Top Gear Rally 2
North American box art
Developer(s)Saffire
Publisher(s)Kemco
SeriesTop Gear
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: December 3, 1999[1]
  • EU: February 28, 2000
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Top Gear Rally 2 is a racing video game developed by Saffire and released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. It is a sequel to Top Gear Rally.

Gameplay

Top Gear Rally 2 is a racing game where players drive rally cars through a series of tracks. The game features a random and dynamic weather system.

Development

Unlike the original Top Gear Rally, which was developed by Boss Game Studios, Top Gear Rally 2 was developed by Saffire.[2] The company conceived Top Gear Rally 2 as a more realistic game than its predecessor, with more simulation-like elements such as real-time car damage and weather effects. The physics engine was completely rewritten.[2] All the vehicles in the game are licensed versions of real rally cars such as the Ford Focus and the Renault Alpine.[3] During the final stages of the development cycle, developers had to work between 16 and 18 hours a day to complete the game.[2] The game supports the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak, which allows the game to be played at a resolution of 480x480 pixels.[2]

Reception

Top Gear Rally 2 received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] GameFan and GameSpot gave it favorable reviews while it was still in development.[9][11] N64 Magazine considered it the best rally game for the Nintendo 64, but not as rewarding as World Driver Championship.[14] Mike Wolf of NextGen praised the selection of 15 cars to choose from, realistic weather conditions that affect car handling, a paint shop customization, shortcuts to find and exploit, and multiplayer support for four players.[15] In Japan, however, where the game was ported for release on February 3, 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 24 out of 40.[7]

The Freshman of GamePro was generally positive to its gameplay, the race tracks and the selection of the cars, but considered that there were better racing games on Nintendo 64.[17][c] In another GamePro review, The Bamboo Carabao said that the game was a welcome change of pace for those who want more of a simulation than Beetle Adventure Racing, but less complex and demanding than World Driver Championship.[18][d]

Notes

  1. ^ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 5.5/10, one gave it 4/10, and the other gave it 3.5/10.
  2. ^ In GameFan's viewpoint of the game, one critic gave it 68, and the other 69.
  3. ^ GamePro gave the game two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, and two 4/5 scores for sound and control in one review.
  4. ^ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and control, and two 3/5 scores for sound and fun factor in another review.

References

  1. ^ IGN staff (December 1, 1999). "N64 Games of December". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d IGN staff (October 4, 1999). "Saffire Interview: Top Gear Rally 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  3. ^ "Top Gear Rally 2: Race/Off". N64 Magazine. No. 31. Future Publishing. August 1999. pp. 10–11.
  4. ^ a b "Top Gear Rally 2 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  5. ^ McCall, Scott. "Top Gear Rally 2 - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  6. ^ Hager, Dean; Davison, John; Chou, Che; Johnston, Chris (February 2000). "Top Gear Rally 2" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 127. Ziff Davis. p. 180. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "トップギア・ラリー2". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Reppen, Erik (December 1999). "Top Gear Rally 2". Game Informer. No. 80. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on May 22, 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Buchanan, Levi "Angus" (November 10, 1999). "REVIEW for Top Gear Rally 2". GameFan. Shinno Media. Archived from the original on March 7, 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  10. ^ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (January 2000). "Top Gear Rally 2". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 1. Shinno Media. p. 89. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Stahl, Ben (October 29, 1999). "Top Gear Rally 2 Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  12. ^ DMC (January 2000). "Top Gear Rally 2". Hyper. No. 75. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 66. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  13. ^ Schneider, Peer (December 6, 1999). "Top Gear Rally 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Bickham, Jes (February 2000). "Top Gear Rally 2". N64 Magazine. No. 38. Future Publishing. pp. 60–63.
  15. ^ a b Wolf, Mike (February 2000). "Top Gear Rally 2". NextGen. No. 62. Imagine Media. p. 94. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "Top Gear Rally 2". Nintendo Power. Vol. 127. Nintendo of America. December 1999. p. 158. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  17. ^ The Freshman (December 7, 1999). "Top Gear Rally 2 Review for N64 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on January 15, 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  18. ^ The Bamboo Carabao (December 1999). "Top Gear Rally 2". GamePro. No. 135. IDG. p. 186. Retrieved October 15, 2023.

External links

Top Gear video games
Categories