Developer: Genki Publisher: Sega Release: 01/96 Genre: Racing
Ah, Hang-On. Hang-On was one of the first Sega Master System games I ever played. Of course that is because it was packed in with the system but I digress. It does not hurt to have an awesome game as a launch title to create a good first impression and I followed the series on the Sega Genesis with Super Hang-On. Sega were 2-0 in turns of nailing it with these games and you would expect that streak to continue on the Saturn. However Hang-On GP while having its heart in the right place is a disappointment for a variety of reasons.
Unlike the previous titles Hang-On GP was developed specifically for the Saturn. As such it is more in line with the traditional racing games of the time. Rather than a simple race against the clock you battle against 19 other competitors for position. Each track has multiple checkpoints with any remaining time added to your total like the prior arcade games. But to truly win you must come in first place, a tall order considering the issues at hand. But we will get there shortly.
The earlier titles in the series were part of Sega’s Super Scaler series. As such they used thousands of scaling sprites to simulate a 3d environment. Hang-On GP makes the leap to true 3d and for its time was impressive. The game moves at a smooth 30 fps and has few if any dips even at the start with all 20 riders present. Draw distance is pretty far and the game does not suffer the major pop up problems of Daytona through smart course design that hides it. The bikes are rendered with significant detail for such an early 3d title which is good as they are the star. Most importantly the 3d graphics enable the developers to employ a more advanced physics engine for smoother controls. It is here where the game stumbles the worst.
To be frank I hate the controls. The handling in Hang-On GP is too sensitive and is the game’s most common complaint. There are ten motorcycles, each rated in brakes, engine, frame, and grip. All of these factors affect the controls and performance varies wildly. You will spend an inordinate amount of time in Time Trial finding one that handles somewhat to your liking. Regardless however over steer is a problem and it rarely feels good. I found myself preparing in advance for turns and found some success. But it never felt satisfying. You can turn on options like highslide and powersliding to help with crashing in to walls and such. However they are band-aids rather than solutions. Allegedly the controls are better with a Saturn steering wheel but I have yet to ever see one in person so that is moot. The controls should work with the standard controller.
If you can acclimate to the controls you will find that the track design is not complex. The turns feel straightforward and devoid of the sharp corners that emphasize power sliding and breaking. It almost feels like a project made by an inexperienced team. Most of your issues will come from wrestling with the controls. The first three courses are median in length to facilitate its five lap structure. They are long enough to make a few mistakes and recover while still having a shot at first place. The second set is grueling in their length and feel like a chore in comparison. Personally I lost interest as it meant more time grappling with the odd handling.
Hang-On GP is content light which is unfortunate. There are only three tracks initially and they are relatively short. Three more courses unlock if you place first in GP Mode. These are longer variations of the initial batch with new areas of each map opening up. To be fair they at least feel brand new and it is better than the mirroring bullshit so many racing games of that era would do and call it a day. That first batch of 3d racing games all suffer from a dearth of content as they were arcade games first. Hang-On GP is a console exclusive and does not have that excuse. Considering the work Sega did with Super Hang-On, including an Original Mode with plenty of extra content in addition to the arcade game it is hard not to expect more.
In Closing
Hang-On GP is disappointing. Sega had established a record of arcade excellence with their 3d racing games in the mid-90s with the likes of Sega Rally and Daytona USA which makes this one all the more disheartening. The pieces are there but the touchy controls ruin what could be a decent racing experience. A little more polish would have done wonders in terms of making the game tolerable. Truth be told however it would still be middle of the pack in the Saturn’s racing library as the competition is steep.
