Rock n' Roll Racing

Last updated

Rock n' Roll Racing
Rock N' Roll Racing Cover.jpg
North American SNES cover art
Developer(s) Silicon & Synapse [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) Interplay Productions Blizzard Entertainment (GBA, Definitive Edition)
Designer(s) Alan Pavlish
Programmer(s) Bob Fitch
Patrick Wyatt
Ayman Adham
Artist(s) Samwise Didier
Ronald Millar Sr.
Joeyray Hall
Composer(s) Tim Follin
Geoff Follin
Matthew Cannon
Platform(s) Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy Advance
Definitive Edition
Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
ReleaseSNES
  • NA: June 4, 1993
  • EU: March 31, 1994 [1]
Mega Drive/Genesis
GBA
  • NA: June 23, 2003
  • EU: August 15, 2003
Definitive Edition
February 19, 2021
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Rock n' Roll Racing is a vehicular combat-based racing video game developed by Silicon & Synapse and published by Interplay Productions for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993 and the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1994. The game prominently features a number of popular heavy metal and rock songs in its soundtrack, hence the game's title. After Silicon & Synapse rebranded into Blizzard Entertainment, a port to the Game Boy Advance was released in 2003. In celebration of the company's 30th anniversary, a new version titled Definitive Edition alongside emulated re-releases of the original game were re-released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as part of the Blizzard Arcade Collection in February 2021. [2]

Contents

Rock n' Roll Racing was initially developed as RPMII, a sequel to the company's previous game RPM Racing . At the end of the project, Interplay marketing added licensed music and changed the name to Rock n' Roll Racing. It is also similar in gameplay to Racing Destruction Set where it got its logic/AI engine and Rare's 1988 NES game R.C. Pro-Am.

Gameplay

The game pits four racers against each other, with up to two of them being player-controlled from a colourful collection of comic-book-inspired humans and aliens, and the rest being AI opponents; "Rip" and "Shred", who appear in all races, plus a third character unique to each planet/level in one-player mode. Each race consists of four laps around tracks viewed from an isometric perspective, which enables players to discern the presence of frequent sloping sections spread throughout the game's various tracks. In addition to navigating the turns, racers must also maneuver hills and dips without falling or jumping over the guard rail at the track's edge.

A race on the SNES version RockNRollRacing2.png
A race on the SNES version

While it is a racing game, there is heavy emphasis on attacking competitor's vehicles; since the cars always reappear with full health just a few seconds after blowing up, the only "harm" done is falling behind in the race. Players are rewarded with a monetary "attack bonus" each time they provide the finishing blow against another car using their forward or rear weapons (and a similar "lapping bonus" when they gain a full one-lap lead on an opponent during the race). In accordance with the continual destruction and restoration of the racing vehicles, the tracks are littered with mines and health power-ups, as well as money power-ups. Other hazards include oil slicks, snow drifts, and lava, depending on the planet hosting the race.

Players are updated on the race by commentator "Loudmouth Larry" (Larry "Supermouth" Huffman), who makes enthusiastic comments like "The stage is set, the green flag drops!" (or "Let the carnage begin!"), and "[player name] is about to blow!" at appropriate moments during the race.

Between races, players can spend the money they have earned on more advanced equipment for their vehicle (engines, tires, shocks, and shielding) or on increasing their capacity for the frontal weapon (energy blasts or missiles), rear weapon (slip sauce or mines), and turbo boost (jump jets or nitro boosts), each of which can max out at seven. Despite their limited capacity, every vehicle will have its weapon and boost charges replenished at the completion of each lap in a race. Racers can also buy more advanced vehicle models; however, all equipment and weapons upgrades are lost when a new vehicle is purchased.

The first three drivers to complete a race are awarded both money and points according to the final standings. Points are required for advancement to the next racing division or the next planet, with two divisions on each planet. A player who has not obtained enough points during a division's racing season must repeat the division, again starting with zero points, but all changes to the player's money and car remain in effect. In two-player mode, when only one player has sufficient points, the character in charge of advancement asks "Leave your loser friend behind?", allowing the leading player to continue alone by removing the other player from the game. The dropped player can continue from that point later by using their most recent password, once the game is reset.

Music

Rock n' Roll Racing is widely known for its soundtrack. Originally, Silicon & Synapse wanted to use songs by ZZ Top but the fee was too high. They instead enlisted a company that provided low-cost licensed music in public settings. [3]

The songs were uncredited but included:

Passwords

Passwords are given out at the beginning of each new "racing season" (each planet has its own definition of how many races make up a season, but early advancement will automatically start a new season), and they are located at the bottom of the F/X screen (accessible from the menu between races). These passwords are a complex code, consisting of three 4-digit sections, and they dictate everything about the players' progress: the character used, the vehicle type and color, weapons and parts upgrades, racing planet and division, difficulty setting, and money. The Game Boy Advance version of the game uses an EEPROM chip to save the player's progress instead of the password system.

The password codes only allow the player to save a maximum of $999,990 (six digits); if there are more than six figures in the bank account, the password truncates the leftmost digits over six (e.g. if there's $1,002,000 when the player quits, there will be only $2,000 when using the password to continue later). Due to the two-player password function, it's possible to "cheat" by entering the same password for both players or by entering passwords for players who were at entirely different points in the game. The password with the lowest difficulty setting and on the earliest planet and racing division will be used as the basis for play from then on, which allows a Warrior-skill character with a maxed-out vehicle to race against Rookie-class AIs in the Rookie skill mode.

Though a password-generator QBASIC program exists, the passwords it creates often result in a glitch, causing the player to race on glitchy planets—that exist only as a bug and can crash the game—after racing on Inferno. In the Rookie skill mode, however, they work perfectly, as long as one doesn't try to take the character beyond the third planet using the password. [4]

A second password generator has been written in JavaScript and limits the available planets to reflect the chosen skill mode while retaining the ability to customize any other aspect of the data stored in the password. [5]

Release

A 3DO Interactive Multiplayer version of Rock n' Roll Racing was announced to be in development and slated to be published by Interplay during E3 1995, but this version was never released for unknown reasons. [6]

In 2003, Blizzard released an Adobe Shockwave-based demo version of the Game Boy Advance port featuring one track on its website. [7]

In 2014, a demo version of the game featuring three tracks was added to Battle.net, emulated through ZSNES. [8] This version has all rock music tracks changed to simple MIDI music, because the music license expired.

Blizzard Arcade Collection

In celebration of the company's 30th anniversary, Blizzard Entertainment and Digital Eclipse released a compilation called Blizzard Arcade Collection in February 2021, for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. The collection includes three Blizzard's classic video games: The Lost Vikings , Blackthorne and Rock n' Roll Racing, with two additional games: The Lost Vikings 2 and RPM Racing . Some of the modern features for the Definitive Edition include 16:9 resolution, 4-player split-screen, rewinding and saving of game progress, watching replays, and adding graphic filters to change the look of player's game in the SNES and Genesis versions, as well as a togglable option between the SNES soundtrack and the master recordings of the soundtrack in CD quality. [9] Larry "Supermouth" Huffman re-recorded lines from the original game, as well as recording brand new lines, for this release in the Definitive Edition.

Reception

GamePro gave the Genesis version a mixed review. They praised the Vs. mode and "rockin'" soundtrack with driving-appropriate tunes, but criticized the weak sound effects and remarked that the graphics and digitized voice are noticeably worse than in the Super NES version. [14]

Super Gamer reviewed the SNES version and gave an overall score of 90% writing: "Awesome rock soundtracks, plus plenty of vehicles, firepower, tracks and planets. A bit repetitive in one-player though." [15]

Accolades

Rock N' Roll Racing was awarded Best Driving Game of 1993 by Electronic Gaming Monthly. [16]

GameSpot named Rock n' Roll Racing the best Game Boy Advance game of July 2003. [17]

IGN placed Rock n' Roll Racing 72nd on their Top 100 SNES Games of All Time. [18] In 2018, Complex placed Rock n' Roll Racing 84th on their "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". [19] In 1996, GamesMaster rated the SNES version #96 in its "Top 100 Games of All Time". [20]

Sequels

Rock & Roll Racing 2: Red Asphalt

A sequel to the original Rock n' Roll Racing was made for the 32-bit PlayStation console by Interplay in 1997. The game was sold in Europe as Rock & Roll Racing 2: Red Asphalt and in the United States as just Red Asphalt. [21] It features a comic book art style in the character's profiles and ending videos, and a system to upgrade each character's driving/combat skills like RPGs.

Motor Rock

In December 2013, a game titled Motor Rock (development title Rock n' Roll Racing 3D) was released on Steam by Yard Team. It's an unauthorized 3D remake of Rock n' Roll Racing. It was in development since 2009. [22] A week after release, the game was removed from Steam. [23]

Notes

  1. Additional work by Software Creations
  2. This song was not included in the Blizzard Arcade Collection due to licensing issues
  3. Nintendo Power scored Rock n' Roll Racing 4.3/5 for graphics/sound, 3.6/5 for play control, 3.5/5 for challenge, and 3.7/5 for theme/fun. [12]

Related Research Articles

Mario Kart is a series of kart racing games based on the Mario franchise developed and published by Nintendo. Players compete in go-kart races while using various power-up items. It features characters and courses mostly from the Mario series as well as other gaming franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, F-Zero, Excitebike, and Splatoon.

<i>Super Mario Kart</i> 1992 video game

Super Mario Kart is a kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The first game in the Mario Kart series, it was released in Japan and North America in 1992, and in Europe the following year in 1993. Selling 8.76 million copies worldwide, the game went on to become the fourth best-selling SNES game of all time. Super Mario Kart was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console in 2009, on the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2013, and on the New Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console in 2016. Nintendo re-released Super Mario Kart in 2017 as part of the company's Super NES Classic Edition.

<i>Blackthorne</i> 1994 video game

Blackthorne is a cinematic platform game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released for the Super NES and MS-DOS in 1994. The cover art for the SNES version was drawn by Jim Lee. The following year, Blackthorne was released for the Sega 32X with additional content. In 2013, Blizzard released the game for free on their Battle.net PC client. In celebration of the company's 30th anniversary, Blackthorne was re-released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One as part of the Blizzard Arcade Collection in February 2021.

<i>F-Zero</i> (video game) 1990 racing game

F-Zero is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released in Japan on November 21, 1990, in North America in August 1991, and in Europe in 1992. F-Zero is the first game in the F-Zero series and was a launch game for the SNES. F-Zero was rereleased for the Virtual Console service on various Nintendo platforms and as part of the Super NES Classic Edition in 2017.

<i>F-Zero GX</i> 2003 video game

F-Zero GX is a 2003 racing video game developed by Amusement Vision and published by Nintendo for the GameCube console. It runs on an enhanced version of the engine used in Super Monkey Ball. F-Zero AX, the arcade counterpart of GX, uses the Triforce arcade system board conceived from a business alliance between Nintendo, Namco and Sega. Published by Sega, it was released alongside GX in 2003.

<i>San Francisco Rush 2049</i> 1999 video game

San Francisco Rush 2049 is a racing video game developed and manufactured by Atari Games for arcades. It was ported to the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, and Dreamcast by Midway Games West. The arcade machine was released in 1999; home versions followed in 2000 on September 7 for North America and November 17 for Europe. It is the third game in the Rush series and the sequel to San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing and Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA. It is the last game in the Rush series to be set in the city of San Francisco and the last released on a Nintendo console. It also serves as the final game for the Atari Games label, which was retired shortly after the arcade release. The Dreamcast version was later re-released as part of Midway Arcade Treasures 3 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube and later for Microsoft Windows as part of Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition.

<i>F-Zero</i> Video game series

F-Zero is a series of futuristic racing games published by Nintendo, developed by Nintendo EAD and other third-party companies. The first game was released for the Super Famicom in Japan in 1990. Its success prompted Nintendo to create sequels on subsequent consoles.

<i>Racing Destruction Set</i> 1985 video game

Racing Destruction Set is a racing video game published in 1985 for the Commodore 64 by Electronic Arts. It was advertised as being Commodore 128 compatible. A version for Atari 8-bit computers, programmed by Rebecca Heineman of Interplay, was released in 1986 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. The game allows players to design and race on tracks with a variety of vehicles. It is part of the Construction Set series along with Pinball Construction Set, Music Construction Set, and Adventure Construction Set.

<i>Super Ghouls n Ghosts</i> 1991 video game

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, known as Chou Makaimura in Japan, is a platform video game developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991. As the third game in the Ghosts 'n Goblins series and the first not to be released for the arcade, it again depicts knight Arthur saving Princess Guinevere and the kingdom from Emperor Sardius, who has cast a spell that has revived the Ghoul Realm.

<i>Ford Racing 3</i> 2004 video game

Ford Racing 3 is a racing video game published by Empire Interactive, 2K, and ZOO Digital. It is the third game in the Ford Racing series, and was released in Europe in October 2004, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. In the United States, the game was released on the same platforms the following year, followed by releases later that year for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Visual Impact Productions developed the GBA and DS versions, while Razorworks developed the other versions. The game received mixed reviews, critics were divided in its soundtrack, physics and overall content and gameplay.

<i>Top Gear 3000</i> 1995 video game

Top Gear 3000, later released in Japan as The Planet's Champ: TG3000, is a racing video game developed by Gremlin Interactive and published by Kemco for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in the original Top Gear trilogy, and the last in the series to be developed by Gremlin. 3000 heavily resembles the previous Top Gear 2, but is set in the distant future.

<i>Top Gear 2</i> 1993 video game

Top Gear 2 is a racing game video game developed and published by Gremlin Interactive. A direct sequel to the 1992 game Top Gear, it was first released by Kemco for the SNES in North America on August 8, 1993, and then the Super Famicom in Japan on December 22. It was later ported to the Amiga and Amiga CD32 in September 1994 by Gremlin Interactive, and to the Sega Genesis in September by Vic Tokai. While more realistic than its predecessor, Top Gear 2 maintained the arcade-style gameplay the series is known for.

<i>Cruisn</i> Video game series

Cruis'n is a series of racing video games originally developed by Eugene Jarvis for Midway Games and published by Midway and Nintendo. The series distinguishes itself from other racing games with its over-the-top presentation and fast-paced gameplay, featuring a wide variety of vehicles and tracks based on a number of real world locations. The series debuted in North American and European arcades in 1994 with the release of Cruis'n USA, which, along with Killer Instinct, was advertised as running on Nintendo's Ultra 64 hardware. Two sequels followed, Cruis'n World and Cruis'n Exotica, which featured new vehicles and tracks. All three games were released for the Nintendo 64 as well, with Exotica also being released for the handheld Game Boy Color. The next game in the series, Cruis'n Velocity deviated from the traditional arcade gameplay of the series and was released for the Game Boy Advance.

<i>RPM Racing</i> 1991 video game

RPM Racing is a Super Nintendo Entertainment System racing game developed by Silicon & Synapse and published by Interplay Productions.

<i>Need for Speed: Nitro</i> 2009 video game

Need for Speed: Nitro is a racing video game and the fourteenth title in the Need for Speed series. It was published by Electronic Arts for the Nintendo Wii and DS platforms. The Wii version was developed by EA Montreal, who have previous experience with Nintendo consoles, while the DS version was developed separately by Firebrand Games' Florida studio.

<i>San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing</i> 1996 video game

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing is a video game developed and published by Atari Games. This game was first released in arcades in 1996 and was ported to Nintendo 64 in 1997 and the PlayStation in 1998. San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing is the first game in the Rush series.

Asphalt is a series of racing video games mainly developed and published by Gameloft. The series typically focus on fast-paced arcade racing set in various locales throughout the world, tasking players to complete races while evading the local law enforcement. Gameplay includes teaming up with allied racers and gang groups to assist in police pursuits and shootout races against rival groups such as crime families and terrorists.

<i>Gradius III</i> 1989 Video game

Gradius III is a 1989 scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Konami, originally released for the arcades in Japan and other parts of Asia on December 11, 1989. It is the third game in the Gradius series. The game was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan in 1990 and North America in 1991, and served as a launch title for the system in North America. The arcade version would never see the light of day in the West until it was included alongside Gradius IV in a two-in-one compilation for the PlayStation 2 and in the Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable.

<i>The Lost Vikings</i> 1993 video game

The Lost Vikings is a puzzle-platform game developed by Silicon & Synapse and published by Interplay. It was originally released for the Super NES in 1993, then subsequently released for the Amiga, Amiga CD32, MS-DOS, and Mega Drive/Genesis systems; the Mega Drive/Genesis version contains five stages not present in any other version of the game, and can also be played by three players simultaneously. Blizzard re-released the game for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. In 2014, the game was added to Battle.net as a free download emulated through DOSBox. In celebration of the company's 30th anniversary, The Lost Vikings was re-released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as part of the Blizzard Arcade Collection in February 2021.

<i>Asphalt Legends Unite</i> 2018 video game

Asphalt Legends Unite is a 2018 racing game developed by Gameloft Barcelona and published by Gameloft. Released on July 25, 2018, it is the fifteenth major game of Asphalt series. In comparison to previous entries, there are several new and improved features, such as a prestigious car lineup, new control schemes, including the autopilot mode called "TouchDrive", and race modes, and the reimplemented "shockwave nitro" from Asphalt 6: Adrenaline. The graphics have considerably improved compared to its 2013 predecessor, Asphalt 8: Airborne.

References

  1. "Rock 'N Roll Racing". GameFAQs .
  2. McWhertor, Michael (February 19, 2021). "Three classic Blizzard games come to PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One today". Polygon. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  3. Blizzard Entertainment (February 20, 2021). "BlizzConline 2021 - Where It All Started: The Blizzard Arcade Collection". YouTube. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  4. "Rock 'n' Roll Racing cheats, hints, FAQs". GameWinners.com. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  5. "Rock n' Roll Racing Password Generator". BarcodeBattler.co.uk. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  6. "E-3 The Biggest And Best Electronic Entertainment Show Ever! – '95 Next Generation Software Listing". GameFan . Vol. 3, no. 7. July 1995. p. 41. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  7. Calvert, Justin (June 23, 2003). "Rock 'N Roll Racing demo online". GameSpot . CBS Interactive . Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  8. Wawro, Alex (May 2, 2014). "Rock n' Roll Racing, The Lost Vikings now free on Battle.net". Gamasutra . Think Services. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  9. "Blizzard Arcade Collection: Games, New Content, Release Date and More". gfinityesports.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  10. "Rock N' Roll Racing SNES Review Score". Archived from the original on May 13, 2019.
  11. "Rock 'N Roll Racing GBA Review Score". Archived from the original on April 30, 2019.
  12. "Now Playing". Nintendo Power . No. 52. September 1993. pp. 100–105. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  13. Rad; Tim (October 1993). "Rock 'n' Roll Racing". Nintendo Magazine System . pp. 80–82. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  14. "ProReview: Rock n' Roll Racing". GamePro . No. 74. IDG. November 1994. p. 86.
  15. "Rock n' Roll Racing Review". Super Gamer (2). United Kingdom: Paragon Publishing: 123. May 1994. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  16. "Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide". 1994.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. The Editors of GameSpot (August 1, 2003). "GameSpot's Month in Review: July 2003". GameSpot . Archived from the original on April 8, 2004.
  18. "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time". IGN . Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  19. "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". Complex. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  20. "Top 100 Games of All Time" (PDF). GamesMaster (44): 74. July 1996.
  21. "Protos: Red Asphalt". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 98. Ziff Davis. September 1997. p. 37.
  22. "About Us". yardteam.org. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  23. "The rarest Steam games". PC Gamer . December 1, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2019.