''Destruction Derby'' is a 1995
vehicular combat racing video game
Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic raci ...
developed by
Reflections Interactive
Ubisoft Reflections Limited (formerly Reflections and later Reflections Interactive Limited) is a British video game developer and a studio of Ubisoft based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Founded in 1984 by Martin Edmondson and Nicholas Chamberlain, th ...
and published by
Psygnosis
Psygnosis Limited (; known as SCE Studio Liverpool or simply Studio Liverpool from 1999) was a British video game developer and Video game publisher, publisher headquartered at Wavertree Technology Park in Liverpool. Founded in 1984 by Ian Het ...
for
MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few op ...
,
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
and
Sega Saturn
The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it is the successor to the succes ...
. Based on the sport of
demolition derby
Demolition derby is a type of motorsport, usually presented at county fairs and national events. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their v ...
, the game tasks the player with racing and destroying cars to score points. The developers implemented
simulated physics to make the results of collisions easier to predict, and they kept the game's tracks small to increase the number of wrecks. Critics found ''Destruction Derby'' enjoyable and praised its graphics and car damage system, although the Saturn release received mixed reviews. The game started the ''Destruction Derby'' series, beginning with its 1996 sequel, ''
Destruction Derby 2''.
Gameplay
''Destruction Derby'' is a
vehicular combat racer based on the sport of
demolition derby
Demolition derby is a type of motorsport, usually presented at county fairs and national events. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their v ...
.
The game contains three vehicles.
Collisions in the game affect the controls of each car, limiting their steering and maximum speed.
Frontal collisions risk damage to the car's
radiator
A radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics.
A radiator is always a ...
, which causes the car to overheat and stop running.
Four
game modes In tabletop games and video games, game mechanics define how a game works for players. Game mechanics are the rules or ludemes that govern and guide player actions, as well as the game's response to them. A rule is an instruction on how to play, wh ...
are available: Destruction Derby, Wreckin' Racing, Stock Car Racing and Time Trial. In Destruction Derby, the player earns points by destroying other cars in a large, trackless arena called The Bowl;
in Stock Car Racing, the player must finish in first place, and no points are awarded for destroying cars. Wreckin' Racing is a hybrid of the two, in which the player earns points both by winning the race and by destroying other cars. Time Trial is a solo
time attack
In many racing sports, an athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial (TT) against the clock to secure the fastest time. The format of a time trial can vary, but usually follow a format where each athlete or team se ...
mode.
The
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
version features
system link play for two players,
while the
MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few op ...
version has an online multiplayer mode.
Development and release
The British development studio
Reflections Interactive
Ubisoft Reflections Limited (formerly Reflections and later Reflections Interactive Limited) is a British video game developer and a studio of Ubisoft based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Founded in 1984 by Martin Edmondson and Nicholas Chamberlain, th ...
began creating ''Destruction Derby'' for the
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
in late 1994.
It was published by
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (SIE) is an American video game and digital entertainment company that is a major subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Sony, Sony Group Corporation. It primarily operates the PlayStation brand of video game co ...
's
Psygnosis
Psygnosis Limited (; known as SCE Studio Liverpool or simply Studio Liverpool from 1999) was a British video game developer and Video game publisher, publisher headquartered at Wavertree Technology Park in Liverpool. Founded in 1984 by Ian Het ...
branch, which allowed Reflections to receive PlayStation
development kits long before that console's release.
The game debuted at the May 1995
Electronic Entertainment Expo
E3 (short for Electronic Entertainment Expo) was an annual Trade fair, trade event for the video game industry organized and presented by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). It was held principally in Los Angeles from 1995 to 2019, wit ...
,
and its initial title was variously reported as ''Demolition Derby'' and ''Demolish 'em Derby''. Writers for ''
Edge
Edge or EDGE may refer to:
Technology Computing
* Edge computing, a network load-balancing system
* Edge device, an entry point to a computer network
* Adobe Edge, a graphical development application
* Microsoft Edge, a web browser developed by ...
'' and ''
Next Generation'' commented that the game could "trounce" ''
Ridge Racer
is a series of racing video games created by Namco and owned by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The first game, ''Ridge Racer (1993 video game), Ridge Racer'' (1993), was originally released in arcades for the Namco System 22 hardware, later ported ...
'' upon the PlayStation's release.
To make the results of car collisions easier to predict, Reflections implemented
simulated physics into ''Destruction Derby''. Director Martin Edmondson believed that the game would otherwise be "completely unplayable", as with "
pool
Pool may refer to:
Bodies of water
* Swimming pool, usually an artificial structure containing a large body of water intended for swimming
* Reflecting pool, a shallow pool designed to reflect a structure and its surroundings
* Tide pool, a roc ...
when the collisions are all off". Producer Tony Parks noted that the physics were simplified to improve performance and to compensate for the PlayStation's
digital controller, and that the team sought a balance between "realism and playability". Performance was also improved by
optimising the game's graphics, and by reducing the
level of detail of objects in the
distance
Distance is a numerical or occasionally qualitative measurement of how far apart objects, points, people, or ideas are. In physics or everyday usage, distance may refer to a physical length or an estimation based on other criteria (e.g. "two co ...
. ''Destruction Derby''s
game engine
A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games which generally includes relevant libraries and support programs such as a level editor. The "engine" terminology is akin to the term " software engine" u ...
supports up to twenty cars on screen simultaneously, which no console racing game, other than ''
Daytona USA'', had achieved until that time. However, a single
wire-frame model
In 3D computer graphics, a wire-frame model (also spelled wireframe model) is a visual representation of a three-dimensional (3D) physical object. It is based on a polygon mesh or a volumetric mesh, created by specifying each Edge (geometry ...
, differentiated by
texture maps, was used for every vehicle. Damage to vehicles is modelled in real-time, based on the speed and angle of the cars involved.
The team made the game's tracks small to "keep the density of the cars on the track very high", which allowed for large-scale wrecks.
Plans were made to support up to eight players with the
PlayStation Link Cable.
''Destruction Derby'' was officially released on 20 October 1995 on PlayStation and then MS-DOS.
Perfect Entertainment worked on the
port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manch ...
to
Sega Saturn
The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it is the successor to the succes ...
; this version lacks transparencies. ''GameFan''s Ryan Lockhart estimated that the port was "80% ready" in the magazine's August 1996 issue,
and it was released in August 1996,
in Europe and Japan only. In April 1996, an enhanced version of the game was released for
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
, featuring a higher base resolution (512x384 as opposed to 320x200), a greater number of damage points to match the PlayStation version, and better texture quality.
The PlayStation version was re-released through the
PlayStation Network
PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smartp ...
store in 2007,
and then was included in the
PlayStation Classic in 2018.'
Reception
Sales
The game sold more than 1 million copies by August 1996.
Critical
Writing for ''
GamePro
''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...
'', Captain Squideo called ''Destruction Derby'' "the most raucous racing experience of the fall". He believed that its "graphics are almost all you could want for a game" of this type, but wrote that "nothing here stands out as graphically spectacular". He complained that the game does not let players customise cars, and he disliked its lack of split-screen multiplayer. He summarised, "Limited options keep ''Destruction Derby'' out of the winner's circuit, but this rowdy stock-car racer still generates a stadium full of thrashin' fun."
Victor Lucas of ''
The Electric Playground'' stated that "the beauty of the game" is the strategy involved in making "calculated strikes" against enemy vehicles, and he wrote, "If you go all out and try to make big noise on the track, more than likely you'll be limping to the scrap yard in seconds." He believed that the game's Stock Car racing mode "is no match for the white knuckle inertia of either ''Wipeout'' or ''Ridge Racer''", and that the demolition derbies in The Bowl were "most fun to be had" in the game. He praised the game's graphics and physics, and concluded, "''Destruction Derby'' is a winner in every capacity."
A reviewer for ''
Next Generation'' was extremely pleased with the concept of smashing into other cars, saying it taps into a near-universal fantasy. He remarked the single-player mode is indefinably "lacking" but the multiplayer offers unqualified enjoyment.
The
IGN
''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
reviewer commented that the controls are "way, way too loose".
The PC port was also well received. Lee Buchanan of ''
PC Gamer US
''PC Gamer'' is a magazine and website founded in the United Kingdom in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future plc. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games ma ...
'' praised "the spectacular visuals that bring to life the most jarring collisions I've seen on a computer", and he noted that "
ardamage is depicted beautifully". Like Lucas, he wrote that the player "can't just mindlessly smash into other cars; this is thinking man's destruction". Although he found the game too easy "even at the toughest difficulty level", he found this to be a minor issue that did not detract from the experience. He considered the game's online play to be a high point, and he finished, "''Destruction Derby'' is a blast, and a welcome change of pace from high-end driving simulations."
Peter Olafson of ''
Computer Gaming World
''Computer Gaming World'' (CGW) was an American Video game journalism, computer game magazine that was published between 1981 and 2006. One of the few magazines of the era to survive the video game crash of 1983, it was sold to Ziff Davis in 199 ...
'' called the game "a great simulation" of demolition derbies, and he wrote that the wrecks are "convulsive and realistic". He believed that the game "has never-before-seen quality that will instantly make it a showpiece game to demonstrate to open-mouthed friends and relatives", and he considered the car damage to be "especially marvelous—and unprecedented for this sort of game". However, he found that its "useful life span is surprisingly short" and he hoped for a track editor in its sequel. He summarised, "Despite its limitations, this is a great game, but it has a lot more potential."
A reviewer for ''Next Generation'' remarked that while the game is a straight port of the PlayStation version, it is an impeccably accurate one. He applauded the authentic modelling of vehicle crashes, multiple modes, smoothness of gameplay, and inclusion of both network and modem options, and found the game's only downside is that the camera zooms out so little that it can be difficult to see nearby cars.
''
Computer & Video Games'' said that the port is an "incredible conversion of the PS game which runs easily as fast and with as much detail."
Reviewing the game's Sega Saturn version, Kim Randell of ''
Computer & Video Games'' noted its "inferior graphics" that do not have "the sheen and glossiness of its PlayStation counterpart". Randell believed that it was made "much too late to cause the kind of sensation that ''WipEout'' did. Comparisons with the PlayStation version are inevitable, and the rather haphazard conversion means that the Saturn version lacks the polish of its rival."
Rob Allsetter's review in ''
Sega Saturn Magazine
''Sega Saturn Magazine'' (originally known as ''Sega Magazine'') was a monthly magazine from the United Kingdom covering the Sega Saturn, a home video game console. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and some issues incl ...
'' (from the same publisher as ''Computer & Video Games'') recycled most of the text from Randell's review, including the closing remarks.
Retrospective
Mike Channell of
''Top Gear'' in 2021 called ''Destruction Derby'' "technologically impressive" for its time. He further praised the strategic side to the "chaos": "You'd need to use reverse gear for as long as possible to avoid hobbling your radiator immediately". In a 2023 article by
IGN
''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
as part of their 90s Week'', Peer Schneider selected the game as one of three "forgotten launch gems" of the PlayStation, stating "you couldn't ask for a better tech demo to dazzle your friends than showing off 20 cars on screen, peeling out and crashing into each other."
Sequels
''Destruction Derby'' received two sequels on the PlayStation: ''
Destruction Derby 2'' (1996) and ''
Destruction Derby Raw'' (2000). There was also a
Nintendo 64
The (N64) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, in North America on September 29, 1996, and in Europe and Australia on March 1, 1997. As the successor to the Super Nintendo E ...
exclusive title, ''
Destruction Derby 64'' (1999). The only
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
title, and the last in the series, was ''
Destruction Derby Arenas'' (2004).
See also
* ''
Demolition Racer''
* ''
FlatOut''
* ''
Wreckfest
''Wreckfest'' is a racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by THQ Nordic. ''Wreckfest'' is described as the spiritual successor to the ''FlatOut (series), FlatOut'' series, which was created by Bugbear, and takes furth ...
''
* ''
Destruction AllStars''
Notes
References
External links
* (archived)
*
{{Psygnosis
1995 video games
DOS games
Looking Glass Studios games
PlayStation (console) games
Psygnosis games
Racing video games
Sega Saturn games
THQ games
Vehicular combat games
Split-screen multiplayer games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Perfect Entertainment games