Unirally | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | DMA Design |
Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
Designer(s) | Mike Dailly Robbie Graham |
Programmer(s) | Andrew Innes |
Artist(s) | Martin Good |
Writer(s) | Steve Hammond |
Composer(s) | Colin Anderson |
Platform(s) | Super Nintendo Entertainment System |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Racing |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Unirally (released as Uniracers in North America) is a racing game developed by DMA Design and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in December 1994 and in the PAL territories on 27 April 1995.
The gameplay of Unirally involves racing riderless unicycles around a 2D track. [2] Heavy emphasis is placed on performing stunts, which cause the unicycle to accelerate on race or circuit tracks and earn points on stunt tracks. The stunts that can be performed are relatively simple, primarily involving jumping into the air and rotating around a given axis in 3D space. The objective is to perform these stunts quickly in tight situations while landing the unicycle on its wheels to avoid wiping out, which results in the loss of accumulated speed.
The game features nine tours of five tracks each (two race, two circuit, one stunt), totalling 45 tracks. Completing each of the first eight tours requires defeating computer-controlled opponents for each of the bronze, silver, and gold ranks. The final circuit features the Anti-Uni as the computer-controlled opponent. During this tour, colliding with the Anti-Uni causes several unusual effects, such as rendering the track invisible, reversing controls, and desynchronising the backgrounds from the actions.
The track is composed of bars with patterns that correspond to the properties of the track at or near that point. For example, a solid yellow bar indicates a shortcut, while orange/yellow bars signify an upcoming hazard. There are also various obstacles, including speed boosts, corkscrews, loops, twists, and jumps. Split-screen two-player modes are available as well, including a league mode that allows up to eight players to compete in one-on-one races. There are 16 different coloured unicycles to choose from, each with its own save file and customisable name.
Unirally was known by the working title "1x1" during its development. The developers practised riding real unicycles throughout their offices to enhance their understanding of the mechanics. [3]
Shortly after the game's release, DMA Design was sued by Pixar for allegedly copying the unicycle design and concept from their 1987 short film Red's Dream . Mike Dailly, one of the developers at DMA Design, commented, "The problem with Pixar was that they seemed to think that any computer generated unicycle was owned by them". DMA Design lost the lawsuit, and as a result, Nintendo had to terminate production of additional Unirally cartridges. According to Dailly, "The deal was that Nintendo wouldn't make any more carts, so Unirally only sold the 300k initial run". Fellow DMA Design developer Robbie Graham recalled, "They took footage from Red's Dream and compared it to Unirally and the unicycles were virtually the same; this isn't a big surprise as there's not a lot of ways you can bring life to a unicycle without looking like the one Pixar did. The judge—being the moron that he was—agreed". [3]
The limited sales were one of the factors that led to DMA Design being sold to British video game company Gremlin Interactive, and then quickly again to American publisher Take-Two Interactive, to become a subsidiary of Rockstar Games. [4]
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
GameRankings | 79% [5] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
AllGame | 4/5 [6] |
Computer and Video Games | 87/100 [7] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 5.5/10 [8] |
GamePro | 14.5/20 [9] |
GamesMaster | 89% [10] |
Jeuxvideo.com | 13/20 [11] |
Next Generation | 3/5 [12] |
Nintendo Power | 3.425/5 [13] |
Consoles + | 85% [14] |
Entertainment Weekly | B− [15] |
MAN!AC | 77% [16] |
Mega Fun | 81% [17] |
Play Time | 82/100 [18] |
Player One | 92% [19] |
Superjuegos | 94/100 [20] |
Total! | 2+ (B+) [21] |
Ultra Player | 5/6 [22] |
Video Games | 74% [23] |
VideoGames | 8/10 [24] |
GamePro gave a mixed review. They praised its fast pace and "hard-drivin' unicycle music" but criticised the sound effects and graphics, noting that the backgrounds are clean but boring and the unicycles "all look identical". They concluded that players should "try this addictive game". [9] A reviewer for Next Generation similarly stated that Unirally is innovative and oddly compelling despite its superficial dullness, but noted that the excitement and novelty of the game diminish quickly. [12] Ed Semrad of Electronic Gaming Monthly remarked, "While it lacks the charm of most ... Nintendo titles, there is bound to be a cult following". However, the other three members of the magazine's review crew gave Unirally a negative assessment, stating that while the graphics and controls are good, the game simply lacks excitement. [8] Entertainment Weekly rated the game a B−. [15]
Nintendo Power ranked it as the 8th best SNES game of 1994. [25] In 2011, IGN named it the 98th best game for the system. [26] In 2018, Complex rated the game the 52nd best Super Nintendo game, stating: "Loops, flips, tricks, Uniracers had it all. It was a bona fide SNES game, with the colors, fun, and music that made the system great. We love this game." [27] In 1995, Total! placed the game 23rd on its Top 100 SNES Games, writing: "It's bizarre, but it works and unusually it's superb in both one player and two player modes". [28] In 1996, Super Play awarded Unirally 97th place in their Top 100 SNES Games of All Time. They praised the game’s original gameplay and graphics, writing: "The enjoyment of hammering around loops and twirls is heightened by the split-screen two-player mode, which makes all the difference". [29]
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.
Donkey Kong Country is a 1994 platform game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It is a reboot of Nintendo's Donkey Kong franchise and follows the gorilla Donkey Kong and his nephew Diddy Kong as they set out to recover their stolen banana hoard from the crocodile King K. Rool and his army, the Kremlings. The single-player traverses 40 side-scrolling levels as they jump between platforms and avoid obstacles. They collect items, ride minecarts and animals, defeat enemies and bosses, and find secret bonus stages. In multiplayer modes, two players work cooperatively or race each other.
F-Zero is a 1990 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.
ActRaiser 2 is a side-scrolling platform game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Quintet and published by Enix in 1993.
Battletoads/Double Dragon is a 1993 beat 'em up developed by Rare and published by Tradewest. It was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System and later ported to the Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy. The SNES version was released on Nintendo Switch Online in September 2024; it was the game's first re-release as it was not released on the Rare Replay collection.
Stunt Race FX, known in Japan as Wild Trax, is a racing video game developed by Nintendo and Argonaut Software and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the second game to use the 3D-centric Super FX powered GSU-1.
Super Punch-Out!! is a boxing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released on October 24, 1994 in North America and again in the same region in 1996. It was released in the United Kingdom on February 10, 1995 for the same console and in Japan in 1998 for the Super Famicom through the Nintendo Power flash RAM cartridge series. The game is also included in the GameCube version of Fight Night Round 2 as an extra game due to the inclusion of Little Mac in the game. The game was released for the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on March 20, 2009, in North America on March 30, 2009, and in Japan on July 7, 2009. The game was also released on the New Nintendo 3DS eShop on May 5, 2016. Nintendo re-released Super Punch-Out!! in the United States in September 2017 as part of the company's Super NES Classic Edition. It is the fourth game in the Punch-Out!! series, taking place after the Punch-Out!! game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
Axelay is a 1992 scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Konami for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Set in the fictional solar system Illis where an alien empire known as "Armada of Annihilation" invades its planets including the Earth-like Corliss (Mother), players take control of the titular D117B space fighter craft as a last resort to stop the alien invasion by recovering its lost weaponry. The gameplay mainly consist of both vertical-scrolling and horizonal-scrolling stages in the same vein as Konami's own Life Force, with players choosing three different weapon-types that increase in number as they progress through the game.
Super Tennis is a 1991 tennis video game for the Super NES. It was an early release for the Super Nintendo and uses mode 7.
Total Carnage is a multidirectional shooter arcade video game originally developed and published by Midway in North America in January 1992. Set in the fictional country of Kookistan during 1999, players assume the role of Captain Carnage and Major Mayhem from the Doomsday Squad in a last-ditch effort to overthrow dictator General Akhboob and his army of mutants from conquering the world, while also rescuing POWs held by his military force.
Super Bomberman 2 is a video game developed by Produce! and Hudson Soft and released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in Japan on April 28, 1994, in North America later the same year, and in Europe on February 23, 1995.
HyperZone is a rail shooter video game developed and published by HAL Laboratory for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It used the SNES' Mode 7 capability.
Vortex is a 3D shooter game developed by Argonaut Software and released by Electro Brain for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in September 1994. Titled Citadel during development, it is one of a few games designed to use the enhanced graphics of the Super FX powered GSU-1.
Super Bomberman is an action, maze game, part of the Bomberman series, released for the Super NES in 1993. It is the first in the series to be released in Europe keeping the Bomberman title instead of being called Dynablaster or Eric and the Floaters.
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is a Super NES video game released in 1994. It is the second game released based on the film of the same name, the other title being an adventure game for DOS, published by Capstone Software.
Goof Troop is an action-adventure video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed and released by Capcom in North America in July 1993, in Europe on November 25, 1993, and in Japan on July 22, 1994, and based on the animated television series of the same name. The game can be played in both single-player and multiplayer mode, wherein one player controls Goofy and the other Max.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a fighting video game developed and originally published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in Europe for the Sega Genesis in June 1994. It is based on the 1993 film of the same name, which is a semi-fictionalized account of the life of Hong Kong-American actor and martial artist Bruce Lee. Following the events of the movie, players take control of Bruce Lee across several stages that takes places in different time periods of his life and fight against some of his adversaries.
The Shadow is a video game based on the 1994 Universal film of the same name. It was planned for release in 1994 on the Super NES, alongside other systems, but was canceled.
Dirt Racer is a Europe-exclusive video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed by British studio MotiveTime and released in 1995. This game uses the Super FX powered GSU-1 to provide enhanced graphics.
Super Mario All-Stars is a 1993 compilation of platform games for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It contains remakes of Nintendo's four Super Mario games released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Famicom Disk System: Super Mario Bros. (1985), Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986), Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988), and Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988). As in the original games, players control the Italian plumber Mario and his brother Luigi through themed worlds, collecting power-ups, avoiding obstacles, and finding secrets. The remakes feature updated graphics—including the addition of parallax scrolling—and music, modified game physics, a save feature, and bug fixes.