Racing Longplay (PS1 Game) - Difficulty: Novice
1- Racing Longplay (PS1 Game) - Difficulty: Novice -
Racing, which you might know as Simple 1500 Series Vol. 13: The Race over in Japan or "Pro Racer" if you're tuning in from Europe, is this quaint little racing game that hit the PlayStation scene between 1999 and 2003. Developed by Tamsoft and released as part of Japan's Simple 1500 series, this game was all about bringing some straightforward racing fun without burning a hole through your wallet.
Now, let me just say, flipping through the manual, you get a chuckle out of the features listed—it's like a little snapshot of what budget gaming used to be. You've got three circuits to race around, six cars to pick from (and hey, two of them are secret ones!), a choice between two camera angles as you zoom along, a bonus driving tutorial that covers the basics and some pro tips, plus a replay function to relive your most glorious or disastrous races. And let's not forget the game boasted third-person perspective, 3D and cartoonish graphics, all wrapped up in a racing theme (I think you got the picture).
Despite being available in various corners of the globe under different titles, Racing didn't exactly cross the finish line to roaring applause. But, you know, I've always felt there's no need to kick a game when it's down. Back in the day, some folks were pretty quick to tear it apart for its shortcomings. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, I stand by the idea that it's a bit much to expect the world from a game that clearly didn't have the biggest budget. You're not getting state-of-the-art physics, the cars handle like they're moving through molasses, and they wouldn't be winning any beauty contests either.
But here's the thing—take the game for what it is: a bit of light entertainment. It's got its quirks, sure, but it's totally playable. And isn't that the point? So, after more than two decades, I'm diving back in, starting from Novice and cranking it all the way up to the toughest challenge it's got. Let's see if Racing can still get the adrenaline pumping.
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