Daytona USA Review

2011 has been a big year for Sega remakes. As if Sega Rally, Radiant Silvergun, Guardian Heroes and the soon-to-be-released Sonic CD are not enough, Sega has recently resurrected its most iconic arcade racing title, Daytona USA. With a presence in nearly every arcade during the mid-90s, Daytona USA has seen a few console ports over the years, each containing more tracks, cars and graphical enhancements than the last.

Daytona USA, recently re-released on XBLA and PSN, scraps all of those additions and instead, it ops to be relentlessly faithful to the original arcade hit. It contains just the original three courses (arguably the only ones that ever mattered); you have a choice between two versions (manual or automatic transmission) of the same “Hornet” car; and finally, its pop-rock soundtrack is as outrageously cheesy as you remember it. While these things may discern those who demand a lot of customization in games, they ultimately help Daytona USA mimic the original arcade experience as closely as any console port of an arcade title ever has.

That is not to say the new iteration is so arcade-faithful that it lacks content, either. While its vehicle and track varieties have been scaled back, Daytona USA features several play modes. Apart from the standard Arcade, Time Trial and basic online multiplayer offerings, new ones include the endurance-race Survival mode (complete with tire wear and pit stops) and Challenge mode, which contains a series of brief challenges like ‘knock over x number of cones’ or ‘make a sharp turn without dropping below x speed. While neither of these new modes will captivate beyond a few attempts, they are fun diversions and help provide a decent amount of value, along with the more conventional modes.

Any changes Daytona USA makes to the original’s gameplay are slight. AI drivers seem a bit more aggressive than before as they frequently swerve to block your progress. Otherwise, Daytona USA plays just as it did a decade-and-a-half ago. You race amongst a grid of up to 40 cars (in the classic “Easy” oval course) and are constantly battling against the timer to reach the next checkpoint – at least until you master the “Advanced” and “Expert” courses. At that point, players may wish there were more courses to tackle but what’s there is still a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, Daytona USA’s unique handling will undoubtedly turn off some gamers. Players used to jamming the control stick left or right, with the vehicle smoothly matching the inputted angle, may get a bit frustrated here. As an authentic port of a wheel-based arcade racing title, using a traditional controller to drive the Hornet car requires a good deal of finesse. Slightly pulling the analog stick goes a long way toward keeping the most grip through turns while full tugs are most useful for entering and exiting drifts. Most players should adjust to these nuances with practice but handling lends a potentially unwelcome learning curve even if it is, technically, arcade-perfect. Players who have invested in a racing wheel peripheral will be greatly rewarded, however.

Daytona USA goes to great lengths to preserve the original arcade experience and nowhere is that more evident than with its visuals and audio. Daytona USA boldly sheds any glossy car effects, improved environmental details or any other visual enhancements notably made by 2001’s Dreamcast remake. Instead, it defiantly reverts to the simpler textures and polygons of the arcade original. Trees once again look like they were cut from cardboard while canyon rock walls appear as jagged as they did during the 32-bit era. Pop-up is still present, albeit reduced, as if to tell players, “This game is uncompromisingly old-school and you are going to like it.”

Meanwhile, Daytona’s visuals have been modernized just enough to stay relevant with the technology that powers them. They’ve been formatted for widescreen displays and given a big boost in high-definition sharpness. Most importantly, the game moves at a brisk 60 frames per second, which is essential to recreating the arcade experience. Equally essential to this end is the selection of infamously cheesy background tunes that accompany the gameplay. Modern gamers will scoff as they immediately reach for the mute buttons and their iPods while nostalgic players will let the soundtrack blare out of sheer, unadulterated necessity.

Overall, Daytona USA is a rare and shining example of how to update a classic title without compromising anything that fans loved about it in the first place. While technically its simplistic visuals, obnoxious soundtrack and limited vehicle and course selection may alienate modern audiences, the truth is that this game is not meant for them. Old-school purists, on the other hand, will be rewarded with a faithful recreation of one of the most beloved arcade racers ever.