Rock 'N Roll Racing

"Paranoid+Peter Gunn=Fun"

Rock N’ Roll Racing has been resurrected from the ashes of the SNES and Genesis originals which appeared about a decade ago. Thankfully, little has changed in this go-around, so those familiar with the game will have no problem diving right on in. For those new to the mix, imagine R.C. Pro-AM with souped-up vehicles and a hard-rock soundtrack, and you have a pretty good idea as to what RNRR is.

Much like that classic, this game is simple to play, with a lot of on-screen action to keep things interesting. You and your racing rivals will do battle with a small array of weapons on a number of planets and courses. The courses tend to be arranged with a pleasant mix of straightaways and sharp turns, which means that just one right, or wrong, move can change the completion of a race in an instant.

While this may seem daunting, it adds quite a bit of excitement to the game, and enables you to really increase your skill rapidly, which helps you out quite a bit in the long-run. Plus, as you gain upgrades to your car, you’ll start to see some of the benefits of it, as you not only have the cash to get the upgrades, but the skills needed to make proper use of them. The ¾ overhead perspective for the game lends itself well towards giving you ample opportunity to plan your attack, as you can see what’s coming and who is behind you, which allows you to inject some strategy into the game that wouldn’t be there if they game used another racing viewpoint.

Sadly, the GBA’s screen really makes seeing some of this action a bit too difficult, as there can easily be far too much going on in far too small a place for the GBA’s screen to catch, this is common in cornering situations where the cars end up in a pile. This can really mess up how you play the game, so if you can, play it on a GB player, which will allow you to play the game without having to worry about the screen being too small for the action. It also has some other benefits, which I will outline as the review continues.

The control for RNRR is pretty smooth throughout the game, which is a necessity since the fast-pace of the game demands it. If they weren’t responsive, the racing would be sluggish, and the game itself would be a chore to play, let alone enjoy. The game controls nicely on both the GBA and when using the GC pad, which is a plus. I actually prefer using the GC pad to control the game than any other method (which is including using the Genesis and SNES pads.)

Graphically, the game is rock-solid. The vehicles and environments all feature rich color usage, with heavy emphasis on greys and blacks. The gridlines used for the track are quite unique, and allow you to line up your turns and such with ease. However, they can be disorienting on the GBA’s screen, so again, try to use a GB player if possible, to avoid that problem. The multiple vehicle colors and types all look great, with the former featuring distinct differences in shading and the latter showcasing varying sizes for each. The racing environments have many little touches on them that add to the tension of the game, such as spikes on the outside of the course, really getting across what a fierce competition it is, the molten lava underneath some courses also does the trick quite nicely, instilling some fear into the player that acts as a motivator.

The audio is perhaps the game’s most unique quality, as it was the first game I can recall that used an excessive amount of licensed tunes for the game’s soundtrack. Of course, due to the audio hardware limitations of both the SNES and Genesis (and now, the GBA), you are treated to MIDI versions of classic songs, but the effect is still there. Hearing “Bad to the Bone”, the Peter Gunn theme (that the Spy Hunter titles made liberal use of) and Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” blaring out of the GBA’s speakers is quite a treat, and gives newer gamers a chance to see what could be done with licensed music in games. Many of us never thought we’d see a day when we could customize our own soundtracks in a game, but here we are… well, anyway, the music is recreated well, with the heart and soul of the songs getting through, without the lyrics to compliment them. Sadly, the GBA’s speakers don’t really do justice to the music, and again, playing the game on a GB player helps immensely with getting across everything that the game has to offer. Despite the speakers diluting the music, it still beats out most music in other games by leaps and bounds, as it not only fit’s the genre, but the on-screen action as well, and really adds some excitement to the game as well. The sound effects are a bit on the measly side, as there aren’t too many of them. Thankfully, the announcing makes up for it. The sheer amount of commentating that goes on in the game is stunning, as it usually goes on throughout the entire race, with very few repeating lines. It’s quite an impressive effect for any game, let alone one on a portable system. It also doesn’t suffer much due to the GBA’s speakers, which is nice.

The game’s replay value is pretty extensive, as the quick nature of the racing lends itself well towards either quick or long play sessions. Plus, the versus mode enables you to go head-to-head with someone, which is always a blast in this game as the tracks are a joy to race on. Simply put, if you want a title that you can play for a little bit of time, or put a lot of time into, and still get immense satisfaction from playing it, give this game a shot.

In the end, this is a fantastic rendition of a 16-bit classic. It’s kind of sad that the game suffers so much due to the GBA’s hardware, thankfully, the GB player helps make up for most of the problems. I never thought this game would see a re-release, so it’s good to see that a whole new crop of gamers will get a chance to experience this amazing title. It’s still surreal to hear the Peter Gunn theme in a non-Spy Hunter title, but oddly enough, it fits in quite well here. Much to my amazement, the announcing is still fun to listen to, and the controls are great no matter how you play it. If you like your games fast and fun, you’ll probably love this game. Plus, at about $10 or so now, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/04