DarkRide
From Sega Retro
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| DarkRide |
|---|
| System(s): Sega Mega-CD, Sega Mega-CD 32X, Sega Saturn |
| Publisher: Rocket Science Games |
| Developer: Rocket Science Games |
Planned release date(s):    |
| Genre: Puzzle[4][5], Strategy[2] |
| Number of players: 1 |
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DarkRide is an unreleased Sega Mega-CD, Sega Mega-CD 32X, and Sega Saturn puzzle game developed by Rocket Science Games. Produced by Brian Moriarty and set to combine full-motion video of roller coasters with a psychedelic puzzle/strategy game[4], it began development on the Mega-CD before being moved to the Saturn, and after missing an early 1995 release date[3] was shelved entirely.
Story
The game's plot was described as "revolving around Dr. Moriarty trying to fry Sherlock Holmes' head".[5]
Gameplay
DarkRide would have presented players with a gameplay experience built around choosing different paths through a full-motion video story, behaving very similarly to Dragon's Lair and like games. Most reporting also describes a puzzle element to the gameplay, although this may have simply meant the footage presents clues on how to safely proceed. Twelve different stages would have been selectable.[4]
History
The July 1994 issue of Game Players reported that the game would feature "Rocketvision" technology, allowing for "a cross between a rollercoaster ride and a strategy adventure".[2] Later, March 1995's Mean Machines Sega reported a count of twelve playable stages of gameplay in what they called a "smart-looking puzzler".[4] While advertised as DarkRide[2] throughout the majority of 1994, when the game was previewed in the February 1995 issue of CD Consoles magazine, it appeared under the name Darkside.[3] As the remainder of promotional material for the game address it as DarkRide, it is thought this was a simple mistake on the magazine's part.
Planned for a March 1995 release on the Saturn[3], DarkRide was eventually cancelled, with Rocket Science Games claiming this was because they had witnessed very similar games at Winter CES 1995 earlier that year.[6]
| “ | We saw some things at the Consumer Electronics Show very similar to our Rocket Boy and DarkRide, so we've put those on hold. But we still have Wing Nuts, a World War I dogfight game, in the works. | „ |
— Rocket Science Games spokesperson Anna Caldwell[6] | ||
Magazine articles
- Main article: DarkRide/Magazine articles.
Screenshots
References
- ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-28), page 32
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 7 July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 10
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 CD Consoles, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 89
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Mean Machines Sega, "March 1995" (UK; 1995-01-30), page 16
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sega Visions, "August/September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 19
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.wired.com/1995/07/updata-41/ (Wayback Machine: 2022-11-28 11:52)