Acclaim’s New Racer Should Run Like Clockwork
Vanishing point is not that far away.
For those amongst you who have not yet had enough of driving games, the wait for one of the most eagerly awaited games in the genre is almost over. Friday, March 2nd sees the release of Vanishing Point for the PlayStation and Sega Dreamcast, published by Acclaim and developed by Clockwork Games, Nottingham, UK.
With 13 tracks and 32 vehicles available to race, including desirable marques such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin and Lotus, Vanishing Point straddles the Arcade/Simulation barrier with no little aplomb. Mooted as a genuine contender to the likes of the PSX’s Gran Turismo and the frankly disappointing Sega GT on the Dreamcast, VP looks set to appeal to the ‘sometime’ driving gamer and the hardcore racer alike. With a smooth 60 frames-per-second, fantastic course designs and no pop-ups as you race through the various landscapes (hence the title Vanishing Point) it looks very impressive, even to the most casual gamer.
Beyond the surface delights however, the fact that the developers brought in an engineering firm to help with the car physics, and the difference in handling from car to car that this ultimately brings to the game, means that as a simulation, Vanishing Point is a success. In an over-populated genre, the PSX more so than the Dreamcast, Acclaim’s pedigree and the positive previews that Vanishing Point has garnered should ensure healthy sales on both platforms.
With 13 tracks and 32 vehicles available to race, including desirable marques such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin and Lotus, Vanishing Point straddles the Arcade/Simulation barrier with no little aplomb. Mooted as a genuine contender to the likes of the PSX’s Gran Turismo and the frankly disappointing Sega GT on the Dreamcast, VP looks set to appeal to the ‘sometime’ driving gamer and the hardcore racer alike. With a smooth 60 frames-per-second, fantastic course designs and no pop-ups as you race through the various landscapes (hence the title Vanishing Point) it looks very impressive, even to the most casual gamer.
Beyond the surface delights however, the fact that the developers brought in an engineering firm to help with the car physics, and the difference in handling from car to car that this ultimately brings to the game, means that as a simulation, Vanishing Point is a success. In an over-populated genre, the PSX more so than the Dreamcast, Acclaim’s pedigree and the positive previews that Vanishing Point has garnered should ensure healthy sales on both platforms.
Companies:
Acclaim
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