Ray Tracers

Written by Tom Clare in PSOne Game Reviews, Sunday 17 August, 2008

Released: 1996
Developer: Taito
Publisher: Sony
Genre: Racing
Platform: PSOne

Better The Devil You Know...

Perhaps inevitably, the huge success Ridge Racer experienced when released alongside the PlayStation in 1995 prompted a flurry of similar titles over the next couple of years, eager to tap into the publics rekindled interested in the arcade-racing game. Ray Tracers is one of the most flagrant rip-offs, but that's not to say it isn't fun.

Released in 1996 by arcade-gaming maestros Taito, Ray Tracers is a quick-fix racer that in many respects acts as a 3D update of the company's own eighties classic Chase HQ, thanks to its checkpoint-chasing elements, as well as its use of bosses and combative elements. The bright presentation, uncomplicated handling and excessive speed will be more than familiar to anyone who has played an OutRun or Ridge Racer game.

The Chase mode is the games primary attraction, seeing you throttling it through rural surroundings and cities with something that apparently passes for a storyline in between. Your first concern is the clock (and the occasional car/obstacle en route) and then, in a move perhaps more at home in Taito's shoot 'em ups of old, you are met with a big warning message splashed across the screen telling of imminent contact with a mechanical foe - be it tanks, helicopter gunships or armoured vehicles that you simply must catch and destroy in order to move onto the next stage. A neat idea, though despite their rather contrasting appearances, one boss is much like the next and as the only form of damage you can inflict is through ramming them, there isn't a great deal of scope for variety.

There's little to complain about in terms of the basic gameplay as it delivers exactly what it sets out to. The cars have excellent, nippy handling ideal for negotiating the courses that, although not exactly packed with challenging corners, are suitably engineered to show off the games tremendous sense of speed, which at times reaches near-WipEout proportions of rapidity. It's super-accessible and perfect for a quick blast.

But alas, a quick blast is all it offers. Just as things are starting to warm up, the end credits roll. Whilst the first four stages are great, by the fifth it appears the developers have already run low on ideas - using the old run-the-gauntlet trick of making you face all the previous bosses back-to-back, and after a speedy one-versus-one battle in stage six, the game is finished. Its lack of length in terms of actual duration is a major concern, with the Normal difficulty setting (Easy is abridged and so not worth bothering with) lasting less than fifteen minutes.

Though limited, there is at least some scope for extending the playing time; the Hard setting should at least keep players on their toes and with each of the four selectable characters available from the start comes a unique FMV ending as a reward for completing the Chase mode. The Time Attack mode is a slightly unexpected asset as it allows you to race on circuits that do not feature in the Chase mode, and these tend to demand a bit more joypad dexterity. The main lure of this mode however is the opportunity to challenge the demonically fast, black speed demon that is the Tsumujikaze; to all intents and purposes, a shameless rip-off of Ridge Racer's Devil car challenge. If you beat it, you can race with it and unlock another ending.

There's no denying that it's bare about the bones though, and the lack of a two-player mode doesn't help matters. Sure, Ridge Racer lacked a wealth of courses and also didn't feature a split-screen multiplayer option, but it had a unique depth of gameplay; the feeling of a true arcade game working perfectly on a home console. Time has perhaps been less forgiving to Ray Tracers, as though it's solid enough, it doesn't have the same quality of gameplay to demand your attention in the long run. It's a breeze to finish on all except the hardest skill level and though the handling makes for a pain-free, enjoyable ride, it also feels lightweight next to other racers of the time.

Visually it's decent; there is a fair bit of tearing here and there and much of the same scenery (such as trees) is used repeatedly and some areas come across as looking a little sparse. But as an early PSOne title this is to be understood, and whilst in game the vehicles are nothing to shout about, the familiar show-room style car-displays make for some attractive, eye-catching presentation screens. The tracks themselves are nothing special but, as mentioned earlier, the velocity and smoothness of the gameplay is superb.

The music is below-par for a Taito arcade game, proving decidedly uninspired as it trundles along, barely noticeable in the background whilst the whiny engine notes are not much better. As for the voice-acting, it's so bad you won't know whether to laugh or wince.

In retrospect, Ray Tracers was perfect rental material in its day, but given that it is difficult to buy cheap these days, its crippling lack of lifespan makes it difficult to recommend. As is to be expected of Taito, it's well-made, playable and a good deal of fun, but as is also to be expected of Taito, it doesn't last anywhere near long enough - Ridge Racer Revolution is a better bet.
Graphics: 7/10
Sound: 4/10
Gameplay: 7/10
Lifespan: 4/10

Leave a Reply