Playstation Racing on Highways and in Formula 1

Today: I play an early street racing game and fail at Formula 1.

32 Bits is a series where I play and review the most popular console games of the past – the games that sold well in their day, not what we look back on fondly now. Why were they popular, what did their success mean, and do they hold up today? Some remain loved, others loathed, while many more are now forgotten. 

Current time: September 1996. The Playstation’s run of weak games continues, despite runaway successes like Crash Bandicoot and Resident Evil making it the number 1 console. The Saturn’s last grab for survival has seen several creative games draw critical acclaim – and commercial indifference. And the Nintendo 64 is about to make its debut…

Information on what games will be reviewed can be found here; my reviews of 1995′s games are archived on this page, while links to reviews from the current season can be found here.

New posts are made every Sunday, while Sega Saturn reviews are posted on some Saturdays.

Tokyo Highway Battle

Developer	Publisher	Release Date	Best-Seller in	Also Known As	Also On	Playstation Review Number
Genki	Jaleco	5/3/96 (Japan) 9/30/96 (North America) 6/97 (Europe)	Japan (the Best)	Shutokō Battle: Drift King	Saturn	#45

The History:

A sequel to the game Shutokō Battle ‘94 for the SNES, which never left Japan, Tokyo Highway Battle found worldwide release but only saw success in its native Japan.

The Game:

“INCOMPATIBLE PART”

Tokyo Highway Battle offers admirable customization for its day: the Speed Shop features dozens of parts in a dozen categories. And when you try to buy them, you’re liable to get told that part doesn’t go with your car.

You aren’t told what car it does work with, or why it’s incompatible. You’re just told…well, that it doesn’t work with your car.

Such is life in Tokyo Highway Battle.