Virtua Racing

Manual

43K plays 1992 #Racing

Virtua Racing (V.R.) is a 1992 Formula One racing video game developed by Sega AM2 and published by Sega for arcades. It was initially a proof-of-concept application for exercising the "Model 1", a new 3D graphics platform then under development. The results were so encouraging that Virtua Racing was fully developed into a standalone arcade title.

Virtua Racing was among the highest-grossing arcade games of 1992 in Japan and North America, 1993 in Europe, Australia and worldwide. It successfully received the award for Most Innovative New Technology from the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA). Virtua Racing is regarded as one of the most influential video games of all time, for laying the foundations for subsequent 3D racing games and for popularizing 3D polygon graphics among a wider audience. It was later ported to home consoles, starting with the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1994.

From Wikipedia's article Virtua Racing, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Keyboard controls

GenesisPlayer 1Player 2
D-pad↑↓←→IKJL
AZN
BXM
CC,
XAY
YSU
ZDO
ModeShiftB
StartEnterSpace

Hotkeys

  • 1 Quick save state
  • 2 Quick load state
  • 3 Change save slot

X, Y and Z are for six-button games such as Street Fighter II.

Gamepads are detected when you press a button. Remap any key from the emulator’s Controls menu (gear icon).

Emulator help & troubleshooting

Comments

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Keyboard controls

GenesisPlayer 1Player 2
D-pad↑↓←→IKJL
AZN
BXM
CC,
XAY
YSU
ZDO
ModeShiftB
StartEnterSpace

Hotkeys

  • 1 Quick save state
  • 2 Quick load state
  • 3 Change save slot

X, Y and Z are for six-button games such as Street Fighter II.

Gamepads are detected when you press a button. Remap any key from the emulator’s Controls menu (gear icon).

Emulator help & troubleshooting

Videos

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OutRunners Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 23K plays • 1993
Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 165K plays • 1992
Top Gear 2 Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 260K plays • 1993
Super Monaco GP Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 99K plays • 1989
OutRun 2019 Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 28K plays • 1993
Micro Machines Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 131K plays • 1991
Super Hang-On Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 164K plays • 1987
Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 33K plays • 1994
Zippy Race Sega SG-1000 94K plays • 1985
Mario Andretti Racing Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 28K plays • 1994
F1 (Formula One) Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 115K plays • 1993
Ironman Offroad Racing Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 96K plays • 1989
Road Rash II Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 346K plays • 1992
Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 25K plays • 1991
Road Rash Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 1.1M plays • 1991
R.C. Pro-Am Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 114K plays • 1988
Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 125K plays • 1993
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 377K plays • 1990
Golden Axe Sega Genesis / Mega Drive 700K plays • 1989

Pixel Verdict

Virtua RacingGenesis

4.0 Great job!

Critics 82 · 13 reviews

What the reviews talk about

Key wordsexcitinggroundbreakingstunningfaithfulcomplexrealistic

What the critics said

  • Electronic Gaming Monthly called it a "racing masterpiece" and said its "lifelike racing sensations are extremely impressive and exciting".

    — Electronic Gaming Monthly

  • They criticized the audio and low longevity but nonetheless concluded "VR is the best 16-bit racer yet".

    — GamePro, 1994

  • GamePro similarly remarked: "This version not only looks better than both the Genesis and 32X versions, it also has a ton more options".

    — GamePro

  • Computer and Video Games reviewed Virtua Formula in early 1994, stating that it is "one of the most exciting" arcade driving games and praising the "hydraulic control" of the cabinet.

    — Computer and Video Games· about another version

  • Next Generation reviewed the 32X version of the game, Virtua Racing Deluxe, and stated that "VR Deluxe is a near-perfect conversion of a game that's still fun to play".

    — Next Generation, 1995· about another version

From the Reception section of Wikipedia's Virtua Racing article, under CC BY-SA 4.0. The words are the critics'; their full reviews are on the publishers' pages.

Scores

  • Computer and Video Games 2017 (Arcade) 90% ; (Mega Drive) 84% ; (32X) 93%
  • Edge (32X) 8/10
  • Electronic Gaming Monthly (ARC) 9/10 ; (SMD) 8/10, 8/10, 8/10, 7/10 ; (SAT) 15/20
  • Famitsu (SMD) 33/40 ; (SMD) 8/10
  • GameFan (SMD) 270/300
  • Hyper 1994 (SMD) 92% ; (32X) 82%
  • Next Generation (32X & SAT) 3/5
  • Electronic Games (SMD) A
  • Maximum (SAT) 2/5
  • Mega (SMD) 92%
  • MegaTech 1995 (SMD) 93%
  • Sega Saturn Magazine (SAT) 77%
  • Ultimate Future Games (32X) 89%

From the review table of Wikipedia's article. The face takes, first that applies: the Metascore for this platform, GameRankings' archived average, our average of the critics (one number per publication, a panel averaged), one review alone, the players' rating. Critics and players are never mixed.

Players' rating: 81/100 · 70 votes

Full reviews

Face key

  1. 1.00+
  2. 1.540+
  3. 2.050+
  4. 2.560+
  5. 3.068+
  6. 3.575+
  7. 4.080+
  8. 4.585+
  9. 5.090+

5.0 Outstanding! · 4.0 Great job! · 3.0 Good job · 2.0 Could be better · 1.0 Wake me up when it's over · A thumbs-up adds half a point. Our own drawings, in the spirit of the faces GamePro magazine used in the '90s.

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