Title: Exhaust Heat (JP) F1 RoC: Race of Champions
Release Date: 2/21/92 (JP)
Developer: Seta
Publisher: Seta (JP/NA) Ocean (Europe)
Luckily after some of those larger RPGs, we have some quicker games to work through, which should increase the pace of this blog dramatically. Here we have a stock standard racing game brought to us by Seta. This is a game, honestly, I don't remember from the first time moving through these games. Let's see if I didn't give it a fair shake the first time around!
Background
Formula 1 racing is the incredibly popular international racing competition built around creating the fastest car and racing it around very intricate courses. What makes Formula 1 racing so special is that these vehicles are precision machines; they can move at intense speeds but also handle corners, even at high speeds. Indeed, most courses are actually extended onto closed city streets, and can be quite windy. These races, as well, are actually designated as the fastest races using automobiles. Now in real life, there are two ways that a Formula 1 team can win an award: one of those ways is by winning "grand prix" or races, while another is through designing and constructing the best performing car. This game embodies both of those challenges.
The "Race of Champions" is a real event. This is a weird hybrid event where racers from multiple formats and events race at different courses across the globe. This circuit is 12 races long, and the overall winner is crowned the "Champion of Champions." What is strange with this event is that racers from NASCAR and Indycar can also participate, though I don't know how they'd compete with the raw power and speed of Formula 1 racers. Some of the locales in this tour include (and they are also represented in the video game) Paris, London, Bangkok, Dusseldorf, and Beijing.
Now the game is developed by our friends over at SeTa, who developed that very seldom heard of JRPG GDLeen that we covered earlier in the blog; soon we will also cover their rip-off of Castlevania called Musya.
Gameplay
The game itself is a very straightforward racing game, with a few twists to spice it up. You play as a non-descript racer participating in the Race of Champions tour, starting with Paris. Each locale has two parts: one is the qualifying round, and the second is the race itself. The qualifying round is just a time trial around the course. This gets you used to the course without the interference of other drivers. If you don't beat a select time, then you aren't allowed to continue. After this is the race, where only the top three racers actually place and receive some sort of recognition.
Now here is where the game gets interesting. Like the Dakar Rally game we played before (Jaleco Racing), you have to equip your vehicle before you begin racing with the right equipment. Each bit of equipment comes out of your overall prize money from your races. Now if you damage your car in the race through collisions or what-not, that also comes out of your winnings too. Therefore, it really pays for the player to get familiar with their courses through training before committing to a race. If your car is too damaged and you don't have the money to pay for the car repairs, then your career in the game is over. Apparently this is tied to real life, where the racers are responsible for the upkeep and outfitting of their car.
This game plays very similarly to F-Zero, which is a very good thing. The game handles well, the racing is very fast paced and fun, and the courses are each tricky in their own way. Overall, I would say this is a good bit easier than F-Zero. The courses were easy to learn, and it comes more down to how you outfit your car rather than course memorization. The right car can really save your bacon in a race.
I actually enjoyed the outfitting of your car mechanic just as much as the racing. I felt like I was supporting my own racing team and was both the racer and the sponsor of this team. It added a layer to the game that I wasn't expecting.
As well, the presentation outside of the races is really nice. The colors, as well, pop and are quite flashy. I think my favorite thing is that when you are done with a location, you see your team pack up your truck and load out to the next locale. Sadly, the presentation inside the races is very boring. There is no music, only race noises, and the courses aren't varied enough in aesthetics to be truly interesting. It is less about the unique locales, and more varied in terms of "oh this course is a rainy and windy one." This was very much a letdown.
Apparently, in the Japanese game, there were a bunch of sponsors left out in the final cut, as they were sponsoring cigarettes and alcohol products. I am saddened at this censorship. Not really, but I thought it was an interesting tidbit.
Music
There is a bit of music to check out!
Verdict
It was certainly better racing action than I was expecting, and the low difficulty makes a much more manageable barrier of entry for new players. Still, there are some flubs that keep it from being an easy recommendation. For those collectors, though, it is a pretty easy game to find and pick up.
Next time guys, a run and gun classic!
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