Virtua Racing

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Description

Virtua Racing is Sega's first ever 3D, polygon-based racing game. The game consists of racing Formula-1-looking cars around a beginner, intermediate, or expert track, competing against a second player or computer drivers. Despite having Formula-1 cars, the game controls are very "arcadey" and players can see the leap they made from here to Daytona.

The Megadrive/Genesis version of Virtua Racing is of note as it is the only game for the system which features the SVP chip (Sega Virtua Processor). The chip is a 3D processor built into each cartridge (the console itself had limited 3D capability) and is very similar to the SNES's SuperFX chips, used in games such as Starfox and Stunt Race FX.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Alternate Titles

• "Virtua Formula" -- Chained version of multiple units with hydraulics
• "SEGA AGES: Virtua Racing" -- Nintendo Switch title
• "バーチャ レーシング" -- Japanese spelling

Part of the Following Groups

• Console Generation Exclusive: Sega Genesis
• Virtua Racing series

User Reviews

Unnecessary? Yes Amazing? Also yes.

Genesis

AkibaTechno (254)

Critic Reviews

Consoles Plus	Genesis	Jun, 1994	94 out of 100	94
Sega Force	Genesis	Mar 29, 1994	92 out of 100	92
Power Unlimited	Genesis	May, 1994	9.1 out of 10	91
Retro Archives	Arcade	Jan 31, 2021	17.5 out of 20	88
Mega Fun	Genesis	Mar, 1994	88 out of 100	88
Video Games & Computer Entertainment	Genesis	Aug, 1994	8 out of 10	80
Nintendo Life	Nintendo Switch	Jun 27, 2019		80
Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM)	Genesis	Jun, 1994	31 out of 40	78
ASM (Aktueller Software Markt)	Genesis	Apr, 1994	9 out of 12	75
Retro Archives	Genesis	Jan 31, 2021	13.5 out of 20	68

Forums

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Trivia

1001 Video Games

The Arcade version of Virtua Racing appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Compatibility

This game won't work on a model 3 Genesis.

SVP chip

This game caused a quite interesting problem for owners of phones. The SVP chip had a frequency that was so high it was picked up by the phones and they rang like crazy. It was enough to sure cause headaches!

Awards

• Gamefan Magazine
  • 1994 (Vol 3, Iss. 1) - named the Best Genesis Driving/Racing Game of the Year ("Megawards" )

Information also contributed by Big John WV and DANIEL HAWKS !

Swing boat

In the arcade, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, and PlayStation 2 versions of Virtua Racing, the swing boat in the Big Forrest stage moves back and forth. The Genesis version is the one exception where the swing boat is steady.

Related Web Sites

• Sega's SVP Chip: The Road not Taken? (A feature article on the fansite Sega-16, which discusses the history of the SVP chip and its use in Virtua Racing, as well as the unused potential that the chip offered to Sega. The article also provides a comparison between the SVP, the 32x peripheral, the Sega Saturn, and Nintendo's SuperFX chip (Marc. 17th, 2006).)