C1 Circuit, too early to realize the driving simulator in PlayStation

C1 Circuit, which was released on PlayStation in October 1996, was recognized as the esoterically legendary or weirdly popular video game for some aficionados in Japan, even like me as non-major video game enthusiast. Truly, the primary ideal of this game aimed at realistic driving simulator and providing especially mechanically meticulous customization for vehicles for players which had been never realized by other formerly-released eminent racing game series like Ridge Racer or Daytona USA.

For instance of recherche from C1 Circuit, there were some uniquely rare lineups of vehicles that Gran Turismo has yet to feature such as AE86 Toyota Trueno Coupe as 2 doors edition rarer than symbolic Hatchback one as 3 doors one which is so symbolic figure in Japanese Manga series Initial D, and AE92 Toyota Levin which was less popular than AE86 but was beloved by some very avid maniacs due to the first one of front engine front drive.

Besides, several sponsorships related to automotive industry supported the project of C1 Circuit. The tuned-up car magazine “CAR BOY”, which was so popular among the experienced amateur, as I mean non-profitable or professional tuners, and hardcore maniacs by their fervent and detailed article of tuned-cars and mechanicals, also avidly promoted the game as very exciting project in the article. This meant there were lots of expectations or possibilities similar to those from Gran Turismo which succeeded in the masterpiece of racing game all over the world and generated the breakthrough of the impeccably brand-new genre as real driving simulator.

However, the whole very optimistic expectation unfortunately fell through. The game itself was definitely so disappointing for purchasers who have to cope with very severely unstable control and feedback with gaming pad.

When you get slightly touched with or crashed into the wall in Tokyo Metropolitan Highway, the polygonal car unnaturally and unrealistically bounces and rolls back to the center of the road. Those very bombastic descriptions confused the players and brought the incongruous difficulty to them which also made them be so tired instead of a joy for driving.

Moreover, the control in drifting in this game was also extremely difficult. Some experts recommended for novice not to slide your cars but just to decelerate and grab the grips steadily through the corner. In my opinion, the staffs wanted to purvey the drifting moment in the game for players but identically abide by the realistic feedback that ambivalently led to the very severe control.

It was so passionate idea of the creators to realize the very realistic simulator. I really venerated their passions and hard works whether it actually came true or not. Regardless of success or failure, I think it was too early and too much capacities to realize it through the system of PlayStation.

Nevertheless, fortunately, C1 Circuit was reassured and focused on by some avid fans. In fact, despite the drawbacks, the fervent approaches of realistic playfields and pursuits of simulation was appraised as prototype of Gran Turismo or Shutokou Battle. Honestly, I am in line of players who wanna jump at the game. Hopefully, we will be able to purchase the game as download software through online.

P.S. This game uniquely featured the speeding crackdown camera as Orbis very early, which was not realized in Shutokou Battle series in PlayStation until the release of “Zero” in PS2. When some users violated the authorized velocity, Orbis redly flashed which detected the speeding and film the transgressors in cockpit. Fortunately you do not have to be fined or apprehended by Orbis in the game, hahaha.