Power Drift is a kart racing game released in arcades by Sega in 1988. More technologically advanced than Sega's earlier 2.5D racing games, like Hang-On (1985) and Out Run (1986), in Power Drift the entire world and track consist of sprites. The upgraded hardware of the Sega Y Board allows individual sprites and the background to be rotated–even while being scaled–making the visuals more dynamic. Designed and directed by Yu Suzuki, the game was a critical and commercial success upon release in arcades. It was subsequently ported to various home computers in Europe by Activision in 1989, followed by a PC Engine port published in Japan by Asmik Ace in 1990. It was not released on Sega consoles until the Sega Ages release for the Sega Saturn in 1998.
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It has a good sense of speed and good controls and you can feel Yu Suzuki's fingerprints all over this. The attempt to add some texture to the tracks make the visuals feel a bit grainy and overbearing at times, and I could honestly do without the entire stage tilting when you take a turn.
The wipeout animation in Power Drift is just brutal, and I suspect unintentionally so. Take a wide turn on a raceway suspended 30 feet in the air and you'll spin off the edge like a drill, flying directly into a grain silo. Accidentally bump the side of a tree at 20kmph and your kart will scale to fill 80% of the screen while flipping around erratically, clipping through geometry, just a kaleidoscope of 3D objects and sprites. Where will you end up? Who the hell knows! I once crossed the finish line in such a state and this caused my racer to abruptly correct into his winning animation and drive off into the sky.
Power Drift rules. I love arcade racers and I think they're a great way to spend a lazy morning, and as far as the Sega Saturn goes, this might be my favorite one yet. It's goofy as hell and easy to jump into, and I just dig its style a whole lot. This never came out here and used copies can be pretty expensive, so if you do check this out you might want to consider emulation, a repro, or just burning a disc. Not worth the cost but definitely worth the effort.
Craziest part about Power Drift? It was made by Yu Suzuki. He did it! He finally did it! Yu made a good game!!
Power Drift rules. I love arcade racers and I think they're a great way to spend a lazy morning, and as far as the Sega Saturn goes, this might be my favorite one yet. It's goofy as hell and easy to jump into, and I just dig its style a whole lot. This never came out here and used copies can be pretty expensive, so if you do check this out you might want to consider emulation, a repro, or just burning a disc. Not worth the cost but definitely worth the effort.
Craziest part about Power Drift? It was made by Yu Suzuki. He did it! He finally did it! Yu made a good game!!
Back when I was a kid I remember dreaming looking at screenshots of the Amiga / Atari ST ports of this game. Eventually I played the arcade, and it's quite fun.
The thing about Sega is that they make damn good racing games, but there have a certain panache for independence. Think of games like Outrun, Super Hang-On, - you're not racing the other players; you're racing against the clock. The music has this delicate, nostalgic air to it. The roads are clean and sprawling, as if a natural part of the environment. And the goal is usually a set destination rather than a looping circuit. Even in Sega racers where you these rules don't apply - Daytona, Sega Rally, Rad Mobile, etc, - these associated feelings are still evoked through the rest of the game's presentation.
Power Drift is a Sega racer that actively fights against all of that.
Power Drift is four kart racer laps in these ridiculously artificial courses against 11 other racers in a bout for top 3. The other drivers aren't background obstacles used for world-establishing purposes: They're greedy-ass bastards that'll slam you right off the road. Gone is the serene sky and artisan atmosphere, and in its place is this bullish, roughhousing derby. The scaling effects used to create the 3D space the courses occupy turn the screen into a nightmare of tubes and turns. And y'know? It kicks ass!
In understanding their own strengths, Sega made something really divergent but still in line with their overall arcade design philosophies. It's a total treat, enhanced even further having played prior racers in their catalog, and it holds up shockingly well for having pre-dated the kart racer boom ignited by Mario Kart.
Power Drift is a Sega racer that actively fights against all of that.
Power Drift is four kart racer laps in these ridiculously artificial courses against 11 other racers in a bout for top 3. The other drivers aren't background obstacles used for world-establishing purposes: They're greedy-ass bastards that'll slam you right off the road. Gone is the serene sky and artisan atmosphere, and in its place is this bullish, roughhousing derby. The scaling effects used to create the 3D space the courses occupy turn the screen into a nightmare of tubes and turns. And y'know? It kicks ass!
In understanding their own strengths, Sega made something really divergent but still in line with their overall arcade design philosophies. It's a total treat, enhanced even further having played prior racers in their catalog, and it holds up shockingly well for having pre-dated the kart racer boom ignited by Mario Kart.