica is a most unique and most unreal racing experience. The game has a lot of personality as an evolution of the Cruis'n series. This game does not disappoint in the least sense. If you just want an outrageous racing experience from a developer who knows such experiences, you can't do much wrong with Cruis'n Exotica.


I would present you all a video on Cruis'n Exotica, but I was unable to find a good video on this game (preferably, a non-emulated video). So I will leave it up to you to visit YouTube to see videos on this game.





That is all. I hope you enjoyed this blog post! Make sure to Subscribe and Follow in some capacity if you enjoy my work. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

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Offroad Thunder

Not to be confused with Off Road Challenge, Off Road Thunder was a different kind of game from Midway. The premise was still on extreme off-road racing. This game just has a different focus. Get ready for metal-on-metal mayhem and three different ways to play. You also have a handful of vehicles to use in your off-road speed freaking. I'm here to talk about this racing game for your reading pleasure.

--- Offroad Thunder ---

Made by Midway in 1999, Offroad Thunder was part of the Thunder series of Midway racing games. Thrills in this game were provided through wicked nitro boosts and using your boost to overwhelm rival racers in your way. Unlike Off Road Challenge, Offroad Thunder consists of racing action on closed circuits with three-lap races. Offroad Thunder offered a few extra ways to play, which helped boost its appeal and its replay value. Also unlike Off Road Challenge, there are no actual sponsors or any licensed material as part of the game. Every vehicle is fictional, and all of the tracks are not based on or inspired by any real locales.

Vehicles.

There are no "cars" in this game. What you DO get are a handful of trucks and buggies. You can use certain codes to access certain other vehicles. The game has a handful of racing trucks, buggies, monster trucks, even some semi trucks. Be sure to look around- there's a vehicle that will tickle your fancy the most when playing Offroad Thunder.

Tracks.

All of the tracks are fictional and not based on any real-world locations or races. In addition, all courses are closed circuits. No track is any kind of point-to-point venue. Most race tracks in this game have various surfaces, and just about all of them have various shortcuts you can take. Eight tracks are available, and there is one hidden track you can choose from.

Racing.

Unlike "Off Road Challenge," tracks in Off Road Thunder are all closed circuits. Each race is a three-lap affair. Twelve vehicles (including yours) make up each field.

There are three modes of racing in Off Road Thunder.

• You can compete in a standard Rally race to the finish line.

• Your goal is to try and eliminate other drivers in Demolition Mode.

• You can also compete in Snag the Flag play. Steal the flag from others to rack up points.

Whereas you had several shots of Nitrous in Off Road Challenge, Nitrous you accumulate through this game stays with you for you to use at any time as long as you have enough boost. Blue Nitro grants you three seconds of boost, and Red Nitrous offers you six seconds of boost. You can have a maximum of 15 seconds of boost.

--- Offroad Thunder: Final Thoughts ---

Offroad Thunder is one of the ugliest and most horrid racing games I've ever played. It has horrible music and a lot of annoying stuff. If Offroad Thunder were a true sequel to Off Road Challenge, this game would severely disappoint what Off Road Challenge offered. Its saving grace is that there are many ways to play the game. I just didn't like this game when I played it. It could have been much more all around for me to really enjoy it more than a lot of other Midway titles.

Video Preview.

You can see for yourself how this game plays. Check out this video:


^ Midway Arcade Treasures 3 (Xbox): Off Road Thunder


This concludes your look at Offroad Thunder. What do you think about this game?





Offroad Thunder was never released with a home version. However, you can play "Offroad Thunder" if you have a PlayStation 2, a Gamecube, an XBOX, or a PC.




Want an Offroad Thunder arcade unit? Try your luck here: Offroad Thunder on eBay.


Happy shopping! ;)





Whether a game impresses me or disappoints me, at least I share my thoughts in my own unique way while still being even remotely professional. More to come from yours truly in future posts. Make sure you're subscribed so you can read and comment on my latest material. Thank you for reading!

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Midway Arcade Treasures 3

Midway Arcade Treasures 3 features eight racing games from Midway and/or Atari. This game for the PlayStation 2, Gamecube, and XBOX takes gamers back in time with this all racing game package. This is the game for you if you want to play multiple racing games from Midway and Atari. What you can do and play will be to your liking regardless. This blog post takes a look at Midway Arcade Treasures 3.

--- Midway Arcade Treasures 3 ---

Here is the box housing eight racing games from Midway's/Atari's past:


^ from: www.amazon.com - Eight of Midway's past racing games are available in one package with Midway Arcade Treasures 3- a racing-game exclusive version of the Midway Arcade Treasures collection.

The Midway Arcade Treasures collection features various games from Midway and Atari. MAT3 is exclusively about racing games. It features eight titles for which gamers can enjoy going fast and making sure everybody else finishes 2nd or worse. You have a chance to do that with this lineup of games.

This package features eight games for you to play and enjoy if you love racing. You can look at information about each game along with customize certain aspects of the game to your liking.

--- Midway Arcade Treasures 3: Games ---

NOTE: Individual blog posts on each game may be featured in individual blog posts here on "John's Race Space."

It is time to meet the three games that make up "Midway Arcade Treasures 3." Here is an introduction to these games:

San Francisco Rush 2049.

Take a trip into the future with San Francisco Rush 2049. Aside from the futuristic racing, you also have more control and freedom performing aerial stunts while racing. The same great low gravity action is just like you like it in past RUSH titles. This game is the source of the individual sound effects for the menus.

San Francisco RUSH: Alcatraz Edition.

This is a PlayStation 1 port of San Francisco RUSH. Engage in wild racing action on the streets of San Francisco. Enjoy the low gravity racing and all the insanity that has made this series so popular. You even get to race the "The Rock" course featuring insane loops and various high jumps. Extreme insanity guaranteed.

Hydro Thunder.

The seas aren't as friendly once you race in Hydro Thudner. This game features a variety of powerful boats and some challenging water courses. You are in for a hardcore racing experience that takes you worldwide.

Offroad Thunder.

If off road racing is your thing, try Offroad Thunder and its three modes of play. Choose from any number of trucks, buggies, and tracks to satisfy your off road racing desires.

S.T.U.N. Runner.

This 3D futuristic racing game makes you race through tunnels and highways as you blast your way through various tracks. This game can be very fast and very difficult. So be careful and try to clear each stage as best as you can.

Race Drivin'.

Perhaps one of the first simulation racing games ever made, Race Drivin' is the sequel to Hard Drivin'. You get to race three different tracks and choose between four cars.

Badlands.

After nuclear disaster decimated the world, a bunch of thrill seekers compete in racing action in Badlands. Racing action in this game is similar to "Super Sprint" and "Championship Sprint." Only that in this game, you are attacking your rivals with weapons rather than simply racing to win.

Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road, and Ivan "Ironman" Stewart Super Off-Road Track Pak.

This game has you racing around multiple off-road courses. It features the likeness of one of the greatest off-road racers of all time- Ivan "Ironman" Stewart. Obstacles include bumps, hills, water splashes, and more. Use your driving skill (and some Nitro) to help your chances of winning. Be the first to clear five laps around the course to win. Win the race to advance. Lose the race, and you'll need to insert credits to continue. Rack up money that you can use at Ironman's Speed Shop to upgrade your vehicle.

The Super Off-Road Track Pak is essentially the same game, only that there are new tracks, and you can choose between racing either a truck or a buggy. Trucks are the standard machines in this game, and buggies are more nimble but not as fast as the trucks.

I included both games in this section though they are basically the same game.


Now that you know about each of the games, how does the whole package shape up? Find out in my review in the next section!

--- Midway Arcade Treasures 3: Final Thoughts ---

This is a great package of racing games for gamers to enjoy. However, the game could have been packaged and executed much better. There are so few options for the games to play. You can't even customize the control scheme to your liking. That alone is a deal-breaker and doesn't really make the package too much fun.

I was vastly disappointed playing "Offroad Thunder" and "San Francisco RUSH: Alcatraz Edition." The S.F. RUSH game completely disappoints compared to the arcade version. "Off Road Challenge" would have been a better inclusion than "Offroad Thunder." Also, what about the Cruis'n games? I think "Midway Arcade Treasures 3" could have benefited more with better racing games from Midway and/or Atari. It would have been much better had more big-name titles been included. I would still recommend this game even with its flaws.





You want this game? You got a PlayStation 2, a Gamecube, or an XBOX? Come and get this game for your console:



I hope this blog post was enjoyable and to your liking.





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Off Road Challenge

Off Road Challenge can be thought of as an off-road version of the Cruis'n series. Most of the gameplay is like the Cruis'n games, but this game features some real sponsors (primarily Toyota). Players are invited to test their off-road racing mettle on six courses. Arcade and Nintendo 64 versions of this game are available. This blog post takes a look at this classic racing game from Midway.

--- Off Road Challenge ---

This is Off-Road Challenge:


^ from: www.amazon.com - Go for an off-road adventure in Off Road Challenge.

Off Road Challenge was created in 1997. The goal of this game is to simply finish ahead of all of your opposition. All six courses are all unique in their character and in their racing. Doing so requires you to make the most of your machine's capabilities as you drive on different surfaces as well as make plenty of jumps. Need a little boost to get by? Make sure you have some Nitrous onboard to gain that little edge you need that can help you win the race. Do whatever it takes to cross that finish line first! Think of this game as an off-road version of the Cruis'n games.

Vehicles.

There are no "cars," but you do get a handful of capable and rugged trucks and buggies to rampage across the various off-road landscapes. You can race with the Toyota Trophy Truck as raced by one of the best off-road racers of all time- Ivan "Iron Man" Stewart. You may opt to race with a quick and speedy buggy. Besides the four machines, you can access other machines offering differing levels of performance. Take top speed, power, handling, and weight into consideration as you select a machine. Pressing some of the View buttons will access some hidden machines. What you should know:

• Speed - acceleration and top speed of the vehicle.
• Power - the amount of horsepower the engine makes.
• Handling - how well the machine handles corners and terrain.
• Weight - lighter vehicles are more nimble; heavier vehicles are slower.

Pick a machine and choose a transmission type, and get ready to race!

Tracks.

Six tracks are offered to gamers. There are two tracks under each difficulty: Beginner, Medium, and Advanced. Each location is different. Here is a description of each location:

• Mojave (Beginner) - a simple course with long straights, big jumps, and easy corners.
• Baja (Beginner) - a fun coastal course with plenty of jumps
• El Paso (Intermediate) - a course with a Western ghost town and a graveyard.
• Pikes Peak (Intermediate) - this popular course utilizes dirty and snowy terrain.
• Vegas (Advanced) -
• Ol' South (Advanced) - traverse through swampy and muddy conditions in this difficult course.

Racing.

Each race consists of eight machines to a track. Scattered across the track are money boxes and powerups. Collect the boxes of money to add funds to your account. This money can be used to upgrade your machine in the Speedshop for future races. Collect Nitro to gain temporary boosts of speed. Finding an Anti-Crush Helmet in each stage allows you to take damage without suffering a wicked crash. Watch out for a variety of hazards littered on the road and as part of the environment.

Clear Checkpoints to extend the game. If you win the race, you will not have to insert credits to continue the arcade game.

Speedshop.

After completing a race, you will be able to access the Speedshop to upgrade your machine's performance. Here are the many options for you:

• Acceleration - makes your machine go faster.
• Shocks - improves handling in corners and over jumps.
• Nitros - offers temporary speed and power boosts.
• Speed - increases top speed.
• Tires - improves handling.

You'll even receive a money bonus if you choose to upgrade your vehicle after making a continue.

--- Off Road Challenge: Final Thoughts ---

While not entirely groundbreaking, Off Road Challenge is a thrilling and fun game to play with its own unique challenges. It is a good deal on the difficult side, as it is not very easy to climb up to the front of the pack. You just need to minimize mistakes and keep driving hard. It remains one of the better off-road racing titles even today.

Video Preview.

Come and get your look at "Off Road Challenge" with this video; and really, this was the best I could find to feature this game. This is the Nintendo 64 version:


^ "N64: Offroad challenge"


And there you go.





You can get "Off Road Challenge" if you have a Nintendo 64. Check it out:



If you want the arcade unit or parts for the arcade unit, try this eBay link:

Off Road Challenge (arcade) on eBay

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Off Road Challenge. I hope you enjoy this blog post and my various others. Thank you for reading!

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San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing

San Francisco is beautiful. It is a lovely city with a handful of lovely locales- the Transamerica Pyramid. Coit Tower. Lombard Street. Golden Gate Bridge. The San Francisco Fine Arts Museum. And of course... the Golden Gate Bridge. As beautiful as San Francisco is, burning rubber is even more beautiful- at least according to Atari (maker) and Midway (publisher) and their 1996 game, San Francisco RUSH. This began one of the more popular racing game franchises in gaming history. This game series provides a RUSH for a number of reasons. Isn't it quite fitting this game provides a rush of adrenaline for a state and a city whose popularity blossomed because of the California Gold Rush? Regardless, you're getting a rush of a lot of things- including one very fun and very insane racing game.

This blog post is my post regarding the first title of the RUSH franchise. It includes both "San Francisco Rush" and "San Francisco Rush: Rush the Rock." Some of the material posted here was taken from the Wikipedia page on San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing.

About the Label: "Atari"

Racing games made by or published by Atari Games will be featured under the Atari label.

--- San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing ---

Get to know "San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing":


^ from: www.amazon.com - This is the box for the Nintendo 64 version of "San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing."

San Francisco RUSH challenges gamers to take on individual stages around San Francisco. The original title- "San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing" debuted in 1996. What made the RUSH series so famous is its stunt-style driving and its low gravity. Anyone who knows about San Francisco knows just how hilly it is. When you fly off of roads and go airborne, you'll spend a good amount of time in the air before coming down back to the road. You can roll over your car in this game as part of this game series' stunt driving style. Your car also explodes should you end up upside down or crash into something really hard. You can respawn your car at any time either after a crash or if you feel you've been away from the main course for far too long.

This game was available in arcades, for the Nintendo 64, and for the PlayStation 1. I strongly do NOT recommend the PS1 version because it is atrocious. It did nothing to completely capture the fun of the original arcade "San Francisco RUSH."

Cars.

None of the cars are licensed. However, you can surely make out which ones many of the cars resemble. You can press the view buttons to access a different array of cars. Each car is categorized by their level of difficulty to drive. This difficulty is depending upon the speed and control characteristics of each machine. The easier cars offer the best control but lack speed. Conversely, the most difficult machines offer the highest speeds with the least amount of control. The classes are as follows: Beginner, Advanced, Expert, and Extreme. You can change the color of each car to your liking from the available colors.

Tracks.

Each track showcases different parts of San Francisco. Various landmarks of San Francisco are showcased in each of the venues. Try your hand at the various courses and the unique tracks that make up San Francisco Rush. Each track has shortcuts and various other off-track areas for you to explore. In the home versions of "San Francisco RUSH," visit some of these locations to find keys to unlock more content.

Here is a preview of each of the courses:

• Track 1: Golden Gate (Beginner) - You start off going down Golden Gate Bridge into the city. The course itself is a high-speed course with simple corners.

• Track 2: Embarcadero (Advanced) - This is a course that utilizes most of northeastern San Francisco. You go through parts of downtown San Francisco and wind up on some highways. You even end up around the harborside of San Francisco and around Fisherman's Wharf.

• Track 3: Market (Extreme) - The third track is the longest and most difficult track in the game. This is a romp through downtown San Francisco and includes going through Chinatown and landmarks like Coit Tower.


These tracks are featured as part of the "San Francisco RUSH: Rush the Rock" version of the game:

• Track 4: The Rock ("RUSH the Rock" version only) The Rock (Advanced) - Alcatraz Island is yours to explore. Its challenge is extreme with its array of banked corners, loops, jumps, and more. Alcatraz is dangerous as it is- just imagine trying to survive this extreme challenge!

• Track 4: Downtown (Advanced) - You race around the Marina area of San Francisco and parts of downtown. The Transamerica Pyramid is visible as part of this course. Many jumps and tall buildings make up this course. There are also places with some epic jumps that make up this course.

• Track 5: Heights (Extreme) - This track takes on multiple routes and features many elevation changes.

• Track 6: Sunset (Extreme) - If you are not careful, you could end up hitting some of the buses driving on the roads in this venue. This track is more like about country roads than going through the heart of San Francisco.


Each track could be raced forward, forward-mirrored, reversed, or reverse-mirrored. Fog and wind are also factors in your racing. Fog can be a serious deterrent in trying to see ahead. Wind will alter your flight after jumps.

Racing.

Each race features eight cars to a track, including yours. You can ram into cars from the sides or from the back. Every track has multiple shortcuts. Take these shortcuts to get around the tracks faster. With these shortcuts, however, you need to be careful making those jumps that are littered across the track and in shortcuts. Hard contact with a wall, hard contact into another car, or having your car on its side or upside down results in your car exploding. Having your car drowned into deep water will result in your car being respawned back on the track. Press the Abort button to automatically respawn your car either heading into an impending crash or some other disaster. Clear the Checkpoint gates to get more time to complete the race. If you run out of time, your car will coast to a stop. You may get lucky and narrowly pass through a Checkpoint to have just a little extra time on the clock. Don't give up!


And that's all you need to know about playing this game.

--- San Francisco RUSH: Final Thoughts ---

"San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing" was the start of a franchise that was all about insane stunt racing. Going around the beautiful city of San Francisco in this style of anything-goes racing just brings nothing but fond memories to me. This game offered extreme style racing that was fun and enjoyable. I especially enjoy racing The Rock. Whoever thought using Alcatraz Island would provide such an insane race course? Of course, this game and this series exemplifies what seems to be missing in a lot of today's racing games- total creativity and lighthearted goodness. Racing game culture has changed over time, but the RUSH games (excluding the later L.A. Rush of the mid-2000s) provide nothing but sweet memories for racing gamers alike. I would recommend you play "San Francisco RUSH: Rush the Rock" if you find an arcade room that has it.

One last note... when I read Wikipedia's page on "San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing," there was apparently a version of the game called "San Francisco RUSH: RUSH The Rock: Wave Net," which allows for online play of the RUSH series. That was brand new to me.

Video Preview.

You read the post; now see the game. Enjoy (video is the arcade version):


^ "San Francisco Rush (Arcade) - Beginner Track"

Get your RUSH on! :)





If you have a Nintendo 64 or a PlayStation 1, you can play "San Francisco RUSH" on Amazon by using these two items. I prefer the N64 version. Your business would be appreciated if you did enjoy this blog post and want to support me here:




Want to try to score the arcade version of San Francisco RUSH or get parts for any units? Good luck to you on eBay:

• San Francisco RUSH (arcade) on eBay

Thanks to all of you for supporting my work any way you can.





What do you think about "San Francisco RUSH: Extreme Racing?" Stay subscribed and stay tuned to "John's Race Space" for more racing game chatter from yours truly. Until next time and next post... thank you for reading!

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Cruis'n World

Cruis'n World furthered Cruis'n USA's insanity. In a tour too good for the United States, it seemed time to take on the world, according to Midway. Why not make the racing more interesting and throw in a few stunts? Cruis'n World was anything but a simple refresh of Cruis'n USA. This 1998 racing game offered a wickedly insane experience that topples even Cruis'n USA. This blog post highlights on the insanity that made up Cruis'n World.

--- Cruis'n World ---

Arcade and Nintendo 64 versions of Cruis'n World offered gamers the chance to tour the world, leaving tread marks and burnt rubber on a variety of surfaces in a variety of locations. The main goal of Cruis'n World is to race through various locations around the world. The main mode is to Cruise the World. This mode starts you off in Hawaii (or Hawai'i for any of my Hawaiian readers). You go mostly west from Hawaii to Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, and North America. You're going from Hawaii to Florida. Without spoiling much of the game, there is one last challenge after clearing the Florida stage. I'll leave that up to you!

Cars.

Cruis'n World gives you four more main cars. But of course, you could access more cars with differing performance levels. Here are some of the many machines you have access to:

• Serpent - a car that resembles the Dodge Viper RT/10.
• Kamikaze AWD - resembles Toyota Supra (MKIV model).
• ATV - a military-spec Hummer.
• Cobra - resembles a Ford Mustang Cobra.

Here are a few others:

• Banzai GTV - resembles the 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT.
• Road King - a semi truck.
• Sardine Extreme - a three-wheel commercial truck.

There aren't too many differences among the cars, so pick one that is to your liking.

Locations.

Not only do each of the tracks offer different environments, they also offer some different character from one another. One big example is in knowing what side of the road drivers drive in certain countries. This difference alone can help your winning chances at different tracks. Each of the venues are based on various cues and impressions from various countries. All of the locations are, of course, infused with the unique character offered by the Midway team.

When Cruising the World, you begin in Hawaii. Let me give you a preview of some of the game's tracks:

• Japan - explore the beautiful Japanese countryside.
• Australia - take a wild journey through the Australian Outback.
• Germany - a high-speed romp through country roads.
• Egypt - go through the arid desert landscape and explore ancient Egyptian temples.
• New York - race through the highways of New York City.

These are among many different venues for you to check out in Cruis'n World.

In the Nintendo 64 version of "Cruis'n World," there are a number of closed circuits for you to race on. Many of these courses bear the same sort of challenge their Cruise the World variants offer.

Racing.

Racing is the same in Cruis'n World as it was in Cruis'n World. You may choose to Cruise the World, or you may choose to race any of the individual stages of the game. Access hidden tracks by pressing any number of View buttons to see the other courses. There are ten cars to a track in each race- just like in Cruis'n USA. Be on the lookout for shortcuts you can take to gain somewhat of an advantage in your racing. Clear the checkpoints to gain extra time. You should have no problem trying to clear checkpoints with a game like this, unless you spend more time crashing than racing.

You can still earn a Free Race in the arcade version of this game. In the Nintendo 64 version of Cruis'n World, you will advance to the next stage with a finish of 3rd or better. Solid performance in the N64 Championship Mode will win you new cars and upgraded versions of cars.

You can perform stunts with Cruis'n World. Double-pump the accelerator to perform a brief wheelie. You can even do some side-wheelie action. If you perform a wheelie heading towards a jump, your car will perform a backflip.

When racing on any of the tracks, the most important thing to note is what direction traffic goes. For example, drivers in the United States drive on the right side of the road while drivers in Japan drive on the left side of the road. Knowing which way traffic flows is critical so that you don't end up on the wrong side of the road trying to make passes.


These are among the finer aspects of "Cruis'n World."

--- Cruis'n World: Final Thoughts ---

Cruis'n World only enhances what Cruis'n USA brought. It takes the insanity of the first game with a more international approach. I personally find the racing to be very fun in the game. The action is just right for those wanting a casual racing experience or seasoned racing game veterans. This is just one of many racing games simply about the thrill of driving and high-speed. The shenanigans and comical material add to the classic appeal of Midway racing games. If you haven't yet experienced Cruis'n World, get to an arcade room that has this game and prepare to enjoy a most incredible experience.

Video Preview.

This video offers a preview of the insanity that awaits you in "Cruis'n World." The video features the arcade version:


^ "Cruis'n World - Arcade"

Thank you again for reading this post on "John's Race Space."





I can't offer material to the arcade version, but you're more than willing to get the Nintendo 64 version. Go get it if you have an N64:



Or if you don't have a Nintendo 64, you can get a Nintendo 64 with either of these:



I believe you can also play "Cruis'n World" by shopping at the Wii Shop for your Nintendo Wii.


Do you want to take your chances getting a Cruis'n World arcade unit or parts for a Cruis'n World arcade unit? Try this:

Cruis'n World (arcade) on eBay


Happy shopping! :) I hope you enjoyed this post.





Thank you for reading! Remember to subscribe to my blog(s) if you enjoy my work. Follow me on Bloglovin' if you use Bloglovin' to keep up with blogs. But once again... thanks for reading!

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Cruis'n USA

The (then) Ultra 64 had one game nicely demonstrate the power of the system of the system to later be known as the Nintendo 64- Cruis'n USA. The game would eventually find its way onto the Nintendo 64. This is a wacky arcade racing game that takes you on a tour of the United States. You're going from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. on this tour. If you're ready to go for a little drive, let me chat about Cruis'n USA in this blog post for all of you to enjoy.

About the Label: "Midway"

Racing games developed by or published by Midway are featured under this label. I will use this label to focus entirely on racing games from Midway.

--- Cruis'n USA ---

Circa 1994, Cruis'n USA was released by Midway in arcades. The future of gaming was becoming readily apparent with how Cruis'n USA provided such amazing graphics. Along with the usage of textured polygons like in SEGA's Daytona USA, Cruis'n USA offered a very unique experience with great 3D graphics.

The goal of Cruis'n USA was to drive a cross-country tour of the United States. You begin in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and your goal is Washington, D.C. to hang out with the President of the United States (President Bill Clinton at the time of this game). Your journey takes you across the California coastline, into the Rocky Mountains, a visit through the Midwest, and eventually end up on the East Coast. You can race individual stages or run the entire circuit from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Cars.

You can choose between four cars. Here is a description of each of the four main vehicles to choose from:

• '63 Muscle Car - a sports car resembling the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray.
• La Bomba - a classic coupe.
• Devastator VI - a powerful sport compact.
• Italia P69 - a very fast Italian sports car resembling the Ferrari Testarossa.

It is possible (especially in the arcade version) to race other vehicles. For example, you could race a school bus as one of many hidden vehicles. Upgraded versions of the original four cars can be had by playing the Nintendo 64 version of this game.

Tracks.

All of the tracks are not actual roads and representations of each featured location. In other words, every actual stretch of road to each stage isn't completely accurate. These are tracks that all are inspired by various cues of each location. Your racing will mostly take place around locales like San Francisco, the Grand Canyon, Chicago, and many other places.

Racing.

There are 10 cars to a track, including yours. With the racing all happening on city streets, you will have to contend with traffic on both sides of the road. You must drive through checkpoints to extend your time. You must drive from the Start gate to the Finish gate. Everything in-between is all about making sure you get to the line before anyone else does.

In the Arcade version, winning a race grants you a Free Race. 2nd or worse, and you must insert credits to continue. In the Nintendo 64 version, you must win to advance to the next stage.

--- Cruis'n USA: Final Thoughts ---

The Cruis'n franchise was established with "Cruis'n USA." Its wild pace coupled with some comedic value made this one of the best racing games of the '90s. This is a fun experience that has to be tried if one is an overall lover of racing games. You'd be hard-pressed to find a game that is as insane and as fun as a Cruis'n game can be.

Video Preview.

Here is a video preview of Cruis'n USA (Nintendo 64 version):


^ "Cruis'n USA (Nintendo 64)"

There was a video of the arcade version I wanted to feature, but I didn't provide that video because it provided some spoiler content.


So are you ready for the Cruis'n USA challenge?

--- Cruis'n USA Online ---

I can't offer material to the arcade version, but you're more than willing to get the Nintendo 64 version. Go get it if you have an N64:



Or if you don't have a Nintendo 64, you can get a Nintendo 64 with either of these:



You can also buy the Nintendo 64 version of "Cruis'n USA" from the Wii Shop for your Nintendo Wii.


Maybe you can get lucky on eBay and score a Cruis'n USA arcade unit. Try this:

Cruis'n USA (arcade) on eBay


Happy shopping!





I hope you enjoyed this blog post. Thank you for reading my post about Cruis'n USA!

"Like" me on Facebook, Follow JRS, Follow me on Bloglovin', and/or Contact Me via E-Mail!
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