DEVELOPER: Game Seed – Website
MANUFACTURER: GlobalVR – Website
RELEASE: October 2009
TYPE: Racing
PLAYERS: 1 player per cabinet; up to 8 linked units supported
HARDWARE: PC Configuration using an nVidia 9800GT graphics card
ARCADE EXCLUSIVE?: No
RATING: Green label – Suitable for All Ages
REGION AVAILABILITY: USA and Europe; Japan unknown
SYNOPSIS:
From the GlobalVR website:
“Loops and leaps are front and center in this high-flying racing game. High powered F-Jet racers provide a totally realistic racing experience with fine-tuned handling, air controls and over-boosted engines. Single players can enjoy the heart-pounding action or heighten the competition by linking up to 4 game cabinets. Standard racing rules apply… but that is the only thing standard in this Twisted game!”
REVIEW: By Adam “Arcadehero” Pratt
Twisted Nitro Stunt Racing is a racing game from Game Seed and GlobalVR released at the end of 2009 for arcades. It is based off a game of the same name developed for PC in 2007 (and that has been receiving updates ever since). As of June 2012, the arcade version was still in production. In addition to racing towards a finish line, players are given terrain that lets them make huge aerial jumps or the navigate structures like loop-de-loops or metal tunnels. After a software update in 2010, the total number of available tracks for the arcade edition was 7 and selectable cars 4. All of th tracks are circuits and generally you have to lap them 3 times to win.
What makes Twisted a little different from its many racing cousins is that the cars you race on are “F-Jet” vehicles that have a rocket booster attached to the back to assist them in catching air. Tracks fit into one of three categories – Aerobatics (features large metal structures to race on like the loop-de-loops); Jump (for catching air); & Supercross (dirt roads and drifting). Of the three I find the tracks for aerobatics the most interesting since its not the kind of thing you generally run into with arcade racers.
The strangest thing I find with the game is the use of unlimited boost. There is a button on the control panel labeled “Boost” and as long as you hold it down – you get that extra boost. There is a meter on the screen which looks like it should gauge how much of a boost you have but it never goes down. I’m not really sure why it was designed this way as it makes it feel pointless. Of course there are certain turns that you wouldn’t want to boost on but if it was down to where you had to save your boost for when it matters, then I wouldn’t have a problem with it.
The game can link up to 4 cabinets of any Twisted design – they have released three so far, a 32″ standard, 42″ deluxe and a 42″ mini-motion deluxe where the seat moves. The latter of the three is the coolest naturally and helps the game stand out further from its PC sister.
GRAPHICS
There is a nice deal of detail in the environments and objects of the game, owing to a high polygon count, the game resolution is high, great lighting effects, smooth frame rate and the color is vibrant.
SOUND
The soundtrack is fitting for the game although I’m having to strain to remember what any of it sounded like without pulling up a video. No voice overs, no thumping sound from the bass. What it does have isn’t bad but isn’t all that memorable either.
CONTROL
Standard racing controls with force feedback that react just fine to the game, hindered only by the unlimited boost button.
CABINET
Three cabinet designs follow closely to GlobalVR’s standard racing cabinet that they have been using since switching over to LCDs. The game looks best on the 42″ screen and the mini-motion version helps it cross into simulator territory. It’s not as striking as other GVR cabinets like the Blazing Angels sit-down model ot the NASCAR deluxe model (which had the rollcage bar), fitting into a more standard approach to the modern sitdown racing cabinet.
ENTERTAINMENT
As with most racing games it is fun as a multiplayer game and interesting in single player as you explore the differences the tracks have.
RECOMMENDED?
Racing fans will likely enjoy playing something that offers something different in the tracks, a blend of simulation with some fantasy. Not bad on the eyes either but what it offers for consistent replay value is a question I have about it.
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