Top Gear

"An overlooked racing game"

Overview: This game is a timeless classic, and influenced later racing games. It also gives a realistic view of driving, which include a fuel system in which you have to stop for gas! Enough of the overview, let's get on with the review!

Music/Sound: Great music, which has earned a memorable place in my head.(Arrggghhh the first level theme song still haunts me to this day, lol) Even though there are only five different songs, it has the classic SNES feel to them and you will probably find yourself humming to these songs. The sound, however, is okay overall, such as the brake and nitro sound, although it gets annoying after a while.

Graphics: It's so-so, considering it is the Super Nintendo. Expect the graphics to be like other SNES games, not too bad, not too flashy.

Gameplay: Top Gear has a fun, original, and innovative racing system. From the nitros to even the pits, this game has all the makings of a classic racer. You can set the difficulty to three settings, perfect to fit your skill. I really like the gas/fuel system, it gives a real feeling to the game.(As I mentioned in the overview.) The annoying part is that there are 20 different racers in the race, thus having you maneuver around many slow cars. However, when the road is empty, you can nitro your way through a straight road at top speeds reaching up to 300+ MPH (haven't played this game in a while, dunno the exact number) depending on which car you're using.

Replay Value: This game has one type of replay value: changing the skill level to make the game more challenging! However, if you want a real challenge, use the red car in championship difficulty without using nitros. I guarantee you will need a few tries to accomplish this.

Fun Factor: This game is one of my favorite games for the Super NES. It has many tracks which you could race around the world, and has many weather conditions that affect your racing. The challenging terrain are the snow levels, (preferrably in Germany) and cause trouble for your car. Use the 2 player feature to challenge a friend or get some extra help in beating the game. Moreover, it could produce some ''Aw crap'' moments, such as stopping short of the pit stop and bumping into the wall on the last turn of the race. Overall, this is very intersting game and you will be happy to add it to the collection of Super NES games.

Other: This game is very memorable and often very overlooked. I recommend you to go to your local Gamestop (or other used games store) and purchase this game for about six dollars. What else I've got to say, good luck in your races!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/28/04