Review: Top Racer Collection
I have a soft spot for 8-bit and 16-bit racing games having grown up with the likes of Chase HQ, the Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge series, Jaguar XJ220, and of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without the classic Outrun from Sega. I wasn’t necessarily familiar with the Top Racer series until I started to do a bit of research and realised that they were also released as Top Gear. Despite owning a SNES in the 90’s I’d never played any of the games which are part of the Top Racer Collection, so I was looking forward to checking them out.
In this collection, you have Top Racer, Top Racer 2, Top Racer 3000, and Top Racer Crossroads. Each game comes with a campaign, quick race, time attack, and custom cup. There is also an online mode, although, at the time of writing this review, no people were playing the game online, so I can’t let you know how well it works. Rounding up the options, various filters can be applied, such as CRT and scanlines, and there is a save state option. All the games can also be played with local co-op split screen.
Top Racer from 1992 is a fairly standard racing game where you have three boosts that can be used to help you beat the competition. You have to keep your eye on the fuel gauge and make a pitstop on longer races. There are four different cars to choose from which have different attributes. The controls are ok, but nothing stood out as exceptional for me. Top Racer Crossroads is Top Racer but with new cars to race.
Top Racer 2 from 1993 has updated graphics, new damage mechanics, and the chance to upgrade your car with new engines, tyres, gearboxes, nitro systems, and additional armour to protect your vehicle. The cars themselves feel heavier and a bit slower to respond to the controls. Overall, it’s a decent sequel that adds extra depth.
Top Racer 3000 from 1995 is remarkably set in the future with races taking place on different planets. Again, you can upgrade your vehicle, but there are now weapons that can be used to give you an advantage over the competition. You can also recharge your boost and repair your car by driving on certain sections of the road.
Overall, my thoughts are a slight feeling of disappointment with this collection. None of the games stand out for me, but this could be because I don’t have any memories or emotional connection to the series. The Top Racer collection is priced between £15 and £18 on various systems. In all honesty, I would find it hard to recommend you pick it up unless you have a genuine love for these games. If you fancy some retro-style racing, then I’d recommend checking out Horizon Chase Turbo and Hotshot Racing.
The Top Racer Collection is available now.
Review by Chris.
