Virtua Racing Observations

[Anayo]

The Sega Genesis Version

... Is awesome because it's 3D polygons on the Sega Genesis. Which is unheard of. In terms of graphics and techno-novelty value it gets an A+.

But it's no fun because your car is impossible to steer. Let's say hypothetically your car turns at 30 degrees, well they give you a road that's curved at 45 degrees. Crashing is inevitable, making the whole thing very arduous and hopeless.

The Sega 32X version

... Is kind of lame because it looks exactly like the friggin' Sega Genesis version, except it requires twelve times the amount of plastic, microchips, and electricity. The biggest graphical difference you'll see is in the Genesis one your car has hexagon wheels. In this it has octagon wheels. Whoop dee freaking doo.

It has two extra tracks and two extra cars, though (a city track and a canyon track, plus two kinds of cars I can't quite remember). But it doesn't matter when your car is still impossible to steer, thereby making it devoid of fun.

The Sega Saturn version

Is also lame because the Saturn can do texture maps and dynamic lighting, but they decided to port a blocktastic plastic cyber-world racer for no conceivable reason. Also, they cut out all the extras from the 32X version, so you're back to three tracks and one car.

EXCEPT, you can actually steer your car this time. It's unbelievable. When I turn my car and gently let off the gas, I don't spin out. OMG. Now I can actually play the game. Now this is actually somewhat fun.

Conclusion

The best of all three worlds would be a Genesis version (for the techno-novelty of polygons on the 2D genny) with all five tracks and three cars (for expanded content) and a car I can actually steer (so I'll, ya know, play it every now and then.) But since that's not in real life, I nominate the Saturn version as the best, the Genny version as second place, and the 32X version as the worst.

[lisalover1]

Interesting observations. I certainly agree on the Saturn version needing a graphical upgrade. Sometimes a port needs to be better than the arcade.

[Mathius]

I just got a copy of VR for the Genesis and, because of the controls, I am lucky if I finish second-to-last place.

[Hateshinai]

I have the Genesis/Megadrive version and I love it. I don't see what the problem is with the controls - they seem perfectly fine to me. I still suck at it though.

[Pulsar_t]

You can play the original using any recent build of MAME. Of course not all Model 1 emulation glitches have been ironed out but it remains better than the conversions!

[GagaMan]

Best version out there is actually the Playstation 2 version found on Sega Classics Collection. It's far closer to the arcade game than any of the older versions. Can't say I've had quite the same problems with steering in the mega Drive one though, maybe the odd bump or two.

[Anayo]

My only shortcoming in this "review" is that I've never played the arcade version. It would sure be interesting to compare it.

[dsheinem]

I'd rank these in exact opposite order - I love the 32X version and the steering in it (and on the Genesis version) works just fine once you get used to it. Hell, I even enjoy the split screen two-player action! I still have some pretty impressive lap records on all those tracks.

The Saturn version feels loose and, frankly, like a sloppier port of the arcade version than either of the 16-bit versions.

I haven't played the PS2 collection version for a while, so I'll give that another look. I'd love to see VR2 some day, as this is easily my all time favorite Sega racer!

[Niode]

You don't need to turn 45 degrees to take a 45 degree corner. It's called clipping the apex.

[Anayo]

Sometime you people need to post a video of yourselves actually beating this game. I just don't understand how you do it.