Days of Thunder is quite possibly the greatest racing movie of all time. Days of Thunder was to the Daytona 500 what Top Gun was to the US Navy. It was a screaming, unapologetic thrill ride based on the kind of mindless suicide driving you’ll never see on television again. There have been some attempts to create an official product based on the brand in the past, but technology hampered it. Days of Thunder for the NES was an impressive 8-bit tech demo, but not a very fun racer. To date, Days of Thunder hasn’t gotten the “official” video game treatment it deserves. Sega’s Daytona USA is probably the closest thing available, which is why its only fitting that Paramount’s Days of Thunder exclusively for PS3 is essentially a modern day take on the classic arcade racer.
Like any true arcade racer, it doesn’t take a lot of know how to get into Days of Thunder. Arcade racing has always been intended for casual play, and that’s what Days of Thunder provides… good ole fashioned arcade racing fun. Put this in a cabinet, and you’d swear it came from the early 90s. In a world where pure arcade racers have been shunned in favor of car collector driving sims like Gran Turismo and Project Gotham, I consider that a compliment. There is some added depth however for those who want to take advantage of it. You can unlock customization options and bonus tracks depending on your placement, lead time, and race times. Car upgrades are as simple as can be. You simple spend your performance points on abilities like speed, fuel, or tires. Its like R.C. Pro-Am, except you can redistribute the performance later however you see fit. Sponsors can be won (likely tied to the in-game advertising), and your driving skills will be tracked by the in-game tracking system. There’s 12 player online support to go along with everything else. The standard modes are available: quick race, Career, and time trial. More interesting is the epic Derby Mode where your sole objective is to destroy as many other racers as you can.
For fans of the movie, and NASCAR fans alike, you’ll find characters from the movie mixed in with current real life NASCAR drivers from the Sprint Cup. The AI of the movie characters is tailor suited to match their personalities in the film. Even more impressive is the fact that Paramount enlisted Jack Epps Jr. (screenwriter of the movie) to add in some authentic fan service and in-game references. The game is made with fans in mind. Controls are as simple as any arcade racer, but the E3 demo seemed to be a bit twitchy. Analog sensitivity could use some tweaking down before release. The HUD is functional, but somewhat bland in comparison to other arcade racers of the past. While you car can be destroyed during a race, your health will slowly recuperate if you can stay out of the pack for long enough. The same cannot be said for your opponents. Days of Thunder is not meant to be played by official rules. If somebody gets in your way, take them out. The key gameplay gimmick is using drafting and power sliding to charge up either your Focus or Hammer abilities (both share a single power meter). Focus slows down time and any point you wish to escape hairy moments or regain control, while Hammer gives you a massive speed boost. Management of both abilities is key to victory.
This hands-on reflects the exclusive PS3 version with is officially NASCAR licensed. This means you get official NASCAR tracks in this version in comparison to the more outlandish fantasy tracks of the separate Xbox 360, PC, and Mac versions. That can be a good or bad thing depending on your taste. Similar to Top Gun (also a PS3 exclusive), the soundtrack will include the Hans Zimmer movie themes, though they will be re-recordings due to licensing costs. If you consider yourself a fan of arcade racers in any way, do yourself a favor and download Days of Thunder when it becomes available. Its like the modern day spiritual successor to Daytona USA.
