Video Game Collecting

I’ve reviewed City Connection before in 20 words or less… now it’s time for something a little more proper…

This game is presented to us by Jaleco, and it’s a port of an arcade game. Depending on which story you read the jist is the same: paint all segments of the freeway by driving over them. Collect oil cans to throw at the cops. Avoid spikes and cats. Complete a level and you go to a new major city. Repeat.

The game has a catchy upbeat song that loops. It’s beat matches the reflected lights in your vehicle’s windows and as you manuver around by jumping or turning the car around (which triggers a necessary but complicated animation) gives the illusion that your car is dancing.

Paralax scrolling, when refering to a video game means there are two layers of images moving at independent speeds giving the illusion of depthy. City Connection is one of the earliest Nintendo games I recall having this illusion. Technically there are three layers… the skyline, the freeways, and the enemies/oil-cans. Some might argue that enemies and oil-cans can’t be considered a layer, however in City Connection the enemies move relative to the screen position and not to the environment. It is that 3rd layer that makes this game great and unpredictable. No two games will ever be played the same.

The city-scape backgrounds are simple but detailed with Paris and NYC looking especially beautiful. The game has a score and it’s repeatative nature gives it an arcade experience everyone can love…