GP Rider

{{Infobox video game

|title = GP Rider

|image = GP_rider_arcade_flyer.jpg

|caption = Japanese flyer showing a two-player sit-down version of the arcade cabinet

|developer = Sega AM2

|publisher = Sega

|designer =

|engine =

|producer = Yu Suzuki[http://www.ysnet-inc.jp/#portfolio Works of Yu Suzuki] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627174927/http://www.ysnet-inc.jp/#portfolio |date=2015-06-27 }}, Ys Net

|composer = Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Takenobu Mitsuyoshi

|platforms = Arcade, Master System, Game Gear

|released = {{collapsible list

| title = {{nobold|October 1990}}

| Arcade {{vgrelease|JP|October 1990|WW|November 1990}} Master System {{vgrelease|EU|1993}} Game Gear {{vgrelease|NA|March 1994|EU|1994|JP|April 22, 1994{{cite web |title=Software List (Released by Sega)|url=https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html |website=セガ製品情報サイト |publisher=Sega |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}}}

}}

|genre = Racing

|modes = Single-player, two player

|arcade system = Sega X Board

}}

{{nihongo foot|GP Rider|GPライダー|Jī Pī raidā|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a motorcycle racing game developed and manufactured by Sega, released in as an arcade video game in Japan, North America and Europe. It came in a two-player motion simulator cabinet and a standard upright cabinet.{{cite magazine |title=GP Rider |magazine=RePlay |date=December 1990 |volume=16 |issue=3 |page=9 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-3-december-1990-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%203%20-%20December%201990/page/9}} It was ported to the Master System in 1993 and then Game Gear in 1994.

Ports

The Master System version is played in split-screen mode (similar to the Genesis port of OutRunners) regardless of if one or two players are playing. If only one player is racing then the second player is replaced by a computer opponent called "Wayne" (possibly a reference to Wayne Rainey), who plays like a human player in that his performance varies from race to race, in contrast to most racing games of the era, where the main opponent is programmed to always finish in the same position.

The Game Gear version is essentially a rebranded port of Super Hang-On, featuring assets and gameplay from that game.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| ARC = true

| SMS = true

| SGG = true

| Allgame_ARC = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|author=Anthony Baize |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10180&tab=review |title=Allgame - GP Rider Review |accessdate=November 22, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211075107/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10180&tab=review |archive-date=December 11, 2014}}

| CVG_ARC = 90%{{cite magazine |last1=Rignall |first1=Julian |author1-link=Julian Rignall |title=Arcade Action |date=16 November 1990 |magazine=Computer + Video Games |url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-109/CVG_109_Dec_1990#page/n155 |issue=109 (December 1990) |page=156 |accessdate=November 20, 2015}}

| Fam_SGG = 19/40{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=16006&redirect=no|title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ドラゴンボールZ 武勇烈伝|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=ASCII Corporation|date=April 29, 1994|number=280|page=38|access-date=July 13, 2022|lang=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713123251/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=16006&redirect=no|archive-date=July 13, 2022|url-status=live}}

| SUser_ARC = 88%{{cite magazine |last1=Cook |first1=John |title=Coin Ops |magazine=Sinclair User |date=18 November 1990 |issue=106 (December 1990) |publisher=EMAP |location=United Kingdom |url=https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/134/143}}

| VGS_SMS = 58%{{cite journal |date=April 1993 |title=Video Games Issue 4/93 |url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_1993-04_Markt_Technik_DE/Video_Games_1993-04_Markt__Technik_DE#page/n99 |journal=Video Games |publisher=Markt & Technik |issue=4/93 |page=103 |accessdate=November 22, 2015}}

| rev1 = CU Amiga

| rev1_ARC = 93%{{cite magazine |last1=Cooke |first1=John |title=Arcades: Coin-Op Crisis |url=https://archive.org/details/CUAmigaIssue010Dec90/page/n101/mode/2up |magazine=CU Amiga |issue=10 (December 1990) |publisher=EMAP |date=November 1990 |location=United Kingdom |pages=102–103}}

| rev2 = RePlay

| rev2_ARC = Positive{{cite magazine |title=Snazzy at Sega: simple technology provides hi-tech effets in Laser Ghost; GP Rider offers built-in head to head player competition |magazine=RePlay |date=January 1991 |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=102, 104 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-4-january-1991-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%204%20-%20January%201991/page/102}}

| rev3 = Sega Master Force

| rev3_SMS = 48%{{cite journal |date=September 1993 |title=Sega Master Force Issue 2 |url=http://www.smspower.org/Scans/SegaMasterForce-Magazine-Issue2?gallerypage=25 |journal=Sega Force |issue=2 |pages=24–25 |accessdate=November 19, 2015}}

| rev4 = The One

| rev4_ARC = Positive

}}

In Japan, Game Machine listed GP Rider on their November 15, 1990 issue as being the fourth most-successful upright arcade unit of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=392|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 November 1990|page=25|lang=ja}} It went on to be Japan's sixth highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1991.{{cite magazine |title="Final Fight II" and "Final Lap 2" Top Videos: Video Games of The Year '91 |magazine=Game Machine |issue=419 |publisher=Amusement Press, Inc. |date=1 February 1992 |page=26 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19920201p.pdf#page=14}}

The arcade game received positive reviews upon release. The One in 1991 called it a "realistic motorcycle simulation" and praised its graphics, expressing that GP Rider has "amazingly smooth scrolling" and "great new gradient effects". The One also praised GP Rider's motorcycle controller hardware as "realistic" and adding to the game's atmosphere. The One noted GP Rider was "the first motorcycle game that lets you race against another player", and expressed that this competitive "head-to-head excitement with a superb implementation and ultra realistic bike handling" made GP Rider a good major coin investment.{{cite magazine|title = Arcades: GP Rider|date = 28 March 1991|url = https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-31/page/n85|magazine = The One|publisher = EMAP Images|last = Cook|first = John|issue = 31 (April 1991)|page = 87}}