Arcade Archives (1 and 2) brings Namco’s deluxe, expanded version of Ace Driver to Switch 1/2, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X.
Using the same System 32 hardware that powered Ridge Racer, 1996’s Ace Driver Victory Lap is another true 1990s arcade racing game from the genre’s golden era. But while it certainly doesn’t disappoint overall, you’ll have to look a little harder to see this sequel’s greatness.
The gameplay is as straightforward as it gets: pilot your futuristic-looking single-seater racing car through texture-mapped, 3D environments without running out of time, and aim for first place. There are three difficulty levels, the third of which is the devilishly demanding Expert Pro mode, which is no longer hidden behind a twin button press.
That mode’s collision detection has been made more forgiving than before, and while you’ll still occasionally trip over a rival car or lose a wheel against the barriers, minor collisions have much less chance of spinning you out.
That said, the AI drivers seem to enjoy ramming you off the road even more than before, especially from behind and on the last lap, which can happen out of nowhere. The game is easy to play but very hard to win, and while first impressions are underwhelming, beating each of the three courses on Expert Pro mode provides another sensational and riveting challenge for any serious sim racer.
Sweet spot
The controls feel slightly less twitchy than before, which is very welcome, though I’d recommend turning off the analogue dead zone on the left stick so you can hold the stick forwards and roll it around to turn left or right in perfectly smooth increments.
When you do, you’ll realise the cars actually have a sweet spot for grip while turning, and it’s better to lift off and downshift and turn in this shallow arc than to turn harder and scrub the wheels across the track, as that skidding loses much more speed.
There is a moment on the super-fast beginner course where you’re flat-out, turning right going downhill, and the steering goes light, giving you a real feeling of hanging on for dear life. It’s scripted, for sure, but boy does it feel good.
The final of the three courses is set in a fictional capital city, and it’s a highly nuanced, technical track with several killer chicanes and unusual apexes. In Expert Pro mode, braking hard while turning is certain to put you into a spin, so you’ll need to carefully manage your speed, braking and line to get through the hardest turns, which is really rewarding.
Indeed, what first seems literally impossible gets closer and closer to your grasp as you improve, until you win at last. It’s amazing just how much time there is to be found in a comparatively short circuit.
Acquired taste
The visuals, however, are an acquired taste. Gone is the Ridge-Racer-esque idealised pseudo-realism of Ace Driver, replaced with pinks, purples, greens and blues. The 1990s properly threw up over this one. The result isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as the original as it’s frequently garish, but you do get used to it.
The frame rate seems to hover between 60fps and just under that ideal on Switch 2, which might be to do with its original frame rate not being 60fps. The fact that this conversion supports VRR on supported hardware setups suggests it’s not a perfect fit for modern standards. But it’s just a small note; playability is never affected.
Seeking brilliance
Overall, it’s not as easy to recommend as the original, despite being that game plus two more tracks. You still get the Arcade Archives’ exemplary high score leaderboards, save states and split-screen multiplayer, but the original just feels perfect, whereas here you have to really seek out the brilliance instead of feeling it all the time.
Still, once you’ve played that, get this and think of it as an expansion pack. Enjoyed like that, this is still pretty ace.
Score: 7/10
” Classic arcade racer sits in its predecessor’s shadow “
Arcade Archives Ace Driver Victory Lap is available for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Nintendo Switch 2 was reviewed here.
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