Roadsters (video game)

Roadsters (working title: Roadsters Trophy) is a racing game released by Titus Software for Nintendo 64 in 1999, and for PlayStation, Dreamcast and Game Boy Color in 2000. It is a car racing game that features both licensed cars from manufacturers (e.g. Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo, Lotus) and unlicensed cars from imaginary manufacturers that are based on and bear great resemblance to their equivalent, real car models. The game also includes a multi-player mode supports up to 2 human players that can compete in any of the available circuits with 4 more CPU controlled racers. A PlayStation 2 version was originally planned to release on April 11, 2001.

Gameplay
Roadsters is a car racing game that features both licensed cars from manufacturers (e.g. Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo, Lotus) and unlicensed cars from imaginary manufacturers that are based on and bear great resemblance to their equivalent, real car models. The game has 8 racers and 34 cars from which players can choose from and 4 modes in total.

In the Roadster Trophy, the player starts by selecting one of the available racers and is given a sum of money that must be used to acquire a car. There are 3 divisions in which the player can compete on with the 3rd being of the easiest difficulty and requiring less money to participate; the 1st being the most difficult one and needing a higher amount of money in order to participate. More money can be earned by winning the races and that in turn allows to buy new cars or upgrade the ones that are already in possession. In Quick Race the player can select the racer, car, circuit and weather conditions, and race against 7 more CPU controlled players.

The game also includes a Multi-Player mode which supports up to 2 human players that can compete in any of the available circuits with 4 more CPU controlled racers. The mode allows for either vertical or horizontal split screen. Like Quick Race mode, the player can also select here the racer, car, circuit and weather conditions but without the competition of the other modes, the player races against time for as many laps as the player wants.

Reception
The Nintendo 64 and PlayStation versions received mixed reviews, while the Dreamcast and Game Boy Color versions received unfavorable reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Michael Wolf of NextGen said of the N64 version in its April 2000 issue, "While not as adrenaline-pumping as San Francisco Rush, it's a solid game with a decent engine that will certainly tide racing fans over until Nintendo releases Ridge Racer 64." Three issues later, however, Greg Orlando said that the Dreamcast version "provides a rather straight and uninterrupted ride to ennui."

Four-Eyed Dragon of GamePro said of the Nintendo 64 version in one review, "While it doesn't grab victory honors in the racing genre, Roadsters still crosses the finish line with a flourish. Both casual drivers and hardcore racers will enjoy taking a ride with this impressive game." In another GamePro review, however, The Freshman said that the same N64 version "isn't bad, it's just average, which is a good thing for Titus (infamous for Superman for the N64). If you really need another racer for the N64, get this one. If not, wait for Ridge Racer 64, or just go play Beetle Adventure Racing again. Your N64'll thank you." Later, The D-Pad Destroyer said that the Dreamcast version "could have been a lot better, but it just doesn't seem like the developers put enough care into it. With so many problems, especially in its control, Roadsters is about as fun as the flu during Spring Break." The Freshman said that the PlayStation version "isn't the worst PSX racer out there, but it's far from the best. You're better off with a Need for Speed or a Ridge Racer if you want arcade racing on the PSX."