Like almost no other genre in the industry, racing games seem to have the sharpest divide
among fans.
Some people prefer ultra-realistic games like Forza and Gran Turismo, with hundreds of cars
and physics that are close to perfect.
However, I’ve always felt that if I wanted to drive realistically, I could go into a
car and start actually driving.
So, when it comes to video games, I like something a little bit crazier, borderline messed up.
This is just that, it’s Cruis’n USA for the N64.
Cruis’n USA is the first in the Cruis’n Series, featuring other games on various systems,
including the great arcade game Cruis’n Exotica.
You pick from a few different cars, and then you do just what the title says: you cruise
across the USA.
Well, not cruise, really floor it, but you get the idea.
As this is an arcade port, it features an arcade style- championship mode, where you
must win a race to move on to the next.
I never really understood why they couldn’t keep a points system, and then the winner
would be whoever had the most points at the end of the last race, but I guess that’s
what makes it an arcade style game: it doesn’t have to make sense.
Gameplay in Cruis’n USA also really emphasizes that arcade style, with tons of crazy roadblocks
and sights along the way, which often have to be avoided after only being in view for
a few seconds.
Subtle movements are pretty difficult to make, and you’ll find yourself crashing into other
cars fairly often.
Now, this is for a few reasons.
First, the N64 doesn’t have the best analog stick, and gentle pushes are hard to execute.
Secondly, and more importantly, the game’s hit detection is horrendous.
Being a foot away from a car can lead to a crash, and barely clipping another car can
cause you to completely spin out of control.
Now, because this is an arcade racer, your car doesn’t take any damage and you can
continue on in the race quickly . Like I said, earlier, this is pretty messed
up, and the game’s designers had to be pretty weird dudes.
Having cows poop and bugs explode all over your windshield in the middle of a race is
one of the weirdest things a game has ever had.
In addition, the inclusion of a huge line of fans standing IN YOUR WAY when you cross
the finish line is pretty strange.
Now, your car stops and some lady comes out do swing her hips and hand you a trophy, but
if they kept that car going, it would lead to fan body parts all over the finish line.
Now THAT would be right at home in this game.
Visually, Cruis’n USA is pretty pathetic.
This is a very early N64 game, but nothing really looks like it should.
Cars are primitive, environments are jagged, and you have such a short visible distance
in front of you that it really helps add up that number of crashes you’re going to have.
Audio is different though.
Voice samples are really clean, except for the “checkpoint” line, and the soundtrack
is still one of the best on the N64, or worst.
It really depends what kind of a mood you’re in.
Cruis’n USA is a game that really shows how much the N64 has aged since its release,
but it has a certain charm that has kept me playing all of these years.
Maybe it’s the joy of crashing into a school bus, or trying to understand why 120 miles
per hour isn’t enough to clear a jump, but I’m still playing it.