Scenic racing games.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:53 pm

What was the first racing game to really emphasize scenery? OutRun?

I think nice scenery is an important key in enjoying racing games for me. Just recently played through Road Rash 3D and while most people would probably barf at the graphics, it was fairly ambitious and did the landscape right (it's like 100+ miles of interconnected roads, with hills even). RR had always done cross country style racing, but it never looked as much like real land.

What are some of the better scenic racers, especially newer prettier ones? I'm thinking I might be missing some on Xbox/360... How is the PS2 OutRun?

Post by **system11** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:57 pm

Sega's Turbo way back had different types of road section, including an innovative for the time section with a cliff you could fall off, and tunnels which changed the lighting.

Taito's Buggy Challenge /sort/ of counts, there was no scenery to speak of - no road edges, but the desert racing surface was covered with small and large hills, some big enough to make you jump n roll before landing.

Outrun was probably the first where the whole purpose was to look pretty.

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:35 pm

Rob wrote:What was the first racing game to really emphasize scenery? OutRun?

I think nice scenery is an important key in enjoying racing games for me. Just recently played through Road Rash 3D and while most people would probably barf at the graphics, it was fairly ambitious and did the landscape right (it's like 100+ miles of interconnected roads, with hills even). RR had always done cross country style racing, but it never looked as much like real land.

What are some of the better scenic racers, especially newer prettier ones? I'm thinking I might be missing some on Xbox/360... How is the PS2 OutRun?

Honestly, I think Road Rash 3D was the first good example, like you mention.
Even Gamefan magazine mentioned that the realism (for the time) was unparallelled, with some of the roads being extremely close to their real life counterparts. It was the one game that I wished I could buy a 3DO for because of the fact the scenery changed so much, but alas I never did get it.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:14 pm

Hey guys, don't confuse Road Rash 3D with Road Rash 32

Road Rash 32 is the one which was released for 3DO, then later for PS1, Saturn and PC.

http://www.blog.co.uk/index.php/fz1-3do/2005/12/

The game is actually just called "Road Rash" on 3DO. The later released were dubbed "Road Rash 32", as it was the first in the series released for a 32-bit system.

Road Rash 3D was the first Road Rash to use real 3D graphics, and it was released only for the PS1 as far as I know.

http://www.richpsx.com/rr3d.htm

FatCobra · Post by **FatCobra** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:29 pm

I know most of you guys like to poo on GT4, but I like that Nurbinburg (sp? It's that long ass track in Germany with the graffiti on it) track. If you drive slow enough, you can actually see the graffiti on the road!

Strangely enough, PGR3 has that track as well, but it looks like total ass. And it's a next-gen game too, hmmm...

There's a next-gen Test Drive game that takes place entirely in Hawaii, that might be some good scenery there.

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:35 pm

FatCobra wrote:
Strangely enough, PGR3 has that track as well, but it looks like total ass. And it's a next-gen game too, hmmm...

Total ass?
Not so. Don't forget that Forza has Nurburgring and it's various configurations as well. The PGR version is by far the most lifelike interpretation of the track, GT4 or Forza simply don't hold up next to it.

FatCobra · Post by **FatCobra** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:38 pm

SuperGrafx wrote:
FatCobra wrote:
Strangely enough, PGR3 has that track as well, but it looks like total ass. And it's a next-gen game too, hmmm...
Total ass?
Not so. Don't forget that Forza has Nurburgring and it's various configurations as well. The PGR version is by far the most lifelike interpretation of the track, GT4 or Forza simply don't hold up next to it.

Haven't played Forza yet, and maybe the PGR verison may be the most lifelike, but I guess the way they textured it rubs me the wrong way or something.

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:41 pm

FatCobra wrote:
SuperGrafx wrote:
FatCobra wrote:
Strangely enough, PGR3 has that track as well, but it looks like total ass. And it's a next-gen game too, hmmm...
Total ass?
Not so. Don't forget that Forza has Nurburgring and it's various configurations as well. The PGR version is by far the most lifelike interpretation of the track, GT4 or Forza simply don't hold up next to it.
Haven't played Forza yet, and maybe the PGR verison may be the most lifelike, but I guess the way they textured it rubs me the wrong way or something.

Yeah, the Xbox 360 lighting can sometimes be "too harsh" which makes landscapes or whatever appear garish. Oblivion has this phenomenon as well...certain structures (like brick textures) have an almost radioactive glow when the lighting hits them at times. You get used to it.

1up · Post by **1up** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:41 pm

The GT4 version of nurby is supposed to be the most accurate, with actual GPS readings etc.

For a good game with great looking scenery I can recommend Outrun 2 for xbox. The gfx just blows me away

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:43 pm

The main advantage to the PGR3 Nurburgring is that it also includes the F1 circuit in addition to the Nordschliefe. As for detail, I think that Forza has the most accurate scenery for real courses that I've seen. I will have to say that some of the tracks in MotoGP 2006 look impressive too.

Edge · Post by **Edge** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:52 pm

I also liked the scenery of Burnout 3. I found the European courses esspecially appealing.

ahnslaught · Post by **ahnslaught** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:56 pm

Grand prix legends may not hold up very well anymore in terms of graphical detail, but it has very scenic tracks simply by the fact that they have these great long courses that aren't completely enclosed by armcos. The other advantage is that these courses are very long (Spa, Nurburgring, etc), so it actually feels like you're going somewhere.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:52 pm

I like the professional racing games but many lack good scenery IMHO.
But then again in a professional game you are on a track..lol.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:43 pm

Shatterhand wrote:Hey guys, don't confuse Road Rash 3D with Road Rash 32

Road Rash 32 is the one which was released for 3DO, then later for PS1, Saturn and PC.

The first PS Road Rash is not that good. Kind of like an old Genesis RR except a little stiffer to control and lots of load times. My second or third PS game.

Road Rash 64 is also pretty good, but a little lacking in detail if you can imagine. Haven't played it in about 6 years.

Burnout 3 was nice. Closest thing to RR I've played.

tekneekz · Post by **tekneekz** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:34 pm

i have outrun 2006 coast to coast for xbox and ps2, they both really do play the same just looks sharper on the xbox but not by a huge margin, im actually 2nd place world ranking in outrun 2006 c2c

SuperGrafx · Post by **SuperGrafx** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:01 am

ahnslaught wrote:Grand prix legends may not hold up very well anymore in terms of graphical detail, but it has very scenic tracks simply by the fact that they have these great long courses that aren't completely enclosed by armcos. The other advantage is that these courses are very long (Spa, Nurburgring, etc), so it actually feels like you're going somewhere.

I'm not familiar with that game. Is it for console or PC?

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:03 am

Side by Side Special (PS1), and Battle Gear 2 & 3 (both on PS2) all have some nice scenic tracks.

ahnslaught · Post by **ahnslaught** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:37 am

It's a PC game from like 1998, I think. It has a reputation as being the most difficult and realistic racing sim ever, and after playing it, I have to agree. Honestly, it's the one racing game that really really got me interested in F1 and motorsports in general - if racing a car is anything at all like that game, I have the greatest respect for old time drivers.

I happened to catch it for $5 at a store a bunch of years ago, but word of warning if you find and decide to buy it - it is brutally difficult. No aero + crap tires + dangerous tracks = big trouble. I only play it to run hotlaps around courses because it's tough enough trying to control your car from oversteering, that I don't need to worry about any other cars in a race situation.

The game had (has?) a pretty large following, so there's a bunch of mods to add on to the game, including new models, tracks, etc.

GateofThunderforceIII · Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:02 am

Beetle Adventure Racing for the N64 is one neat liitle adventure/arcade racer. Nice varying scenery with lots of hidden shortcuts and fun gameplay. This can use a next-gen sequel that would be free of the blur vision the game suffered from (as did pretty much all other N64 games).

Of course, Outrun C2C for PS2 and XBox and plain Outrun 2 for the Box is tops for graphical scenery in ANY racing game. Hats off to the PS2 version for being oh so close and to my eyes, a little less jaggy than the XBox version.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:08 am

GateofThunderforceIII wrote: Of course, Outrun C2C for PS2 and XBox and plain Outrun 2 for the Box is tops for graphical scenery in ANY racing game. Hats off to the PS2 version for being oh so close and to my eyes, a little less jaggy than the XBox version.

Well I know what I'm buying next. Beetle Racing also sounds cool. I need to stock up on N64 racers anyways. I can take the blur.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:09 am

Considering I played Indianapolis 500, F1GP, Nascar Racing, GP2, and Indy Car Racing 1 & 2, I JUST had to have played Grand Prix Legends.

And this is coming from someone who managed to play the above mentioned games fairly well.

GP Legends is FUCKIN HARD. Respect to anyone who manages to play that thing, it's nearly impossible to control the car! I tried a demo of it back when it was released, and when I just say "Fuck it, that's just too frustrating", I decided to not buy the game

I should look for it now, and give it another shot someday

raiden · Post by **raiden** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:35 am

the best scenic racer I´ve come across is World Racing 2. Unfortunately, the console versions all suck. This game was a big part in my decision to consider PC gaming as an alternative to the whole next-gen stuff. It´s not only obscenely beautiful, but also delivers very challenging and original gameplay. Do not consider buying this game if you´re a casual racing game player, as you will get frustrated beyond belief.
The game features several extremely big landscapes in different settings (Miami, Hawaii, Italy, to name a few) in which you can roam free, but have to meet very tight goals to proceed. There are checkpoint races where you have to find the best route by yourself, with checkpoints being placed in so strange and inconceivable ways you won´t believe till you see it, but there are also several other types of races, where you not only have to win, but also drift a certain amount (and this is the most complicated drift model I´ve ever come across), stay below a certain damage limit, catch up with cars being one lap ahead, and deal with regular road traffic at the same time - not only passenger cars but also trucks and busses.
To have this game running fluidly you´ll need a pretty decent PC (processor 3ghz or better, DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card in the $100-$200 range if you can live with a lot of details removed). The newest patch supports the Xbox 360 gamepad perfectly. On Xbox, the game runs with about 10-15 fps, and on 360, it doesn´t run at all.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:57 pm

the only outrun game for japan import ps2 is the Sega Ages version, has anyone tried this? is it different to the Outrun:Coast2Coast game or the same thing?

theevilfunkster · Post by **theevilfunkster** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:23 pm

DC906270 wrote:the only outrun game for japan import ps2 is the Sega Ages version, has anyone tried this? is it different to the Outrun:Coast2Coast game or the same thing?

It's a remake of the original Outrun and it's quite awful, although not quite as bad as some of the other Sega Ages remakes. If you really want to try it, it's on the Sega Classics Collection which got a PAL release a while back.

Middlemoor · Post by **Middlemoor** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:15 pm

I like the watery atmosphere in Hydro Thunder and Wave Race 64. Kart racers are cool too, check out Mario Kart Arcade GP.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:14 am

I loved the huge white clouds and colorful, blocky textureless polygons in Virtua Racing...

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Scenic racing games.

Scenic racing games.

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