Cyber Speedway - Sega Saturn Review

[@LifeWKai]

Just found this from that game show clip or whatever "How often do you play Sonic?" "Every day, mate"

[@SaffySprocket]

That's how I ended up here 😂

[@MiniMajik]

it's... not the same guy tho...

[@System_Sega]

It is worth pointing out the Pal version of cyber Speedway uses the Japanese soundtrack. It does suit the game a bit better.

[@AltimaNEO]

That music is so goofy, holy heck!

[@TrusteftRetroWeekend]

It's like they picked up random songs from the KZbin audio library. Not even from a genre that would make sense.

[@AltimaNEO]

@@TrusteftRetroWeekend I never understood why Sega had to keep changing the music in its Japanese games for western release? The Japanese stuff slapped!

[@mattb6522]

It's pure '90s butt rock!

[@TrusteftRetroWeekend]

@@AltimaNEO I can only imagine a matter of rights/license? Or they really don't respect their Western audiences and are mocking them/us. Both funny.

[@Pavvzz]

I think it is because of the egos of the time, and that they also tried to locate things wrongly thinking that they would attract more audiences.

[@pikabox8272]

Cyber speedway was the first hover racer i've played. I didn't know about the different Soundtracks, in Europe we had the japanese OST.

[@theivace9705]

Dang. It's literally Sonic CD all over again.

[@abaddon1503]

@@theivace9705 Spencer Nilsen (who’s mentioned here to head the team that made the US ost) also composed for the US Sonic CD ost, so it literally IS Sonic CD all over again

[@reignick1133]

The one Lasting Impact that Cyber Speedway/ Gran Chaser left us? It Graced this world with the Presence of *Cyber Wilford Brimley.*

[@themightyegonga4131]

This and Virtua Fighter were my first Saturn titles, so I always remember it fondly. I remember it blowing my mind when you hovered over the water and got the cool water splash effects; at the time it felt like games could never get more realistic.

[@StillTheVoid]

If there was ever a reason on why gamers purchased this game, its for one reason only: Day Glo Blues by Bygone Dogs --> @10:56 If Saturn owners who purchased the $199 Bundle that included the console and 3.5 Disc Combo, they would realize that this music piece was apart of the FMV showcase of upcoming titles under the Bootleg Sampler demo disc! Thanks again, Sega Lord X for spotlighting this game! 🏁🏎

[@strider6425]

Ohhhh yeah. I remember that. That song really brings back memories

[@jonkbaby]

I started learning the guitar and asked my Dad to show me how to play Tabatha. I was blown away, he listen for a few seconds and then started playing it. I could not believe it. bygone dogs and Sega do deserve credit for getting me to learn more guitar and music

[@rakeshpatel8347]

Bygone Dogs - great music especially “Tabitha” though mismatched it provides great nostalgia for the time!

[@dannylifted9441]

Yeah good music but wrong game

[@jonkbaby]

I started learning the guitar and asked my Dad to show me how to play Tabatha. I was blown away, he listen for a few seconds and then started playing it. I could not believe it. bygone dogs and Sega do deserve credit for getting me to learn more guitar and music

[@jdiluigi]

Wipeout series soundtrack was a perfect fit for this type of setting.

[@titantim]

It's funny, at 3:35 I really thought the music fit the gameplay, and wanted to hear other tracks for it. Then when you said the soundtrack for the US release didn't fit, and played 6:55 , I understood completely.

[@hoppy8008]

I never expected the artist behind Turn A Gundam's mecha design to have a hand in this game.

[@darinherrick9224]

I honestly LIKE this game better than any other Saturn racer. It’s just so charming.

[@Pavvzz]

It has its charm. I play it from time to time either on the console or via emulator, I know there are better things but it has a certain charm.

[@dannylifted9441]

Yeah this is one of those games that I knew wasn't that great but something about it kept me coming back every few months for some rounds.

[@peterbruin5154]

Really goes to show how important a good soundtrack is.

[@youuuuuuuuuuutube]

11:52 This short review nails it: "Your ship doesn't handle as well as it could; the graphics are a little choppy, and sometimes it's hard to distinguish the track from the background." => just by watching the video, I could tell those were big issues, in particular the last one: if you can't really see the track or the turns ... well it's not going to be a good racing game. That's one of the most important fundamentals of a racing game.

[@blakejohnson4713]

This was the first game I ever played that had music with lyrics and it blew our minds. The music doesn't especially hold up, but in the mid 90s, having a CD quality soundtrack with full instruments and lyrics was enough of a revelation to convince us all it was better than wipeout.

[@projectmayhem6898]

Thanks!

[@UnBuenJugador]

I love how you insert a whole slideshow episode in the middle of a single-game review

[@jenn_raye]

When I first got my Saturn used for $40 (man I miss those prices lol) this was one of the four games I bought with it, not knowing what it was. Not particularly amazing, but the incredibly bizarre choice of soundtrack has made it stick in my mind all these years later. I'll still give it a listen on occasion if I'm in the mood for 90s cheese.

[@hotconductor4749]

The first time I played this game was on a burned CD copy. I naturally assumed someone was trolling the rom scene by uploading some bad 80s rock in place of the game's soundtrack. I was amazed to discover this was real and intentional. Absolutely wild.

[@MegaNerdX]

The guitaring in tracks was great

[@darinherrick9224]

I bought a PlayStation for Wipeout. Cyber Speedway was one of the first Saturn games I played. I loved them both. And I never compared them because they were nothing alike.

[@davmo72]

The UK version had the Japanese music thankfully!

[@mole28]

Weird, here in europe we got the game under the usa title Cyber speedway, but with the awesome japanese music.

[@thisthatpresents3261]

My 2nd favorite racer on the saturn

[@thisthatpresents3261]

Oh Tabitha

[@YourNewBuddy]

Another great video! I like your reviews, and how you compare other reviews, so we get a good consensus of opinions.

[@mtshark7]

I enjoyed Cyber Speedway. Awesome review man!

[@Canadian_Gamer]

Full disclosure I had this game at launch and loved it. The music was so good too. This takes me back. 7:03 what a great tune!

[@LVPB]

Full disclosure NBGAF

[@Nov-5062]

​@@LVPB nobody asked you either

[@MannyCakes1984]

I rather enjoyed the music too!

[@thomaselers7416]

I found the game to be frustrating, the music terrible, but graphics quite good at the time..

[@benitoelwerito]

I have some great memories with this game. Not the greatest racer, but it’s definitely a good time with a fun story.

[@michaeloffgrid]

I've never played this game, but I've always loved the music in it.

[@Pavvzz]

For me, Cyber Speedway is an early but interesting game, at least in its Japanese and European versions, mainly because of the soundtrack, although gameplay has quite a few flaws, there are some circuits that are much "faster" and it gives us a clue that they could have improved for a sequel that never came.

[@fearanarchy]

I miss they geometrical design of early 3d: Cyber Sled, Robo Pit, Virtual On. Sans the draw distance i really like the look here.

[@JoeBloggs777]

I feel like I'm listening to a 90's computer game review, that is actually from the 90s lol. You have a good voice for it 😄

[@kinorai]

On a totally unrelated note, Scorchers was my favorite futuristic racer on Saturn! God I loved the music in this game! And for once it wasn't Redbook audio! Love 32bit Chiptune way back then!

[@dad7275]

Even I thought the music was off. A 90's techno would've suited it like a glove.

[@MarquisDeSang]

I loved the game back then. Played with the weird Sega Wheel.

[@deepstothepeeps]

Cyber Speedway was a game I rented a couple of times before eventually buying it well after the Saturn's lifespan. I found the music to be really great, even if it doesn't exactly 'fit' with the overall theme of the game, especially the tune from the lava planet.

[@gameshack1985]

I reviewed this one a while back on my channel too. The soundtrack for the PAL/JP version is absolute top stuff, better than the US version in my opinion. I have to say though, this is better than a lot of the racers on the Saturn, much more fun than Wipeout, that's for sure!

[@gulpirak]

I loved this game as a kid and played it to death. My brother and I played it on split-screen endlessly as well. I know it's not great, but my nostalgia for Cyber Speedway is immune to logic. Also, Bygone Dog's moving bass lines were one of my inspirations for picking up the instrument.

[@zed-xr4353]

I completely forgot this game existed. I remember thinking this game looked cool in the advertisements in the day. I was NOT expecting that music, though. 😅

[@Pytor007]

Man, i swear, Spencer Nielsen makes some great music, but too many times, his stuff for SEGA games in the 90s is too often just "let's make some music I'm liking right now" and not "let's make music for this VIDEOGAME".

[@lasskinn474]

did you ever play in-era pc games similar to saturn games? like hi-octane, slipstream 5000, screamer kind of stuff particularly

[@GodzillasaurusJr]

I misread the title as Cyber Speedwalk. I wonder what cybernetically enhanced speed walking would look like?

[@DoinThatRag]

Wow that audio in the U.S. release - just what were they thinking???

[@Justforvisit]

Found the secret AVGN Account :D

[@sonidojamon]

"Hey! My nephew plays in a band" 😂

[@jonbourgoin182]

How did you manage to import your Saturn stuff back in the day? Was it via magazines? I can't imagine any gaming stores allowing buyers to import stuff back then unless they maybe charged an up front premium

[@SegaLordX]

The big import stores in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and LA, put ads in gaming magazines and allowed telephone orders.

[@heavysystemsinc.]

I think that's this is a good candidate for most 'this music doesn't belong here' game, but I think some of Tim Follin's contributions are going to be hard to beat...

[@jgs1703]

The music is awesome in this game! This was a great game to play when I was a young lad. The gameplay was actually solid. It had a cools story too. Tabitha!

[@TheNixxus]

Little footnote, the European release of Cyber speedway (atleast in the UK) has the japanese soundtrack, so it's only the americans who got boned on this one

[@jmullner76]

Reminds me of the music of Sonic CD. I had this and Sonic and only knew the US music. Loved it at the time; still do. But both Japanese soundtracks are radically different. Too bad they didn't give options for both in releases back in the day.

[@Adamtendo_player_1]

I hated it when a game gets localised. They completely change the soundtrack for it. They did this with sonic CD. No question that wipeout thoroughly wiped the floor with this game Unfortunately, at least in the west, it’s summed up one of the many reasons why the Saturn failed in the west

[@TheStruggleStreamShow]

That music🥴🥴😂😂😂

[@mattb6522]

Good review! I don't remember this game at all growing up, but sounds like I didn't miss much. WipeOut was pretty amazing for its time as it was like the definitive futuristic racer of the mid-'90s, so it doesn't surprise me this game just got buried after it came out. Cyber Speedway's choppy framerate looks absolutely nauseating! Also, they really should have stuck to the Japanese version's soundtrack. That US version music is so out of place for a game like this. What the heck were they thinking!?

[@barry-allenthe-flash8396]

I think this is the only example where the Japanese version ISN'T the one with the goofy, out of place vocal tracks. I mean, some people like Daytona's theme a whoooole lot _(too much,_ some might say) so I guess maybe they thought they could go for something similar here?

[@jketterman6054]

I remember playing this back in the day. For me, wipeout killed it for me. But when you set aside the comparison, it was actually a fun game.

[@Akiga_games]

Cool gameplay! I wasn't feeling the music though! Awesome review SLX!

[@trainyourdog7351]

Man I love this game, I was just playing it not that long ago. Fun with the flight stick and the music was great!✌🏾

[@gaeljehnno]

One of the first game i owned for the saturn, i was so dispointed by it (in 1996).

[@Justforvisit]

This game sounds a lot like Sega's answer to Nintendo's F-ZERO

[@ncapone87]

Funnily enough, Sega helped develop F-Zero GX

[@Yantryman]

Oh god the miss match in music! It's hardcore as hell!

[@shadow1w2]

I found Cyber Speedway in a bargain bin after I tried out it's demo. The music is certainly weird here and thankfully today I can swap out the Japanese tracks and play what should have been. Do wish the game could have a remaster, might be nostalgia goggles but there is something to it that I remember fondly. Maybe something an indie dev could make a spiritual successor of perhaps. I also the only way I would have ever heard of Bygone dogs heh, though music is a bit catchy I admit.

[@Caluma122]

Aww man Wipeout was a gem.

[@fazares]

Fantastic review as usual...i would only cite the developer, NEXTECH (ex Gau Entertainment) who did many games on the SS...this game also predates WIPEOUT on the console futuristic hovercraft racing game genre 3d debut!

[@konamiscode8727]

The Japanese tracks aren't all that of a fit for that kind of game them either, but that American version is sure a head scratcher lol😅

[@forcedfeedbackclassicgamer5499]

That went about as well as expected... That US soundtrack is a crime against humanity...

[@MannyCakes1984]

I had this game! I remember enjoying it quite a bit!

[@jrod75]

This one I remember vividly as no one wanted to play it at the EB Saturn display. I tried it on the US clunky controller and after the second race I was bored with it. The concept seemed good but there was no challenge especially when I sucked driving the damn thing. I don’t think there was more that could help the game if more time was allowed. What’s funny is the future themed games are always so gray and metallic.

[@stephandolby]

A little more polygon subdivision near the camera and a little less lens flare in the artwork, and that might've gained it a bit more credit in retrospective reviews... maybe.

[@PhilipMarcYT]

Never knew there was a WipEout-style game on the Saturn, and yes I'm aware there's a WipEout game on Saturn. However, PS1 seems to have gotten the better port.

[@darinherrick9224]

I love everything about this game.

[@steveothehulk]

Were there ever any emulators that played on Saturn? Like NES or master system for example?

[@LynnRoloff]

found this from that game show, im also maladjusted but in a sexy, mysterious way

[@Des_Zee]

Never heard of this one but the gameplay reminds me of the PS1 Jet Moto games.

[@entertainmentwizard2703]

The meshes should be transparency's but given it's an early game it's not surprising!

[@Seb66]

Good old memories ! I like this 👍

[@johnrussell8086]

God that American soundtrack was a terrible choice. Not bad music just not the correct audible aesthetic. I've never played this game but for an early release I always like the slash water effects it has when the ship fly's over. A bit of artistic flare for such an early release. 😅

[@OllyDee123]

I knew it was Nextech as soon as I saw the on-screen shield HUD. Its the same as the one in Ranger-X.

[@tangreen7267]

Thanks for covering this, SLX, but this, and other releases for the Saturn really dimmed my enthusiasm for my $299 with 3 free games next gen machine.

[@VGVindaloo]

I actually bought it after I already had Wipeout, because I got the PS before my Saturn, but I still liked it. Sure, it's not even a contest between the two games, but I had some fun with it between Wipeout 1 & 2. You definitely could do worse during that time.

[@DGJX]

Play it with the analog controller, it's much more enjoyable

[@parazels83]

For those who are complaining about the modern game prices... Look at this shit for $60! And keep in mind $60 cost more in 1994 due to inflation!

[@Gamevet]

I rented Gran Chaser from Die Hard Game Club in Plano Texas. I had purchased my Saturn during the May early launch in North America. I got a Pro-Action Replay to play Saturn Imports, while waiting for more North American titles to arrive. I wasn't impressed with this game.

[@VBrancoPT]

Has anyone here played Scorcher (SAT)? Gotta say, that game's soundtrack is a banger.

[@PhilipMarcYT]

Sega Lord X, do you prefer covers of a specific region or you're not bothered by that? I personally liked the PAL and JPN ones over the USA covers. I know they changed the covers due to the market, but the replacement wasn't always ideal.

[@SegaLordX]

The US art is almost always terrible. I prefer the Japanese art 99/100.

[@davidglad]

I think most people who lived the 90s almost always found the Japanese art way cooler than its Americanized counterpart. In hindsight, the Japanese likely cared way more too then as now to make sure everything about the game was a hit. Versus whoever had the final say in various domestic markets.

[@drunkensailor112]

I also much prefer the pal art. Just look at all the great panzer dragoon saga box art in pal.

[@turbinegraphics16]

I remember thinking Slipstream 5000, Fx fighter and Fatal racing looked amazing until I saw decent ps1 and saturn games.

[@williamoverton7775]

remember the rail racer with the weird comercials I pretty much only played it for weird comercials

[@Aragorn7884]

Talk about a miss-match of music to the gameplay 🤦😅

[@GoldenCroc]

Yeah, I was like "Come on, how bad could it be? Oh..... oh my..."

[@jgs1703]

The music was awesome.

[@LeakyBuffer]

Apparently ska is all the rage in year 4580, horrible music I legit wouldn’t of played it then

[@petes1721]

It’s not exactly wipeout is it 😂

[@DanielSerranoRamos]

Give me the Bygone Dogs music any day it was a very stark contrast to the gameplay. It was Goofy but I was here for it.

[@dangerotterisrea]

Wipeout was the king in europe

[@djjaydee7706]

yeah, what a game 🤩

[@IronicSonic83]

Yeah the first time I played Cyber Speedway mi first impression was "what's wrong with that music" lol

[@simonrobinson1566]

For an early title, I think the graphics look pretty good. Could have done with better vehicles.

[@johncraw8572]

Awesomeness video slx please do more thanks 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@sonidojamon]

If I remember correctly, the european version had the OG japanese release music. Thank god. Got rid of this game as soon as Wipeout 2097 was released, though. British 3rd party developers like Psygnosis and Eidos saved the Saturn in the west (or at least postponed its demise). Most US developed games were complete garbage. Except for Lobomy's ports FPS, that's for sure

[@thavashgovender4345]

This should have been the pack in for the Saturn (with Japanese music) , may have helped sell the machine

[@RetroJedi9]

Hi Octane was my future racing favourite on Saturn, it reviews badly these days I'd be interested in your take on it.

[@hussainmohd6298]

i agree with this review

[@JGreen-le8xx]

F-Zero was hover racing. wipEout was hover racing perfected...

[@mattb6522]

Wipeout was just way ahead of its time. Honestly, I wish they remastered the Wipeout games on modern consoles.

[@Biggi87]

Wow, that music comparison was quite something. Really wonder what led to the decision to do the extra work to make something so ill-fitting.

[@ReinMixTape]

A fair review, I thought the game title seemed familiar and it turned out its one of the Saturn games I own, but have barely played. Your review reminded me why.

[@nightshadehelis9821]

$80 in 1994? Holy crap

[@PaperBanjo64]

Yeah, especially on a CD ROM

[@evilfreak7]

yeah, he imported it. that sounds about right for the time. importing now isn't far off in cost even

[@kaikiske7436]

Could’ve been a killer game on more powerful hardware. Clean graphics and 60fps on Dreamcast would’ve been killer. I worked at SEGA as a tester back when this was released, but never worked on it.