''Street Racer'' is a
racing
In sports, racing is a competition of speed, in which competitors try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific g ...
video game
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
published by
Ubi Soft
Ubisoft Entertainment SA (; ; formerly Ubi Soft Entertainment SA) is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include ''Anno (video game series), Anno'', ' ...
for various systems. It was released for the
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a Fourth generation of video game consoles, 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in No ...
in 1994,
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...
in 1995,
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
,
Sega Saturn
The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it is the successor to the succes ...
and
Game Boy
The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...
in 1996 and
Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
and
Amiga
Amiga is a family of personal computers produced by Commodore International, Commodore from 1985 until the company's bankruptcy in 1994, with production by others afterward. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16-b ...
in 1997.
Marketed as a "cross between ''
Mario Kart
is a series of kart racing games based on the ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise developed and published by Nintendo. Players compete in go-kart races while using various power-up item (game terminology), items. It features Characters in ...
'' and ''
Street Fighter
is a Media mix, Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting games developed and published by Capcom. Street Fighter 1, The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by List of Street Fighter video games, six other ma ...
''", the
go-kart
A go-kart, also written as go-cart (often referred to as simply a kart), is a type of small sports car, close wheeled car, open-wheel car or quadracycle. Go-karts come in all shapes and forms, from non-motorised models to high-performanc ...
themed game combined racing with comedy and
beat 'em up
A beat 'em up (also known as brawler and, in some markets, beat 'em all) is a video game genre featuring hand-to-hand combat against a large number of opponents. Traditional beat 'em ups take place in Side-scrolling video game, scrolling, 2D c ...
influenced violence. The game was a success on the SNES and Mega Drive and received mixed reviews across platforms.
Gameplay
''Street Racer'' is a go-kart racing game which combines racing with violence.
Characters can strike opponents with their fists and must avoid explosives littered around the track.
The game's characters (including Surf Sister and Frank Instein)
[Brett Alan Weiss]
Street Racer
, Allgame
RhythmOne , a subsidiary of Nexxen, is an American digital advertising technology company that owns and operates the web properties AllMusic, AllMovie, and SideReel.
Blinkx was founded in 2004, went public on the Alternative Investment Market, ...
, Accessed 27 September 2009 possess unique power-ups such as the Screaming Banshee, Batmobile,
magic carpet and tri-plane.
The game features the ability to race various championships beginning with the Bronze Championship and moving on to progressively more difficult competitions. An alternative one-on-one mode is also available.
["Previews: Street Racer", '']Amiga Format
''Amiga Format'' was a British monthly computer magazine for Amiga computers, published by Future Publishing. The magazine lasted 136 issues from 1989 to 2000. The magazine was formed when Future split '' ST/Amiga Format'' into two separate pub ...
'', November 1997 (issue 103), pp. 30-31 The game awards points for final race positions, with bonus points given for accolades such as fastest lap. The competitor with the most points after all races wins the Championship.
The game includes a "Rumble" mode in which players attempt to force opponents from an arena.
The "Soccer" mode is a free-for-all football match with one goal and in which players tackle by colliding with the opponent.
As in many racing games, the AI in ''Street Racer''
adjusts itself according to the player's performance, becoming harder to beat if the player does well and easier to beat if the player makes mistakes.
One of the main selling points of the later PlayStation and Saturn versions was that they supported up to eight players on a
split screen
Split screen may refer to:
* Split screen (computing), dividing graphics into adjacent parts
* Split screen (video production), the visible division of the screen
* ''Split Screen'' (TV series), 1997–2001
* Split screen, a focusing screen in a ...
, something that would have ordinarily caused slowdown to the point of unplayability on contemporary gaming hardware.
Development
While working on ''Second Samurai'', Vivid Image was keen on kicking off a parallel project on the SNES. A number of ideas were considered, and they settled on a racing game similar to Super Mario Kart. Ideas for the game early-on focused on the inclusion of a famous Turkish folklore character,
Nasreddin Hodja, and a "soccer mode". As the team grew, Vivid Image began renting out an office in
Harrow
Harrow may refer to:
Places
* Harrow, Victoria, Australia
* Harrow, Ontario, Canada
* The Harrow, County Wexford, a village in Ireland
* London Borough of Harrow, England
* Harrow, London, a town in London
* Harrow (UK Parliament constituency)
* ...
. Newcomers to the team, twins Tony and Chris West, spearheaded the development and were able to use their coding skills on the 4-player mode to bypass the need for Nintendo's
DSP chip, saving $3 per cartridge. Ubi Soft would later agree to add these savings to the royalty payouts, and were keen to grow the scope to many other platforms. This would mark the start of a 4-year relationship with Ubi Soft.
Reception
''
GamePro
''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...
''s Sarah Nade gave the SNES version a rave review, saying that it features gameplay similar to ''
Super Mario Kart
is a 1992 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The first game in the ''Mario Kart'' series, it was released in Japan and North America in 1992, and in Europe the following yea ...
'' but is "even better." She praised the large selection of imaginative tracks, the individualized special weapons for each character, the four player "head-to-head-to-head-to-head" mode, the ability to rewatch races from any angle, the graphics, the smooth controls, and the alternate "Rumble" and "Soccer" modes. She concluded that "
Ubi Soft
Ubisoft Entertainment SA (; ; formerly Ubi Soft Entertainment SA) is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include ''Anno (video game series), Anno'', ' ...
has outdone itself with this racing winner."
''Street Racer'' was a "top SNES game"
and "highly successful" on the Mega Drive according to ''
Amiga Format
''Amiga Format'' was a British monthly computer magazine for Amiga computers, published by Future Publishing. The magazine lasted 136 issues from 1989 to 2000. The magazine was formed when Future split '' ST/Amiga Format'' into two separate pub ...
''.
["Screen Play", '']Amiga Format
''Amiga Format'' was a British monthly computer magazine for Amiga computers, published by Future Publishing. The magazine lasted 136 issues from 1989 to 2000. The magazine was formed when Future split '' ST/Amiga Format'' into two separate pub ...
'', February 1996 (issue 81), p. 36 Reviewing the Amiga version, Andy Smith of ''Amiga Format'' complained of the soccer mode: "Your car moves as if it's in treacle while everyone else seems to be on greased rails". The reviewer said the soccer mode was "bizarre and, frankly, not much fun". He called the rumble mode "even less exciting" and said of the game overall "It's not that it's a complete pig or anything, it's just that it promises so much and manages to deliver so little". Smith said the "good tracks" of the "top SNES game" version had been "sacrificed" for "decent speed" and complained that this speed ruined the cornering mechanics. He said the background graphics were attractive but the animations "jerky" and wrote: "Well done chaps, you've made a crap racing game with some nice backgrounds." He also called the music "dreadful" and sound effects "crap".
[Andy Smith, "Street Racer", '']Amiga Format
''Amiga Format'' was a British monthly computer magazine for Amiga computers, published by Future Publishing. The magazine lasted 136 issues from 1989 to 2000. The magazine was formed when Future split '' ST/Amiga Format'' into two separate pub ...
'', Christmas 1997 (Issue 105), pp. 40-41 ''
CU Amiga Magazine'' complained that the tracks were shallow, but contended the game's appeal was in combating other characters. The reviewer noted the "pretty intense" action of the rumble mode and said the football mode did not live up to its potential but was a "pretty reasonable" distraction. The magazine said the game was simple but "demented fun" and praised its variety.
[Andrew Korn, "Street Racer", '' CU Amiga Magazine'', November 1997, pp. 38-39]
Jeff Kitts, reviewing the PlayStation version in ''
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'', called the game "mildly entertaining" and said "It's good enough for a weekend rental, but not much more."
[Jeff Kitts]
Street Racer Review
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
, 1 December 1996, Accessed 26 September 2009 In ''
Electronic Gaming Monthly
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews.
History
The magazine was fou ...
'', Todd Mowatt applauded the dramatic improvements seen in the PlayStation version, the selection of tracks, the weapons, and the eight-player feature, while Joe Rybicki argued that the tracks are "uninteresting and sometimes even tedious", and that the amusement offered by the weapons quickly wears thin.
Gideon of ''GamePro'' agreed that the abundance of options and features are countered by the short and cluttered track designs and difficult-to-follow split-screen display. However, he also praised the cartoon-like graphics and responsive controls, and deemed it a solid substitute for ''Mario Kart'' on the PlayStation, though he recommended gamers rent it before deciding whether to buy.
Like Todd Mowatt, ''
Next Generation
Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to:
Publications and literature
* ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company
* Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...
'' considered the PlayStation version a remarkable leap above the earlier versions, praising the abundance of options, "smooth and intuitive" controls, fluid animation, and challenging track design, and concluded that it "isn't the most technically advanced or groundbreaking title of the season but still manages to be just plain fun."
Reviewing the Saturn version, ''GamePro''s Captain Cameron praised the wide variety of moves but criticized that the split screen makes the portions of the screen too small when there are more than four players. He concluded the game is "not a bad rental, it's just not unique or funny enough to warrant a purchase." Rob Bright of ''
Sega Saturn Magazine
''Sega Saturn Magazine'' (originally known as ''Sega Magazine'') was a monthly magazine from the United Kingdom covering the Sega Saturn, a home video game console. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and some issues incl ...
'' found "the characters a bit tacky and the characters largely derivative" but praised the game's
artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of re ...
and variety of game modes. He called the graphics "very nice indeed, colourful and rich in detail" but said "racing tends to give you the impression that the road is moving while the car remains stationary." He compared the game to ''Mario Kart'', saying "It lacks the overall accessibility of the Super NES classic and the course design isn't quite as innovative." He said "Street Racer remains very playable and challenging and is especially fun in multi-player mode".
[Rob Bright, "Street Racer", '']Sega Saturn Magazine
''Sega Saturn Magazine'' (originally known as ''Sega Magazine'') was a monthly magazine from the United Kingdom covering the Sega Saturn, a home video game console. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and some issues incl ...
'', December 1996 (issue 14) pp. 72-73 Other critics also noted that the game was inspired by ''Mario Kart'',
with ''
Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...
'' calling it a "likeable clone, boasting more cartoon characters in the kind of no-holds-barred go-kart race you dream of having when you come home from the pub with your chums."
''GamePro''s brief review of the Game Boy version stated that "this cool little racer gives you lots of ways to race. ... The characters are cartoony, and the racing's decent."
In 1995,
Total!
''Total!'' was a video game magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future plc. It was published monthly for 58 issues, beginning in December 1991 (cover-dated January 1992), with the last issue bearing the cover-date October 1996. A "1993 ...
ranked the game 39th in its Top 100 SNES Games and calling Street Racer a "superb racer."
References
External links
*{{moby game, id=/street-racer, name=''Street Racer''
1994 video games
Amiga 1200 games
Amiga CD32 games
Amiga games
DOS games
Game Boy games
Kart racing video games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Piko Interactive games
PlayStation (console) games
Sega Genesis games
Sega Saturn games
Super Nintendo Entertainment System games
Ubisoft games
Vehicular combat games
Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Video games scored by Allister Brimble
Video games scored by Matt Furniss
Vivid Image games