I played the hell out of this series, especially on the N64.
Exotica was underrated, btw. USA is overrated.
Exotica was underrated, btw. USA is overrated.
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Back in the early 2000s, I used to play Exotica more or less whenever I would come across a cabinet.
I wish they'd release the arcade version on Switch or something.
I wish they'd release the arcade version on Switch or something.
Cruisin' was okay... but Rush 2 was superior.
That fucking stunt track + racing wheel = literal hundreds of hours just goofing around or playing "cops and robbers" with my cousins.
That fucking stunt track + racing wheel = literal hundreds of hours just goofing around or playing "cops and robbers" with my cousins.
Cruisi'n USA was hella fun. Back in the day I feel the reviewers panned it on the N64 even though it was a pretty solid port. But that's maybe because people didn't like the base game to begin with? I had the chance to play on the actual arcade cabinet once. Fun game!
Hell, just release all of the Arcade versions of the Cruis'n games: USA, World, Exotica, & Blast on a collection with online multiplayer.
I used to regularly go to place that had a Cruisin' USA cabinet, so I've played that one a lot. I didn't own an N64 at the time but when I did buy one (2006-ish?) I got Cruisin' USA for it at some point and played through it. I have much less experience with the rest of the series.
You would have to have never entered an arcade in the mid to late '90s to have missed this series. The games are enjoyable enough, just don't expect Sega or Namco quality racing.
I am still surprised there has never been ports beyond the N64 considering the series popularity in the late 90s/early 2000s.
Played the original on the arcade around the time it came out. Got the first on the N64 when I was young and use to play it almost weekly along with GE, Mario 64, Star Fox.
Wouldn't mind for more of these games to come out or suggestions for new ones on steam/ps4
Wouldn't mind for more of these games to come out or suggestions for new ones on steam/ps4
I remember there was hype for this before Cruis'n USA hit arcades. Then when it arrived it looked like crap compared to Daytona and Ridge (which had been out for quite a while already). That was a bit of a head scratcher.
I was lucky enough (perhaps neglected lul) to get dumped off at the arcade with a cup full of quarters by my mom so she could go gamble at the nearby casinos. Cruisin USA was my jam. Maybe not the best arcade racer but to me, those memories are fucking golden.
I rented Cruisin USA from Blockbuster a couple times. I remember putting in the code to use the school bus. I thought it was a good game in it's day. Never played any of the other ones.
Not as good as Extreme -G on N64 but still pretty good imo.
Not as good as Extreme -G on N64 but still pretty good imo.
Of course I did. Its a pretty good game, but doesn't really compare to Outrun, or especially Daytona USA and Ridge Racer (although, to be fair, it's a much different game than the latter two).
When it and Killer Instinct were released, people would line up outside the arcade where I lived to get a sneak peak at the "ultra 64" lol. What dishonest marketing.
When it and Killer Instinct were released, people would line up outside the arcade where I lived to get a sneak peak at the "ultra 64" lol. What dishonest marketing.
The year I got world on n64 was the Christmas I found out Santa wasn't real as I saw the toys r us bag and my dad wrapping it up.
Wore those gas pedals out in the cabinets lol, double tap for wheelie boost!
Exotica was awesome
Exotica was awesome
traded mortal kombat mythologies sub zero. I think i got the better end of the detail once i figured out how to play as the bus/cop car/etc
Once I unlocked the school bus, it was game over for anyone who decided to play against me. I just steamrolled through everything lol.
Absolutely loved the arcade version of USA and stupidly expected the N64 version to be a perfect port... Boy oh boy was I wrong! The N64 was quite a disappointment after all the Ultra 64 bullshit we were fed by Nintendo.
Yeah, N64's early name used in Midway's arcade boards of KI 1&2 and Cruisn' USA, there was even a "coming soon to Nintendo's Ultra 64" at the start.
Then, KI got a SNES port (KI2 as well but never completed), KI Gold was a visually downgraded KI2 and Cruisn' 64 was also a bad port of the arcade version.
There were also tons of fake CGI images of Ultra 64 games in magazines at the time. Way worse than Ubisoft's or Witcher 3 downgrades.
The Nintendo 64 was going to originally be called the Ultra 64 before it launched. They changed the name because japanese people had trouble pronouncing "ultra" and they wanted brand harmony around the world.
I friend of mine has this prototype. Killer Instinct and Cruis'n USA ran promos during their attract mode claiming they were running on the Ultra 64, but they weren't. They were running on Midways custom boards which shared absolutely nothing in common with the N64 hardware.
They are very memorable advertisements because not only did they use the old name for the console, they also got the release date wrong:
Yes, but Rush > Cruisin.
Rush was dope af
This explanation of "Ultra 64" to Andrew Korenchkin made me feel OLD AS FUCK
Rush was dope af
The Nintendo 64 was going to originally be called the Ultra 64 before it launched. They changed the name because japanese people had trouble pronouncing "ultra" and they wanted brand harmony around the world.
I friend of mine has this prototype. Killer Instinct and Cruis'n USA ran promos during their attract mode claiming they were running on the Ultra 64, but they weren't. They were running on Midways custom boards which shared absolutely nothing in common with the N64 hardware.
They are very memorable advertisements because not only did they use the old name for the console, they also got the release date wrong:
This explanation of "Ultra 64" to Andrew Korenchkin made me feel OLD AS FUCK
I played the arcade version back in December, actually. There is a really awesome arcade near me -- it's actually run by a Game Preservation society, so it has shit like Hang-On, NBA Jam, Outrun, Double Dragon, Robocop, Donkey Kong, etc. They have a couple of linked up Cruis'n USA cabinets you can play. It's $30 for an unlimited pass for a month, so me and my buddy got one and went through the entire game together.
BTW, in case it's not obvious, the above pic isn't in black and white. The Ultra 64 actually had a different color scheme. The prototype controller has grey buttons like that.
Crusin' USA and World on N64, had a great time with them.
They were the only video games my younger sister liked to play, too.
They were the only video games my younger sister liked to play, too.