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1999 racing simulation video game From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
F355 Challenge[a] is a 1999 racing simulation arcade video game based on the race car and Ferrari event. It was developed by the AM2 division of Sega for the Sega Naomi Multiboard arcade system board under the direction of Yu Suzuki, and was later ported to the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 home video game consoles under the names F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa and Ferrari F355 Challenge[b] respectively for both American and European releases. The only model of car featured in the game is the Ferrari F355 Challenge model. Unlike Sega's other arcade racers like Out Run titles, F355 Challenge aimed to be realistic. The game was considered the most accurate simulation of the F355 possible up until that time.[3]
| F355 Challenge | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developer(s) |
|
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Director(s) | Yu Suzuki |
| Producer(s) | Yu Suzuki |
| Designer(s) | Yoji Kato |
| Composer(s) | Tomoya Koga |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Racing simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Arcade system | Sega NAOMI Multiboard |
Some versions of the arcade cabinet are noteworthy for having three screens, allowing the player to look through the side windows as they would in a real car. The cabinet itself is composed of four NAOMI units: one for each of the three screens and one to sync them all. The game also allows the player to use an automatic transmission or paddle-shift the gears. It also uses a real-time "Magic Weather" system similar to Shenmue.[4]
The 1999 arcade version of the game includes six circuits:
In addition, the home console versions of the game include five extra unlockable circuits:
All these circuits can be unlocked by either finishing in certain positions in a certain race or championship, driving over a certain cumulative distance in the game, or by entering a password in a revealable password entry screen. These tracks were also included in the F355 Challenge 2: International Course Edition arcade machine, released in 2001.[5]
The Dreamcast home version has link cable play for direct competition, but by January 2006, the online servers and website for F355 Challenge were offline until November 2023 when online component was restored.[6]
The game was announced at E3 2000.[7] Yu Suzuki is a keen Ferrari enthusiast who allegedly used data from his own Ferrari 355 at certain tracks to implement in the game during its development.[8]
The game features an original soundtrack featuring Genki Hitomi and Minoru Niihara that mimics the style of 1980s hard rock/heavy metal which is integrated into a radio station format during gameplay (some music was later reused for another AM2 game, Shenmue). The radio DJ and the announcer are played by Alan J (Alan John Peppler), an American DJ who works at the Japanese radio station Bay FM.
| Aggregator | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Dreamcast | PS2 | |
| Metacritic | 85/100[9] | 70/100[10] |
| Publication | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Dreamcast | PS2 | |
| CNET Gamecenter | 9/10[11] | N/A |
| Edge | 7/10[12] | N/A |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7/10[13][c] | N/A |
| Famitsu | 29/40[14] | 27/40[15] |
| Game Informer | 7.5/10[16] | 7/10[17] |
| GameFan | (J.W.) 92%[18] 80%[19][d] | N/A |
| GameRevolution | B−[20] | N/A |
| GameSpot | 9.1/10[21] | 7.5/10[22] |
| GameSpy | 9.5/10[23] |   [24] |
| GameZone | N/A | 6/10[25] |
| IGN | 9.2/10[3] | 7.8/10[26] |
| Next Generation | [27] | N/A |
| Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | N/A | [28] |
Passione Rossa received "generally favorable reviews", while Ferrari F355 Challenge received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[9][10] Dan Elektro of GamePro's December 2000 issue said of the former, "There will be no in-between when it comes to F355 Challenge – you'll either immerse yourself in truly mastering one of the world's most powerful sports cars, or you'll find this about as much fun as taking your driver's test. If you accept its inherent challenges, F355 will deliver the real deal."[30][e] 23 issues later, Kilo Watt said of the latter, "What the game lacks in the bells and whistles department, it makes up for in its insane depth. Ferrari fans who enjoy strict racing simulations, have a lot of patience, and enjoy using the control pad versus a racing wheel will get the most out of F355 Challenge."[31][f] John Gaudiosi of NextGen praised the former's realistic driving physics, AI, the addition of assist programs for inexperienced players, and graphics, but noted the absence of online multiplayer despite the game featuring two-player option.[27] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40 for the same console version,[14] and 27 out of 40 for the latter one.[15]
Also in Japan, Game Machine listed the arcade version in their January 1, 2000 issue as the seventh most-successful dedicated arcade game of the past year.[32]
The same arcade version won the award for Coin-op of the Year at the Edge Awards 2000,[29] while Passione Rossa was a runner-up for GameSpot's annual "Best Driving Game" award, which went to Test Drive Le Mans.[33] During the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Passione Rossa for the "Console Racing" award, which ultimately went to SSX.[34]
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