Top Gear Rally

"Me taking it out for a spin!"

The Super Nintendo version of Top Gear Rally impressed everyone. The major reason for this was the gameplay, fast, furious and simplistic. Could Top Gear Rally on the Nintendo 64 really top that? OF COURSE!!! I said to myself, the Nintendo 64 gives the team at Boss Game Studios quite a bit more memory, speed and A LOT more variety with the graphics. Although when I slotted Top Gear into my machine and started to play, I wasn't so sure.

Top Gear Rally is the first game that was released on the N64, which gives you an idea that the developers AND the publishers rushed it a bit. This is also shown with the game consisting of mostly off road tracks with the occasional city freeway, or beachside road making up the scenery. What does impress, though is the car's super physics. They are absolutely brilliant, the way the car turns and weaves all around the games tracks. For the first moment (the opening scene) you can tell that a great deal of effort has been spent on the physics involved in each cars handling. Although I feel that this was a failure in some aspects, for if they had not spent so much time perfecting this feature they could of put more time into the graphics of the scenery and road. Although I think I would be saying the same thing, the other way around, if they hadn't included the car's physics. I suppose they can't win (but.... As I say so myself it shouldn't of been rushed.)

The sound suits the game quite well, although wouldn't make it into conversations. The tracks (that's music tracks) are a little repetitive and aren't really clear, but do seem to set a great pace for the game. Another great feature about the car (again) is the engine sounds, they are quite realistic.

The gameplay is a strange part of the game. Initially the gameplay is good. Although having such good physics on the car it makes it quite difficult for you are always having a fine struggle to stay on the road. Although soon you will work the game out and work out which parts of the track are to hazadrous and which ones you will fly through. The cars all start out slow (probably to help the early gamer) and then start to begin to get faster once you earn more and more. The high speed is the most important part of the game. If you have got the hang of the game when you recieve the top speed cars, then you will love it, on the other hand, if you haven't, the high speeds will effect the physics of your car making it impossible for the early gamer to control (I had this trouble, for I had bought the game from a friend and he had already unlocked the cars for me.) You're probably wondering after all that I have said, why the heck did I give it a 9/10. Well, although being very tedious, it was the most enjoyable driving game for it's time.

Overall the game is a very enjoyable racer and should be brought by fans and looked at, even if you hate racing games.

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Scores
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Lastability: 6/10
Graphics: 8/1`0
Sounds: 8/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Overall: 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/25/01, Updated 12/28/02