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PSP
Derby Stallion P
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NCS
Game Synopsis
«©NCSX»
Relatively unknown in the West, Derby Stallion is
nevertheless a famous and beloved franchise in
Japan. The game has appeared on all of the major
consoles since the Famicom days and a version is
already slated for the Playstation 3 when Sony's new
wunderkind reaches market. Until then,
Enterbrain mines potential gold with a Playstation
Portable version of Derby Stallion which features
racing programs and horse data from the current 2006
season.
Return to the ranch
and play the part of a horse baron who breeds
horses, directs the jockeys, and lords over the
fledgling kingdom with a kung-fu grip. At the outset
of the game, the player is granted a bankroll of
¥20,000,000 which is about US$200,000. With funds in
hand, the first task is to buy a horse from a wide
range of available steeds with names such as "What a
Pleasure," "Honeys Alibi," "Sir Gaylord," "Northern
Dancer," "Never Say Die," "Vaguely Noble," and other
monikers that will only be found in the horse world.
The Sire Lineage of a horse may be viewed along with the Effect by
pressing the TRIANGLE button. Once a horse is
purchased, the steed is deposited instantaneously on
the player's field where it prances around and waits
for instruction and grooming. The goal of the game
is to train a horse and enter it into racing
contests for monetary rewards and recognition. As
winnings are amassed, more horses may be purchased
and sent into high stakes races for even more
rewards.
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NCS
Game Notes
» In the title screen of
the game, a truck motors along a highway with bales
of hay on its bed. It pulls into a horse farm and
parks. Three horses may be seen standing on the
field next to the ranch. If you leave the title
screen alone, the pomp and circumstance of a horse race
begins where an announcer (no voice) does the play
by play in text as the horses motor along the track.
The camera stays on the pack as they motor along and
go around the bend. As the finish line looms, the
crowd erupts and the pack is shown rounding the
final turn. The numbers of each horse are also
depicted on the top of the screen with the leader at
the far left of the screen.
»
Start a game and enter your name. Next choose an
outfit for your jockey from 15 different flamboyant
styles. We chose a green and yellow number with
yellow stars on the front. Next, a head covering for
horse is chosen from 13 different colors. While this
is happening, the background depicts a ranch as the
camera lazily flows over it.
»
Five options may be selected on the ranch - the
horse field, the ranch, the truck, the barn, and a sign
which takes the player to the stats ledger which
keeps track of wealth, winnings, and rankings. The barn is for
exiting the game and going back to the title screen. To take
a horse to a race, press the "O-button"
on the truck and the horse is taken to the races.
The first race is at Tokyo Race Course where an
announcer texts out the race as it happens and the
camera follows the pace of the horses in godly
fashion. The next race takes place at Chukyo Race
Course followed by a stint at Niigata Race Course.
»
With all the technology at Enterbrain's disposal,
we're unsure why more sound effects weren't added to
the game to enhance its atmosphere. As it is
however, the game runs very fast and loading times
are pretty much nonexistent.
» Once a race is over, a replay is shown which
captures the final few seconds as the horses cross
the finish line.
»
ParityBit developed the game for Enterbrain.
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This document and photos are ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No
reproduction in whole or in part of this document
may be made without express written consent of
National Console Support, Inc.
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