Cruis'n Exotica

Midway's Cruis'n Exotica has all the markings of previous Cruis'n racers, including long tracks with plenty of shortcuts, pseudo real-car models, and a slower, more deliberate game pace (as opposed to games like SF Rush). Exotica features 10 tracks that range anywhere from Las Vegas to Mars. From what we've seen, much of the scenery is quite fantastic, if not a little bizarre. Exotica will flood your local watering hole (and possibly every pool hall across the nation) this spring.

Midway takes a lot of heat for putting out archaically simple arcade racing games, and it looks like their latest title isn't going to change that trend. This eager beaver takes the tried and true Cruis'n engine to the next level by offering 12 new tracks set in imaginative locations. For example, you'll get a chance to race under water in the Lost City of Atlantis track (as you can see from the picture, there's plenty of atmosphere down there). Other locales include the Planet Mars course and the glitzy Vegas run. Look for sharper graphics and a faster frame-rate, but don't expect a drastic difference from the previous Cruis'n games.

Cruis'n Exotica will be four-player, Rumble and Memory Pak capable when it debuts sometime in the next four months.