POD Gold Video Review

Gaming Pastime reviews POD Gold for PC.
Developed and published by Ubisoft, POD is a racing game released for PC in February, 1997. POD is a pure arcade racing game with an aesthetic that makes it one of the most unique racers out there, even today.
Links
PCGamingWiki - pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/POD:_Pl...
Playing POD Gold on Windows 10 - steamcommunity.com/sharedfile...
nGlide - www.zeus-software.com/download...
PodHacks - www.gog.com/forum/pod/planet_...
CDPatcher package - ray.syroot.com/pod/cdpatcher.zip
Check out our written review:
gamingpastime.com/pod-review/
gamingpastime.com
Support us on Patreon: / gamingpastime
Facebook: / gamingpastime
Twitter: / gamingpastime (@GamingPastime)
Steam Group: steamcommunity.com/groups/gami...
GameCast
Channel: / @gamecasttvforgamers
Facebook: / gamecast-254594361688550
Twitter: / game_cast_tv
Instagram: / gamecasttv
Snapchat: / gamecasttv
Discord: / discord
Tryout: / discord

[@kristiankoski3908]

Probably the game I played the most as a child. The soundtrack, music and especially the menu sounds are just pure awesomeness!

[@duvvleton2913]

Bow-wow-wow

[@Joel_Houtz]

Same here man, I spent hours and hours and hours on this. It came with my dad's new computer to show off the graphics capabilities. Solid ass game!

[@johannlabertaler6095]

This art style is so awesome. I love this color palette and the surreal textures and graphics. It makes a really good athmosphere, which only games from this era can really nail like this one.

[@Gnarrkhaz]

That fantastical industrial art style is another lost art of mid to late 90's video games.

[@shiveringisles3509]

It is hard to describe but there is just something about these games that is just gritty and bizarre, kinda cyberpunk-ish. I mean the settings are usually futuristic and yet can look incredibly run down and rusty. A few examples aside from POD are Anachronox, Omikron: The Nomad Soul, MegaRace 2, maybe Hardware, BHunter, Ballistics too.

[@VitorMach]

Now THIS is pod racing!

[@Riotlight]

There is actually 64 tracks to play in this game because they can all be raced in reverse! A huge amount of tracks for a game of its age! That also explains why there are some dead ends or misleading paths as racing a track in reverse can have quite a different route to take! Amazing game!

[@doreybain]

This game kept my interest longer than any other game I've ever played. The visual art and soundtrack never got old to me. No gimmicky weapons or magic, just great racing. Never used the brakes - ever.

[@AMD_Fan_98]

I saw this game on one of LGR's builds and this video convinced me to get it soon especially with the mods and the wacky world of online arcade racing.

[@cordia96]

I remember getting this for eastern as part of the "Action Games" CD Rom pack for Windows 95. Germany, 1997, probably from a food discounter like ALDI. It also included "Safecracker", "Judge Dredd Pinball", "Speedboat Attack" and the horrible 3D JnR "Gubble2". "Have a N.I.C.E day" was a pretty crazy combat racer

[@Xenocrysth]

i got this same collecton that tima t home D: so many games in one box

[@MrBonger88]

We got this game for free with our mmx pc back in 1997. I remember being blown away when I first saw it. The best part was the online mode. Racing against other “real” people online was something totally new to me

[@itssnowing3810]

I've definitely put a couple hundred hours or so into this game across the years I had it as a kid and back when I bought it several years ago from GOG. There's something so bizarre and interesting about the atmosphere that other games really can't replicate. And the in game physics makes for a unique driving experience as well. You can customize car stats, yes, but beyond that each car actually has innate differences. If you put the same stat distribution on different cars, they will still handle differently in subtle ways due to the physics engine. This is a game about optimizing how your custom tuned cars handle literal bumps in the road and how to optimally take each corner. Different cars will handle better on different tracks. And the tracks are all fantastic. For an arcade racer that was included for free with Windows 95, there's way more depth to POD than it has any right to have. I love it and I will keep coming back to it.

[@FriedEgg101]

When I was 16 my dad upgraded his desktop to one with the latest mmx technology, and this game came bundled with it, and Erasure but I never played that. I played this for so many hours though, knew the tracks inside out. I think I managed to get my hands on some extra tracks and cars somehow. And then I figured out how to give the cars max stats and went round all the tracks finding places to jump out of the map. It was pretty nostalgic watching this.

[@Cykelpump33]

I love how with more longer tracks, the third song kicks in. Such an adrenaline rush.

[@TheOldest]

Loved this game in the 90's, something about the road textures with the speed of the game gave it a cool design.

[@nullpointerworks4036]

Completely forgotten this game. I played it way back and loved the alien presentation. My only issue with the game is that the intro shows people racing through the empty city streets, while the actual game makes you run closed laps. Either way this game blew me away. Good memories indeed.

[@karimhim4506]

Best game ever. i used to play on an mmx 200 and it was awsome: The music, the cars, the tracks ... everything was so perfect

[@Yodagamer1]

Played this quite a bit. It came with an old windows 95 Acer that one of my parents friend gave us. Had lots of good times with this and Hunter Hunted

[@djMiSSDeeeZ]

I still playing it. Nice video review!

[@gepflegtePCSpieleKultur]

The Reason i bought an 3dfx Card... Ahhh good Times

[@Daniel_TheGreg]

Man, this game was my intire childhood summed up. Just downloaded it yesterday

[@chinaski6593]

I was a 100% PC gamer back in the 90s and this is the first time i'm watching anything on this game.

[@ggj1987]

I love this game! The fact that damage is carried over to the next race makes it such a cool and unique game! It’s so much more challenging that way. Do I repair my vehicle now and lose positions or do I start the next race with a slower, damaged car? Also you said the game is not a combat racing game but the AI does drive very aggressively, especially on hard mode. They keep ramming into you if you get close to them (or vice versa)

[@tatuira93]

Was going through my old CD collection and found my still pristine copy of POD from way back then. This game had a pretty cool atmosphere.

[@strelockyoussef4033]

this is my childhood man

[@jasonb1316]

I was 11, hands frantically working the keyboard of the Gateway PC my mom had gotten, trying to make sure i got through the corners clean. I remember finally finishing the last race, hands shaking with excitement, getting into the ship and blasting off; just to get a 30s cutscene of a flower.

[@pippo17173]

Really does look unique.

[@AgusCf]

I don`t play pod since 2003 more or less and some nights i still dreaming to this day that i`m racing in the game

[@DigitalDesires87]

Oh, the nostalgia! I remember I had the demo of this from some gaming magazine's demo disc and played it for weeks! Good times! Another forgotten racing gem, which came only a year later was Dethkarz! You should really take a look at that, it's brilliant!

[@eigengrau1]

I Loved Pod when i was young.. Thank you for this awesome review! Im gonna get the gold Version now.

[@adonizi]

First video game i ever played with the first computer our family bought.

[@weaseo]

Me too! I can still recite every word to the intro.

[@emac3628]

Same here. Logged hundreds and hundreds of hours playing this game.

[@sauzeeee]

Yoo same lol. This, Virtua Cop 2 and Prince of Persia were the shiz

[@virus2003]

I still listen to the soundtrack.

[@Atlacomulco91]

To reverse, hold the down button until the gear changes to “R”. Then hit the gas while still holding down and you will reverse.

[@Gamingpastime64]

That was it. Thank you. I figured automatic wouldn't force me to switch gears. My mistake.

[@tomf3150]

In manual you could use the zero gear to go ballistic on some tracks and use a bump on the road to shift gears back to 6 without losing too much speed.

[@hikira2649]

I personally am just so absorbed in the idea of the story behind this game. Is so unique. A race for life. Caused by a fungus of all things. Its a crazy good idea that I've never understood why it was never implemented in other games.

[@EminoMeneko]

I had this game bundled with my 1st PC (considering C64 is not a PC) I got that game under the skin. i also with a remake or reboot. I love the music track and I listen to it on regular basis. I reproduced some of the layers with an FM synthesizer. :) That said we seem to be under 200 people wishing this game to come back. Ubisoft will never care unless more people gather.

[@turdgoblin6113]

If you liked this game, you should try high octane! That was an interesting and very fun game.

[@Teknikfrik]

It was the first Game where I downloaded custom Levels from the Internetz. For me it felt almost like I hacked the game or something😂. Loved the Game and played it for 2 years with my uncle against each other. It was great and the music was so atmospheric. 3dfx patch for the win!

[@philipbraun4644]

You might wanna take a look at Dethkarz from 1998 as well. I'm always having a good time when I'm watching your reviews. :) Thanks for your amazing content! I have no idea why you guys "only" have 26K subs.

[@comdrive3865]

it would be awesome to see these tracks being remade for ballisticNG

[@savageduck2613]

Some of them are on the workshop now

[@SepticFalcon]

Did this game have anything to do with Stainless? Has many similadities to one of my all time favourites Carmageddon, had the pleasure of meeting the creators a few years ago for an interview. Would also love to hear your thoughts on the Carmageddon series :)

[@psycold]

Only played the demo but it was a blast.

[@anunnacy]

First of all: Thanks for making this beautiful review video, I love it! But since nowadays most people don't remember or never played it, I think you should not have shown the space scene. :/ For me it's not a problem since I played it and I still do thanks to gog, but yeah... other than that, thumbs up and I'm glad people like you are going back in time to show games like POD to today's young audiences. It's a really cool game and I agree that the aesthetics and variety play a big role in it. :) And yes, it deserves a remaster or even remake!

[@lasarousi]

You should check Redline from the really 2000 or very late 90s, it has third person combat along a full vehicle for missions and races.

[@Sigma0283]

Pod was a fun game.

[@AndroidFerret]

I had this game from a GameStar magazine CD Rom... And it was awesome in 1997 or so

[@BongDaChongKuoGo]

Never owned the game, but I discovered it from one of my old Dreamcast demo discs. Had an absolute blast! Will look into eBay for the full version~

[@foreignuser_]

thanks dude

[@mr.legacy6396]

Reminds of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 3 tbh

[@turdgoblin6113]

I used to play the piss out of this game when it first came out! Damnit I miss it, and I hate racing games lol.

[@TheGerkuman]

Just be warned... It can cause motion sickness since there's no FOV slider.

[@RacerC45]

Review Critical Depth and Rogue Trip Vacation 2012 next. They were made by the same developer of Twisted metal 1 and 2.

[@SR-388]

Man your binging alot of racing games, when's an fzero series review lol.

[@mopeybloke]

Maybe he's a strict PC man.

[@SR-388]

@@mopeybloke he's reviewed acouple of console games I think

[@Gamingpastime64]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2WmnplqmJeJZpI

[@SR-388]

@@Gamingpastime64 ah shit lol, I always see other people ask about a game but you've already covered, I guess I'm one of them now lol

[@bunkaaa8726]

Ever thought of checking out Bandits Phoenix Rising ? a really good car combat game !! Barely anyone heard of it either..

[@banterabc5135]

Great game at the time with great grafics, handle, tracks physics but the best part was the fluidity and the sence of speed (before fzero& wipeout came out and amped it times a 1000). Its definitly a classic for me.Still got my copy somewhere if my mother didnt throw it out(just bought it on gog along with MDK1&2 wich was around the same time period, these were quite simulare to POD>also great fastpace)

[@schaufelwerker3063]

this endscene got me so hard back than :D nais game kinda want to play it again

[@martinburns5982]

had this game and ultimate r@ce bundled with my first 3d card, some matrox powerVR crap..

[@SPL1NGYDUDE]

I think you have to hold brake to reverse

[@Gamingpastime64]

Just launched it again to double check. I can confirm that does not work.

[@labounti]

I played MMX version and it sucked as it had no 3DFX/ OpenGL support, later I played the multiplayer beta with the developer in charge.

[@jamstonjulian6947]

I guess I'm the opposite. I played this a lot as a kid and just assumed I was about the only one who played or remembered it. Same goes for a game called Fury3, anyone remember that?

[@Azazel5021]

never heard of this one

[@tomf3150]

Hey, reskinned track. I haven't played pod for a loooong time, but I still the textures files I made for Vger & Colony (or Exodus, can't remember). Shark, manual, zero brake, zero handling, crash code... Grouikteam forever.

[@Robfnord]

I remember my Nan buying me this game,

[@VAhamy101]

Whens the Forza Horizon review?

[@hopvafu1]

I'd never played this one, but by the looks of it kinda sucks? I mean it was probably pretty awesome in 1997, but today it looks and probably plays waaay outdated. Like there is games that age well for their gameplay: Doom, Quake, Starcraft and it case of racing games something like Carmageddon or F-Zero. But playing it now? Some games are product of its time and that's fine. Dunno just throwing it out there...

[@jamstonjulian6947]

Obviously it looks outdated. Saying it plays outdated is an assumption, one easily fixed by giving the game a go. But you'd be surprised how many racing games from the 90s still play really well. Time and progress are not the same thing.

[@comdrive3865]

@@jamstonjulian6947 exactly. You can't judge a racing game till you've actually driven it

[@TheCuebert1981]

Brings back memories