Daytona USA 2
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| Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge | |
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| Developer(s) | Sega-AM2 |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Designer(s) | Toshihiro Nagoshi |
| Release date(s) | Summer 1998 |
| Genre(s) | Racing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Input | Steering wheel, 4-position Shifter, 2 Pedals |
| Arcade cabinet | Sit-down |
| Arcade system(s) | Sega Model 3 |
| Arcade display | Raster, horizontal orientation |
Daytona USA 2: Battle On the Edge is an arcade racing game released by Sega in 1998 as a follow up to the extremely successful Daytona USA. The game featured vastly superior graphics, utilizing the Sega Model 3 hardware. The majority of Daytona USA 2 cabinets were released as deluxe models (with far fewer Twin Cabinets), which could be linked together for up to four players. A notable change from the original is the ability to select a car and corresponding driver, each with varying capabilities for varying levels of player experience. Just like before, the game has three courses - a Beginner course with 8 laps, an Advanced course with 4 laps, and a long Expert course with 2 laps. The 'time lap' mode also returns, and is accessed in the same manner - by holding down start at the transmission select screen. Also, mirrored versions of the tracks can be played (another feature carried from the original) by holding down the Start button when selecting the course. It is recommended, however, that the player has had mastery of the course beforehand. By request, an arcade operator could put the game on Grand Prix or Endurance mode to increase the number of laps in a game, which was good for tournament purposes. Finishing a race in the top 3 in any course allows the player to view an "ending" and see the game credits.
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[edit] Daytona USA 2: Power Edition
In 1999 - one year after Battle on the Edge was released - Sega released an updated version, known as Daytona USA 2: Power Edition. Changes in this game include the environment of the beginner course; instead of inside Forest Dome, the race takes place on a NASCAR style oval - the SEGA International Speedway - but the course layout remains the same. Also included is the "Challenge" course option, which combines all three courses together (Advanced -> Expert -> Beginner) for a fun experience and shows how the three courses can be "inter-connected." Along with slightly revamped handling physics, the game changes the Beginner "Chum's Gum" car to the "J.C. Eagle" car, and also included is the "Hornet Classic" car, which is the exact same car from the original Daytona USA, but with a slightly changed design (actually, the Hornet is available on Battle on the Edge, but requires a cheat code, but in Power Edition, it is available immediately). The enemy cars also drive more aggressively in this version, which did not appeal to more serious players who try to break the game's lap records.
Both versions of the game use advanced NASCAR-style drafting techniques, referred to by the game as the 'slingshot' ability.
[edit] Courses
There are three separate racecourses in Daytona USA 2.
[edit] Astro Waterfall Speedway/SEGA International Speedway
The first name refers to Battle on the Edge, the second refers to Power Edition.
Race Name: SEGA 300
Course Type: 1 mile speedway
Number of laps (Standard mode): 8
Number of Cars: 40
Course BGM: 'Sling Shot'
Skill Level: Beginner
Number of turns: 3
Note: This course begins on a rolling start
In Battle on the Edge, this giant indoor racecourse is set in the Forest Dome, which is itself set on the famed Forest Island resort. With a capacity upward of 150,000 spectators, the Dome features many of different environments that create a fantasy-like experience for the drivers. In Power Edition, however, the race takes place with the glass dome removed. The four-turn setup bears similarities to real NASCAR oval tracks (similar to the real-life Daytona International Speedway and the Three Seven Speedway from the original Daytona USA), but still has its own unique feel.
[edit] Joypolis 2020 Amusement Park
Race Name: Pirate's Treasure 400
Course type: 2.25 mile road course
Number of laps (Standard mode): 4
Number of Cars: 20
Course BGM: 'I Can Do It'
Skill Level: Advanced
Number of turns: 10
This course goes through the massive Joypolis 2020 amusement park, with drivers racing through several different themed rides and attractions: a pirate rocking ship (at the start/finish line), a dungeon, a Space Harrier themed section, and a giant roller coaster which winds through an Antarctica setting.
[edit] Virtua City/New Joke City
Race Name: Skyscraper 500
Course type: 5.75 mile street circuit
Number of laps (Standard mode): 2
Number of Cars: 30
Course BGM: 'Skyscraper Sequence'
Skill Level: Expert
Number of turns: 30
This giant city - the center of the world economy, and which also resembles New York City and parts of Chicago - is extremely long and challenging course, with tight curves and hairpin turns; the roads have been blocked, and the actual city makes up the racecourse. After going through a downtown area, the course goes through a harbor area, and then proceeds through a tunnel leading to Interstate 95 and then back into city.
[edit] Challenge
A special course only available in Power Edition which combines all three other courses.
Race Name: (None Specified)
Course Type: 9 mile point-to-point
Number of Laps: 1 (start-to-finish race)
Number of Cars: 30
Skill Level: Challenging
Number of Turns: 47
This race starts off as if you are racing the Advanced course, but the last turn of the course is blocked and the cars must go straight into a tunnel that leads to Virtua City that ends near the Grand Central Station area of the track. After going on Interstate 95, the cars normally turn right, but instead turn left towards another tunnel with a "SEGA International Speedway" sign above the entrance. (Tunnels seem to be a motif in this game.) Once inside the speedway, the cars make one lap around to the finish line.
[edit] Available cars
Members of the Brown family ('a distinguished family in the world of stock car racing', according to the Original Soundtrack album) drives the four playable cars in this game - each car is owned by a different racing team. The name of the drivers is never mentioned ingame, although each is introduced on the original soundtrack.
As a tribute to the original Daytona USA, all the playable cars are numbered 41 (multiplayer mode, on the other hand, numbers the players' cars 1, 2, 3 and 4 depending on the player's number).
[edit] Chum's Gum/J.C. Eagle Racing Team
The first name refers to Battle on the Edge, and the second refers to Power Edition. Otherwise these cars are identical between versions.
Driven by: Johnny Brown
Model Derivation: 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Difficulty: Easy, best used for those who are new to the game.
Maximum speeds:
Automatic transmission: 201 mph
Manual transmission: 204 mph
The Chum's Gum and J.C. Eagle cars are known as the "Easy" level cars, due to their low top speeds and easy handling. The car has excellent traction, making it ideal for beginners unused to the Daytona USA drift mechanic to make turns easily at low speed. Experienced players, however, will probably find it too slow to handle - however, the car can be used well in New Joke City, due to the heavy demand on the car's and players' handling abilities.
[edit] Scorpio Plasma Racing
Driven by: Noel Brown
Model Derivation: 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
Difficulty: Normal, best used for people who are semi-experienced.
Maximum speeds:
Automatic transmission: 206 mph
Manual transmission: 208 mph
This car is designated as the "Normal Level Car" due to its balance of speed, acceleration, handling (grip or stability), and steering. This car is good for semi-experienced players and beginners alike. Its drifting can be controlled easily, hence players wanting a good maximum speed, as well as a good drift without spinning out, can rely on this car.
The problem with this car is that it is unable to make turns at high speeds compared to the Phantom Full Force. However, it ensures that turns can be made without crashing onto barriers or ramming into grass, which are fatal speed cutters. Most players who wish to play safe usually rely on this car for a long period of time before trying out the Phantom Full Force.
[edit] Phantom Full Force Racing
Driven by: Mitch Brown
Model Derivation: 1998 Ford Thunderbird
Difficulty: Hard, for those that are experts in the game.
Maximum speeds:
Automatic transmission: 209 mph
Manual transmission: 212 mph
This car is designated as the "Hard Level Car" due to its high speed and poorer handling; this car, however, is the best car to use for Manual transmission as it will easily drift (power slide) around corners with downshifting. Automatic transmission is okay, but Manual performs better. This is the car to use for experts and all of those who want to have the fastest lap times.
The advantage of this car is also its phenomenal speed when its curving is well controlled. A Scorpio Batteries Car can manage a 90 degree angle turn at a maximum speed of around 270km/h, while a very well managed Phantom Full Force Car can maintain up to 290km/h. (As tested with the Outerspace Sharp in the Advanced Circuit)
The trick to using the car to turn is to brake, swerve, and downshift. This gives the car stability while the downshift reinforces the degree of swerving. Not braking normally causes a high spin out rate for less experienced players. Downshifting is extremely crucial if this car is to make a sharp turn, as its response to pure braking-and-swerving to get the drift effect is extremely bad. 4-1-4 or 4-2-4 shifting is a signature move of most players to get a good turn without much loss of speed.
While the car is an excellent performer in speed, its penalty is equally high. One slip in shifting can cause a major accident in the Expert Track, ruining lap time and position. Specifically, you would most likely crash and watch your car flying in the air, coming down and running in the opposite direction of which you are supposed to go, of which during this time, the word "reverse!" appears on the screen.
[edit] Hornet Classic Racing
Driven by: Tom Brown
Model derivation: 1994 Chevrolet Lumina
Difficulty: Special, For people who want to race as if it was the original Daytona USA.
Maximum speeds:
Automatic transmission: 197 mph
Manual transmission: 203 mph
Cheat code required to play this car in Battle on the Edge; in Power Edition, it is available immediately.
Pulled straight out of the original Daytona USA (but with a slightly changed design to reflect the more powerful Model 3 hardware), this "Special" car performs exactly as it did in Daytona USA. It is only recommended for those who enjoyed the racing style of the original game, since this car has mid-range speed and acceleration, but has fair stability, okay steering, and is the best at drifting. To drift, or power slide, press the brake pedal while holding down the accelerator and simultaneously turning the car. To prevent spinning out, after you steer in the direction of the turn, turn in the opposite direction. To prevent the back bumper from hitting the wall, power slide far enough away from the wall so that the car does not hit the wall, but also at the appropriate place on the track so that you don't go onto the grass.
This car is also a good alternative for begginers who don't want to use the Chum's Gum/J.C. Eagle Car as well.
[edit] Soundtrack
The main songs in the game are as follows:
- Battle on the Edge (Opening Advertise Sequence)
- Sling Shot (Beginner Course)
- I Can Do It (Advanced Course)
- Skyscraper Sequence (Expert Course)
In the Challenge Course of Power Edition, the songs transition by fading in and out when inside the tunnels between courses.
While the game features a vocal-based soundtrack similar to the original Daytona USA (but with a more electric, rockier-edged sound), the vocals were not sung by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi, who composed the soundtrack to this game. The vocalist for all four songs is Dennis St. James. On the official soundtrack CD, there are versions of the songs where they are sung by Mitsuyoshi on the second disc.
Contrary to popular belief, the band Winger did not create an entirely new soundtrack for the game or perform it as a band. Instead, the guitarist and drummer for Winger, Reb Beach and Rod Morgenstein, lent their skills to contribute to the soundtrack.
Reb Beach's guitar is heard on "Battle on the Edge" and "I Can Do It". Rod Morgenstein's drums are heard on "Battle on the Edge", "Sling Shot", and "I Can Do It".
Outside of Winger, the electric guitar and guitar solo in "Sling Shot" and "Skyscraper Sequence" is performed by Ira Siegel. The Keyboard in "Sling Shot" and "Skyscraper Sequence" was done by Albert Menendez.
[edit] Original Soundtrack
Along with Daytona USA: Circuit Edition, Daytona USA 2's soundtrack was released in Japan on dual-disc album in 2000. The first disc contains 'original audio' tracks - that is, the course themes etc. in standard format - and 'original sound' tracks - where Tom West, commentator for the Sega Sports Channel, reports on the day's racing. These tracks are the pervious course themes mixed in parts with in-game audio, such as engine noise, crashes, radio chatter from the pit crew, and so on.
Although sub-headed 'Battle on the Edge', the album references Power Edition by including the Hornet Classic Racing Team in the driver's lineup.
[edit] Trivia
- In the Beginner Course, there are billboards with the Hornet and Chum's Gum logos. This is the only time that the Chum's Gum logo is in Power Edition.
- When starting a race, you can see the driver's name on the side of your car. All of them have "Brown" as their last name, this may make the four drivers brothers or in the same family in some other way.
- The Scropio Plasma car looks somewhat like the car Terry Labonte drove , both of them are red and yellow.
- All of the tracks, shown as the Challenge track, are in OutRun 2. They are unlocked as a bonus.
- On the Beginner Course, the 3 new cars have the same "rolling start" intro. If you select the Hornet car, your rolling start intro will be the same one from the first Daytona USA's beginner track.
- The J.C. Eagle car is still the same color as the Chum's Gum car, both automatic and manual transmissions, only the name and logo was changed in Power Edition.
- On the Expert Course, right after the sharp turn at the harbor and before the tunnel, players can read typical US roadsigns that show different cities and places and how far away they are. Places included are
Forest Island (The beginner track in the first edition of Daytona USA 2, still appears in Power Edition),
Central City (not used in any Daytona USA game, but become a large city in the Sonic the Hedgehog universe),
Holy Canyon (The name of the canyon in Daytona USA's Advanced course),
Las Segas (A cross between Las Vegas and Sega.) - In both games, an American flag, a Sega flag , and a Sega 300 flag are flying on the Beginner Course.
