A Rare isometric miniature car racing game on NES. Collect upgrades, sabotage competitors. Addictive and fun. Overlooked but one of the best racing games on the console.
Your verdict
Category
Racing2 players3+
Description
Top-down racing game featuring miniature radio-controlled cars on varied circuits. Published by Rare, released in Europe in 1988. RC cars in top-down view with offensive and defensive weapon power-ups on varied tracks. A masterpiece of top-down racing on NES.
R.C. Pro-Am review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The first instalment establishes the isometric view and its vocabulary: radio-controlled cars drawn with cast shadows, tracks laid out diagonally, puddles and ice patches that change the ground's texture. The upgrade modules picked up visibly change the vehicle's appearance, information directly readable while racing.
The accompaniment rests on a repeated rhythmic motif and very present bass, cut to run through a whole race without claiming attention. The starting, collision and finish jingles are brief and clearly distinct, which suffices to divide the session without any display having to intervene.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Driving a top-down radio-controlled car, grabbing weapons to hamper your rivals and upgrading your machine between races: this blend of racing and combat hooks at once. The rush of speed and the joy of sabotaging your opponent keep a gleeful rivalry alive. Snappy, clever and full of charm, an irresistible arcade classic.
A racing game from Rare published by Nintendo, R.C. Pro-Am launches radio controlled miniature cars on isometric top down tracks, where you grab weapon and upgrade bonuses to outpace rivals. The blend of snappy driving, shooting and equipment management gives an addictive, clever formula, backed by Rare's craft. The handling takes a little getting used to. For a retro arcade racing fan, someone curious about Rare productions or a collector, the title keeps an intact effectiveness and pleasure.
