Squaresoft haven't been well known for its share of racing games, despite Rad Racer and Driving Emotion Type-S gaining western notice. This 1999 racing effort was released only in Japan and has never been released outside it. Still though, there are fans of the game who try hard to obtain a copy of Racing Lagoon - especially because of how the uniqueness of the game really is.
The unique begins with the story, which has some influences taken from the Final Fantasy games. Racing Lagoon takes place in Yokohama, Japan, in the year of 1999, with the centering of several street racing groups. One of those teams is the Team Bay Lagoon Racing, a five member team lead by Ikki "The Ace" Fujisawa. You play as one of the newer members, Sho Akasaki, who has started his career in street racing. The lead character's main goals are to find out the mystery and forgotten past of the so-called "Fastest Legend."
Squaresoft gave this game the tagline "High Speed Driving RPG." This is reflected in how the game works. Starting off with an AE86, you progress by completing races, which are accessible when coming into contact with other vehicles, over an overhead free-roaming environment, Some races are accessible under certain completing conditions. When winning races you unlock new parts to tune and change your vehicle, as well as new vehicle shells which can be interchangeable.
Speaking of customisation, there are a huge supply of parts that can change the overall vehicle performance and drivable nature. The exterior can also go under colour, body-kit and wheel changes, not to mention with the use of rear spoliers. The car apperance can change quite drastically with such moves, and the same is true when applying a different chassis onto a certain car shell. All cars in the game are based on their real-life conterparts, but the names are fictious.
As for graphics, they fare more than well eough for PlayStation 1 standards. In ways, the car and environment detail is comparble to that of Ridge Racer Type 4, but at times the polygons can seem a bit more pixelated. For the most part though, the night-time experience of what the tracks provide, gives the game an underground-like feel. Some tracks do take place in the evening, with at least one taking place during daytime. Character models during the cutscenes aren't really as smooth as of those in FF9 and they do seem at bit stale today. However, it was more than fine enough back in 1999.
Sound. There is no voice acting to be found, but it was the case with many Square RPG's of the 1990's. Music is decent though and the tunes provided by Noriko Matsueda, comrpises of Jazz and Techno beats which although aren't memroable, are fine enough from what i have heard.
In terms of gameplay, it tries hard to be an RPG and a racing game. The racing part is mostly really good, with the handling mechanics being more than fun to toss around with when driving to complete and win races and missions. The controls are of the traditional racing type on PS One and they work really well. It can seem fun during at least several hours of gameplay, but things do become repetitous towards the end. The RPG element does need some work, partciually when it comes to the way in how things are provided.
With a poor 100,000 sales in Japan, along with less than average review scoring from Famitsu (who scored it a 19 out of 40), it is a same we never got the change to see releases outside of Japan. The game does some flaws, but the unique feel and custoisation are what give Racing Lagoon a decent impression. There hasen;t been an english translation for the game and people looking to play the game in west on oroiginal hardware, will need to import a copy of the game. It is however, good money well spent.
Notice: I myself haven't been able to buy the game as of making this review, which was made possible by playing it on an emulator and by watching gameplay footage. Also, as of this writing, there has been no sequel (though requsted by fans) and no english translation. It should also be worthy of noting that a crossover mobile game was announced in 2014 - with a different gameplay style for mobile devices.
Squaresoft haven't been well known for its share of racing games, despite Rad Racer and Driving Emotion Type-S gaining western notice. This 1999 racing effort was released only in Japan and has never been released outside it. Still though, there are fans of the game who try hard to obtain a copy of Racing Lagoon - especially because of how the uniqueness of the game really is.
The unique begins with the story, which has some influences taken from the Final Fantasy games. Racing Lagoon takes place in Yokohama, Japan, in the year of 1999, with the centering of several street racing groups. One of those teams is the Team Bay Lagoon Racing, a five member team lead by Ikki "The Ace" Fujisawa. You play as one of the newer members, Sho Akasaki, who has started his career in street racing. The lead character's main goals are to find out the mystery and forgotten past of the so-called "Fastest Legend."
Squaresoft gave this game the tagline "High Speed Driving RPG." This is reflected in how the game works. Starting off with an AE86, you progress by completing races, which are accessible when coming into contact with other vehicles, over an overhead free-roaming environment, Some races are accessible under certain completing conditions. When winning races you unlock new parts to tune and change your vehicle, as well as new vehicle shells which can be interchangeable.
Speaking of customisation, there are a huge supply of parts that can change the overall vehicle performance and drivable nature. The exterior can also go under colour, body-kit and wheel changes, not to mention with the use of rear spoliers. The car apperance can change quite drastically with such moves, and the same is true when applying a different chassis onto a certain car shell. All cars in the game are based on their real-life conterparts, but the names are fictious.
As for graphics, they fare more than well eough for PlayStation 1 standards. In ways, the car and environment detail is comparble to that of Ridge Racer Type 4, but at times the polygons can seem a bit more pixelated. For the most part though, the night-time experience of what the tracks provide, gives the game an underground-like feel. Some tracks do take place in the evening, with at least one taking place during daytime. Character models during the cutscenes aren't really as smooth as of those in FF9 and they do seem at bit stale today. However, it was more than fine enough back in 1999.
Sound. There is no voice acting to be found, but it was the case with many Square RPG's of the 1990's. Music is decent though and the tunes provided by Noriko Matsueda, comrpises of Jazz and Techno beats which although aren't memroable, are fine enough from what i have heard.
In terms of gameplay, it tries hard to be an RPG and a racing game. The racing part is mostly really good, with the handling mechanics being more than fun to toss around with when driving to complete and win races and missions. The controls are of the traditional racing type on PS One and they work really well. It can seem fun during at least several hours of gameplay, but things do become repetitous towards the end. The RPG element does need some work, partciually when it comes to the way in how things are provided.
With a poor 100,000 sales in Japan, along with less than average review scoring from Famitsu (who scored it a 19 out of 40), it is a same we never got the change to see releases outside of Japan. The game does some flaws, but the unique feel and custoisation are what give Racing Lagoon a decent impression. There hasen;t been an english translation for the game and people looking to play the game in west on oroiginal hardware, will need to import a copy of the game. It is however, good money well spent.
Notice: I myself haven't been able to buy the game as of making this review, which was made possible by playing it on an emulator and by watching gameplay footage. Also, as of this writing, there has been no sequel (though requsted by fans) and no english translation. It should also be worthy of noting that a crossover mobile game was announced in 2014 - with a different gameplay style for mobile devices.
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