Manx TT Super Bike

"Fun while it lasts, but almost no replay value"

Manx TT is the Saturn conversion of the Sega AM Teams arcade game of the same name. The thing that distinguished this game in the arcades was the innovative cabinet, with its ride-on motorcycle, huge screen, and sound system that really got you into the game; I spend many dollars on this one. However, like many other of Sega's arcade-to-Saturn conversions, Manx TT just doesn't have enough to hold up as a home game.

The conversion of Manx TT to the Saturn was done by Tantalus, most famous for their great version of Wipeout on the Saturn. The game is supposed to recreate the famous "Isle of Man" motorcycle races (I've never heard of them) in great detail. As far as menus go, there isn't a great deal of intricacy to the menus; you can race on one of two tracks, try a four-race championship mode, or race alone in the usual Time Attack mode. You have a selection of several superbikes, and as you place in the championship mode, you unlock extra bikes that are faster and better handling.

The graphics, while of course not up to the Model 2 standards, are pretty decent. The frame rate is a fairly consistent 30, and there's not a lot of draw-in. It's too bad that the game doesn't run in hi-res (like VF2 and Decathlete) like originally planned, but the graphics are perfectly adequate. The sound is pretty average, with the usual engine noises, etc. filling their place, but there's nothing to remarkable about them. The same can be said for the music, which is unobtrusive and mostly unnoticeable (and I turned it off soon, like almost every other racing game.)

You absolutely must play this game with the analog controller, as the digital control just plain sucks: your bike flops from side to side instantly, and it's really hard to take the turns. However, with the analog, the control is almost perfect. The thing that ruins the gameplay is the extremely cheap AI of the computer bikes. It's one of those games where if you fall behind, you may as well start over, because there's no catching up. Also, if you are in first, no matter how perfect your run is, the computer bikes will slingshot past you at any time (the old "rubber-band" effect.) This is annoying and almost completely ruins the gameplay.

As for replay value, there's not much to speak of. You have just two tracks, just like the arcade version. An attempt was made to add replay value by "reverse-mirroring" the two tracks and changing the horizon, but it just doesn't work that well. Although this game is fun, the gameplay just doesn't hold up to repeated plays (unlike Sega Rally, which also only has four tracks, but I find myself returning to it over and over.) This is mainly due to the cheap nature of the enemy AI.

All in all, Manx TT is a decent conversion, but there's little to keep you coming back. A weekend is all you need with this game before you return to Sega Rally.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99