Cruis'n USA (1994). Play online

Summary

Cruis'n USA burst onto arcades in 1994 as a joint venture between Nintendo and Midway, touted as the inaugural "Ultra 64" title even though it actually runs on Midway’s V‑unit hardware. The game’s 512 × 400‑pixel display and a 50 MHz TMS32031 CPU paired with a 10 MHz ADSP‑2115 DSP gave it a smooth, high‑speed feel that let players zip through stylized versions of iconic American locales – from fog‑shrouded San Francisco streets to a sweeping view of the Grand Canyon, then on to Iowa, Chicago and finally Washington, D.C. Seven selectable cars, including a ’63 Corvette and a Ferrari‑inspired P69, keep the mileage fresh.

Critics praised its adrenaline‑filled pacing, noting it could hold its own against Sega’s Daytona USA. The cabinet became a marquee hit, ranking the second‑most‑popular deluxe arcade unit in both November and December 1994, breaking into America’s top‑five best‑selling arcade games that year, and earning a Diamond Award from the AAMA. It even claimed the title of highest‑grossing dedicated arcade cabinet of 1995, cementing Cruis'n USA’s legacy as a high‑octane landmark of the ’90s racing scene.

Storyline

Cruis'n USA whisks you away on a coast‑to‑coast road‑trip across the United States. You rev out of San Francisco, blaze through the rest of California, then zip across Arizona and the Grand Canyon before the scenery shifts to the plains of Iowa. The route continues through the bustling streets of Chicago, the rolling hills of Indiana, and the misty Appalachia, finally rolling into the capital’s iconic landmarks in Washington, D.C. When you finish every track, the game throws a surprise celebration from the then‑U.S. President Bill Clinton, congratulating you on the ultimate cross‑country cruise.