Title: Suzuki Aguri no F-1 Super Driving (JP), Redline F-1 Racer
Release Date: 7/14/1992
Developer: Genki
Publisher: Absolute
As July of 1992 marches on, we have another racing game, this time one labeled in the "formula 1 simulation" genre, and sponsored by a well known Japanese formula 1 racer and owner. Let's jump in!
Background
We have discussed Formula 1 racing before on this blog, but for the uninitiated it basically boils down to precision tuned cars that are meant to travel at very high speeds. These machines generally showcase the cutting edge of automotive technology, so it is a fun marriage of interests for car junkies, speed freaks, and tech nerds. Formula 1 is much more globally popular as opposed to NASCAR which is primarily American.
This game is endorsed by a Japanese racer and now owner of F1 cars from the 80s and 90s, Aguri Suzuki. In my very thorough Wikipedia research on this person, there really isn't too much interesting about this guy other than he sure did compete in a lot of races. He wasn't even that winningest of a racer, but was just a well known Japanese racer in a sport that was primarily dominated by Europeans, and is now a sponsor of several teams in several categories.
This game was clearly made by a fan of both Suzuki and the sport itself. Genki is a developer that is still kicking to this day, and has basically made its bread and butter on Japanese exclusive racing games, usually based on drift and city racing. This game was actually their debut title! They also win the award for my favorite company logo...
The game was published in the US by Absolute, which washed away most of the sponsorship off the box art (though you can still race Aguri in a grudge match in the game). Absolute made a bunch of licensed console title trash in the 90s until going bankrupt in 1995.
Gameplay
The game is a pretty standard racer, though it really leans into the simulation aspect in terms of planning out the loadout for your vehicle. Most of the decisions that will help you win a race are made before you even start racing. What this really boils down to, though, is that the game is just really tough, and sometimes for very obscure reasons.
Here's a typical race: you pick your track, and you face off against another driver. You have to complete a three lap race, and you have a UI that shows the car, your speedometer, as well as a live map of the race. The race starts, the opposing car rubber bands forward, and you then never see them again as you start slip sliding your way around the track. Eventually, you lose. I didn't manage, after about 20-30 minutes of trying, to win a single race.
For a Super Nintendo game, the graphics are really quite good, almost capturing an arcade quality to it, and using the Mode 7 to its full advantage. I would say the perspective is a little off, though. Unlike games like Outrun, too much of the screen is taken up by your UI; this means that the perspective, which in a racer of this vintage relies on having a clear foreground, middle ground, and background, all becomes too pinched. You will enter a turn without as much warning as you would normally have in a modern racer, which means you have to keep one eye on your map while racing; not a fun way to play.
The music isn't too bad!
Final Verdict
While the game does have several modes of play, there really isn't much different to each mode than a 1 on 1 race, or a time trial. Overall, this product feels very slight, and overshadowed by the other racers we have played thus far, and certainly by the racers to come on this blog.
Next time we can go with one of two choices, as both were released on the same day. We either have a soccer game RPG, which I am actually really excited for, or a colorful platformer.
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