Destruction Derby (series)

Destruction Derby
Destruction Derby 2 logo
Genres	Racing
Developers	Reflections Interactive (1995-1997) Looking Glass Studios (1999) Studio 33 (2000-2004)
Publishers	Psygnosis (1995-1997) THQ (1999) Sony Computer Entertainment (2000-2004)
Platforms	MS-DOS, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network, Sega Saturn
Platform of origin	MS-DOS / PlayStation
First release	Destruction Derby 1995
Latest release	Destruction Derby: Arenas 9 January 2004

The Destruction Derby series is a collection of racing video games. They have been developed by a number of companies, including Reflections Interactive, Looking Glass Studios and Studio 33.

The first game in the series was Destruction Derby, which was released in 1995.

Games

Destruction Derby

Destruction Derby is a 1995 video game developed by Reflections Interactive, who would later go on to develop the successful Driver series. It was released for PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and MS-DOS (PC). Based around the real-life sport of demolition derby driving, the game involves wrecking other cars for points, or driving a simple stock car race around one of five tracks. Though simplistic in its aims, the game achieved popularity and was one of the first games to achieve platinum sales on the PlayStation console. The game was given a name change just two months prior to its release in October 1995; it was originally called Demolish 'em Derby ^[1]

A Nintendo 64 version was released in 1999 entitled Destruction Derby 64. It is graphically and technically superior to its PlayStation counterpart, with more cars, brighter and more detailed graphics, and expanded crash damage graphics, including the bonnets and boots of cars flying off in hard collisions. The cars that the player starts out with are rather basic generic saloons painted up for racing and smashing. As the game progresses through the championships, the player is awarded bonus vehicles, such as a black Hot rod with flames and a blue Ford Mustang GT hybrid called the 'Blue Demon'.

Destruction Derby 2

Destruction Derby 2 was released in 1996 for the PlayStation and PC, developed by Reflections Interactive. A version for the Sega Saturn was also planned and developed, but never released.

In Destruction Derby 2 the player must race on up to seven different circuits, in a range of modes, similar to its predecessor. The key changes introduced in this sequel were a wider variety of tracks, and the ability of cars to flip over and jump. Commentator Paul Page performed as the announcer, shouting small phrases during moments of impact, such as; "Yeah!!" and "Go easy on the paintwork!".

Destruction Derby 2 was added to the PlayStation Platinum range in 1997. Originally the game was released in a double-CD cover (even though the game was only on one CD), but the platinum range version was released in an ordinary PlayStation cover.

Destruction Derby Raw

Destruction Derby Raw is a game for the PlayStation and is the third installment of the series. It was developed by Studio 33 and was first released in 2000.

Destruction Derby: Arenas

Destruction Derby: Arenas is a video game for the PlayStation 2. It was developed by Studio 33 and it was released in 2004.

The game is notable for being one of the first PS2 games that allowed online play. Whilst it was the first title of the Destruction Derby series released for the PS2, the game was met with generally low reception in comparison to its predecessors, due to its deviation away from realism and reliance on a more cartoonish tone.

Due to poor sales, it was the last game of the Destruction Derby series, but the car crashing genre nevertheless survived with the likes of Flatout, which arguably could be the spiritual successor of Destruction Derby.

See also

• Demolition Racer

References