Summary
- Release Year: 1991
- Genres: Racing
- Platforms: Game Boy
- Developers: Rare
- Publishers: Nintendo, Playtronic
Super R.C. Pro-Am: A Detailed Overview
Released in 1991 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super R.C. Pro-Am is a racing game that quickly became a fan favorite. Developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, the game is a sequel to the 1988 NES game R.C. Pro-Am, and features improved graphics, more tracks, and new gameplay elements.
Gameplay
Super R.C. Pro-Am is a top-down racing game in which players control remote control cars and race around a variety of tracks. The game can be played by one player, two players via the Game Link Cable, or three or four players via the Four Player Adapter.
The game features 24 different tracks of increasing difficulty, and the object is to finish in the top three in order to qualify to race in the next track. Players who do not finish in the top three may use a continue and retry the track; players get three continues, and the game ends when the player fails to finish in the top three and has no continues remaining.
Each track is different and range from standard ovals to tracks with many twists and turns. The game includes many obstacles, such as oil slicks that send players spinning, puddles of water that cause players to slide out of control, sand traps and “slow cones” that slow players down, large cones that bring players to a complete halt, and walls of tires that players bounce off. If a player hits an oil slick and then hits a wall while spinning, the player’s car is temporarily destroyed, which loses time.
The tracks also has items that help players along the way: “zippers” (a series of chevrons on the track) give players a speed boost, roll cages allow players to hit walls without being destroyed and allow them to crash opponents by forcing them into walls, and missiles and bombs temporarily destroy opponents’ cars. Also on the track are spare parts which help improve performance—tires improve traction, batteries increase acceleration, and engines improve speed.
Players have the opportunity to upgrade their vehicles by collecting letters, which are distributed throughout the tracks. By spelling “Nintendo” with the letters, players upgrade to a better vehicle; players can upgrade from the “Racer” to the “Speed demon” and then to the Spiker, each of which performs progressively better than the previous vehicle. If players spell “Nintendo” while racing with the Spiker, then they win the game.
Reception
Super R.C. Pro-Am was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its graphics, gameplay, and multiplayer support. The game sold over 2 million copies worldwide, and was one of the best-selling NES games of all time.
Super R.C. Pro-Am has been ranked among the best NES games of all time by many publications. In 2009, IGN ranked the game as the 64th best NES game of all time. In 2012, GamesRadar ranked the game as the 43rd best NES game of all time.
Legacy
Super R.C. Pro-Am is still considered one of the best racing games for the NES. It is a classic game that is still enjoyed by many people today. The game has been re-released on several platforms, including the Wii Virtual Console, the Nintendo Switch Online service, and the NES Classic Edition.
Super R.C. Pro-Am has also inspired several sequels and spin-offs. In 1992, Rare released R.C. Pro-Am II for the NES. In 1994, Rare released Super R.C. Pro-Am 2 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. In 2000, Rare released Mickey’s Speedway USA for the Nintendo 64, which is a spiritual successor to the Super R.C. Pro-Am series.
Conclusion
Super R.C. Pro-Am is a classic racing game that is still enjoyed by many people today. It is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a variety of tracks, power-ups, and multiplayer options. If you are a fan of racing games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Super R.C. Pro-Am.
Review Score
8.5/10
