PixlBit

Around the world in 80 minutes.

Released around two years after the arcade version, Cruis'n World is more than just a port. Offering new modes and features,  it's a more complete package than its predecessor, making it a worthwhile experience. Some things don't change however, and it still contains the same lackluster presentation that the series is famous (or infamous?) for.

The classic Cruise mode is back, this time containing fourteen tracks from around the world. Like in the original game, it requires placing in first position to advance to the next race, keeping the arcade spirit intact. Since this game doesn't take place all on one route like Cruis'n USA, the progression feels a little weird, but it still works. The new mode, Championship, provides a set of three or four races that are three laps each. There is also a Practice mode which is essentially a time trial, and some new cars can be earned by running a fast time on certain tracks.

The Championship mode is actually the meat of the game, as it is where a lot of content is unlocked. There are four championships of three or four tracks each, grouping them by difficulty. As these tracks have laps instead of going from one point to another, the layouts of the tracks are different from those in Cruise mode. There is no required place to advance to the next race, but only the top three positions will earn points. Still, there's a little more leeway than in Cruise mode.

The points earned from placing in championships go towards more than winning each individual one. After enough total points are accumulated, new features will be unlocked. These include things like the ability to change the colour of cars, but the main one is what the game calls “power levels.” A new power level will raise the top speed of every selectable car, and these are practically required to complete the championships on harder difficulty settings, as otherwise the opposition will simply be too fast. However, there's something odd that happens when the higher power levels are reached... After a high speed is reached, it no longer feels like the car is accelerating further. Instead, as the speed continues increasing past 180MPH, it feels more like everyone else is just slowing down.

There are a couple new odds and ends gameplay-wise, as well. Double-tapping on the accelerator will cause the car to perform a wheelie, which makes no logical sense, but it's probably way too late to question such things. Similarly, double-tapping on a turn will make the car go up on its two side wheels. Using a wheelie into an opponent car or traffic will allow ramping off that car and flipping into the air; this stunt can also be performed from certain hills on the track, as can a roll from tilting onto the side wheels. These stunts are mostly for show, but when done in Championship mode, they will count a couple of points towards unlocking the new content. Also in Championship mode are nitros, which when used will provide a nice boost in speed for a short while. Three nitros are available for each race, and knowing when to use them can sometimes mean the difference between first and fifth.

The graphics and sound are slightly improved over the first game, but not enough to make them anything close to being good. The textures are a little cleaner and aren't as pixelated, but there are still a lot of sprite graphics for the environments, making things look flat. The draw distance isn't any farther out, providing the same level of pop-up and the track appearing out of thin air. When a stunt is pulled off, a woman's voice says things such as “Awesome!” or “Go baby!” It is unclear if this mysterious voice is coming from a passenger in the player's car or is some sort of announcer or bystander.

Although Cruis'n World suffers from many of the problems as its predecessor, the new modes and conventions add just enough to make it worthwhile. Its graphics are an eyesore, its sound is painful, and its physics are wonky, but sometimes a game is better than the sum of its parts. With an increased sense of speed, large selection of tracks, and no-nonsense racing, Cruis'n World is an enjoyable arcade racer for anyone who can peel back its ugly exterior.