Developer: Square Publisher: Square Released: 1987 Genre: Racing
Every kid looks forward to Christmas as they usually receive video games as gifts. I was no different when I was young. Christmas of 1987 stands out in my mind as that year I received not one but two games, which was unheard of. Kid Nikki was entertaining for the brief amount of time we spent with it that day. But it was Rad Racer that kept us occupied for hours. It may seem quaint by today’s standards but back then Rad Racer delivered an experience at home that previously only in the arcade. Despite its early release Rad Racer remains one of the NES’ best racing games.
Rad Racer is the first racing game I can say I legitimately enjoyed. I had played a few racing games before its release such as Pole Position and Hang On but viewed them as mostly novelties. Rad Racer captured my attention with its slick presentation, awesome music, and tight gameplay. And all this from Squaresoft! Who knows, if they keep this up they might be going places. I kid, I kid. Rad Racer is a great game and still entertaining today in short bursts.
As much as I like Rad Racer admittedly it owes a lot of its quality to Outrun. The two games are incredibly similar. Both games feature the same red Ferrari. They each have a radio with a choice of three incredibly catchy tunes. Both games are also a race against time. Although there are rival cars on the road you are not fighting for position but to simply reach the finish line in time. Each course is broken down into multiple checkpoints that grant extra time and while the overall goal sounds simple Rad Racer is more intense than many current racing titles that feature thirty rival opponents.
Even though it is derivative of Sega’s classic Rad Racer at least tries to be different. In addition to a stock Ferrari (they couldn’t be more blatant if they tried) you can choose a F1 racing machine. It sounds cool but in practice they are both identical. They both have the same handling and max speed; trust me I have tried to spot a difference. Even though the choice is cosmetic it is still pretty cool. The UI is a bit sparse but conveys everything it needs to such as speed and time. One curious omission is a map; you get an indicator for how long to the finish line but that is it. The biggest difference is the setup. Instead of one massive map that lets you plot your own course Rad Racer has eight distinct tracks.
More than any other console racing game before it Rad Racer absolutely nails the sensation of speed. Once you hit the max speed of 255 mph it becomes scary just how fast you blow through the track. While it is fun to blitz at that speed it isn’t fruitful. At full speed you’ll either slowly drift into corners or be thrown off track completely. Hitting rival cars at that speed will also send you flying. Knowing when to manage speed and break into corners are critical to success. Especially as time is a precious commodity.
The difficulty curve in Rad Racer is pretty steep and rises fast. The early courses ease you into the mechanics and are generous with checkpoints and time. The distance between checkpoints becomes greater very fast and you will receive less time to boot. By course four, Athens, you won’t have any leeway to make mistakes. The harmless collisions that would toss you sideways now send you flying twenty feet in the air. It is hilarious just how over the top it is. In the late game a single crash is enough to basically lead to a game over. Do not be surprised if you reach most checkpoint by drifting in the last seconds before coming to a complete stop.
For its time Rad Racer was visually stunning. Aside from the sense of speed the variety in track locations was second to none. The worldwide trip will take you from the streets of Los Angeles to Athens, Greece with location specific details. Track side detail is spartan but the trade-off in speed and performance is worth it. The night time levels are the best; the neon lights against the dark backdrops are still pretty striking today. The three music tracks are similarly fantastic although the fact they change when you press down is the worst; it happens during the best parts!
Rad Racer was another Square title that featured a 3d mode like 3D World Runner. And just like that game it is a novelty at best. The effect isn’t the slightest bit convincing and more importantly you lose out on the awesome color palette that defines each stage. I still wonder why they pushed this 3d stuff so hard. It is probably responsible for ruining my vision to this day.
In Closing
Rad Racer is still a pretty great game for a lazy afternoon. Although it apes Outrun that gives it a solid foundation that can still entertain even today.
