Vanishing Point Dreamcast
  • Publisher: Acclaim
  • Release Date: Dec 21, 2000
Metascore
80 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
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  1. Dreamcast HQ
    90
    The biggest difference in this and other racers is the adaptive AI. The other cars do not run the same line all the time. They will cut corners, and will try to run you off the road if need be.
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  2. AllDreamcast
    90
    Resist the urge to give up. You'll be glad you did.
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  3. Spank!
    90
    Like the Soup Nazi from "Seinfeld" - it demands perfection from itself, so how can it expect any less from it's customers? Tough, but rewardingly so.
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  4. Sports Gaming Network
    90
    It's time to forgive Acclaim for the sins of "QB Club." Vanishing Point makes forgiveness easy. This is one dandy racer.
  5. Daily Radar
    88
    Past the point of its strange gameplay philosophy, Acclaim's new racer holds some solid gameplay and excellent graphics.
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  6. IGN
    86
    While the extras are a bit annoying to unlock, there are a TON of bonus modes, hidden tracks and cars, and the downloads available on the Internet give this game lots of gameplay life.
  7. GamerWeb Sega
    85
    One of the quickest and prettiest games in town, Vanishing Point is the one to get if you're looking for a deep and tough racer.
  8. Sega X
    83
    May prove to be innovative in some aspects after all. With a game mode called Balloon Buster, how could it not?
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  9. Core Magazine
    83
    Vanishing Point features excellent graphics, a good control scheme, and loads of unlockable goodies. However, VP has two attributes that will likely drive some people mad: you must unlock almost everything, and the learning curve is incredibly steep.
  10. GameSpot
    81
    Flaws aside, Vanishing Point is one of the most original and enjoyable racing games to come along in a long time.
  11. CNET Gamecenter
    80
    Boasting some of the most impressive physics and visuals ever to find their way into a current-generation console racer, VP is another of those damnable "must-have" titles for anyone who appreciates a finely tuned driving experience mated to state-of-the-art graphics.
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  12. Happy Puppy
    80
    Hellish steering, steep difficulty and satanic AI. How it manages to be fun despite this boggles the mind.
  13. Planet Dreamcast
    80
    Vanishing Point remains a blazing fast, satisfying and addictive racing game. Unfortunately, before you can really enjoy it, you'll need to find a way to work around the trash AI.
  14. DC Swirl
    80
    I think it's the second best DC racing game released this year (behind the internet-friendly "Daytona USA" and ahead of the overhyped "MSR").
  15. Hot Games
    60
    If cars really behaved like those in VP, the carnage on our nation's highways would immediately result in a national speed limit of 15 to deter the sort of fish-tailing, wildly over-steering behavior exhibited in this game.
  16. Games Radar
    0
    Imagine taking a swig from a can of beer, only to find that, not only is it flat and warm, but some git's been using it as an ashtray. Prepare to experience Vanishing Point.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Rodrigo
    3
    Nice looks, cool sound, lots of cars, many tracks. Vanishing Point seems to have all that it takes to make a great racing game. All but one thing: good controls. The handling is so floaty that it makes the game nearly unplayable. In comparison, even duds like Buggy Heat and SegaGT play quite well. With so many great racing games on the Dreamcast -- Daytona, MSR, Rush 2049, Le Mans -- there's little point in playing this junk.… Full Review »
  2. VanishingBoy
    10
    Dude, this game actually changed the very fabric of my soul...at least, the part of it that despised the entire genre of racing games for their repetiveness and sameness and just over-all boringness. It's ridiculously hard -- I mean, really, really really hard...but once you've gotten the hang of the physics, it's among the most exhilirating racing games -- or games period -- out there. You feel like an artist when you nail a turn at "uber-fast" speed. Every miniscule tap on the brake counts in your final time, and the AI is -- ahem -- occassionally cheap. So it can be very frustrating when you're rounding that last corner, having finally nailed three near-perfect laps and some SOB dinks your door, forcing you to brake slightly and lose a nine-second lead. In fact, I wouldn't suggest playing this game unless you're unemployed and pissed off (as was I when I discovered this little pearl) . Take the time to really tell those drivers how you feel...it's the epitome of video games as therapy. Each car is appropriately unique in feel and handling, and though it'll take you a good three years to unlock everything, the customization options are incredibly deep. Some of the best graphics on the Dreamcast, which still look good (at least to me, but I LOVE this game....) and at a slick 60 fps the sensation of speed is as exciting as anything out there. Straight up -- one of my top three games of all time...a must-have if you still have a Dreamcast and hate the world but are too shy to beat someone else up.… Full Review »
  3. Keith
    8
    This is a great arcade style racer, which actually has much more depth and gameplay than many other games in it's class. Very nice graphics, though many of the car models are bit to glossy. The game itself is rather hard but rewarding. … Full Review »
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