Dirt Racer
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Short description|1995 video game}}
{{Infobox VG
|title = Dirt Racer
|image = File:DirtRacerBoxShotSNES.jpg
|caption = Cover art
|developer = MotiveTime
|publisher = Elite Systems
|released = {{vgrelease|EU|May 1995}}
|genre = Offroad/rally driving
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Super NES
}}
Dirt Racer is a Europe-exclusive video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed by British studio MotiveTime and released in 1995. This game uses the Super FX powered GSU-1 to provide enhanced graphics.{{cite web | url = http://www.snescentral.com/article.php?id=0988 | title = Super FX chip information | publisher = SNES Central | accessdate = 24 May 2011 | archive-date = 8 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120308041643/http://www.snescentral.com/article.php?id=0988 | url-status = live }}
Gameplay
Players must drive their dirt track racing vehicle across a road rally. The car comes complete with a speedometer (in kilometres), a lap counter, and a lap time counter. There are a pre-determined number of chances to complete the game, like in Super Mario Kart and F-Zero. If the player is unable to defeat the game in those number of tries, then the player gets an automatic game over. A yellow smiley face shows up to track the performance of the driver.{{cite web | url = http://superadventuresingaming.blogspot.com/2011/02/dirt-racer-snes.html | title = Advanced overview | publisher = Super Adventures in Gaming | date = 26 February 2011| accessdate = 24 May 2011 | archive-date = 30 August 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110830055914/http://superadventuresingaming.blogspot.com/2011/02/dirt-racer-snes.html | url-status = live }} If it's smiling, then the player is winning. Otherwise, the player is losing the game.
Development and release
Dirt Racer was developed by British studio MotiveTime. It was the second racing game using Super FX technology simultaneously developed under publisher Elite Systems, the other being the unreleased PowerSlide.{{cite magazine | date=August 1994 | title=C.E.S. Special Report: What Else? | url=https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Power_Issue001-Issue127/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20063%20August%201994/page/n115/mode/2up | magazine=Nintendo Power | publisher=Nintendo of America | volume=63 | page=113 | issn=1041-9551}}{{cite magazine | date=November 1993 | title=Special Feature: Elite | url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_52/page/n153/mode/2up| magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Ziff Davis | volume=6 | issue=11 | pages=154–5 | issn=1058-918X}}{{cite magazine | author=Brooks, Jason | date=June 1994 | title=Gamefreak: SNES Tech & Gaming Answers | url=https://archive.org/details/super-play-issue-20/page/n71/mode/2up | journal=Super Play | issue=20 | page=72 | issn=0966-6192}}{{cite magazine | date=January 1994 | title=What's Really in store for
Dirt Racer programmer Chris Nash and graphic artist Adam Batham stated that development began in September 1993 after they dissected and analyzed the cartridge for Star Fox. They claimed that the updated iteration of the Super FX allowed them to use twice as many polygons as in Star Fox.{{cite magazine | author=Atko | date=March 1995 | title=Preview: Dirt Racer | journal=Total! | url=https://archive.org/details/total-39-march-1995/page/22/mode/2up | issue=39 | pages=22–3 | issn=0964-9352}} Unlike the racing game Stunt Race FX, Dirt Racer did not allow to change the viewing perspective because the designers saw it as a needless waste of memory. Elite Systems development manager Trevor Williams explained that the game's race courses were generated on a "square mesh" which could be raised or lowered to create variable terrain.{{cite magazine |date=April 1994|title=Prescreen: Elite Systems|url=https://archive.org/details/edgeuk007/page/n35/mode/2up|magazine=Edge|issue=7|pages=37–8|issn=1350-1593}} The game's computer AI-controlled opponents were programmed to dynamically adjust to the skill level of the player so that even beginners stand a chance of winning.{{cite magazine | author=Atko | date=April 1995 | title=The Making of Dirt Racer FX | journal=Total! | url=https://archive.org/details/total-40-april-1995/page/n13/mode/2up | issue=40 | pages=14–5 | issn=0964-9352}}
The completed version of Dirt Racer featured less complex visuals than what was previewed in magazines. For instance, sprites were ultimately used for the wheels, similar to Stunt Race FX. Dirt Racer was released exclusively in Europe starting in May 1995. Wilcox shouldered some of the blame for the game's poor critical reception. It was his decision to exclude "driver aids" which he speculated would have mitigated its difficult vehicle controls. In 2018, Elite Systems had considered giving Dirt Racer a limited physical re-release with improvements alongside a finished version of PowerSlide.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|GMaster = 21%{{cite magazine|last=Ellis|first=Les|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamesMasterIssue029199505FuturePublishingGB300dpi#page/n54/mode/1up|title=Reviews – Dirt Racer|magazine=GamesMaster|issue=29|date=May 1995|page=56|issn=0967-9855}}
|MF = 15%{{cite magazine|last=Schmiedehausen|first=Götz|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:MegaFun_DE_1995-06.pdf&page=32|title=Test Kunterbunt: Dirt Racer|magazine=Mega Fun|issue=33|publisher=Computec|date=June 1995|page=32|lang=de|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613161953/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AMegaFun_DE_1995-06.pdf&page=32|url-status=live}}
|SP = 51%{{cite magazine|last=Mott|first=Tony|url=https://archive.org/stream/Superplay_Issue_31_1995-05_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n45/mode/2up|title=UK Review: Dirt Racer SFX|magazine=Super Play|issue=31|date=May 1995|pages=46–47|issn=0966-6192}}
|TOT = 30% (UK){{cite magazine|author=Atko|url=https://archive.org/stream/total-41-may-1995#page/56/mode/2up|title=Total! SNES Review: Dirt Racer FX|magazine=Total!|issue=41|date=May 1995|pages=56–57|issn=0964-9352}}
5 (DE){{cite magazine|last=Hellwig|first=Thomas|url=https://total.bee-ware.ch/tests/snes/snes_DirtRacerFX.jpg|title=Test: Dirt Racer FX|magazine=Total!|issue=26|publisher=X-Plain-Verlag|date=July 1995|lang=de|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-date=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429104629/http://total.bee-ware.ch/tests/snes/snes_DirtRacerFX.jpg|url-status=live}}
|VGS = 20%{{cite magazine|last=Zengerle|first=Robert|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AVideoGames_DE_1995-05.pdf&page=108|title=Super Nintendo – Reviews: Rutshcpartie – Dirt Racer|magazine={{ill|Video Games (German magazine)|lt=Video Games|de|Video Games}}|issue=42|publisher=Magna Media|date=May 1995|page=112|lang=de|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613162001/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AVideoGames_DE_1995-05.pdf&page=108|url-status=live}}
|rev1 = Play Time
|rev1Score = 15%{{cite magazine|last=Girlich|first=Stephan|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3APlayTime_DE_1995-07.pdf&page=116|title=Super NES Review – Dirt Racer|magazine=Play Time|issue=49|publisher=Computec|date=July 1995|pages=116–117|lang=de|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728221308/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:PlayTime_DE_1995-07.pdf&page=116|url-status=live}}
|rev2 = Super Gamer
|rev2Score = 95%{{cite magazine|last1=Evans|first1=Jonathan|last2=Guttery|first2=Miles|last3=Jones|first3=Hayden|url=https://archive.org/stream/super-gamer-14#page/n27/mode/2up|title=Super NES Review: Dirt Trax FX – It's a dirty job and everyone wants to do it!|magazine=Super Gamer|issue=14|publisher=Paragon Publishing|date=May 1995|pages=28–29}}
|rev3 = {{ill|Nintendo Player|lt=Ultra Player|fr|Nintendo Player}}
}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2021}}
Dirt Racer received largely negative reviews from print publications during its release including 51% from Super Play, 30% from Total!, and 21% from GamesMaster.
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.mobygames.com/game/snes/dirt-racer Dirt Racer] at MobyGames
Category:Europe-exclusive video games
Category:Rally racing video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games
Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System-only games
Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Category:Video games set in Alaska