PC Engine Review: Road Spirits
Publisher: Arc Co. Ltd./Pack-In-Video
Genre: Racing
Game Type: PCE CD-ROM 2

I like racing games. I know....it's a pathetically simple statement, but I like them. Especially when they're uncomplicated and just fun. With all the hubbub about Project Gotham Racing and Gran Turismo 3 and such, many older-style racing games often slide right past the attention span of most gamers. I'm talking about classic games like Outrun and Road Blasters. Back when all you had to do was shift and turn corners...and there wasn't a lot of physics involved...just basic collision, brakes, acceleration, and a drive to win.

That's What Road Spirits is: a racing game that goes back to the root of the genre, literally. The first impression I had was of a very well done version of Pole Position, and I think it's pretty accurate. The cars are more varied, the graphics are better, and there's just more to it, but essentially, you're playing a cross between Outrun and Pole Position.

There are several notable features that make this game good though. First off, it's a Japanese game that is entirely in English....a refreshing change from struggling to understand menu systems. I don't know why the entire game is in English, but I'm not complaining. Secondly...the sound. Road Spirits offers a jukebox of ten tracks that can be selected between races, allowing tailored music in a fairly wide variety. The music cannot be changed during a race, but is very nice CD quality sound, and offers the best in contemporary 80's music to race to! Yes...I said 80's music. The soundtrack is a good selection of mostly surprisingly soft music that screams 80's. I found it enjoyable, and kind of amusing at the same time.

Next, you have your choice of four differnet cars, as well as three different transmissions. You can choose cars and transmissions at the beginning of the game, but not after you've started racing as far as I can tell. All in all, a well rounded game. The graphics, while not stunning, are good and solid, and your brakes even light up when you hit them. The courses are long, but not hard, and offer several varieties of opponent cars which change with each course.

I did have one gripe with the game. While it has the traditional Low/High Pole Position shifting (if you choose that transmission), the control is not well executed. Buttons I and II control acceleration and braking, and the directional pad controls the turning. To steer, you push the d-pad left and right. To shift however, you push up and down on the d-pad. So what I found was that when I was really getting into a level and navigating thru a couple cars, I'd suddenly bump down and shift to low, dropping behind. However, I have not played Road Spirits using the alternate five speed transmissions. The controls do take a bit of practice, but they're nothing intensly difficult.

So if you like 80's tunes, sporty cars, and Pole Position style racing, Road Spirits is a game to watch out for. It's simple, easy, and fun!

This review is © Max's Game Corner 2002. Please do not use this review without permission. If you wish to use or link to this review, please email a request to maxlords@hotmail.com