Developer: Sega Publisher: Sega Release: 11/89 Genre: Racing
Hang-On was my first game for the Sega Master System and it left a strong impression. I immediately noticed it looked better than Mach Rider on the NES but I was not good at the game. But I liked it well enough and returned to it often. After the Sega Genesis released Super Hang-On was one of its stand out titles early on. I was not fortunate to see it in the arcade let alone know of its existence so I took to it quickly. And like its predecessor it kicked my ass. While far from arcade perfect Super Hang-on is a respectable version of the arcade classic.
Super Hang-On hit arcades in 1987 and was a sizable upgrade over its predecessor. While the control and gameplay were the same it quadruples the content with four massive tracks, each with numerous courses. It also borrowed a page from Outrun and allows you to pick from four music tracks to groove to. The home port was one of the earliest Genesis titles, not quite a launch game but released not too long after. Given the differences in hardware and the relative lack of experience with the Genesis hardware this is probably the best port you could expect give the time frame. All that in mind the game turned out great.
Super Hang-On offers four tracks with multiple stages in each. There is no battle for first place, it is you against the clock as you race against the clock. Each track is tailored to different skill levels with the more difficult tracks featuring more stages. Senior level has a whopping fourteen while expert is a grueling contest across eighteen stages! Each track takes place in a different country and the scenery is as varied as Outrun, its closest contemporary.
Regardless of the course Super Hang-On is a tough game. This is an arcade game through and through. The handling is great; loose enough that you can slide in to turns but tight enough that you must still maintain some control. Your rival racers do not play much of a factor; your biggest opponent is the clock. You are given enough time to make one mistake at most and still recover. Judicious use of the turbo boost is a must. As you progress through the stages the window to complete stages and earn enough time to finish the next shrinks. With a bit of practice I was able to complete the senior level with some trouble. But expert ground me in to paste and left my hands sweaty. The challenge is high but manageable; tough enough to require skill but you can see where you can improve.
As a Super Scaler game Super Hang-On was stunning in the arcade. Sega have made an admirable attempt at bringing the splendor home but there are some severe cutbacks. The first is the number of riders per race; there are only six rather than eight. You will rarely see two or three simultaneously at any point as well. The frame rate is thirty rather than sixty and dips when there are too many riders and objects on screen. There are less track side objects as well. Most importantly the hills and inclines that added variety to the feel of each track are almost completely gone. You are still getting the arcade experience of course but in a reduced format.
To make up for the necessary scaling back of the graphics Sega have added more content in the form of original mode. Here you start with a beat down motorcycle with awful handling that might turn you off from the game and no cash and must compete against a single rival to advance your career. Your earnings will go toward buying new parts or a completely new motorcycle as you progress. Managing the condition of your bike while balancing your earnings is key as you will be demoted if you perform terribly. Every five races you earn a new sponsor who will increase your earnings as well as a tougher rival to keep you on your toes. This mode makes use of the arcade tracks but the pomp and circumstance of advancing your career and feeling the tangible progress adds hours of life to the game.
In Closing
Super Hang-On is a great port considering its early release that has held up over these decades. A simple port of the arcade would have been good enough but Sega went a step above to add extra value to the game. The arcade mode is meaty as is; original mode is the cherry on top. The high challenge means you will have to work to see all of Super Hang-On’s content but it is a journey worth undertaking.
