Does anyone remember Winning Run by Namco ? I was in Blackpool today
and found one sitting all forlorn and abandoned in one of the Pleasure
Beach arcades. I used to love this game - it came out on the heels of
Atari's Hard Driving but where Hard Driving went for loops and jumps,
Winning Run was *just* racing. I decided to have a go on this
forgotten machine - just for old times sake. I put my 50p in the slot
and 5 quid later I was still playing it.
First let me say that the graphics are *nothing* by today's standards.
The original F1GP looks better and runs faster on a measly 486 SX 25.
Certainly compared to games like Daytona and Ridge Racer it is
"aesthetically challenged" to say the least. However, it has in
abundance what they can only aspire to - true racing playability.
Winning Run actually has a qualifying lap - and grid position counts
in this game because, unlike Daytona, Ridge Racer and (in my opinion
the worst offender) Virtua Racing the leads cars don't slow down just
to let you catch up, nor do they mysteriously speed up when you're
running in first. Winning Run has two modes - "Easy" (three lap race,
three gears, slower cars) and "Technical" (four lap race, five gears,
much more competent computer opposition). In both modes, gear
selection is manual using a shifter similar to that on a Thrustmaster
T2 (but set up the opposite way to the way I have it set up for ICR 2
- a couple of times I selected reverse gear instead of second gear at
the start of a race).
The lap is short but very well designed. A flat out banked
right-hander leads into a short tunnel after which is a deceptive
right hander which can be taken flat in fifth if you have the right
line. That turn exits on the brow of a hill. A short downhill stretch
leads to a wonderful fourth gear
how-early-dare-you-get-back-on-the-power left hander. The exit is
followed immediately by a bridge so sloppiness here can be very
costly. Another short straight after the bridge leads to a tight
second or third gear right hairpin. You have to brake heavily for this
one and just feather the throttle throught the turn, getting on the
power as soon as possible for what is essentially the longest flat-out
section of the circuit. A longish straight is punctuated by an evil
right hander which can be taken flat - but only just ! There is no
run-off on the turn and clipping the concrete here will ruin your next
lap - which begins after a short straight past the pits and through
the start/finish line.
The car's handling is obviously toned-down for the arcades - it is
virtually impossible to spin - but still demands precision and skill
to get a good lap. The wheel needs a gentle touch and I found I had a
tendency to over-correct on my first few laps. The "easy" mode is just
that - easy ! Every turn is flat excepting the hairpin. The
"technical" mode is a different kettle of fish entirely. The increased
speed of the car means that each turn is different and demands total
concentration. Add to that 15 other cars battling it out on the track
and you can probably see why I like this game so much. By the way, the
computer drivers in "easy" mode all have Japanese names, but in
"technical" mode they just have initials - A.S., G.B., N.M., N.P.,
A.P. etc. all driving in cars in the same colours as the F1 cars of
the day.
Games like Daytona may have the incredible frame rates, gorgeous
graphics and stunning sound but for my money Winning Run provides the
real racing enjoyment. If you are fortunate enough to find one on your
travels then give it a go. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
*Apologies for waffling on for so long about this game but it is
really good. Go on, try it for yourself ! You'll really, really like
it - honest !
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* "What ? Are you mad ?" * Glenn Davies *
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