Cruis'n USA (1996). Play online

Summary

Cruis'n USA made its debut as an arcade title in 1994, then leapt onto the Nintendo 64 in 1996 under the "Ultra 64" banner—a joint branding move between Midway and Nintendo. Eugene Jarvis oversaw the project, while Leland Interactive Media handled the home port, pruning the arcade’s V‑unit hardware for the console. The N64 version courted controversy: animal‑running scenes and a cheeky cameo of Bill and Hillary Clinton on a hot tub were stripped out to meet Nintendo’s standards. Gameplay kept its one‑way coast‑to‑coast road trips, letting players pick from seven cars—including a ’63 Corvette and a ’91 Ferrari—navigate traffic, construction and checkpoints from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. Critics hammered the sluggish frame‑rate, wonky collision detection and lackluster soundtrack, dragging scores down to the low‑20s percent‑wise, yet many praised the analog‑stick handling and two‑player split‑screen. Surprisingly, sales thundered; the game moved over a million units, ranking as the sixth‑best seller of the 1996 holiday season, cementing its quirky spot in N64 history.

Storyline

Cruis'n USA on the Nintendo 64 drops you into a coast‑to‑coast sprint that feels like a road‑trip through the heart of America. The race kicks off in the foggy streets of San Francisco and barrels through the sunny highways of California. From there you zip across the desert of Arizona, swing by the towering cliffs of the Grand Canyon, and then speed toward the flatlands of Iowa.

The journey continues eastward, racing past the bustling skyline of Chicago, cruising through Indiana’s countryside, and navigating the winding roads of Appalachia. Each region is a distinct track that captures the vibe of its locale.

The final stretch lands you in the political capital, Washington, D.C., where, after crossing the finish line, a congratulatory message from President Bill Clinton pops up on screen. It’s a nostalgic nod that caps off the cross‑country adventure.