Vanishing Point

A section to post your reviews of Dreamcast games. See rules for details.

Moderators: pcwzrd13, mazonemayu

Forum rules
Rating System: Please include a rating on the scale from 1 to 10. Make sure to put the name of the game in the topic title (game name must be first in the title) Example: 'Toy Racer Review by yadayadagames'. Also include a poll with options 1-10 other users can rate the game (you can add our own subtitles for each ranking or leave it blank). Example: http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewtop ... f=34&t=789

Poll: Vanishing Point: Racing Bliss or Driving P*ss?

1 I'd rather play Exhibition Of Speed
0
No votes
2 I'd rather play in the traffic
0
No votes
3 I'd rather be playing Sun Bingo
0
No votes
4 I'd rather play with myself
3
14%
5 Yu Suzuki has his pencil ready!
1
5%
6 So near yet so far
3
14%
7 It lacks the Sega touch
6
27%
8 Look mum, no hands
3
14%
9 WOTS MSR?!
3
14%
10 SCUD RACE? CRUD RACE! Vanishing Point IS the second coming!
3
14%
Total votes: 22

rjay63
Beats of Rage
Posts: 417

Re: Vanishing Point Review

Post#11 » Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:17 pm

Neohound:

If you have a BBA, you will need to connect it to your main router using the relevant cable. You will then need a copy of the XDP or Planetweb 3.0 browser to configure your BBA to your ISP.

http://dreamcast.onlineconsoles.com/phpBB2/guides_getonline.php

If you have a standard 33k modem and a BT line, you can connect the old fashioned way (like I do). A copy of Dreamkey 3.0, XDP or Planetweb 2.x onwards will be required. Here are the ISP settings I use for this service: **PLEASE NOTE, THE MINIMUM CHARGE IS 1P PER MINUTE FROM A BT LANDLINE DURING EVENINGS AND WEEKEND. OTHER PHONE COMPANIES MAY CHARGE A LOT MORE!***

dial up: 0844 535 2225
username: freeisp
password: free

Once you can get online, it will simply be a case of coming to this webpage, clicking on the link and the save will be downloaded to your VMU.

Nexus

If you have a Nexus memory card that can connect up to your PC, I can provide a DCI savefile instead. Please note, a lot of newer PC's do not have the printer LPT1 serial port the Nexus requires

SD memory card and Dreamshell

Not too sure about this but I guess you'd download the save to your PC first and then transfer it to the SD card. The SD card then goes into the adapter and you can transfer it to your VMU via Dreamshell.

Dream Explorer

If you don't mind burning some CD-R's for the sake of two small files. You can get Dream Explorer here at http://bswirl.kitsunet.org/vmutool/release/about/?lg=en&menu=on and follow the burning instructions. You will then need a second disc and burn both the VMS and VMI files for my save to it. Appreciate it is a waste of a CD-R

VMS File
VMI File

Once you have both discs, put the Dream Explorer CD into your DC first. When the menu has loaded up you may take out the Dream Explorer disc and replace it with the disc containing my save files. Move to the option Open CD and click through the sub-menu. The VMI file should be selectable to download to your VMU (it takes the VMS file with it automatically).
My Metropolis Street Racer Blog: http://www.msrdreamcast.blogspot.com
MSR ghosts/time trials and official DLC: https://www.dreamcastlive.net/metropoli ... r-dlc.html

Neohound
Gold Lion
Posts: 1612

Vanishing Point Review

Post#12 » Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:28 pm

Thanks very much !! Some of that went over my head, so I think I'll stick to the BBA option. Not sure what my girl will think of an ethernet cable trailing through the lounge though - that could be problematical hehe.

rjay63
Beats of Rage
Posts: 417

Re: Vanishing Point Review

Post#13 » Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:05 am

Just a further snippet of info: it seems the physics engine was developed in conjuction with a UK university:

"Vanishing Point is an arcade-style race car game, developed by Clockwork Games Ltd in conjunction with the vehicle dynamics team at the Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering department here at Loughborough. The aim was for 'more realistic vehicle behaviour than Gran Turismo' - and we think we've achieved it."

I think the last sentence sums it up.....laudible idea but wrong game to try it on!
My Metropolis Street Racer Blog: http://www.msrdreamcast.blogspot.com
MSR ghosts/time trials and official DLC: https://www.dreamcastlive.net/metropoli ... r-dlc.html

User avatar
DCUltrapro
Shark Patrol
Posts: 2202
Contact:

Re: Vanishing Point Review

Post#14 » Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:20 pm

yeah.... that didn't REALLY pan out right did it? The vehicle behaviour in VP was pretty atrocious to say the least lol
Guild Card: Odin #13044
Ultrapro; Oldskooling since 1990. Long Live DREAMCAST!!
Image
Check out my Twitch channel!https://www.twitch.tv/ultrapro_dc

Neohound
Gold Lion
Posts: 1612

Vanishing Point Review

Post#15 » Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:15 pm

Well everyone's had a dig at the handling and, no, it wasn't perfect by any means......but that's not to say I didn't enjoy the challenge of getting my head around it. And, dare I say it, I much preferred it to the simplistic handling of Gran Turismo for example, I found it infinitely more rewarding too. I mean, ultimately, once I'd progressed into the meat of the game, I found it to be quite exhilarating and got a real buzz out of playing it. The feeling of speed whilst driving certain cars on my favourite courses was the equal of the early Burnout games.

One thing I must mention is how I remember really enjoying driving the VW camper van. I got a real child-like kick out of it lol. Chugging along past the beautiful scenery whilst dodging all the other cars was something different to say the least - there's not many other racing games I can think of where that experience would be possible (for obvious reasons) and for that I'm truly grateful ! Lol

rjay63
Beats of Rage
Posts: 417

Re: Vanishing Point Review

Post#16 » Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:32 am

Neohound:

The big problem for me is that I really wanted Vanishing Point to work and even now I'm fiddling with the tuning options to see if coin-op style handling can be found. Clockwork Games should have ventured into one of the Sega Parks in the UK or bought some tickets to Japan to check out some driving coin-ops. And here's a non-Sega racer they could have used for inspiration; it clearly inspired the Burnout team! ;)

Thrill Drive (1998 by Konami)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRKzna-64IQ[/youtube]
My Metropolis Street Racer Blog: http://www.msrdreamcast.blogspot.com
MSR ghosts/time trials and official DLC: https://www.dreamcastlive.net/metropoli ... r-dlc.html

Neohound
Gold Lion
Posts: 1612

Vanishing Point Review

Post#17 » Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:51 am

Hey, that looks like fun ! Very impressive feeling of speed and some fantastic and rock solid graphics. What machine was it running on ? Would have been nice to see it running on DC if at all possible;)

I can understand your frustration with VP, rjay. It's like there MUST be a Sega Arcade-like drifting mechanic somewhere in the game !! But I think if you can't find it then nobody can. You just have to accept it's limitations on that one. It's doubly strange when you consider how Clockwork always stressed it was in some ways a tribute to Sega arcade racers. It sure LOOKS that way.....but it doesn't FEEL that way :(

rjay63
Beats of Rage
Posts: 417

Re: Vanishing Point Review

Post#18 » Wed Feb 29, 2012 8:48 am

Neohound:

Thrill Drive was coin-op only and ran on an arcade board based on PC technology of that era: PowerPC 403/Motorola 68000 CPU. A DC conversion would certainly have been possible.
My Metropolis Street Racer Blog: http://www.msrdreamcast.blogspot.com
MSR ghosts/time trials and official DLC: https://www.dreamcastlive.net/metropoli ... r-dlc.html

User avatar
dark
Shark Patrol
Posts: 2077

Re: Vanishing Point Review

Post#19 » Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:10 am

rjay, this is a great review. It really captures my own likes and gripes with the game. One thing I never understood, was why they bothered putting so many novelty vehicles in the game - VW buses are one thing, but seriously, why did anyone think it would be fun to have a slow Ford Bronco or a slow generic Ford pickup truck? No one is going to buy this game wishing it was an offroad title, and I didn't think the slower unsexy vehicles added any new gameplay element or were fun to play as at all, just a flat out waste.

That said, there is a lot to like about Vanishing Point. Once you get more of the faster vehicles, and the longer courses, the game becomes very enjoyable. Too bad you have to slog through the beginning with a setup that is not very fun.

User avatar
Tarnish
Prince of Persia
Posts: 342

Re: Vanishing Point Review

Post#20 » Sat Jun 28, 2014 8:39 am

Well, out of curiosity I tried this game out to see just how bad those infamous controls and handling are and...I seriously don't really see what everyone is whining about regarding the controls.

It took me basically 2 minutes to get the hang of how the 2 starting cars handled and after that, I had no problem AT ALL clearing all of the single race tracks in 1 go..well okay, I DID have some minor problems, but those were actually the crapload of other cars that got in my way on the road, but the handling itself of the cars didn't cause me any problem, not once did I spin or slide out of control.

I played it on the standard joypad, not on a racing wheel, so I don't know how that would behave, but with the DC joypad, it's playable just fine.

I think what tricks a lot of people and causes them problems (at least this is what I experienced in the first 2 minutes trying the game), is that it (visually) SEEMS that that car is starting to slide out of control, and seeing that they immediately start countersteering (or whatever it's called) to avoid loosing control, and actually THIS is what causes the problem. Trying to constantly countersteer slows you down, you slide left and right and lose time. When in reality the car is NOT sliding out of control, and after you release the analog stick to stop turning, the car automatically goes back into heading in a straight line, without you having to do anything (except holding down the gas pedal/trigger).

Whether the feeling of the handling is to your liking or not, that's up to you, but the cars (well, the 4 I tried so far) handle just fine right from the start, ONCE you figured out how they work of course.

I actually had WAY more problems getting used to how cars in Daytona USA 2001 handles, that took me HOURS to figure out, and I don't see people complain much about THAT game..when in reality cars in that game could literally slide all over the place.

  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Reviews”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users