Rad Mobile Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]

Game Info
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Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Year of Release: 1990

Game Review & Impressions
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Released in 1990, Rad Mobile was the first of Sega's arcade titles to use the firms System 32 arcade hardware. Although this would be the final generation of firm's "Super Scaler" sprite scaling technology, it was also Sega's first arcade board based around a 32-bit architecture.

From a technical standpoint, Rad Mobile is incredibly impressive for the time of its release. The game's USP is delivering a realistic and uninterrupted racing experience in the first-person, including wet weather and night-time driving conditions. Certain stages feature roads with high-banked curbs which cause the viewpoint and cockpit of the player vehicle to tilt and rotate in the corresponding direction.

As for the the game structure, its closest to that of OutRun and Hang-On in that the player participates in a point-to-point race through different climates and environments. Players participate in an interstate rally across the U.S. from West to East coast, taking in the sights and sounds of industrial zones, rail yards, rocky mountain passes and secluded forests.

Unfortunately, the technical ingenuity can't make up for the fact the game is actually rather dull. The opponent cars zoom off into the distance or rubber band constantly as the game enforces catch-up to deliberately prevent the player from building any discernible lead for too long. On the one hand, I can understand the need to keep up the pretence of challenge and excitement, but even putting in a flawless driving never produces the kind of satisfaction you'd expect for mastering a game.

As a technical showcase, Rad Mobile is further evidence that Sega was without peer in the arcade space at this time, but it's also a reminder that graphics aren't everything. Despite being 3 years old at this point, OutRun was, in my opinion at least, still THE driving game to beat.

Chapters
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00:00 Attract mode
01:30 Los Angeles
02:10 Mojave Desert
02:45 Las Vegas
03:38 Provo
04:25 Salt Lake City
05:15 Rocky Mountains
06:00 Cheyenne
06:47 Lincoln
07:38 Omaha
08:27 Kansas City
09:16 St. Louis
09:58 Springfield
10:43 Chicago
11:36 Indianapolis
12:22 Cincinnati
13:05 Columbus
13:47 Pittsburgh
14:31 Washington
15:13 Philadelphia
16:00 New York
16:33 Ending

#sega #retrogaming #longplay