Start your Engines! Your fave SNES/Genesis/NES/SMS racers!

Yeah, it looks like like my new kick for another genre might be starting sooner then later. Which kinda sucks as I'm not yet done with my beat 'em up genre binge yet. >_< But alas, something kicked this racer lust event in motion. Which is not all bad, because I avoided this genre pre-32-Bit era due to these systems not seeming to capable enough of doing racers justice from what little I tried back in the day? Seemed like only Mode-7 F-Zero/Mario Kart/Street Racer games ever seemed to do it any justice back then to me? And nowadays seeing the other Mode 7 racers on SNES, all I have to say is "The horror!" :O

So yeah, wasn't until polygons that racers seemed to be finally represented properly enough (and me becoming a fan of the genre). And... looking at the Genesis Racers so far, it still seems to be true, as 5 polygon racers for it (Kawasaki, F1, Nigel Mansell's, Newman-Haas, & Virtua Racing) do seem very top notch and above the rest so far? Even one of the clunkier polygon Racers for Genesis, Test Drive II, seems to have a ton of charm too?! :o ... But it don't seem to save Tengens Hard Driven & Race Driven series, lol. But I'm still hoping to put in some quality time in with Race Driven to make more certain?

But truthfully I'm also having trouble adjusting to some of the more primitive fake super scaler style racers as the very popular Sega's Super Monaco GP, Super Hang On, Outrun, etc. Main reason I avoided pre-32-Bit era racers, actually (that started with the NES Knight Rider, lol. Thanks, Dad :P). However some games using this style, like both EA Road Rash & Lotus series, seem more then fine enough?


Well, go nuts listing and talking about your fave racers, as I could sure use the extra motivation. :)

I quite like Super Hang-On and Outrun oh and Micro Machines, Road Rash is good fun but very choppy and repetitive.

Polygons and analog control we're really kind to racing games, I can't find many good ones before the 32-bit era.

Biker Mice From Mars for the SNES is pretty darn fun.

Road Rash 3 !

I haven't had more fun with a racer than 4+ human multiplayer Motoroader MC. It's like the highest evolution of Mario Kart and as addictive and thrilling as Bomberman battle mode. They really found the perfect balance with the control, weapons, courses and such great variety. Nothing beats sideswiping a rival into a train during the final lap of a close race. :D

Why would i talk about Snes and Nes on Genesis does! forum?

Anyway, IMO the best racing game on the MD is Virtua Racing.

My other favorites are:

Outrun ( a classic;i love the music in this port )
Super Hang-On! ( the original mode is balls hard but there's nothing more rewarding than maxing out your bike and using it on the Arcade mode).
Road Rash 2 & 3 ( choppy, but extremely fun )

I'm still not sure whether i like Rock N Roll Racing or not:confused:

I liked Super Monaco GP when i was a kid but the game hasn't aged very well IMO.
Also, i want to give Chase H.Q II a shot;it seems like a fun game.

I'll just be a bore and repeat what most have already said: the Road Rash games and Super Hang-On.

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Originally Posted by Black_Tiger

I haven't had more fun with a racer than 4+ human multiplayer Motoroader MC. It's like the highest evolution of Mario Kart and as addictive and thrilling as Bomberman battle mode. They really found the perfect balance with the control, weapons, courses and such great variety. Nothing beats sideswiping a rival into a train during the final lap of a close race. :D

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Oh yeah, that game is awesome, I freaking laughed at the stage with the cow going "moooooo" from time to time.

Super Hang-On and Outrun are the obvious genesis games besides Road Rash.

im boring i generally dont really care for racers on the 8 bit and 16 bit systems
if i have to choose it will probably be turbo outrun mostly because i played that one the most

never liked road rash much

dont care for mario kart on the snes or f zero on the snes

and i never had a master system

the 32 bit era is where the genre starts to shine for me
and i prefer off road racers anyway not many of those around on the 8 and 16 bit systems

I liked racing games from the each generation. There was plenty of fun racers on the Genesis/SNES/NeoGeo (Still 4th Gen!).

Genesis/Megadrive
Outrun
Super Hang-On
Super Off Road
Road Rash II
Road Rash III
Skitchin'
Micro Machines
Rock and Roll Racing
Super Monaco GP
Super Monaco GP II
Virtua-Racing
Outrun 2019
Race Drivin'
Top Gear 2
Championship Pro Am
Combat Cars (this was okay)

32X
Virtua Racing (This game is f*cking fantastic)

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Originally Posted by Kamahl

Oh yeah, that game is awesome, I freaking laughed at the stage with the cow going "moooooo" from time to time.

Super Hang-On and Outrun are the obvious genesis games besides Road Rash.

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I lost my first race on that track, because the first thing I did was drive into the detour to see what happens when you hit the cows. It was disappointing that they only slow you down.

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Originally Posted by KitsuneNight

im boring i generally dont really care for racers on the 8 bit and 16 bit systems

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Yes

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Originally Posted by KitsuneNight

the 32 bit era is where the genre starts to shine for me

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and yes again

If Roadblasters and Spyhunter and RC Pro AM count give me those and also Stun Runner.

Not to perennially pimp the Genesis beat-'em-all thread, but anyone who's a fan of these Genesis racing games, we'd love for you to hop on board and help beat 'em:

Championship Pro-Am
Combat Cars
Double Clutch (PAL)
ESPN Speed World
F1 World Championship Edition (PAL)
Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge
Formula 1
Kawasaki SuperBike Challenge
Lotus Turbo Challenge
Mario Andretti Racing
Micro Machines games (PAL)
Newman Haas Indy Car - Featuring Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell’s World Championship Racing
Power Drive (PAL)
Quad Challenge
Super Hang-On
Super Monaco GP I & II
Super Skidmarks (PAL)

I think that's all of them. The Sega CD thread also has a few that need beating:

B.C. Racers
Formula 1 World Championship
Jaguar XJ220
Mega Race
Road Rash

SNES - Top Gear 2, even though F-Zero is a launch title with some gimmicks, it is still a lot of fun. While I find the Mario Kart games to be fun at parties on more recent consoles, I'm not crazy about the SNES version.

Genesis - Road Rash II, Super Monaco GP, Micro Machines. And while I love Virtua Racing on the 32x, I don't care for the Genesis verison. The Outrun games are fun, although I have a tough time with Outrunners due to the split screen. Looking over my collection, I have a ton of racing games for the Genesis, and honestly, most of them just aren't much fun for me, and in cases where there are versions for the SNES as well, the SNES version is usually better(especially Top Gear 2).

NES - RC Pro-Am, Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off-Road, Micro Machines, Eliminator Boat Duel, Excitebike and Roadblasters are fun. The downhill innertube thrash in Ski or Die is an absolute blast.

I don't believe I've ever played a racing game on the SMS unless you count Outrun which is decent on the system considering the hardware limitations for an arcade port.

Ok, how in the heck is it possible for Sega's Outrun & Super Hang On to have so many freakin fans? Is it because it's Sega and I'm at a Sega forum, and Sega fans are more likely to give Sega games a chance? Or is it that everybody seen these games in the Arcades back in the day, and like most Arcade classics, once you seen it, you can never un-see it, thus a forever fan of it and whatever port it gets? Or... everybody played these games back in the very, very early days of the Genesis when they were new? Because really, I can't see newcommers falling head over heals for these two just like that, without some sweat and blood and kicking yourself to keep at it until it clicks. Hence where I am right now... must... continue.. playing.. what? What's that? Wow! No way?! Is that other Genesis racers sporting polygons?! :O Hey you! Wait up! I'm hitching a ride outa here!

But I'm sure I'll figure it out one day... you guys sure these two are still top Genesis racers, right? I mean, better then Lotus 1 & 2, Road Rash 1-3, Top Gear II, all them Genesis racers using polygons or polygons too, and Test Drive II? Cause so far these seem like the cream of the crop for the Genesis from a casual glance?

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Originally Posted by Bottino

Why would i talk about Snes and Nes on Genesis does! forum?

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But, but, this place is loaded with SNES fanboys :( ...

And lol, now that I finally organized my roms for SNES & NES as well in the categories of Forward Scrolling, Overhead, and Isometric views (my main focus is really only Forward Scrolling at the moment, though), I finally gave the SNES racers another nice once over and... what in the heck is going on here?! Who would of thought that the system that started out with one of the best 16-Bit racers ever (F-Zero) would end up as the system with the worst racers I've ever seen?! What madness is this?! And to make matters much worse, the SNES basically doubles the Genesis in this Driving Games catergory. So yes, what a sad, sad waste now this is. Right now the only good SNES racers I found seem to be... the Top Gear Trilogy, and... wait for it... maybe Test Drive II too. Yes, I've said it, lol. But wait, there should be no shame? This game seems like retro racing gold, I tell you! With system limitations actually adding to the charm even. ;)

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Originally Posted by Thief

Ok, how in the heck is it possible for Sega's Outrun & Super Hang On to have so many freakin fans? Is it because it's Sega and I'm at a Sega forum, and Sega fans are more likely to give Sega games a chance? Or is it that everybody seen these games in the Arcades back in the day, and like most Arcade classics, once you seen it, you can never un-see it, thus a forever fan of it and whatever port it gets? Or... everybody played these games back in the very, very early days of the Genesis when they were new? Because really, I can't see newcommers falling head over heals for these two just like that, without some sweat and blood and kicking yourself to keep at it until it clicks. Hence where I am right now... must... continue.. playing.. what? What's that? Wow! No way?! Is that other Genesis racers sporting polygons?! :O Hey you! Wait up! I'm hitching a ride outa here!

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Because they're very good games with awesome FM music and an Arcade feel that you pretty much don't see for quite some time in modern gaming.
Who wouldn't like to drive to the sound of Splash Wave?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oOPLWbwAn8
Or Hard Road?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nli6JnSg1Fk

With the exception of Virtua Racing, games like F1 and Kawasaki feel bland today, despite being technically impressive. If you want to play a simulator today, there's tons of options for you to choose but there aren't many things like Super Hang-On and Outrun.

That, and the fact that they were made by Yu Suzuki, which doubles their awesomeness .

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But, but, this place is loaded with SNES fanboys ...

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Well, that is true ;)

Road Blasters by Tengen. Smooth 'scaling', shooting, ridiculously fast turbo you practically need ESP to exploit properly, and a screen-clearing nuke.

What isn't to love. OK maybe the music and missing samples, that's about it. Nice hard game.

Top Gear 1 & 2 on SNES are far more addictive than they have any right to be. The great music certainly helps. The Megadrive version isn't nearly as good.

Also, I wish Road Rash 2 & 3 had music as good as the first game.

How can you be confused as to why Outrun and Hang-On have so many fans? Awesome arcade gameplay, good graphics, memorable music... should be pretty easy to figure out whats to like.

EDIT: Street Racer on the Genesis has really smooth scrolling, the game itself is about as dull as dishwater however.

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Originally Posted by Bottino

With the exception of Virtua Racing, games like F1 and Kawasaki feel bland today, despite being technically impressive. If you want to play a simulator today, there's tons of options for you to choose but there aren't many things like Super Hang-On and Outrun.

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I don't know, games like F1 & Kawasaki really seem ahead of their time to me. Hence why it's so much easier to get into them.

And, simulator? They feel pretty arcadey to me. With Kawasaki style gameplay especially reminding me of Sega Touring Car for Sega Saturn, an Arcade port.

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Originally Posted by moonwhistle

Top Gear 1 & 2 on SNES are far more addictive than they have any right to be. The great music certainly helps. The Megadrive version isn't nearly as good.

Also, I wish Road Rash 2 & 3 had music as good as the first game.

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Really, the Genesis version ain't nearly as good as the SNES one? It's that bad? One thing I notice is that the gameplay feels quite a bit different, almost like it's a totally different game? That and it's harder to keep the car on the road from the few tries I've played both.

I think I might of thought that too about the Road Rash games when I last played through them?

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Originally Posted by Gogogadget

How can you be confused as to why Outrun and Hang-On have so many fans? Awesome arcade gameplay, good graphics, memorable music... should be pretty easy to figure out whats to like.

EDIT: Street Racer on the Genesis has really smooth scrolling, the game itself is about as dull as dishwater however.

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Very easy to confuse when you've avoided this genre pretty much completely up until the very start of the 32-Bit era and only now are looking back at these games. So since these games don't jump at me ASAP, and folks have even less patience then me to let games grow on them, plus these games seem pretty freakin outdated too, and presto, welcome to my first impression. :) And the impression I assume others would have in my shoes... yet it don't seem to be like that at all?

Yeah, I recall renting the SNES Street Racer back in the day & really liking the hell out of it, then eventually tried the Genesis version in much more recent days via emulation and not being impressed at all. Might still be a very good game, but it sure ain't starting on a high note with me. That, and it's a totally different game.

nes - none of them saves
SMS - Enduro Racer (Road Rash is impressive, but not so fun)
MD - Road Rash 3 or CD, I like them both
Snes - Top Gear 2 (or Mario Kart, if we are counting kart games)

I'm not a fan of most old-school racers, unless you count overhead ones like Rally-X, and even then its more like a racing version of Pac-Man. Even the original Mario Kart, I was largely partial to. Though Wacky Races, had it been released, would've been an excellent competitor. I don't understand the whole hoopla with the Road Rash games but they certainly have some good ideas and a lot of 90's campiness behind them. Same with Skitchin'.

I do like OutRun though. Again, it was meant to be more of a chillout driving game than a racer. But I at least 'get it'.

From what I remember Top Gear 2 on Genesis has worse graphics, much worse music and either sound effects or music, not both. I don't even think it's a port, just an inferior racing game of the same name.

Super Monaco GP has been one of my favorite Genesis games since the day it was released. I remember it receiving a nearly perfect review in Electronic Games magazine.

The Genesis port of OutRun is very good, and fun to play.

Virtua Racing for Genesis is a great game, despite being overshadowed later by the 32X version. It's really a technical marvel for a 16 bit console, and I think it's the most technically advanced "extra chip" game for any 16 bit console.

Top Gears 1 and 2 just seem to be crappier Lotus clones. What am I missing?

Any Test Drive fans? And which version do folks prefer more? SNES or Genesis? (SNES has an extra track & smoother fps, but the Genesis seems to have more level variety & just overall more charm & personaliy so far to me)

What about Chase HQ? Genesis version or SNES one? (Hate how in the SNES one you can barely see the track ahead. But I like it's in car view...)

What about Rock 'N Roll Racing? Genesis or SNES? (Though I read once Genesis has more tracks? I have yet to really play this one though)

Of the polygon racer that made it to SNES too (Kawasaki, F1, Newman, Nigel, Race Drivin'), they really seem to have takin a hit in a big way this early on in my playing them? Anyone think or know for sure otherwise?

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Originally Posted by 5233

I don't understand the whole hoopla with the Road Rash games but they certainly have some good ideas and a lot of 90's campiness behind them. Same with Skitchin'.

I do like OutRun though. Again, it was meant to be more of a chillout driving game than a racer. But I at least 'get it'.

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One big draw with the Road Rash series is has that RPG addictiveness (ie. "gotta level up!"). Along with that other thing you said. But yeah, that game series really surprised me too. Really didn't expect to have that much fun with them or get that addicted that I couldn't stop until I've played them all back to back.. though I gave up on the last level of Raod Rash 3, lol.

Skitchin I just found out about during my current research into this genre for this era, like maybe 4 days ago I seen it mentioned here somwhere? So far I'm not getting it... but I'm sure I will.

Outrun. Well, at least you get it... oh yeah, you just said that... I'm sure I'll get it too soon enough as well. I just think it's weird for it to be so popular given that it's really not jumping out at me at all. Outrun 3000 seems uber cool thought. And I just briefly tried Turbo Outrun in MAME and left away very impressed. Can't believe they only gave the Genesis version of Turbo Outrun only a 4 meg cart, while the other two ports had 8 meg carts. So yeah quality was gonna take a hit, but I'm gonna give it a real good go nonetheless. Especially after someone here mentioned that they really loved that Genesis Turbo Outrun. Which seems to be hated otherwise, I think?

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Originally Posted by moonwhistle

From what I remember Top Gear 2 on Genesis has worse graphics, much worse music and either sound effects or music, not both. I don't even think it's a port, just an inferior racing game of the same name.

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Yeah, I'm really sad they didn't bump up the resolution from the low SNES style to the Hi Genesis style for the Genesis version. Would of helped a lot in the graphics department.

Yeah, that only either sfx or music but not both at the same time thing is new to me, and a bummer. But on the bright side the tunes are of much better quality for it as is then if it had to share sound channels with sfx too. Now to find a soundtrack for this game that runs at very long lengths so I can play it via media player alongside playing that game with sfx on.

But what about the gameplay. Which has the better gameplay. The SNES or Genesis? And which of the Top Gear Trilogy do you find best & worst?

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Originally Posted by Thief

Any Test Drive fans? And which version do folks prefer more?

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PC, the original version. The only version I've ever played. :P

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Originally Posted by Kamahl

Top Gears 1 and 2 just seem to be crappier Lotus clones. What am I missing?

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Is this Lotus on Amiga? I've only played the console stuff. I don't know what it is about the Top Gear games but I just find them to be simple addictive fun. They have great music, nice twitchy control and a good sense of speed.

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Originally Posted by Thief

But what about the gameplay. Which has the better gameplay. The SNES or Genesis? And which of the Top Gear Trilogy do you find best & worst?

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I couldn't really choose between 1 & 2, they're both excellent in their own way. 1 has the daft permanent split screen which makes it look rather ugly but it has better music and possibly better twitch gameplay. Twisting through all the traffic is great fun. 2 is technically better but a bit more long winded due to upgrading cars etc.

Top Gear 3000 I've only watched on youtube, never played. It looks very fast and smooth but a possibly a little dull too.

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Originally Posted by moonwhistle

Is this Lotus on Amiga? I've only played the console stuff. I don't know what it is about the Top Gear games but I just find them to be simple addictive fun. They have great music, nice twitchy control and a good sense of speed.

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Yeah, they seem to be heavily modified versions of the Amiga Lotus games. Top Gear 1 even has the forced split screen. Hey, Lotus on the Amiga is freaking awesome so it's not surprising slightly worse versions are super fun as well.

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Originally Posted by Thief

Very easy to confuse when you've avoided this genre pretty much completely up until the very start of the 32-Bit era and only now are looking back at these games. So since these games don't jump at me ASAP, and folks have even less patience then me to let games grow on them, plus these games seem pretty freakin outdated too, and presto, welcome to my first impression. :) And the impression I assume others would have in my shoes... yet it don't seem to be like that at all?

Yeah, I recall renting the SNES Street Racer back in the day & really liking the hell out of it, then eventually tried the Genesis version in much more recent days via emulation and not being impressed at all. Might still be a very good game, but it sure ain't starting on a high note with me. That, and it's a totally different game.

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That's fair enough, time is never kind to racing games of previous generations, I really like Outrun and Super Hang-On because they are short bursts, modern racers think 500 cars and a million courses is value for money but I get bored, Hang-On just has a few courses but they are hard to get through so learning courses, control and trying to beat a previous time/score is at least still fun, same goes for Outrun, both games also have amazing music and most modern racers don't have music playing, or if they do it's just generic butt-rock crap they licensed (cough Burnout).

If you like games with personality less characters all with the same attack, and sparsely decorated courses that seem to just look the same constantly and go on for an eternity, Street Racer is great, otherwise it's just a subpar Mario Kart style game.

I love this game as a kid. The engine is kind of choppy, but it's running on the SNES in a Lo-Rom cart. I would have loved to have seen this game on the Genesis.

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Originally Posted by moonwhistle

Is this Lotus on Amiga? I've only played the console stuff. I don't know what it is about the Top Gear games but I just find them to be simple addictive fun. They have great music, nice twitchy control and a good sense of speed.

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Well, the Amiga version of Lotus II & III got ported to other Genesis as 1 & II. So you should know of them as Genesis games too. Plus you should try at least the Genesis versions and see for yourself on how they fare against Top Gear?

Someone said they're crappier version of Lotus? I don't know, they seem different enough at very early first glance. Will put in some more time into the Lotus games today and see what I notice & if that saying rings true from even a little big of gaming with both series?

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Originally Posted by Gogogadget

modern racers think 500 cars and a million courses is value for money but I get bored, Hang-On just has a few courses but they are hard to get through so learning courses, control and trying to beat a previous time/score is at least still fun, same goes for Outrun, both games also have amazing music and most modern racers don't have music playing, or if they do it's just generic butt-rock crap they licensed (cough Burnout).

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Yeah, that crappy trend seems to have started with Grand Tourismo. I game that had zero replay value to me, unlike the Sega Arcade racers before they too seemingly got eliminated due to the GT style taking over big time & that every racer had to have it all + a gazillion cars and tracks? Sad. As that's when my love for racers died to. Right now I'm eagerly waiting to play the last batch of Sega Arcade Racers (my fave kind) via model 3 emulator. It's been awhile sine I checked it's status too...

I also recall reading on how Sega Racers seem to of been made in a OSSM for a Sega Touring Car interview. Basically the track layouts get reworked & tweeked for ultimate fun for quite some time before the final graphics get put in place. Very heavily doubt the same race track making mentality applies to modern racers racers, as I never get the urge to come back to their race tracks. Meanwhile a Sega Racer might have only 3 tracks and I can't stop coming back to them. Yeah, i miss the Sega of old too.

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Originally Posted by old man

I love this game as a kid. The engine is kind of choppy, but it's running on the SNES in a Lo-Rom cart. I would have loved to have seen this game on the Genesis.

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lol, when I first tried that game I had the first same very lame impression I have with Genesis Test Drive II (ie. "lol, what is this? A joke?" lol). Though upon further inspection, the game seemed to showcase to me that there could be something really good about this game & with plenty of charm that can't always be explained but is there in a very big way? Exactly like how my mind greatly changed with Genesis Test Drive II too. Why first impression are total crap to me and you should always continue on with a very open mind at all times instead of ASAP continuing forward with the intention of only looking for more bad things to make fun of, yeesh.

Anywho, thanks for confirming my hunch on this game + greatly increasing my motivation for this game too. Main reason I started this topic. Plus, Lo-Rom means low cart access speed, correct? Been trying to get this confirmed already.

F-Zero Really has my heart, I just love it. For Sega, I guess Virtua Racing, the control is spot on. NES? RC Pro-Am and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. SMS? I only have Outrun so that

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Originally Posted by Kamahl

Top Gears 1 and 2 just seem to be crappier Lotus clones. What am I missing?

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That they're way better than the Genesis Lotus and Top Gear games, that's what. Seriously, the Genesis ones don't even have music and sound effects at the same time? Oh come on!

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Originally Posted by A Black Falcon

That they're way better than the Genesis Lotus and Top Gear games, that's what. Seriously, the Genesis ones don't even have music and sound effects at the same time? Oh come on!

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I was mostly referring to the Amiga lotus games, the genesis got pretty crappy ports of both those and Top Gear yeah.

I don't know, Kamahi, them SNES Top Gear Trilogy really do seem to be the shit to me right now. So far I think they take the cake as best 16-Bit Racers?

Yesturday I played a lot of SNES Top Gear, mostly part 1 since it was my least played and wanted to how that stacked up too? (And it's just as good as the sequals. Wow. And that music!) Alongside the Genesis Lotus & Lotus 2, just so I get a sense of how these two series stack against each other? Well, part 1 of Lotus for Genesis really wants your blood from the very first & only stage available at the start. By the time I finally reached stage 2 I was all out of blood for the day, lol. Went to part 2. OK, this one at least eases you in with 3 difficulty settings sets of levels. Managed to beat it on the first easiest set of tracks (of which I played one of the most awesome racing stages ever, the snow level alongside a killer tune I had selected :)), and on the second difficulty level I didn't make it too far. While I was playing the second difficulty level I thought about what the review here said about it's level editor & how it was pretty basic in the options given to you, which made me think "Well, it sure would then be very feasable & awesome if the dev team added some sort of randomizer button so I can basically play new set of tracks whenever?" Well guess what. It does have it?!!! This is just too freakin cool, and one of the best racing features ever. Why the heck isn't it ever mentioned as one of the best things about this game? Screw freedom in making tracks (especially back in those more limited days, as it's too much to ask. So I'm always down to earth with this sort of stuff to get disapointed by failing to see what realistically possible or not?). I just want to push a button and get a new racing experience ASAP whenever I want.

Well, I too will add that so far I think Genesis Lotus 1 & 2 + Top Gear 2 is probably not gonna end up stealing my heart from SNES Top Gear Trilogy. I will Try the Amiga Lotus Trilogy soon and see is they really are much better? But if it's just the songs + sfc at the same time issue that gets fixed, then I'm not sure if it'll still be able to beat SNES Top Gear Trilogy. And man, I really didn't expect that Trilogy to be so butt kick. I mean, like wow. So far Top Gear & Lotus games for Genesis & SNES are my fave 16-Bit racers, will play them more to see how preferences change? So far one very big fave toward the Top Gear games is difficulty selection for each set of tracks, something the Lotus games lack. This is very important for extended replay.

As for Genesis Top Gear 2? I like that it seems pretty different and not a straight port. It's always much better when it's like this. Especially when it's still very good. And Genesis Top Gear 2 still seems like a really good racer at this point. Gonna maybe focus on comparing these two games today and seeing what's different. Hope much is?

The Amiga Lotus 2 doesn't even have music (only sfx), it's the game's feel that's just perfect. Controls and everything is just spot on.

Yeah, I just finally played the Amiga versions yesturday, and was shocked to find that how the music and sfx are on the Genesis is how it is on the Amiga too (ie. no music for Lotus II/1, and only music or sfx for Lotus III/II). Though the Amiga version of part III (Genesis being named part II) does have to more songs (2 extra), I found out that the songs choosen for the Genesis do seem to be the best + the best part being that I personally found the tunes way better on the Genesis. No contest. I even prefered the graphics for the Genesis games more too, which left me with the question as to what's all the hub bub about the Amiga version being superior when at first glance to me the Genesis versions are Superior?

Kamahi says it's in the gameplay department, and that they "Feel spot on the Amiga versions and flawed on the Genesis?" Really? With no ability to use breaks when playing with a joyad, only downsift (even in automatic, which is all you need really, anyways + "Where were's going, we don't need breaks" is what the Lotus & Top Gear series seem like to me anyways so far, lol). Wonder if there's something else making you think the Amiga versions are superior? ... *sets game to pixel perfect graphics* ahh, here's something you don't like, quite a bit of dithering I never knew this game even had? Well, good thing I don't play in that mode, so I don't see any of that.

And what the wiki page said about Amoga Lotus III is very right too, shockingly. The overall feel of speed seems greatly reduced and actually affecting the fun, to my very surprise (I first thought "How could it be that bad & actually affecting fun too?" lol). Which the Genesis version does fix really well. So... yeah. How can the Genesis version not be the best? Even is the cars handle a little different? Cause this really is a serious issue for the Amiga version, and the Genesis version of Lotus II seems to me so far to be the best Lotus game? As without this game, the overall series really takes a blow it seems?

Also, Lotus 1, the only one not on Genesis, suffere the same fate as Top Gear 1 on SNES. It's in permanet split screen mode even in one player mode, sadly. Plus even further screen reduction via pretty large borders all around too?!

Oh, and the Genesis version of Lotus 2 & 3 do not seem to be perfect ports in other areas, which is a very big bonus, since it seems to affect things like track layout or track order & difficulty. Here's hoping the differences are quite extensive? Lotus fans everywhere need more Lotus games/ racing variety.



Anywho, didn't get much racing in yesturday outside of some Amiga Lotus Trilogy & further rom organizing for more consoles on the racing genre, so hope to fix this today? Starting with; Hey! Guess what? I found out there's a Top Gear 2 for Amiga too!! Gonna start here. :D

Lotus 3 on the Amiga is pretty poor, yeah the genesis version is probably better on that one. It's number 2 that I liked more on the Amiga. I can't really give you an objective reason, just "I played the Amiga one first and the genesis one felt wrong".

Thief: I think that, like others here have mentioned, the allure of Hang-On, Outrun style games was the accessibility, sense of speed, and atmosphere the games had. They were very good ports on the Genesis, especially Super Hang-On, which had that sweet Career mode and the Arcade mode to boot. The Genesis version had a weird sense of disconnection in regards to controls, as turning had a real hint of lag, but once you got used to it, it was not a problem. I think that Sega and Namco were just so damn great with arcade racing, and that really is just a specific kind of feel/look/sound that was really great during that period.

On the new racing games, everything has it's place. I f*cking love Forza Motorsports. I don't even consider myself a gearhead, but I love the idea of putting together dream cars, customizing gearboxes, suspension, and aesthetics, then driving the hell out of those cars. I love it. To each their own, I can appreciate running endless laps on Laguna Seca in a class-a Datsun Fairlady just as much as I can appreciate Outrun and Hang-On, Etc.