| Saturday Night Speedway Facts : | ||
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| Saturday Night Speedway is the latest installment in the Dirt Track Racing series developed by RatBag and produced by Atari (formally know as Infogrames.) Back in the late 1990's when the first short-track dirt racing game was released by Ratbag, there was great hype and anticipation for a game that truly typified this rather unique and popular grass-roots sport. Finally there was the opportunity to drive sideways and sling mud in ultra high-powered machinery around a dirt oval. Throughout the DTR series we have had the occasion to drive Sportsman racecars, Unlimited Sprint Cars, Late Models, Concept Modifieds and in the latest release, even Non-winged Midgets. Each version has its own particular style of car and the expectation of improvement over the last release. To be honest, each version has been a step forward in the development of the platform but never to quite the level we had hoped. I've said it many times before-it takes time to perfect a gaming platform. The automotive industry exhibits the same improvements in its progressing platform. Certainly cars built today offer more features than those built in the 60's. Yet along the way there have been some automobiles and parent companies that have taken steps in the wrong direction. Why? Because they thought they knew more about what the customer wanted than the customer. I believe that's where RatBag is today with Saturday Night Speedway. There are some positive parts of this game that deserve mentioning and if I had never had the opportunity to play any of the other DTR games these features might seem more exciting. For instance SNS features a new car shape in the form of a USAC Midget: a smaller 4-cylinder non-winged sprint car. Although these cars don't have the brute horsepower of their bigger and older brother, the USAC Champ Car, they are lightning fast and a blast to drive. These mini rocket ships are adept at both pavement and dirt tracks and can be adapted rather quickly to either surface. This is one point where RatBag missed the boat as there are no pavement ovals in which to race the Midgets. Yes, there are some pavement tracks that are new to the game but they're not what you think-- not your conventional oval racing arena. One of the fantasy tracks named "Rattler Canyon" is a circuit of left hand turns of various radiuses and camber, which appears to be like a rally course. This track winds around and back over itself in the attempt to keep the driver turning left throughout the course. Night City Speedway likens to a Need for Speed track that speeds the player through intersections and buildings on darkened city streets and then from pavement back to dirt within the same circuit. The fantasy tracks actually bring a breath of fresh air to the DTR series, and I have to applaud the guys at RatBag for trying something new. There is nice detail, lighting and plenty of roadside scenery that is very well done. The only drawback is that the Midgets are the only cars that really seem to handle well at these tracks. There is also the addition to the Eldora track in that it's covered in ice. Not to worry though as the regular Eldora is still in the game with the customary traction. Icy Eldora is actually quite fun. Personally I think more tracks with this type of surface should be included because it is exactly what you would expect from driving on a dry-slick surface. The other tracks appear to be shiny and dry-slick as you reach the feature event but the traction is still the same. At times you can even see the reflection of the lights on the track surface. The track gives the appearance of being dry-slick but this is purely a visual effect. The AI cars are quite capable at the conventional circle tracks, and they do give you a good battle. Even if you pass them, they don't just disappear, never to be heard from again. If you make a mistake, they are right back by you. On the fantasy tracks, the Figure 8 track and at Icy Eldora, the AI drivers are much easier to beat even at the Pro level. Once you get the AI on the ice, they are bouncing off the walls and each other. It seems there wasn't a priority to make the AI competitive at the 'new' tracks. For the most part the AI drivers do offer solid competition, although it is difficult at times to determine where they are around you. The sound positioning effects are not at the level they should be. I'm accustomed to driving without a mirror but without the sound positioning, the lack of a mirror becomes more of an issue.I also take issue with the engine sounds that RatBag has chosen for the default cars. The engine tone of the Pro-Stock and the Late Models is simply wrong and doesn't match with the selection of gears regardless of what gear you choose. It clearly states in the car selection menu that these cars have 650 HP. Obviously they have no idea what a 650 HP engine sounds like at 8000 RPM. The engine sound chosen for the Midget is perfect except when you adjust the gears for maximum speed; the sound doesn't quite match the RPM range. There is also no skid sound as you transition from dirt to pavement on the fantasy tracks. The tires give kind of a scratching sound as if two rocks were being grated together. The physics of SNS seem to have undergone some improvement in that the cars are a bit more challenging to drive. The Midgets are very twitchy, as one would expect from a short wheelbase car. The Late Models are a little more challenging to keep pointed straight yet you still don't get the feeling of the massive horsepower that these cars possess. Sure the cars slide into the corner but there should be a point where the car can overpower the racetrack and I just can't seem to feel that. The physics engine also doesn't seem to allow the chassis of the car to be set in the corner by the brakes. There are very few dirt tracks, if any, that you can simply back off of the accelerator and allow the car to turn in without using the brakes. It just doesn't work that way. If anyone has a problem with this statement, I have the scorched brake rotors and the scars on my arms to prove it! The brakes are a vital part of any racecar and especially on a car that races on dirt. Brake bias, the ability to create enhanced braking force to the front or rear wheels, is also a key ingredient in the setup of a dirt car and in every DTR installment; the coders have pretended it doesn't exist. I just do not understand why@! The setup menu is still juvenile and simple but at least it does save a setup for each car at each track. Included are items such as suspension travel, stagger, shock absorber settings and wheel offsets. These are common terms that exist in the vernacular of dirt racing. All the elements of colloquial speech and yet nothing behind it to show that it works. I assume this is done to simplify the methods used to set up the players' car. Yet something as simple as more front or rear braking force is omitted because it's too difficult to understand? Very few people understand the complexities of shock absorber dynamics and it is obvious to me that RatBag doesn't either.Now before you get the idea that I haven't enjoyed playing this game, let me assure you that is not true. SNS is enjoyable. I must admit that I was a little put off by the game initially but after playing it for a while I had a better respect for what it was all about. Not every title has to be a full-blown simulation. Sometimes it's relaxing to just sit down and drive. I've reviewed some products that I had to literally force myself to continue on with in an effort to provide enough information for a complete review. That's not the case here. Saturday Night Speedway is challenging and fun. The addition of the Midgets and the rally tracks are well worth the experience. Ratbag worked hard on the new tracks included in SNS and it shows. Although a little unconventional, they do add another element to their product. I only wish they had dedicated the same effort into creating more attractive car skins and added some pavement ovals specifically for the Midgets. As it stands right now, there isn't much option to create add-ons such as Mods and tracks. There are third party developers already working on extracting the files. It is not known yet if they will be successful. It would be intriguing to replace the Late Models or possibly the Pro Stock cars in favor of a Legend or Dwarf car chassis. Both would fit well with the physics now present in the Midgets and the game as a whole. Whether the game has the depth to retain interest has yet to be seen. Being required to win races and championships in "Career Mode" in order to unlock new tracks and skins is not my idea of depth. I admire the way that SNS handles the caution flag routine. If the yellow flag option is enabled and there is a situation that causes a caution, the screen goes blank; the field of cars are realigned before the start/finish line and promptly restarted. Although the first few times this happened I thought my system had crashed! It is certainly an efficient method to handle the cautions without creating a delay in the game. I would still prefer to have control of my car long before the green light comes. When you start on the front row of a race, that "GO" sign covers the screen and can be a major distraction. This is more noticeable on the shorter circuits since the first corner approaches quickly. A green flag waving in the corner of the screen or simply a green light would be sufficient. Saturday Night Speedway is very similar to the World of Outlaws game, however I think SNS has the edge. While there are things I like, there are still others that frustrate me. I believe that the PS2 porting of this title has degraded its quality somewhat. If SNS had been coded solely for the PC, I think we would see better sound quality, better controller input configuration and more features. Unfortunately this is a trend in the gaming business that we are forced to accept at this point. Cross-platform coding provides a benefit for the producer-not the consumer. Saturday Night Speedway is a good game. I think it's a stretch to consider it a true simulation. |
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Comments : |
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| Author: Tocca | 30-03-2004 |
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I don't know what to think after reading this review. I've read all your other reviews of Ratbag Dirt Track-Series games and found them to be spot on! Especially the review of DTR2 expresses my feelings of the game exactly. I had high hopes for SNS, but from what i've read here it doesn't seem to hold up to it. Still, i think i'll buy it. Great review...as usual. |
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| Author: Jack57 | 01-04-2004 |
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A pretty fair review I would say. Perhaps a little harsh in some areas, but then I know zip about DTR. For the very modest price (about a slab of beer) you can't go wrong. Great fun for the times when you don't want to go hardcore. Well reviewd! |
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| Author: h00ch | 02-04-2004 |
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Rating is WAY too high for this game! |
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| Author: heavymett | 04-04-2004 |
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the game tastes looks and feels like all other ratbag games. handlíng/steering is really frustrating. the review is good. |
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| Author: Rednuts | 04-04-2004 |
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this game blows, i brought it online, which unlocked the demo version to the fulll version, and after 3 weeks it closed down and now comes up as an expired demo version again, money down the drain, THANKS RATBAG ???? |
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| Author: Jack57 | 04-04-2004 |
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Oh come on! Just contact them - they won't bite ;) You have a 30 day money back guarantee anyway - use it if you're not happy. |
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| Author: Jure Zagoricnik | 06-04-2004 |
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Rating is not for game, but for review. We don't give rating to games. |
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| Author: Car5 | 07-04-2004 |
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This game is enjoyable however leaves much to be desired. I still dream of actual AI with names like D. Moran and S. Bloomquist and the rest of the Have-A-Tampa series drivers. I would also like to see a way to actual be able to put in crossweight percentages into setups and brake bias. I have to admit though Ratbag did make some progress toward the looks of the late models, it far surpasses the DTR2 late models. Would love to see Papyrus take a shot at a Dirt Track game!! |
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| Author: gr | 09-04-2004 |
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I think the game was worth what I paid, but he is a bit kind to ratbag. They are going backwards with each release, on purpose. The worst thing about the game is how the walls just hook you, dead stop, if you even look at them. The old games would let you graze the wall. I guess dumbing down means making it frustrating too. |
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| Author: gr | 10-04-2004 |
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sorry for the rant, that wall is criticle. it is a good game, the gfx are v nice. |
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| Author: PRO_littleLash | 12-04-2004 |
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I have the game and admit it is fun...kind of a low stress game, pretty fun to race offline , tho within 2 weeksits ez to win any race in any class every time...tho up till then it was a bit of a challenge...the online gameplay ishugely inconsistant...occasionally we are able to get some semi-close racing in ( everyone is on cable usually)...but the cars have a huge "forcefield" in fron of the car...so front to back you cant get within about 3 feet of anyone without hitting, which is a real shame...side by side usually isnt nearly so bad, but still no where as good as DTR or DTRSC....also online this game really struggles with the different versions of windows...seems pretty good with XP...dismal at best with 98..NONETHELESS...it really is quite a blast to drive once you learn to avoid the walls....when all the racing is kept real clean, and the walls and other cars are not hit...its pretty cool, pretty fast...Graphics are sewwt for a ratbag game....sound is barely "ok"...but ive sure gotten my 20 bux worth of fun out of it and continue to do so :) I too PRAY that papyrus will come out with a Dirt sim that is to dirt what Nascar 2003 season is to Nascar racing. |
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| Author: D Dawg | 16-04-2004 |
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Same old Harrison flair ... been away awhile ... great to be able to log back in and find the same people plugging away with the same or better stuff you expect from the Blackhole! |
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| Author: Chris Seymour | 19-06-2004 |
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I have been playing this game on PC and PS2 fo rthe last couple of months. i do think this game is fun but NOT A TRUE SIM. there is some things that need to be done to make it a true sim but at least we have a game that is worth playing over some other games. LOVE THE ARTICLE |
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| Author: Cosman | 28-06-2004 |
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We want simulations not port games I am really dissapointed as far as the realistic aspect of it. I hope they caught on when nobody wanted to buy it and they will make the necessary corrections... |
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| Author: Jared east | 28-07-2004 |
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Were can i get sns on ps2 ? |
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| Author: Rikstr | 13-07-2005 |
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fair review. well done |
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| Author: Celebrin | 14-09-2005 |
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Nice, in-depth review. I enjoyed reading it. That being said, I must disagree with you about cross-platform coding. I own a PS2 and have for several years. My computer is a dinosaur and crappy to boot, it wouldn't even be able to thing about running a game like SNS. However, the PS2 version of the game allows me to enjoy it. So I ask you, how does cross-platform coding not benefit me, a consumer?! If this game wasn't coded for the PS2, I wouldn't even be able to play it!! And don't tell me to buy a new computer, it's an expense that I can't afford, and you have to admit that buying a PS2, (it cost me $250), is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a computer worth thousands of dollars, which you would surely need to run graphics intense games. I think that cross-platform coding widens the market for games. Not everyone can afford a nice computer system, or every platform on the market. How does cross-platform coding not benefit the consumers that can't afford a system that a game was designed SOLELY for?! I'm very glad that SNS is available on the PS2, and I'm very angry that DTR2 isn't. I think that cross-platform coding is a good trend, and I hope it continues in the future. I'm not a huge fan of PC platform games, aside from some of the better RTS's and the Cyan Myst games. I suppose this comes from my innability to purchase a decent computer, but I've always found live-action computer games to be a little lacking, and it's impossible to play them because I don't have $1200 just lying around to buy a comp. Anyway, I did find the review to be very enlightening, and I only strongly disagreed with your cross-coding argument simply because your preference would keep me from being able to play this game. |
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| Author: Brandon | 21-09-2005 |
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I think SNS is a good game but the engine sounds suck, and the damage modeling is pathedic. I own every ratbag game since the first dirt track racing came out and this is somewhat of a disappointment. But I still love the game. You did give a fair and just review. I grew up at a dirt track and raced stock cars on dirt so i know what the cars sounds like damage and everything. Nice review. |
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