Poly Poly! Speed Daisakusen (ポリポリ! スピード大作戦, roughly Poly Poly! Great Speed Strategy) is a 3D racing game created by Compile in 1998, released for Windows 95 on Vol. 18 of their Disc Station magazine. It has the distinction of being one of the few games made by Compile to employ 3D polygonal graphicsnote .
Unlike most racing games at the time, Poly Poly! takes a unique approach to track design by making each course tube-like, allowing players to ride along the walls and on the ceiling. The tracks (two of which are available from the start, and two more open up once the first two are completed) are also dotted with various speed panels, jump ramps, and stars known as "polygonium" that increase the player's speed when collected in large quantities. There are two hover cars to choose from: the slower but more maneuverable Gentle Machine (piloted by Gentleman and Black Dog), and the much faster but cumbersome to control Mad Machine (piloted by Mad Doctor and Monster Cat). With a vehicle selected, players are pitted against three other racers in a mad dash for the top spot.
Despite Poly Poly!’s graphical ambition compared to other Disc Station titles, it remains rather obscure. This is possibly due to the game requiring a 3D accelerator card to function, which weren’t all too common in Japan in the late 90’s, as home consoles like the PlayStation fulfilled most of the public’s 3D gaming needs. However, newer machines are able to play the game fine without one (provided it’s Windows 7 or below). D4 Enterprise currently holds the rights to the game, and is selling it on their “Compile Station” storefront
.
Poly Poly! Speed Daisakusen provides examples of:
- All There in the Manual: The magazine the game comes with is the only place where details of the drivers are spoken of.
- Boring, but Practical: The Gentle Machine isn’t the speediest car, but it offers superb acceleration and grip compared to the faster but more unwieldy Mad Machine.
- Canine Companion: Black Dog is this to Gentleman.
- Cool Car: Cool hover cars, that is! According to the magazine, they’re all the creations of Mad Doctor, and everyone drives one here, even the game’s cutesy mascot.
- Difficult, but Awesome: The Mad Machine. It’s a considerably faster vehicle than its contemporary, but it suffers from bad acceleration and grip.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Both drivers and their pets are called what they are. Averted in the case of the CPU opponents (Poly Dash and Poly Slash) and Polydar, the game’s mascot.
- Black Dog is an odd case. While the character is usually referred to as just "Black Dog", in it and Gentleman's bio (as well as on its dog collar tag, best seen in the game's intro), its actual name is stated to be "Mcly".
- Black Dog is an odd case. While the character is usually referred to as just "Black Dog", in it and Gentleman's bio (as well as on its dog collar tag, best seen in the game's intro
- Excuse Plot: The bios of both drivers provide a loose one: Mad Doctor has found a new energy source and intends to use it for evil purposes, and is on the run from Gentleman, who seeks to put a stop to his schemes.
- Gameplay and Story Segregation: While the excuse plot mentioned above may suggest a game where Gentleman chases Mad Doctor through various locations in order to apprehend him, the game itself has both of them and two others in what is essentially a friendly race tournament.
- Hellhound: Black Dog’s sharp teeth and name suggest that it's one of these. That being said, it’s affiliated with unmistakably heroic Gentleman, which places it as a rare breed of non-villainous hellhound.
- Homage: Poly Poly! takes a few pages from Atari’s racing/shooter hybrid S.T.U.N. Runner, namely its hover car-based driving, tubular course design, and star collection mechanic. The Mad Machine also happens to look quite similar to the Runner from that game.
- Mad Scientist: Who else but Mad Doctor. Fittingly, he intends to exploit the newly discovered energy source “polygonium” for his wicked desires.
- Nice Guy: Gentleman. His short profile literally calls him onenote to boot.
- Non-Player Character: Poly Dash and Poly Slash, two identical characters save for their colors and machines who merely serve to make races feel less empty. The only detail known about either of them is that they work for Gentleman and Mad Doctor, respectively.
- Perpetual Smiler: The game’s mascot Polydar (the marshmallow-shaped guy on the title screen) has a wide smile that never falters.
- Racing Ghost: You can enable one to race alongside you in the options menu.
- Right-Hand Cat: Monster Cat, to Mad Doctor.
- Team Pet: Both playable drivers have one that rides with them while racing.
- Unobtainium: Polygonium, represented as yellow and purple stars scattered along each track. Collecting them powers up your vehicle, but you’ll have to snap them up in rapid succession, as their effect dissipates over time.
