Scorcher (video game)

For other uses, see Scorcher (disambiguation).

Scorcher
European Saturn cover art
Developer(s)	Zyrinx
Publisher(s)	MS-DOS, Windows Scavenger Sega Saturn Sega
Composer(s)	Jesper Kyd
Platform(s)	MS-DOS, Windows, Saturn
Release	Windows NA: December 1996[1] EU: 1997 Saturn NA: March 1, 1997[3] EU: May 15, 1997[2]
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single player

Scorcher is a futuristic racing video game by Danish developer Zyrinx,^[4] released in 1996 for the PC and in 1997 for the Sega Saturn. Originally announced under the name "Vertigo",^[5] the game focuses on special motorcycles that reach up to 450 km/h racing through dangerous tracks in a dystopian year 2021.

Scorcher was one of the most graphically advanced Sega Saturn games of its time, enough so that Sega shipped an unfinished version of the game to third-party developers as a graphics demo for the Saturn.^[6]

Reception

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
	PC	Saturn
AllGame	[7]	[8]
CNET Gamecenter	2/10[9]	2/10[10]
Computer Games Strategy Plus	[11]	N/A
Computer and Video Games	[12]	N/A
Edge	7/10[13]	N/A
Electronic Gaming Monthly	N/A	6.125/10[14]
Famitsu	N/A	21/40[15]
GameSpot	7.2/10[16]	5.6/10[17]
Next Generation	N/A	[18]
Saturn Power	N/A	78/100[19]
Sega Saturn Magazine	N/A	70%[20]

Though the Saturn version of Scorcher was hyped in the press during its development, the completed game underwhelmed most critics upon release. Reviews typically commented that despite its prolonged development cycle, Scorcher's graphics were still cutting edge,^{[14][18][19][20]} but that the gameplay design is flawed and overall mediocre.^{[14][17][18][19][20][21]} Lee Nutter of Sega Saturn Magazine, for example, called it "A graphically excellent racing title where the gameplay appears to have been more of an afterthought than an integral part of the game.",^[20] and Next Generation summarized that "Scorcher is a good game, with many things going for it, but Scavenger's preoccupation with making it look cool rather than play great make it a sad epitaph for the once-promising company."^[18]

Most critics complained at the lack of a multiplayer mode,^[14][19][20] but they otherwise varied in what exactly held back Scorcher's gameplay. GamePro found the controls, particularly the use of separate buttons to execute hard turns, were too difficult.^[21][a] Jeff Gerstmann, writing for GameSpot, said that it was simply too generic,^[17] while James Price of Saturn Power cited a lack of variety in the tracks.^[19] Lee Nutter agreed on this point, and additionally felt the concept of an obstacle-laden, platformer-influenced racing track was fundamentally flawed. He also criticized that "there are only three other competitors".^[20] Sushi-X of Electronic Gaming Monthly felt these competitors offered no challenge, and the track obstacles suffer from poor collision detection. His three co-reviewers defended the game, saying that it seems awful at first but is enjoyable once one masters the difficult controls. They gave it scores of 7.0 and 7.5 out of 10, while Sushi-X gave it a 3.0/10.^[14] Next Generation contended that few gamers would be willing to work their way over this frustrating learning curve, particularly complaining at the steep increase in difficulty on the third track and the fact that players who fall down a pit are respawned right in front of the same pit.^[18] In Japan, where the Saturn version was ported and published by Acclaim Japan on August 22, 1997, Famitsu gave it a score of 21 out of 40.^[15]

Notes

1. GamePro gave the Saturn version 3/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, 2.5/5 for control, and 2.5/5 for fun factor.

References

1. "Scorcher". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 5, 1997. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
2. "Sega Press". 1997-07-15. Archived from the original on 1997-07-15. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
3. "Scorcher". 1997-06-06. Archived from the original on 1997-06-06. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
4. "Scorcher". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 3. EMAP. January 1996. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
5. "Things Are Moving". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 2. EMAP. November 1995. pp. 118–9. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
6. "NG Alphas: Scorcher". Next Generation. No. 14. Imagine Media. February 1996. p. 117. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
7. Baize, Anthony. "Scorcher (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
8. House, Michael L. "Scorcher (Saturn) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
9. Mahood, Andy (March 20, 1997). "Scorcher (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
10. Marrin, John (April 18, 1997). "Scorcher (Saturn)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
11. Bauman, Steve (1997). "Scorcher". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 5, 2003. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
12. Huhtala, Alex (March 1997). "Scorcher (PC)". Computer and Video Games. No. 184. EMAP. p. 80. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
13. Edge staff (March 1997). "Scorcher (PC)". Edge. No. 43. Future Publishing. p. 87. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
14. "Scorcher". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 94. Ziff Davis. May 1997. p. 54.
15. "スコーチャー [セガサターン]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
16. Varner, Jim (December 10, 1996). "Scorcher Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
17. Gerstmann, Jeff (December 1, 1996). "Scorcher Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
18. "Scorcher". Next Generation. No. 31. Imagine Media. July 1997. p. 163. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
19. Mortlock, Dean (June 1997). "Review: Scorcher". Saturn Power. No. 1. Future Publishing. p. 76.
20. Nutter, Lee (June 1997). "Review: Scorcher". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 20. Emap International Limited. pp. 70–71.
21. Scary Larry (June 1997). "PlayStation [sic] ProReview: Scorcher". GamePro. No. 105. IDG. p. 76.

External links

• Scorcher at MobyGames