Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures

Last updated
Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures
Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Radical Entertainment
Publisher(s) Accolade
Producer(s)
  • Todd Thorson
  • Ian Verchere
Programmer(s)
  • Mark Slemko
  • Lennox Ong
Artist(s)
  • Thom Bellaire
  • Yayoi Maruno
  • Rob Oliveira
  • Ryan Slemko
  • Ian Verchere
Composer(s)
  • Marc Baril
  • Paul Wilkinson
SeriesSpeed Racer
Platform(s) Super NES
Release
  • NA: November 1994
Genre(s) Arcade racing, side-scrolling adventure
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures is a 1994 racing video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Accolade for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES).

Contents

Gameplay

This video game combines elements of racing and platform gaming. Speed has to take his trusty car, the Mach Five , to travel the world and win every grand prix there is. Infamous villains from the animated series are out there to capture Trixie, Speed's girlfriend, and he must stop them all. One of the first races takes place in New York City, with every race having at least eight drivers (including Speed).

Development and release

By the early 1990s, the Speed Racer anime had achieved a cult following in the United States due to twice-daily airings on MTV. This inspired Accolade to develop the DOS title Speed Racer in The Challenge of Racer X , and to further produce Speed Racer titles for the Super NES and Sega Genesis. When Accolade approached Radical Entertainment, the developer of Accolade's previous Pelé! and Brett Hull Hockey titles, they found that Radical had tried to license the game itself a year earlier; according to Radical producer Ian Verchere, "It was one of the first letters I wrote when we first started developing games". The Super NES and Genesis games were made in different genres to accommodate the difference in the consoles' capabilities. While the Genesis version would be a pure racing game, the Super NES game is more story-driven and features both driving and adventure levels as a closer reflection of the anime. Two distinct engines were designed for each level style, with the driving levels using Mode 7 technology for the creation of hills. Accolade producer Todd Thorson also cited the difference in audience between the consoles as a reason for creating different Speed Racer titles, stating that the Genesis's older audience would desire more racing action, while the Super NES's younger audience would be more accustomed to side-scrolling gameplay. Radical experienced little difficulty in capturing the anime's campy quality, and pointed out that having pre-existing settings and characters to work from made production easier. [1]

Mark Slemko and Lennox Ong served as the game's programmers, while the graphics were created by Thom Bellaire, Yayoi Maruno, Rob Oliveira, Ryan Slemko, and Ian Verchere. [2] The game was Marc Baril's debut work as a video game composer, having been a regular jamming partner of Radical's in-house audio programmer Paul Wilkinson. Baril was subsequently offered a full-time position at Radical, becoming the first dedicated audio creator to be hired by the company. [3]

Reception

GamePro commented that the action, graphics, and controls on the racing segments are "second to none for challenging fun", while those of the action/adventure segments are consistently poor. They concluded the game is overall recommended for fans of the TV series. [4]

Entertainment Weekly gave the game a C− and wrote that "Okay, so it's overexposed from MTV's recent heavy rotation. Still, Speed Racer In: My Most Dangerous Adventures is a blast for the nostalgia it's capable of provoking in baby boomers — a feeling those boomers won't get if they pick up this ho-hum adaptation of the hit cartoon. Accolade nails the campy, hardware-heavy Racer mystique just once, and that's in the manual, with detailed specs for the Mach 5's space age equipment. But the game's racing sequences are a big snooze — if it's G force you're after, there are three-year-old cartridges for the Super NES that go much, much faster." [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Earthworm Jim</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Earthworm Jim is a 1994 run and gun platform game developed by Shiny Entertainment, featuring an earthworm named Jim, who wears a robotic suit and battles the forces of evil. The game was released for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, before being subsequently ported to a number of other video game consoles.

<i>Speed Racer</i> Japanese media franchise

Speed Racer, also known as Mach GoGoGo, is a Japanese manga about automobile racing. It was originally serialized in print in Shueisha's 1966 Shōnen Book. It was released in tankōbon book form by Sun Wide Comics and later re-released in Japan by Fusosha. Adapted into anime by Tatsunoko Productions, its 52 episodes aired on Fuji TV from April 1967 to March 1968. In the US, the show aired in syndication at approximately the same time. The anime was later re-broadcast on Tokyo MX from July 1 to September 25, 2008.

In the history of video games, the fourth generation of video game consoles, more commonly referred to as the 16-bit era, began on October 30, 1987, with the Japanese release of NEC Home Electronics' PC Engine. Though NEC released the first console of this era, sales were mostly dominated by the rivalry between Sega and Nintendo across most markets: the Sega Mega Drive and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Cartridge-based handheld consoles became prominent during this time, such as the Nintendo Game Boy (1989), Atari Lynx (1989), Sega Game Gear (1990) and TurboExpress (1990).

<i>Rock n Roll Racing</i> 1993 video game

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. The game was ported to the Game Boy Advance in 2003. In celebration of the company's 30th anniversary, Rock n' Roll Racing was re-released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as part of the Blizzard Arcade Collection in February 2021.

<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>Aero the Acro-Bat 2</i> 1994 video game

Aero the Acro-Bat 2 is a platform game developed by Iguana Entertainment, and published by Sunsoft as the sequel of Aero the Acro-Bat. It was released for the Sega Genesis in April 1994 then for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in November. The game is dedicated to Brazilian racer Ayrton Senna, who died in a crash during a Grand Prix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super FX</span> 3D graphics chip used in Super Nintendo games

The Super FX is a coprocessor on the Graphics Support Unit (GSU) added to select Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) video game cartridges, primarily to facilitate advanced 2D and 3D graphics. The Super FX chip was designed by Argonaut Games, who also co-developed the 3D space rail shooter video game Star Fox with Nintendo to demonstrate the additional polygon rendering capabilities that the chip had introduced to the SNES.

<i>Top Gear</i> (video game) 1992 video game

Top Gear is a racing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, published by Kemco and developed by Gremlin Graphics in 1992. The objective of the game is to become the fastest driver in the world by racing other drivers across several nations.

<i>Super Off Road</i> 1989 racing video game

Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road is an arcade video game released in 1989 by Leland Corporation. The game was designed and managed by John Morgan who was also lead programmer, and endorsed by professional off-road racer Ivan Stewart. Virgin Games produced several home versions in 1990. In 1991, a home console version for the Nintendo Entertainment System was later released by Leland's Tradewest subsidiary, followed by versions for most major home formats including the Master System, Genesis, Super NES, Amiga, and MS-DOS. A port for the Atari Jaguar was announced but never released. Some of the ports removed Ivan Stewart's name from the title due to licensing issues and are known simply as Super Off Road.

<i>Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure</i> 1994 video game

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a side-scrolling action-platform video game developed by Activision in conjunction with Kroyer Films and originally published in North America and Europe in 1994. The fourth installment in the Pitfall! franchise, players assume the role of Pitfall Harry Junior as he embarks on a journey through the Mayan jungles of Central America in an attempt to rescue Pitfall Harry, his father and the protagonist of previous entries in the series, from the evil Mayan warrior spirit named Zakelua. Its gameplay mainly consists of action and platforming mixed with stage-based exploration using a main six-button configuration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sega Genesis</span> Home video game console

The Genesis, also known as the Mega Drive outside North America, is a 16-bit fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master System. Sega released it in 1988 in Japan as the Mega Drive, and in 1989 in North America as the Genesis. In 1990, it was distributed as the Mega Drive by Virgin Mastertronic in Europe, Ozisoft in Australasia, and Tectoy in Brazil. In South Korea, it was distributed by Samsung Electronics as the Super Gam*Boy and later the Super Aladdin Boy.

<i>True Lies</i> (video game) 1994 video game

True Lies is a top-view run and gun video game based on the 1994 film True Lies. The game was developed by Beam Software and published by Acclaim Entertainment. Four different versions of the game were released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, and Game Boy. The home versions and portable versions are drastically different from each other, but have similar play mechanics.

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

Top Gear 2 is a racer 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 on May 24, 1994 by Gremlin Interactive, and to the Sega Genesis on June 2 by Vic Tokai. While more realistic than its predecessor, Top Gear 2 maintained the arcade-style gameplay the series is known for.

Mach GoGoGo, sometimes referred to as New Mach GoGoGo, is a 1997 remake of the 1967 series of the same name by Tatsunoko Productions, the original producers. The show aired in Japan in 1997 on TV Tokyo and lasted only 34 episodes of a planned 52.

Speed Racer is a 1960s animated series.

<i>Speed Racer</i> (1996 video game) 1996 video game

Speed Racer, known in Japan as Mach Go Go Go, is a PlayStation game based on the television show of the same name. It was released by the company Jaleco in 1996, though it did not appear in North America until March 27, 1998. It met with overwhelmingly negative reviews which cited simplistic and outdated gameplay and graphics.

<i>Speed Racer in The Challenge of Racer X</i> 1992 video game

Speed Racer in The Challenge of Racer X was a game designed by Accolade. The objective of the game is to challenge Racer X on various race circuits until there is one winner. A Sega Genesis version was planned but never released. Plans for a SNES version later evolved into a companion game, Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures.

The 1990s was the third decade in the industry's history. It was a decade of marked innovation in video gaming. It was a decade of transition from sprite-based graphics to full-fledged 3D graphics and it gave rise to several genres of video games including, but not limited to, the first-person shooter, real-time strategy, survival horror, and MMO. Arcade games, although still relatively popular in the early 1990s, began to decline as home consoles became more common. The fourth and fifth generation of video game consoles went on sale, including the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color. Notable games released in the 1990s included Super Mario World, Sonic the Hedgehog, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D, Final Fantasy VII, Unreal Tournament, Star Fox, Half-Life, Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario 64, Pokémon Red and Blue, NBA Jam,Daytona USA, GoldenEye 007, System Shock 2, Civilization,Ridge Racer, Sonic Adventure, Gran Turismo, Super Mario Kart, Pokémon Gold and Silver,Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Super Metroid, Silent Hill, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro The Dragon, Fallout, Metal Gear Solid, Diablo, Virtua Fighter, Tomb Raider,Sega Rally Championship, Wing Commander,Super Smash Bros, Secret of Mana,Thief: The Dark Project, Age of Empires, Nights into Dreams, Panzer Dragoon, Gunstar Heroes, EverQuest, Chrono Trigger, Battletoads, Worms, Micro Machines, Streets of Rage 2,Baldur's Gate,Donkey Kong Country, Wipeout, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past,Lemmings, EarthBound, StarCraft, Banjo-Kazooie, PaRappa the Rapper, Resident Evil, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Soulcalibur, Command & Conquer, and Dance Dance Revolution.

<i>Bubsy 2</i> 1994 video game

Bubsy 2 is a platform video game, the sequel to Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind, and the second game in the Bubsy series. It was originally released by Accolade in 1994 for the Sega Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy, and re-released for Windows through Steam on December 17, 2015.

<i>Road Rash</i> (1991 video game) 1991 racing video game

Road Rash is a 1991 racing and vehicular combat video game originally developed and published by Electronic Arts (EA) for the Sega Genesis. It was subsequently ported to a variety of contemporary systems by differing companies. The game is centered around a series of motorcycle races throughout California that the player must win to advance to higher-difficulty races, while engaging in unarmed and armed combat to hinder the other racers.

References

Citations

  1. Mizell, Leslie (February 1994). "Preview: Speed Racer". Game Players . No. 37. pp. 32–34.
  2. Mongelluzzo 1994, p. 35.
  3. "Interview with Marc Baril". Crash Mania. November 7, 2009. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  4. "ProReview: Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures". GamePro . No. 62. IDG. September 1994. p. 98.
  5. "Speed Racer In: My Most Dangerous Adventures". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 5 September 2018.

Bibliography