Developer: Toka Publisher: Playmates Release: 09/30/96 Genre: Racing
Daytona USA changed the game for arcade racing games. Sega leapfrogged everyone else with its Model 2 technology to deliver a graphical tour de force that also played great. We wanted that experience at home so badly we even tolerated the janky Saturn port. PlayStation fans were left out but that did not stop a few developers from trying. Burning Road is an early PS1 title that has mostly been forgotten. Although it captures some of what made Sega’s driving game classic it is still a pale imitation.
Burning Road resembles Daytona so much that it earned the nickname “Dayclona”. At quick glimpse and the inspiration is obvious. The initial beginner track looks similar to Dinosaur Canyon as well. The draw-in is not as bad as the Saturn port of that game but is noticeable. With that in mind Burning Road looks great and does have its differences. The framerate is a solid thirty and rarely dips. The tracks have variable weather and terrain like snow, mud, and rain that lend a sense of atmosphere. After each race there is a replay which uses different camera angles to frame the action which was not common at the time. While it is true that Sega’s title was the clear inspiration for Burning Road the game still has a unique look.
There are two soundtracks in Burning Road. The original Japanese OST closely mirrored the cheesy vocal themes of Daytona. As goofy as that may sound the music is generally excellent. The same cannot be said of the butt rock soundtrack specific to the American and European release. Opinions may vary but the rock soundtrack is not very good in my opinion. On top of that the announcer is not good at all. At least they give you the option to switch.
In terms of gameplay Burning Road sticks close to Sega’s blueprint. It uses the same four camera angles and offers a choice of three tracks, beginner, advanced, and expert. You have a choice of four varied vehicles with ratings in acceleration, max speed, and handling. The differences in control are incredibly noticeable. The four wheel drive truck is the best and is practically glued to the road whereas the speedier roadster is thrown around the track with reckless abandon.
Burning Road is an arcade racer along the likes of Ridge Racer instead of a simulation. The handling is loose to allow for power sliding around the track. It isn’t as easy to initiate as in Namco’s title but is a critical skill to master for success. Ramming rival cars off the road or into embankments also works. Even though the game uses a checkpoint system there is a minimum time to qualify for the next race in Championship mode. This means your overall placement in each course is not as important. To give an idea I came in sixth place my first time playing but still qualified for the next track. As odd as it sounds this is also due to the game’s AI.
Unfortunately Burning Road suffers from heavy rubberbanding. There are seven CPU opponents in every race and chances are you will see them clustered together at all times. The rubber band AI is aggressive; if you so much as graze a wall too hard expect to see almost every AI pass you. It works in your favor as well; if you are behind as I just mentioned you can expect to pass three or four cars simultaneously. If you are in first or second place know that the AI is a hair’s breath away at all times. I know some like rubberbanding but I do not. It cheapens skillful driving and most developers rarely set it right. At least the game was seemingly designed with this in mind.
As with most racing games back then Burning Road is a bit lacking in content. Three tracks and four cars makes sense in the arcade when you are looking for a quick thrill. But at home it is meager. You can easily unlock mirrored tracks but I have never been fond of that practice in lieu of new courses. The game is not very difficult which makes its lack of content even more egregious. The lack of basic multiplayer out of the box also hurts its longevity. You can race another player but it requires the PlayStation link cable which in the decades since the system’s release I still have never seen in person.
In Closing
Burning Road is a tough one to sum up. What is here is good it just needs more of it. This was the definition of a rental title at release. Now it is a mild curiosity. Fun for a little while but not something you will return to over and over again.
