Slipstream

Capcom's vision of Formula 1 racing came in the form of the 1995 arcade game Slipstream. Many people only know Auto Modellista as Capcom's only racing game. Actually, there have been racing games by Capcom before even Slipstream. They just aren't many Capcom racing titles. Anyhow, Slipstream was not marketed aggressively worldwide, as you could only find Slipstream granted you live in Brazil. It was a game that featured three modes of play, eight cars, and four venues. I will introduce this game to my wonderful audience here.

I blogged about Slipstream before in my main blog, "John's Blog Space." This post you are about to read, however, is a completely original post made specifically for "John's Race Space."

--- Slipstream ---

Capcom's Slipstream was released in 1995. It ran on Sega System 32 hardware. Rich color quality and smooth racing were offered with this package. Slipstream is a Formula 1 racing game which allows for frenzied racing action by way of turbo boosts.

Modes of Play.

Three modes of play are available to gamers:

• Time Trial - compete in a one-on-one race.
• World Championship - race on all four tracks in a World Championship setting.
• Passing Contest - pass as many cars as you can through the course of one race.

The Cars.

The cars all resemble real-world Formula 1 race cars of their day. There are actually four cars in Slipstream, each with two different variants separated by color. So the total number of cars to choose from is eight. Each car is graded upon four factors:

• Handling - how well your car can take on corners.
• Acceleration - how well your car gets up to speed.
• Max Speed - the fastest your car can go.
• Rain Grip - how well your car handles in the rain.

While the cars all resemble certain real-world F1 cars (such as the Benetton B192), no actual F1 teams or drivers exist in this game.

The Tracks.

Each of the tracks are named for the nation they can be found in. Each course offers their own unique challenges.

• Germany - enjoy high-speed battle around the old Hockenheimring.
• Monaco - enter racing battle on the famed streets of Monte Carlo.
• Japan - the technical Suzuka Circuit offers rewarding driving and intense challenge.
• Australia - race the streets of Adelaide, but be wary of when rain soaks these streets.

Ready for some Slipstream?

The Racing.

The races in Slipstream all feature you against other car(s). Be sure not to overrev your engine at the start, or you'll have a terrible launch off the line. The key to racing in this game is in utilizing your turbo boosts. When you are in the draft of a leading car, a turbo will be initiated for you to try to pass that car. You can generate your own turbo boost, but you'll get automatic boosts when in a slipstream battle. You may often hear a voice say "SLIPSTREAM!" once a turbo is activated. Be careful as you use your boosts, because the other drivers may also overtake you with their own turbo boosts. By crossing the Checkpoints, your time will be extended. Try to ward off the other driver(s) and go for the win!

Video Preview.

Here is a preview of Slipstream. Click on the link below the video to view in YouTube (if you are unable to view such embedded media):


ARCADE MUSEUM - Slip Stream


Thanks to the video creator for allowing this video to be embedded.

--- Slipstream: Final Thoughts ---

It is too bad that Capcom didn't market this game outside of Brazil. Even though more people equate Capcom to fighting games, it doesn't mean that they still can't take on a racing game. Most people today may know of Auto Modellista as the only Capcom racing game ever. Some others know of Capcom offering the MotoGP games taking over from Namco (now Namco Bandai). However, Capcom made an arcade racing game back in 1988 called F-1 Dream for arcades. Just because you are not known for making games of a certain genre doesn't mean you can take on the challenge of making a game of a foreign (in the minds of purists) genre.

Having said all of this, I am actually sad Capcom probably could have marketed Slipstream a bit more elsewhere. Its rarity and its appeal make it very interesting. A willing developer could be able to take this game and maybe make it available on services like PlayStation Network or XBOX Live among others. Even though Capcom is better known as a juggernaut in fighting games, at least it's nice to know they attempted a racing game or two- and a very good one at that.


IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED... You can read my original post on "Slipstream" in my main blog by following this link: "Slipstream" (John's Blog Space).





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