Tokyo Highway BattleSYSTEM: Sony
Playstation
DEVELOPER: Bullet-Proof Software, Inc.
PRODUCER: Jaleco
PRICE: I paid $29.99 (7/28/97)
RATED: Kids to Adults
I hope this review isn't a little pre-mature. I've only spent about 10 hours with the game, and I feel qualified to give this review now. Usually I spend countless hours with a game before I review it. In this case I'll make an exception. If my opinion changes after extended play (which I'm sure I'll do), I'll update this review.
When I first began playing, I almost threw the game away. Sure, the game looked good, but the cars seemed to be driving through molasses. Even my 5 year old son commented "cars are supposed to go fast", which meant even he noticed how slow it moved. A plus was that there was almost no pop-up, but even at that the collision detection seemed to be way off at times. At one point, I thought I was going to colide with a semi truck, but I ended up going right through it. Needless to say, my first impression of this game was very poor.
To give a true review, I felt I needed more time with the game. I knew if I reviewed the game after only a few plays I would've totally bashed it. I felt the creators deserved more for their many hours spent developing the game. After all, it must have some good points.
Well, I began playing more. This is where my opinion started to change (drastically, I might add). My biggest complaint initially was the speed of the cars. This began to greatly improve once I began to win some races. I think my first cars only did about 180 km/h (without upgrades). The cars I'm driving now do about 260 km/h (with several upgrades), and I'm still near the beginning of the game. Once you win, you have a large number of options to upgrade your cars. Handling, tires, exhaust, engine, shocks, ect. ect.. ect... It doesn't take long to create a very race competent car with your point earnings. Once you win at all three tracks, you get three more (greatly improved) cars to race with. It's no longer slow racing, it's fast faassttttt racing!
Graphically speaking the game looks good. You race through downtown Tokyo (day and night), and the scenery is beautiful. I love looking at sky scrapping buildings just flying by! You pass cars, busses, and semi trucks (In scenario mode). This greatly adds to the scenery, as well as to the gameplay. Weaving in and out of trucks and busses can be quite a challenge (and great fun). There are better graphic games, but this one does just fine.
The sound is neither great, nor poor. At times it seemed to fit well, and other times it didn't. Put it this way, you won't be repulsed by it.
This games strongest points are in the gameplay and the replay value. The way you upgrade and gain cars not only adds to replay value, but it makes for a great playable game. The computer AI was almost unbelievable. Many times I thought I was racing a real human. Seriously, it's that good! Most of your racing will be with your computer opponent side by side with you, just in front of you, or right behind. All the while your weaving in and out of traffic. This is truly an intense racing game!!
To tell the truth, I've had a better time with this game than with Ridge Racer, Daytona, Cruis'n USA, Sega Rally, and almost all other racing games. It's not that it was perfect in any area, and it's not that it was programmed better than the others. It's just so balanced that it draws you in.
So is this the perfect racing game? No, not by a long shot. There are many area's in which it could've been improved. It only offers one view (no options), collision detection is bad at times, it's only one player, doesn't have near the phsyics of Sega Rally, cars don't take damage like Daytona, No hidden vehicles like Cruis'n, and wasn't as tightly programmed as Ridge Racer. In other words, it's great fun, but doesn't stand out as being revolutionary in any one area. Still, if I had to give up all but one of the above mentioned games, I'd keep Tokoyo.
I've read several reviews of this game prior to my purchase. Most have rated it average or slightly above. I agree with those reviews due to the fact that it's non-revolutionary. On the otherhand, if I rated games for purely fun-factor it would be at the top of my list (along with Stargate, Robotron 2084 ect.). What I'm saying is: "Don't let the numbers fool you! GET THIS GAME NOW!!!!"
RATINGS
GRAPHICS 80%
SOUND 70%
GAMEPLAY 98%
ORIGINALITY 70%
REPLAY VALUE 95%
OVERALL 83%
