Racing Games are a beloved genre, and contains various subtypes within. One subtype was the arcade racing games of the Nineties, and sadly that type hasn’t seen a major comeback. Games like Daytona USA were legendary but no longer seen any more. Nintendo partnered with Midway during that decade to create an arcade racer of their own, and its time that series returned to Nintendo systems.
The Cruis’n series was created by Eugene Jarvis as an over the top experience for the arcades and was later brought to the N64 and Wii. The series was dormant for some time, but Jarvis licensed the IP from Nintendo in 2017 for a new arcade game from his company Raw Thrills. That game was Cruis’n Blast.
Cruis’n Blast is a throwback to the days of arcade racers and shows itself to be a brilliant game. It takes every aspect of Jarvis’s design philosophy and uses it well. The game is over the top, and brings in new ideas and ways to enhance the game.
This is not a driving sim like many other racers are now, but that makes it better. A well designed Nineties arcade racer is excellent in its own right, but the IP is also owned by Nintendo. It would be perfect if Nintendo and Raw Thrills could bring this to Switch as an enhanced port.
Imagine more tracks in the game, online play and improved visuals. In addition, the game could make full use of HD rumble and gyroscope controls to help capture the arcade experience as well. There could be new tricks to take full advantage of the Switch and more updates over time. Cruis’n Blast would fill a void in the Switch library and its something I hope they and Raw Thrills do. It would also be a good way for people to play the game, who do not have access to the arcade cabinet.
Disclaimer: The above was the opinion of the author alone.