Really iconic in itself but it was very poorly optimized for the Saturn and the truth is that it is quite noticeable.
prolly has the best game over theme of all time
(fr tho play the arcade or dreamcast version with the original OST instead)
(fr tho play the arcade or dreamcast version with the original OST instead)
Us kids desperately snatching at that arcade experience
GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES
For the past few months I’ve been obsessing over this game, while not actually sitting down to play through it. Not too long after I had dipped into Ridge Racer Type 4 I became interested in other racing games, and eventually learned about Daytona USA. An iconic arcade racer that- immediately took my interest. The aesthetics, soundtrack, and arcadey nature made me raise an eyebrow. I wanted to try this.
But only now have I actually gone through every track in the original game, after playing the first two levels on and off for about two months. Some of that is due to Daytona’s skill curve. I wouldn’t call it as easy to pick up and play as Ridge Racer. The way drifting works is significantly more difficult to pick up on, and overall this game has more emphasis on needing to learn all of its mechanical intricacies to play properly. That being said, you can still do okay-ish enough by knowing only the basics, even on automatic transmission.
Gameplay wasn’t the main factor for my interest in the game, though. I was much more curious about everything else. Daytona USA is absolutely seeping with SEGA’s energy from the 90’s. Bright blue skies loom over you, as head bopping tunes, some of Sega Sound Team’s pure finest, play in the background. Takenobu Mitsuyoshi’s fantastic vocals for every track elevated the score, and with the Saturn version, made his voice fully realized in the realm of CD quality audio. The soundtrack is mainly comprised of three songs, The King of Speed, Let’s Go Away, and Sky High, all of which are FANTASTIC. Both the arcade and Saturn versions of these tunes are some of my favorites in video games period, reminding me of similar Sega soundtracks like Sonic R and Sonic CD. Just music that is riding with both energy, creativity, and depth.
The 1994 Saturn port of the game isn’t well regarded, and while for good reason too, it’s still very solid. The technical aspects of the game are a bit annoying, such as the drop from 60fps to 20fps, and the limited draw distance being- very apparent. It still plays great, though, and it also introduces the arranged soundtrack. I think considering the crunch development cycle of the Saturn version in order for it to release on launch, alongside the limitations of Saturn hardware compared to Sega’s technical beast that is the Model 2, it’s a lot better than it could’ve been. Nowadays, if you have a PS3 or Xbox, you can just play a modern port of the arcade version for about ten bucks, which isn’t a bad price. There still is merit to trying older versions of the game, but if you had to pick one version… it’s probably that. I still adored the Saturn version, with it’s cute little limitations, shadows and other visual effects simply being a very obvious dithering effect, and overall comfiness. It is worse than the arcade version, but it still offers that core Daytona experience.
Little side tangent, can I just say that the box art for both of the Daytona USA ports on Saturn in Japan look fantastic? The 1994 one is oozing with color, while the Circuit Edition one has this amazing evening sky. The NTSC-U box arts by comparison are… fine, but a little generic.
Daytona USA is a special game to me. It’s not my favorite racing game (I still think RRT4 is), but it’s a game that reminds me of why I loved Sega in the 90’s and 2000’s, especially with those bright blue Sega skies. I don’t know if I’ll ever fully be able to explain what this game’s aesthetics mean to me, but it makes me happy and I guess that’s all that really matters. Please play this, if you can, it’s less than 30 minutes long if you play all the tracks, and it is really fun.
For the past few months I’ve been obsessing over this game, while not actually sitting down to play through it. Not too long after I had dipped into Ridge Racer Type 4 I became interested in other racing games, and eventually learned about Daytona USA. An iconic arcade racer that- immediately took my interest. The aesthetics, soundtrack, and arcadey nature made me raise an eyebrow. I wanted to try this.
But only now have I actually gone through every track in the original game, after playing the first two levels on and off for about two months. Some of that is due to Daytona’s skill curve. I wouldn’t call it as easy to pick up and play as Ridge Racer. The way drifting works is significantly more difficult to pick up on, and overall this game has more emphasis on needing to learn all of its mechanical intricacies to play properly. That being said, you can still do okay-ish enough by knowing only the basics, even on automatic transmission.
Gameplay wasn’t the main factor for my interest in the game, though. I was much more curious about everything else. Daytona USA is absolutely seeping with SEGA’s energy from the 90’s. Bright blue skies loom over you, as head bopping tunes, some of Sega Sound Team’s pure finest, play in the background. Takenobu Mitsuyoshi’s fantastic vocals for every track elevated the score, and with the Saturn version, made his voice fully realized in the realm of CD quality audio. The soundtrack is mainly comprised of three songs, The King of Speed, Let’s Go Away, and Sky High, all of which are FANTASTIC. Both the arcade and Saturn versions of these tunes are some of my favorites in video games period, reminding me of similar Sega soundtracks like Sonic R and Sonic CD. Just music that is riding with both energy, creativity, and depth.
The 1994 Saturn port of the game isn’t well regarded, and while for good reason too, it’s still very solid. The technical aspects of the game are a bit annoying, such as the drop from 60fps to 20fps, and the limited draw distance being- very apparent. It still plays great, though, and it also introduces the arranged soundtrack. I think considering the crunch development cycle of the Saturn version in order for it to release on launch, alongside the limitations of Saturn hardware compared to Sega’s technical beast that is the Model 2, it’s a lot better than it could’ve been. Nowadays, if you have a PS3 or Xbox, you can just play a modern port of the arcade version for about ten bucks, which isn’t a bad price. There still is merit to trying older versions of the game, but if you had to pick one version… it’s probably that. I still adored the Saturn version, with it’s cute little limitations, shadows and other visual effects simply being a very obvious dithering effect, and overall comfiness. It is worse than the arcade version, but it still offers that core Daytona experience.
Little side tangent, can I just say that the box art for both of the Daytona USA ports on Saturn in Japan look fantastic? The 1994 one is oozing with color, while the Circuit Edition one has this amazing evening sky. The NTSC-U box arts by comparison are… fine, but a little generic.
Daytona USA is a special game to me. It’s not my favorite racing game (I still think RRT4 is), but it’s a game that reminds me of why I loved Sega in the 90’s and 2000’s, especially with those bright blue Sega skies. I don’t know if I’ll ever fully be able to explain what this game’s aesthetics mean to me, but it makes me happy and I guess that’s all that really matters. Please play this, if you can, it’s less than 30 minutes long if you play all the tracks, and it is really fun.
This was supposed to be the killer app selling tons of Saturn consoles due to the popularity of the arcade game. Unfortunately, it is a rushed port, with environments popping in way late and the driving mechanics not feeling quite right. Fortunately Sega Rally showed a few months later what the Saturn could do, but the damage was done.
One of the definitive sega saturn games. Fun and basic racing game with a legendary soundtrack.
🎵 DAYTONA LET'S GO AWAY 🎵
🎵 DAYTONA LET'S GO AWAY 🎵
US Saturn Release #003 - Daytona USA
Played on a real American Sega Saturn with the Fenrir ODE
Daytona USA is just so fucking fun, man. I don't have a whole lot to really add to that, honestly. It just feels perfect whenever I play it and even though I eat shit all the time on the harder turns, I'm constantly motivated to try it again because the whole thing is just so much fun. Nailing a tough turn and blasting through at top speed is truly a feeling you can struggle to capture in modern racers.
Though, I won't act like this is some perfect port. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to notice that this port is a severe graphical downgrade. Usually it's not that big of a deal because it generally plays like the arcade cabinet, but sometimes it does effect the playing experience with lag and lower frame-rates. Also, I just kind of think the pop-in is ugly. However, that's about it when it comes to big flaws.
The soundtrack is also surprisingly better than the arcade game. Since the game is on a disc, it can do these songs more naturally compared to the arcade game which had to deliver its vocals through a string of samples. The arcade game's samples are charming, but I do think this is better overall.
This is a must-have, must-play Sega Saturn title. It has its evident failings, but at its heart, it's a wonderful arcade port that you'll gladly sink hours into. This is a perfect boredom killer. Never a dull moment.
8/10
Played on a real American Sega Saturn with the Fenrir ODE
Daytona USA is just so fucking fun, man. I don't have a whole lot to really add to that, honestly. It just feels perfect whenever I play it and even though I eat shit all the time on the harder turns, I'm constantly motivated to try it again because the whole thing is just so much fun. Nailing a tough turn and blasting through at top speed is truly a feeling you can struggle to capture in modern racers.
Though, I won't act like this is some perfect port. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to notice that this port is a severe graphical downgrade. Usually it's not that big of a deal because it generally plays like the arcade cabinet, but sometimes it does effect the playing experience with lag and lower frame-rates. Also, I just kind of think the pop-in is ugly. However, that's about it when it comes to big flaws.
The soundtrack is also surprisingly better than the arcade game. Since the game is on a disc, it can do these songs more naturally compared to the arcade game which had to deliver its vocals through a string of samples. The arcade game's samples are charming, but I do think this is better overall.
This is a must-have, must-play Sega Saturn title. It has its evident failings, but at its heart, it's a wonderful arcade port that you'll gladly sink hours into. This is a perfect boredom killer. Never a dull moment.
8/10
The lower framerate on this version does make the game suffer a bit, especially when it comes to the tighter turns seen in later stages, but I think I find the constant pop-in worse, as it can be quite distracting.
Although, this game saves itself by letting you play as a horse.
Although, this game saves itself by letting you play as a horse.
Pretty decent port considering this was for the Saturn at a time where 3D graphics were still on diapers. It's obviously not arcade perfect but it plays just the same.
Spent the whole day trying to make Daytona USA run. First the Windows version, because I wanted high resolution, but unfortunately I couldn't make the car accelerate for some reason. And there were no control settings. So then I tried to emulate the Arcade version, which strangely missed a few files in practically every rom I tried downloading. For some reason you have to download those files separately. And after I did that, it ran, but again I could not figure out which button accelerates. I literally tried pressing every single button on the keyboard, and it didn't work. So finally I went for the Saturn version, and I'm kinda glad I did. Even though running it was also a pain in the ass. I went through two different roms and two different emulators, the latter of which I had to edit a file of just to make the sound work.
As a result I was left feeling a little disappointed. This game is usually considered one of the best racing games of all time, but it didn't impress me that much. And it's not even the fact that it's old, because I have played better older racing games.
I loved the visuals, and the controls and physics are pretty decent, but there isn't really much else to praise about the game. There's this cool pit-stop feature, but I couldn't for the life of me figure why you would wanna use it, since all it does is slow you down.
Although the graphics are pretty impressive for the time, the pop-in in this game is so bad that it's like driving at the edge of reality (this seems to be common across all versions). And I know this is subjective, but I fucking hated the music here. I think there's only like 3 songs, and I couldn't stand every second of them. And despite the fact the game is seemingly very short (as most Arcade games tend to be), I did not complete it. Though that's more due to the insane difficulty.
The good thing about this Saturn version is that it has the so-called Saturn Mode, which lets you play the game as if it was a console release, without the timer and more customization and progression options. This is why I was glad I played the Saturn version. Still I couldn't win a single race, but I did do better than in the Arcade mode. Nevertheless, to anyone trying out the original game, I'd recommend this over the Arcade or the Windows versions.
Overall, this is more of a mixed-bag, imo. If it wasn't for the soundtrack and the difficulty, I would've played longer. But still I can't quite figure out why it is so revered. Seems like a pretty standard racing game.
As a result I was left feeling a little disappointed. This game is usually considered one of the best racing games of all time, but it didn't impress me that much. And it's not even the fact that it's old, because I have played better older racing games.
I loved the visuals, and the controls and physics are pretty decent, but there isn't really much else to praise about the game. There's this cool pit-stop feature, but I couldn't for the life of me figure why you would wanna use it, since all it does is slow you down.
Although the graphics are pretty impressive for the time, the pop-in in this game is so bad that it's like driving at the edge of reality (this seems to be common across all versions). And I know this is subjective, but I fucking hated the music here. I think there's only like 3 songs, and I couldn't stand every second of them. And despite the fact the game is seemingly very short (as most Arcade games tend to be), I did not complete it. Though that's more due to the insane difficulty.
The good thing about this Saturn version is that it has the so-called Saturn Mode, which lets you play the game as if it was a console release, without the timer and more customization and progression options. This is why I was glad I played the Saturn version. Still I couldn't win a single race, but I did do better than in the Arcade mode. Nevertheless, to anyone trying out the original game, I'd recommend this over the Arcade or the Windows versions.
Overall, this is more of a mixed-bag, imo. If it wasn't for the soundtrack and the difficulty, I would've played longer. But still I can't quite figure out why it is so revered. Seems like a pretty standard racing game.
Peak 90s arcade racing
what is this