Super R.C. Pro-Am

Last updated

Super R.C. Pro-Am
Super R.C. Pro-Am Coverart.png
North American cover art
Developer(s) Rare
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Composer(s) David Wise
Platform(s) Game Boy
Release
  • NA: June 1991
  • EU: April 23, 1992
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Super R.C. Pro-Am is a racing video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It was released in North America in June 1991 and in Europe on April 23, 1992; it was re-released in 1998 as part of Nintendo's Player's Choice series, which included all Game Boy titles which sold over one million copies. It is the follow-up to the Nintendo Entertainment System title R.C. Pro-Am , in which players race remote control cars from an out-of-vehicle perspective on a series of 24 tracks, avoiding obstacles and collecting items to improve performance in order to finish in the top three and qualify for the next track. The game can be played solo against three computer opponents, or two to four players can play simultaneously via the Game Link Cable or the Four Player Adapter.

Contents

Super R.C. Pro-Am received moderate coverage from some video gaming magazines. It was praised for its graphics and sound, controls, challenge, and ability for up to four players to play the game simultaneously. Criticisms included repetitiveness in gameplay, lack of variety, and rapid scrolling on the Game Boy that may cause players to miss some items. It was featured on Nintendo Power 's "Top 20" Game Boy list for most of 1992.

Gameplay

Super R.C. Pro-Am is a racing video game that is similar to its predecessor, R.C. Pro-Am , for the NES. In the game, players race remote control cars on a series of tracks. It can be played solo, with two-players via the Game Link Cable, or with 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. [1]

The 1st place player is about to collect the letter "E" to try to spell "Nintendo". Super RC Pro-Am.png
The 1st place player is about to collect the letter "E" to try to spell "Nintendo".

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. [1]

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. [1]

Development and reception

Super R.C. Pro-Am was developed by UK-based video game company Rare and was released for Nintendo's Game Boy handheld console. [1] It was first mentioned in video gaming magazine Nintendo Power in February 1991, along with Game Boy versions of Nintendo World Cup , Ultima: Runes of Virtue , and The Sword of Hope . [4] It was mentioned again in the following issue in March 1991, along with Skate or Die: Tour de Thrash ; they mentioned that Rare was attempting to recapture the same feel from its Nintendo Entertainment System predecessor, R.C. Pro-Am . [5] It was released in North America in June 1991 and in Europe on April 23, 1992. [6] [7]

Nintendo Power praised Super R.C. Pro-Am for its graphics and sound, saying that "Rare has really captured the sounds of high-revving engines and tires trying to hold the track". They also praised the ability for up to four players to play the game simultaneously, saying that players cannot depend on their human opponents to do the same things computer opponents do, and that human opponents can fire back at them (while computer opponents cannot). [1] It would be on the magazine's "Top 20" Game Boy list for most of 1992; it debuted at #6 on the January 1992 list, when the magazine switched from the "Top 30" list for the NES and "Top 5" list for Game Boy to "Top 20" lists for the NES, Game Boy and the Super NES. [8] It then went to #8 in February, [9] #10 in March, [10] and back to #8 in April. [11] From May through October 1992, it was in the teens on the Game Boy list, finishing at #11 in May, [12] #18 in June, [13] #17 in July and August, [14] [15] #18 in September, [16] and #15 in October. It dropped off the list afterwards. [17]

Super R.C. Pro-Am was reviewed alongside Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge in UK-based computer gaming magazine ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) . Reviewer David Upchurch praised the game for its fluid graphics and scrolling, good controls, and "long-term challenge". He also lauded the ability to play simultaneously with two to four human players, saying that "this transforms the game from a fun diversion into an addictive obsession". Criticisms included lack of variety in the tracks and an "annoyingly grating sound". [3] GamePro praised the game for its easy-to-see graphics and multiplayer ability, but it criticized the lack of speed. [18] German magazine Power Play primarily praised the game for the multiplayer features. The magazine criticized the game for its repetitiveness in gameplay and the rapid scrolling that may cause players to miss items on the track. [19] Super R.C. Pro-Am was re-released in 1998 as part of Nintendo's Player's Choice series, which included all Game Boy titles that sold over one million copies. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Maniac Mansion</i> 1987 video game

Maniac Mansion is a 1987 graphic adventure video game developed and published by Lucasfilm Games. It follows teenage protagonist Dave Miller as he attempts to rescue his girlfriend Sandy Pantz from a mad scientist, whose mind has been enslaved by a sentient meteor. The player uses a point-and-click interface to guide Dave and two of his six playable friends through the scientist's mansion while solving puzzles and avoiding dangers. Gameplay is non-linear, and the game must be completed in different ways based on the player's choice of characters. Initially released for the Commodore 64 and Apple II, Maniac Mansion was Lucasfilm Games' first self-published product.

<i>Donkey Kong Land</i> 1995 video game

Donkey Kong Land is a 1995 platform game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It condenses the side-scrolling gameplay of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game Donkey Kong Country (1994) for the handheld Game Boy with different level design and boss fights. The player controls the gorilla Donkey Kong and his nephew Diddy Kong as they defeat enemies and collect items across 30 levels to recover their stolen banana hoard from the crocodile King K. Rool.

<i>A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia</i> 1989 NES video game

A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia is a puzzle-platform game developed by Imagineering and published by Absolute Entertainment for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The video game was released in North America in 1989, in Europe by Nintendo in 1991 and in Japan by Jaleco in 1991. A Boy and His Blob follows an unnamed male protagonist and his shapeshifting blob friend on their adventure to save the planet of Blobolonia from the clutches of an evil emperor.

<i>R.C. Pro-Am</i> 1988 video game

R.C. Pro-Am is a racing video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in February 1988, and then in Europe on April 15. Presented in an overhead isometric perspective, a single player races a radio-controlled car around a series of tracks in vehicular combat. Each track qualifies its top three racers for the next track. Collectible power-up items improve performance, hazards include rain puddles and oil slicks, and missiles and bombs can temporarily disable opponents. Originally titled Pro Am Racing, it was ported to the Sega Genesis in 1992 as Championship Pro-Am, an enhanced remake with enhanced graphics and additional features. R.C. Pro-Am spawned two sequels: Super R.C. Pro-Am in 1991, and R.C. Pro-Am II in 1992.

<i>Dragon Quest</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Dragon Quest, titled Dragon Warrior when initially localized to North America, is a role-playing video game developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was originally released in Japan in 1986 and by Nintendo in North America in 1989. It is the first game in the Dragon Quest video game series. Dragon Quest has been ported and remade for several video game platforms, including the MSX, MSX2, PC-9801, Super Famicom, Game Boy Color, mobile phones, and Nintendo Switch as of 2019. The player controls the hero character who is charged with saving the Kingdom of Alefgard and rescuing its princess from the evil Dragonlord. Dragon Warrior's story became the second part in a trilogy, with several spinoff anime and manga series.

<i>Snake Rattle n Roll</i> 1990 video game

Snake Rattle 'n' Roll is a platform video game developed by Rare. It was published by Nintendo and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in July 1990 and in Europe on March 27, 1991. The game features two snakes, Rattle and Roll, as they make their way through eleven 3D isometric levels. A Mega Drive version was released by Sega in June 1993 with an extra level. Snake Rattle 'n' Roll was developed by Rare members Tim Stamper and Mark Betteridge. The music was composed by David Wise and was inspired by "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and other 1950s-era songs.

<i>Wizards & Warriors</i> 1987 video game

Wizards & Warriors, titled Densetsu no Kishi Elrond in Japan, is an action platform video game developed by Rare and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in December 1987, and in Europe on January 7, 1990. The player controls Kuros, "Knight Warrior of the Books of Excalibur", as he sets out in the Kingdom of Elrond to defeat the evil wizard Malkil. Malkil holds the princess of Elrond captive in Castle IronSpire, deep within the forests of Elrond. The player fights through forests, tunnels, and caves, while collecting keys, treasure, weapons, and magic items.

<i>Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II</i> 1989 video game

Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II is an action platform video game developed by Zippo Games and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in December 1989 and in Europe on March 27, 1991. It is the sequel to Rare's 1987 title Wizards & Warriors. In Ironsword, the player controls the knight warrior Kuros as he ventures in the land of Sindarin. He must defeat the evil wizard Malkil, who has assumed the elemental forms of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. Kuros must collect the parts of and assemble the legendary "IronSword" in order to defeat Malkil, who resides at the top of IceFire Mountain.

<i>Wizards & Warriors III: Kuros: Visions of Power</i> 1992 video game

Wizards & Warriors III: Kuros – Visions of Power is a platforming and adventure video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was developed by UK-based company Zippo Games for Rare; it was published by Acclaim Entertainment and released in North America in March 1992 and in Europe on January 21, 1993. It is the third and final installment in the Wizards & Warriors series and is the sequel to the 1989 title Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II; it also follows the 1990 Game Boy release Wizards & Warriors X: The Fortress of Fear.

<i>Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom</i> 1991 video game

Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom is a 1991 action-platform game developed and published by Tecmo. It was released in Japan on June 21, 1991 for the Famicom and in North America on August of the same year for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The NES version was not released in Europe. It was later ported to the Atari Lynx by Atari Corporation and released in 1993 in North America and Europe, the European version retaining the North American Ninja Gaiden III title. It was also re-released as part of its Ninja Gaiden Trilogy Super NES compilation in 1995 in Japan and North America. Long after, it was released for the Virtual Console service in North America on February 18, 2008 for the Wii and in North America and Europe on November 28, 2013 and January 23, 2014 respectively for the Nintendo 3DS. It was designed by Masato Kato, who took over for Hideo Yoshizawa—designer of the first two games in the NES series.

<i>R.C. Pro-Am II</i> 1992 racing video game

R.C. Pro-Am II is a racing video game developed by Rare and released by Tradewest for the Nintendo Entertainment System in December 1992. The game is the sequel to the 1988 R.C. Pro-Am and features similar gameplay with a wider variety of tracks, currency-based vehicle and weapon upgrades, and bonus stages. In R.C. Pro-Am II, four players, either human or artificial intelligence, race on a series of tracks to finish first while avoiding obstacles and hazards. The winner receives race points and money. The game features a multiplayer mode in which up to four human players can compete against each other simultaneously.

<i>Mega Man: Dr. Wilys Revenge</i> 1991 action-platform video game published by Capcom and Nintendo

Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge, also known as Mega Man in Dr. Wily's Revenge or in Japan as Rockman World is an action-platform video game by Capcom for the Nintendo Game Boy. It is the first game in the handheld series of the Mega Man franchise. It was released in Japan on July 26, 1991, and was localized in North America that December and in Europe the following year. The game continues the adventures of the android hero Mega Man as he once again confronts the evil Dr. Wily, who has dispatched his revived "Robot Masters" and a new "Mega Man Killer" named Enker.

<i>Cyber Stadium Series—Base Wars</i> 1991 baseball–fighting Nintendo game

Cyber Stadium Series—Base Wars is a baseball video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

<i>Catrap</i> 1985 video game

Catrap, known as Pitman in Japan, is a puzzle-platform game developed for the Sharp MZ-700 computer in 1985 and published by Asmik for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1990. The Game Boy version was re-released on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in October 2011.

<i>Slalom</i> (video game) 1986 NES game

Slalom, originally released as VS. Slalom, is a skiing sports video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo in 1986 for the Nintendo VS. System in arcades. It was then released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in August 1987 and in Europe later that year. The player races in a series of downhill slalom skiing runs while navigating past flags and obstacles before time expires. It was developed by Tim and Chris Stamper and its music was composed by David Wise.

<i>Ninja Gaiden</i> (NES video game) 1988 video game

Ninja Gaiden, released in Japan as Ninja Ryūkenden and as Shadow Warriors in Europe, is a 1988 action-platform game developed and published by Tecmo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Its development and release coincided with the beat 'em up arcade version of the same name. It was released in December 1988 in Japan, in March 1989 in North America, and in August 1991 in Europe. It has been ported to several other platforms, including the PC Engine, the Super NES, and mobile phones.

<i>Power Punch II</i> 1992 video game

Power Punch II is a boxing video game developed by Beam Software for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and originally released in North America in June 1992. The game puts the player in the role of Mark Tyler, an undefeated heavyweight champion on Earth who is invited by an outerspace boxing federation to fight the toughest challengers in the universe. Gameplay consists of the player battling each computer-controlled opponent in up to three one-minute rounds and a scoring system based on the player's performance. Training sessions between opponents allow the player to improve stats prior to an upcoming bout.

<i>The Rescue of Princess Blobette</i> 1990 video game

The Rescue of Princess Blobette is a video game for the Game Boy and the sequel to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia. It was published in North America by Imagineering's parent company Absolute Entertainment and in Japan by Jaleco. It was published by Nintendo in Europe.

<i>Bionic Commando</i> (1988 video game) 1988 video game

Bionic Commando, originally released as Hitler's Resurrection: Top Secret in Japan, is a platform game released by Capcom for the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988. It is based on the 1987 arcade game Bionic Commando.

<i>Blaster Master</i> (video game) Video game for Nintendo Entertainment System

Blaster Master is a platform and run and gun video game released by Sunsoft for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is a localized version of a Japanese Famicom game titled Chō Wakusei Senki Metafight, which was released on June 17, 1988. The game was released in North America in November 1988 and in Europe on April 25, 1991. The game is the first in the Blaster Master series, and it spawned two spin-off games as well as two sequels.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Super R.C. Pro-Am". Nintendo Power . No. 25. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. June 1991. pp. 62–65. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  2. "Super R.C. Pro-Am". Nintendo Power. No. 25. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. June 1991. p. 67. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  3. 1 2 Upchurch, David (January 1992). "Super R.C. Pro-Am". ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) (52): 88. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  4. "Game Boy Coming Soon". Nintendo Power. No. 21. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. February 1991. p. 57. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  5. "Game Boy Coming Soon". Nintendo Power. No. 22. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. March 1991. p. 59. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  6. "The Games of June 1991". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 23. Lombard, IL: Sendai Publications. June 1991. p. 27. ISSN   1058-918X. OCLC   23857173.
  7. 1 2 "Super R.C. Pro-Am Release Information for Game Boy". GameFAQs. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  8. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 32. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. January 1992. pp. 104–105. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  9. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 33. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. February 1992. p. 107. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  10. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 34. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. March 1992. p. 107. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  11. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 35. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. April 1992. p. 105. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  12. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 36. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. May 1992. p. 107. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  13. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 37. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. June 1992. p. 107. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  14. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 38. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. July 1992. p. 107. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  15. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 39. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. August 1992. p. 107. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  16. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 40. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. September 1992. p. 105. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  17. "Nintendo Power Top 20". Nintendo Power. No. 41. Redmond, WA: Nintendo. October 1992. p. 107. ISSN   1041-9551. OCLC   18893582.
  18. Dirtbag (February 1992). "Game Boy Reviews – Super R.C. Pro-Am". GamePro . No. 31. Belmont, CA: SuperPlay, Inc. p. 102. ISSN   1042-8658. OCLC   19231826.
  19. "Super R.C. Pro-Am". Power Play (in German). December 1991. Das kennt man von vielen Rennspielen: Der richtige Spaß kommt erst auf, wenn man mit mehreren Leuten spielt. Ab zwei Personen aufwärts ist Super R.C. Pro-Am gigantisch gut. Die drei Computergegner im Einspielermodus sind zwar flink, sehr begeisternd ist dieser Modus allerdings nicht. Trotz spannender Platzierungsduelle schleicht sich nach einigen Runden Langeweile ein. Was mich stört, ist das rasante Scrolling, denn die wichtigen Extras huschen nur als undeutliche Schatten vorbei. So weiß man manchmal nicht, was für ein Extra man eigentlich aufgesammelt oder verpaßt hat. An das Original auf dem NES kommt dieses Rennspektakel nicht heran.