Sega Touring Car Championship (Saturn) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Sega's 1997 arcade racing game for the Sega Saturn, Sega Touring Car Championship.
Played through the championship in the "Saturn side" mode on the normal difficulty level using the Toyota Supra, MT.
Sega Touring Car Championship has really been dragged through the mud over the years in the west - far more so than just about any other Sega arcade racer from the 90s - and it has largely been due to how absurdly difficult and twitchy the game seems when you are first learning it. But have no fear, if you spend the time, you will find one of Sega's best arcade racers buried deep beneath the surface. It just takes a while to find it, that's all.
SCTT was headed up by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, who you might recognize as the the design lead for Sega Rally, Space Channel 5, and Rez. The game posed a pretty radical change from the Sega Rally or Daytona USA formulas - the team reportedly spent a ton of time researching and driving these cars in order to produce the most "realistic" modelling of car physics possible in a video game.
In succeeding in that aim, they alienated a lot of people. When people go to the arcade, they want a game that they can jump into, figure out in a minute or two, and go. STCC is not a game that can be played like that. Your first several races are likely to end with you swerving back and forth into every single obstacle on the track - the controls actually reflect real driving.
They are incredibly sensitive, and this is what throws a lot of people off - but it is also why the settings menu allows you to calibrate the range and deadzone for your analog steering, accelerating, and braking controls. It helps to avoid the extreme over-sensitivity they suffer from on the default settings. It'll take awhile before you are good enough to get the car going down the street in a straight line, but once you figure it out, it feels awesome. You have a lot of control at your disposal - it just takes a bit to figure out how to use it to line up corners and nail hairy turns.
STCC was one of the last racing games before the console gave up the ghost in America, and I'm certainly glad that it made the cut. The graphics are quite good to look at (though they of course pale in comparison to the arcade's, which was phenomenal even for the Model 2 hardware) - they're roughly on par with Sega Rally, though they run at a higher resolution and a lower frame-rate than that game did. The frame rate remains even and never gets in the way, but it never feels much smoother than the original Daytona USA Saturn port which is a bit of a let down. The texture mapping usually looks good, though, especially on your own car. The benefit of the compromises that the game makes in visual quality really only become apparent when you are holding the controller, though. This game is FAST. Not because of what the speedometer says, but because it feels like you're really tearing around at ridiculous speeds with the scenery blurring around you. You don't tend to notice that the glass textures and chainlink fence are made up of checkerboard patterns when your sweating how to take a 50 degree turn at 175mph.
The sound is a typical Sega class act here, as well. You don't get any announcers screaming, "Long easy right!" at you - the game moves too fast for direction like that to be of any use - but you do get an absolutely fantastic eurobeat soundtrack (yup, just like Initial D), and I really liked the HUD and menu graphics. The whole thing looked well put together.
And finally, you might be loathe to try it because there is so little content. The game only a has five tracks, and a lap on any of them is only about 30 seconds long. But remember how Daytona's three tracks were always enough? Same thing here. You really have to learn these tracks thoroughly to play well, and if you get into it, it's easy to find yourself spending hours working on a single turn. Five courses is more than enough unless you want to go completely insane.
If you like Sega's 90s racers, I'd urge you to give this one a chance. Despite the enormous learning curve, there is a ton of depth and fun to be found here. You will suck at it at the beginning. A lot. But as you gradually learn the courses and the feel of each car on the road, things do gradually become easier. The payoff is totally worth the effort - once you have it down, there are few experiences on the Saturn that are this exciting, this fast, and this satisfying.
One word to the wise: don't even attempt to play it with a digital pad. It's virtually unplayable without analog controls.
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@NintendoComplete]

Sega Touring Car Championship is a top-tier arcade racer with an insane sense of speed and a killer soundtrack. It may demand an extraordinary amount of patience and time to master, but it pays the effort back in spades.

[@Dorian_Scott]

NintendoComplete, I've played *Micro Machines* for *SNES* and *Sega Genesis* yet this is decent too.

[@NintendoComplete]

Dorian Scott This is much harder than Micro Machines. I loved MM on the NES!

[@Dorian_Scott]

NintendoComplete, 1. There's an *NES* game!?😱 2. How *IS* this harder?🤔

[@ExtremeWreck]

NintendoComplete GAME OVER YEAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

[@NintendoComplete]

Dorian Scott I don't think I ever understood what a truly difficult racing game was until I played this. To this day I don't believe I've played a racing game that was harder to come to grips with than this one, but it was soooooo satisfying to get good at! The first couple of times I played it years ago I remember raging so hard because I couldn't even go down a straight road without slamming into the wall. Give it a try - it plays fine in Mednafen! ;) And boy are you missing out! The NES Micro Machines game isn't a port, it's the original! Check it out, it's a classic! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5LFooemnLl7oLs

[@drunkensailor112]

Can a game ooze any more 90s than this one? wow!

[@NintendoComplete]

drunkensailor112 Seriously, Sega was a master of that :D

[@zyrobs]

You haven't seen Comix Zone. That one has a Gen X-er superstar comic book artist, in a 2d beat'em up, with a killer grunge soundtrack.

[@_justtoomanygames_8857]

That sense of speed makes modern racing games look like your crawling.

[@cocolocopop4936]

I've never seen a game this detailed be so smooth on a classic console like this! I never played this game but it feels a an early draft of ridge racer with how fast paced it is and the music too.

[@richardnorman1158]

The handling of the cars really let it down was near impossible to control them Shame as it looked so good

[@8bitplusUK]

There's something a bit "Initial D" about this games first couple of sound tracks. Very underate against Rally and Daytona. Most people don't realise this game is trying to give a different feel to the others and came across a bit harder. I enjoyed the saturn port back in the day.

[@nate567987]

it's Hyper Tekno and was put out by the same company that put the SEB disks

[@minignoux4566]

they used litteral eurobeat from avex

[@hellacia8151]

@@minignoux4566 The only Eurobeat song used was Don't Drop Me by Ann Sinclair

[@minignoux4566]

@@hellacia8151 there is quite a lot of eurobeat, there are like 3 soundtracks you can choose during first heat, if you choose avex you would have eurobeat for the whole playtrough

[@MrSuperVikingo]

Awesome gameplay. I just added this to my collection and I can’t wait to try it with my Saturn steering wheel.

[@NintendoComplete]

How did you like it? The steering wheel is by far the best way to play it!

[@majimamike5313]

I loved this game.Great graphics,soundtrack,a good variery of cars and tracks and fast gameplay.If you played with the arcade racer or the analog controller it was a superb experience.

[@NintendoComplete]

100% yes. I absolutely loved it. Not quite enough to budge Daytona as my favorite Saturn racer, but its soooooo damn good. And the insane difficulty level makes it a better game, I think. I rarely say that, but mastering this game feels like the video game equivalent of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest :D

[@chrisd8458]

@@NintendoComplete Once you got the right car and settings. It's not. I find taking the 4wd cars Alfa and Opel which have trouble drifting on their own......softening up the suspension. Gives you a fantastic level of control, even with the regular model 2 pad.

[@calibvr]

@@NintendoComplete SEGA Rally is my favourite Saturn racer

[@captaincofthesky7157]

This game's freakin music OWW!

[@shifty1927]

I have the 2 seater arcade version of this just to relive my saturn childhood.

[@regularchickens]

When KZbin mutes the in-game audio because of content ID 💀

[@Purianite]

Great driving. I played the arcade version, and remember the steering to be very finicky. This game also has a great soundtrack, and I'm puzzled as to how an F-bomb got past the censors (in the second track). "Are you f***in' awake out there!?" E-rated game, folks. 🤣

[@one_step_sideways]

Because everyone thought that to be "Are you stuck in a window pane".

[@Blueflag04]

Is it me or the musics in this game are damn catchy?

[@nate567987]

that cus it is

[@Mark-pr7ug]

Can't understand why some computer magazines back in the day underrated this one. It looks and moves well with plenty of skill to master.

[@marcelosoares7148]

Most people only had the digital controller (the standard one that came with every Saturn), and this game is basically unplayable with that one. You need the analog 3D pad and even then, it's still hard as balls.

[@ZX3000GT1]

The biggest issue with this game is the existence of Gran Turismo mere months after its release on the Saturn. That game proved that realistic driving isn't like what this game portrayed. Especially weird is that they apparently aimed to reflect real driving, while forgetting that these cars have lots of downforce and thus don't twitch the way it was in the game, even upon throttle release.

[@SpeccyHorace]

It's an arcade racer, mate.

[@ZX3000GT1]

@@SpeccyHorace It's an arcade racer as in the fact that it was released on the arcade. Their aim for this game is realism - read up on the development of this game. They even have a real racing driver trying out this game to tune the physics. It aims to be something like F355 Challenge games.

[@delalicanto7432]

"That game PROVED" Oh the humanity...

[@jesusisking8643]

I remember this game ! My father bought it to make me happy while I asked for Sega Rally :p I was so disappointed ! Fortunately I had the steering Wheel and this game was very speed and playable with it !! There was some secret circuits with cheat codes ! I don't really love this game (I don't like graphics and music) but it wasn't a bad game. Just I really prefer Sega Rally and Daytona USA CCE :D !! I sold it later without any regret... But thank you for this memory !! :D God bless

[@gpxjimmy]

I used to have this game, I played it on my first laptop in my life

[@Wesley_C]

Castrol supra's my favorite race car.

[@QF_Dan72]

I started playing the game for the first time yesterday. Despite people saying the controls are twitchy, but after close to an hour of playing, i was able to get the hang of the controls and had some fun drifting around each turns. The game definitely has a steep learning curve but not impossible as long as you spend time with it. I went back and forth between the default and custom car set up but then i stick with the default setting for rest of the game. I usually went with the Opel Calibra because i felt the most comfortable when i drove it. Alfa Romeo is also a good starter car for beginners. Avoid Supra and the Mercedes until you are good enough.

[@ericjpdt]

I remember playing this game in frustrarion,cause i wanted to play Gran Turismo. Hahaha Btw, have some fun with it,even though i played much more Daytona USA and Sega Rally

[@Mystere1985]

Surprised to see this game garner so many positive comments today. IIRC the official Sega Saturn magazine tore this game a new one back in '97 for its ugly graphics and choppy frame rate. In fact they were so disappointed in the final product they apologized to their readers for hyping it in their previews. No doubt it's a million miles from the arcade version. But it does looks better than I recall.

[@chattingesque372]

That's because they reviewed the PAL version 😂

[@Izhen_UwU]

0:40 This sounds like mortal kombat's theme "techno syndrome"

[@Siegfried39ify]

Somehow on your video, game looks better,than i remember,on PAL Saturn game was choppy and uncontrollable as hell!

[@ExtremeWreck]

Siegfried39ify this is the NTSC version.

[@NintendoComplete]

Oh that sucks! PAL must've got shafted with a bad conversion that just slowed the original down to 50hz. That would be awful for a game like this!

[@stantonbentley2534]

I was just thinking that. The frame rate was maybe 20fps with frequent noticeable pauses. I guess Sega didn't bother to adapt it properly to 50hz. It was released in the dying days of the Saturn after all.

[@RetroGamesBoy78]

Siegfried39ify Yep, the Pal version was awful, the biggest disappointment ive had in gaming, Winter Heat was the same, 2 of Sega's last few games for the system that more than likely was seen as too much effort to convert it properly for the PAL regions for their dying console, it remained full screen so that maybe says it all really.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@RetroGamesBoy78 Oh damn, Winter Heat as well? That must have absolutely ruined it, just like Touring Car.

[@pc528]

3:16 Nice Sound

[@carlosalfonsofontiverosgue3045]

Amazing racing saturn Game!!!

[@andrewschroy6368]

Because of how short the tracks are, I always play with the 5-lap setting.

[@ViciousAlienKlown]

My local game store has this for $15, I'll probably pick it up.

[@JR-mr1tw]

You make it look easy!

[@genkidroid]

Hi! Can you share your settings? Great video! ;)

Its almost like this game tries to play "Eurobeat" (Im more used to the Initial D Eurobeat Style)

[@drunkensailor112]

eurodance!!

[@NintendoComplete]

Either of you guys know what the singer is saying at 1:08? I've always thought it said, "Don't be gravy," and I really doubt that that is correct lol

What i hear is "Call me Baby"

[@NintendoComplete]

danylopez123 Español Dude! You're a genius, that totally makes sense! Lmao Thanks!

No Problem

[@iiiiii1449]

I want to like this game but I feel like the difficulty is caused by the fps drops. I’ve played the arcade game and it feels very different. Glad you like it but l’m not sure if l will ever have the patience to master this port.

[@ChristianGiaconiBonaguro]

What FPS drops? It runs perfectly smoothly, I don't know why people say that.

[@DSMTheEditor]

Impressive playthrough because this game was IMPOSSIBLE

[@Maru96]

It's a cool game but realistic my ass lol, F355 Challenge was Sega's real arcade sim-racing game.

[@stephennovotny6157]

Wow I 💘 this video Game's Pretty good I LIKE RACE CAR'S

[@megaruhe6296]

I like turtles.

[@ninjacat230]

Seeing you barrel into the pit Lane at top speed give me emotions, and not good ones

[@LeonardoBarlera]

thank you god for gran turismo exists

[@douglaseduardo9049]

Até hoje eu falo Sega rallye championchip pqp que nostalgia

[@purpledonatello]

Your a boss going for Manuel transmission also what happens if you put damage options on?

[@NintendoComplete]

purpledonatello I've honestly never had the balls to try. I can't imagine the gane becomes any easier that way.

[@LouisTheSEGANerd]

As far as I'm aware damage gives you steering damage after a couple of crashes. I don't recommend playing this game with damage 😂

[@hondamanvtec2894]

Its a shame they didnt "polish" this more. It could have been an Amazing racing game

[@ciredecgellar8232]

it's amazing

[@QF_Dan72]

it's still fun to play, just need to learn it

[@JomasterTheSecond]

It's all Eurobeat. Let's *FUCKING GO.*

[@Pai3000]

Hats off...

[@vgaoct91]

Not bad! ...If I didn't know any better, I assume Sega was trying to emulate the realism of Gran Turismo?

[@NintendoComplete]

vgaoct91 I think it might've actually been the other way around. The arcade version of STCC came out in '96, and the home port came out near the end of '97, just a few months apart from GT :) GT had better graphics and more stuff crammed in, but I think for sim-style racing this one plays much better!

[@HereForAStorm]

Sega didn't attempt Gran Turismo until Sega GT on the Dreamcast

[@RetroGamesBoy78]

Vgaoct91 I Wouldn't call Gran Turismo that realistic tbh and Sega Touring car never aimed to be super realistic, its an arcade game after all and was actually released before GT.

[@nate567987]

@@RetroGamesBoy78 355 chanlge was an arcade game

[@RetroGamesBoy78]

@@nate567987 Its actually one of my favourite arcade racers! I actually had a 3rd place time on the Dreamcast online leaderboard on the Motegi track, although i believe it only had 6000 entries, but still pretty cool though.

[@HerecomestheCalavera]

Decent graphics. Something I've always wondered is if the Saturn would have been able to handle a game like Gran Turismo.

[@Trako26]

saturn could, but Sega didn't come up with the idea of ​​making a game like this, or at any rate it thought there was no need since Sega was the home of arcade games, while gran turismo is instead a sim-arcade game. But then it changed his mind by releasing sega gt on dreamcast

[@ZX3000GT1]

I think Saturn could've handled it better actually, especially since they have a second CPU that should theoretically be usable to offload some physics calculations. More RAM (especially with added expansion) means that it has more memory than PS1. If done properly Saturn should've been able to have Gran Turismo better than PS1.

[@drunkensailor112]

did you play the japanese version? I've read that version is better.

[@NintendoComplete]

drunkensailor112 No I haven't, just the US one. Any idea the differences?

[@RolfSAMA]

Why is Alfa the only car on result screen facing left? :)

[@Iv40]

I've played it on arcade machine.

[@BLKBRDSR71]

I once tried uploading my own playthrough of this game. Then KZbin muted the whole damn game! So now it's gone. 😭

[@QF_Dan72]

Damn... looks like i will have to upload my footage without any music. Such a shame

[@RAPIDMANFIRE]

Ridge racer rival

[@minignoux4566]

Who put eurobeat in my Saturn?

[@chrisd8458]

I just bought this game. Never had it back in the day. Let me tell you..... this fucking shit is frustrating. There is a really good game here. It's just hidden in the Saturn Side under some car setting tweaks. I was playing arcade and raging. Switched to Saturn Side.....Its all good now.

[@joseluki]

The sense of speed in this game is unreal, if they only had different modes for newbies with easier controls.

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

Is this running on an emulator?.....

[@BobbyHo2022]

Cant play this in 2024. Graphics look like crapola.

[@purpledonatello]

What were they thinking putting initials d tracks in there?

[@boby0137]

移植到SS根本悲劇，一個好遊戲給糟蹋得不成樣

[@vincenzoreitano7561]

Ottimo senso di velocità..ma grafica squallida

[@retrocysper3709]

1:14 WHAT??? 2:24 Not Again. 7:45 The Gameplay was ruined I don't like this. I'm disappointed.

[@NotGT9]

probably copyrighted

[@Steventhe2nd]

man, they can't do gear ratios right....

[@itsrelativ3967]

I don't get how Sega arcade racing games had better music and terrible game play.

[@JediArgento]

The gameplay is fine in this game. It's just the Saturn version looks hideous.