| Racing games have always been a favorite of mine. | | | | highest fuel consumption and the lowest tire grip, but |
| And the Super Nintendo had loads of them to offer. | | | | it is the fastest car in the game with a max speed of |
| But one that caught my eye when I was a kid was a | | | | 147 mph. The white car is the slowest car in the |
| game called Top Gear. I saw the back of the box | | | | game (131 mph) but it has the best tire grip and the |
| and was blown away completely. I showed my | | | | lowest fuel consumption. The purple car and the blue |
| brother and he also loved what he saw. We rented | | | | car are nearly identical, with the same top speed (137 |
| the game and fell in love with it instantly. The | | | | mph) and midrange fuel consumption. Only difference |
| graphics were great and the whole racing action was | | | | is that the purple car has a lower tire grip than the |
| top notch. | | | | blue car, but a higher tire grip than the red car. |
| This game works like a normal racing simulator, | | | | During the race, you will have to watch your fuel. If it |
| games that were extremely popular for the Super | | | | runs out, you won't be able to move your car and |
| Nintendo. You race across eight countries: United | | | | just hope that your car gets a boost from one of |
| States, Latin American, Japan, Germany, Scandinavia, | | | | the other drivers on the road. In the races with five |
| France, Italy, and United Kingdom. Each country has | | | | or more laps, there are pit stops you will need to |
| four races that you compete in, giving you a total of | | | | stop by to fill up the tank. Though it will cost you a |
| 32 races. The races are based on real life cities from | | | | few positions, you can't race without gas. Also, you |
| around the world, and they are captured beautifully | | | | have three nitro boosts to work with on your car, |
| (for the SNES's time anyway). Most races are | | | | giving you a temporary speed boost. Use them |
| contested during the day, but you also have a few | | | | wisely, especially in the high lap races. |
| night races (complete with headlights on your car), | | | | The music is some of the best I have heard, though |
| and races which transition from night to day (but no | | | | it isn't much. Excluding the title screen and the menu |
| day to night transitions, awkwardly). Each race has a | | | | screen, you have four music tracks that play in each |
| set number of laps, anywhere from three to eight. | | | | of the four races in each country. The music that |
| There is a point system like in any other racing | | | | plays in every third track (New York for example) is |
| simulator. The better you place in a track, the more | | | | among my best in video game music. The sound |
| points you gain. And you will need to place high in | | | | effects are your usual tire screeching, car crashing |
| order to advance to more tracks, and ultimately | | | | style sounds. |
| more countries. Failing to do so means you have to | | | | This is a great pickup and play racing game. The |
| go back and try again. | | | | music is funky and the gameplay will keep you |
| You only have four cars to choose from in the | | | | hooked. The nitros will also get you into the game |
| game, but they are well balanced and have their | | | | because you're just tempted to use them. I love this |
| strengths and weaknesses. The red car has the | | | | game, and this should definitely be in your arsenal. |