The speed, the stunts. The nemises Phantom Photon. That's what Hard Drivin' is all about. The first time I playes this game was in the early 90's on my Sega Genesis console system. It wasn't until a couple of years later that I played the real thing in an arcade.
The steering wheel and car console made the experience all the more realistic. This was the driving game that started a revolution in the driving simulation games.
This was the first of its kind and paved the way for the driving games of today. Games such as the popular Grand Theft Auto and the Need for Speed series were pioneered from the days of Hard Drivin'.
The game itself is very simple. You have a choice of practicing on the Speed course, or the Stunt course. The Speed course is simple with alot of straightaways and gentle bends. For a beginner it's great fun! The Stunt course is more compllicated. There are stunts including a loop, jumps, an embanked hairpin turm and much more.
Now when it comes time to play against your nemises, Phantom Photon, the Speed
course is blocked off, so hope you've been practicing the stunt course. Of course you can go around the blockades if you wish to win by cheating. But if you want to go head to head and prove yourself to Photon, you'll have to be able to keep your foot down. Speed is now a necessity on the Stunt course and you will use all of your driving skill and keen perception of the track. Watch out! Hit a cow and you'll get a surprise. Try it if you don't beleive me.
It's a great game and it's a classic I will always want to play. I suggest to all the fans out there of the modern day car racing games that you take a look at where it all started and give this game a try. Play it once, I gaurantee you you'll play it more. Take a look at the graphics and the detail that was included in this little title. It's amazing if think how it compares to today's games, then compare it to games from the same era. It was definitley ahead of its time and always will be. If it was repackaged, put on a CD and placed on store shelves I'm sure I would buy it, and I'm sure there are plenty of you who would too. We can't forget where our roots come from. Even if it's video games. The titles may be new, but the ideas came from somewhere, and before that, somewhere else. Let's take some time and see where it all started. Happy Drivin!
