How could I possibly let today go by without posting an article about Wii VC (or what’s missing on Wii VC)?

I couldn’t, that’s how.

I love this game. The first time I played it was at a bowling alley with my parents when I really didn’t feel like bowling. They gave me some quarters and I found an upright Hang-On machine. It was the first time that there was real force-feedback. Crash, and the motorcycle controls would shake and rattle. The controls were also weighted, so you could “feel” the ground and g-forces going into a turn.

Even better was when I found an original Hang-On machine shaped like a motorcycle. The pinnacle of arcade controls in 1980’s as I could hardly hop on and hold on. But my dad was there to help me. When Super Hang-On launched on Genesis, I had to get it.

Of course the controls are all on a d-pad, so you miss out on the arcade experience (duhhh), but all the graphics and sounds of the original came home with you. Super Hang-On, along with updated graphics included a turbo mode. Hit a certain speed and jam the turbo button for extra nitrous speed (not really nitrous boys, but you get the point).

Crash and the signature sound of the other racers racing by on the left or right will play appropriately and oh the spectacular crashes you’ll have.

For the port home, Sega also included an original mode where you start out with a clunky bike and a Sushi shop owner as a sponsor. You’ll get sponsor and mechanic upgrades as you progress and make more money, along with the option of upgrading your bike’s various parts (motor, tires, etc).

The controls suffered slightly moving from analog arcade to digital pad at home. But you could still “feel” the tight turns as you jammed the d-pad and slammed (or fluttered) the brake button. It didn’t make a difference, but you were definitely pushing that d-pad down harder and harder into the tight turns. Always a sign that a game has got you, especially when you can feel your heart race faster as you speed.

The sense of speed was translated really well. Small touches in graphics here and there and the basic parallax effect that Sega used on the home port, really help to make you feel like you were pushing 100’s of kph.

Super Hang-On is a fun, arcade perfect (graphically and sound wise) port. It’s really strange why this isn’t on Wii VC. Even on Wii VC Arcade, the original would move. Please bring this to Wii VC.

(And take the time to include tilt controls, that would rock!)

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