Rail Chase 2

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Rail Chase 2 is a game set in a coalmine cart racing along its set tracks through various environments as players shoot at everything they see.{{cite magazine | author=Roberts, Nick | date=November 1995 | title=Review: Ooo, chase me! Rail Chase 2 | url=https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-51/page/n62/mode/1up | magazine=Sega Pro | publisher=Paragon Publishing | issn=0964-2641 | issue=51 | page=63}}{{cite magazine | author=Ogasawara, Nob | date=January 1996 | title=Hot at the Arcades: Rail Chase 2 | url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_078_January_1996/page/n73/mode/1up | magazine=GamePro | publisher=IDG | issue=78 | issn=1042-8658 | page=72}}{{cite magazine | author=Ultimate Gamer staff | date=December 1995 | title=AMAO Expo '95: Rail Chase 2 | url=https://archive.org/details/ultimate-gamer-december-1995/page/n27/mode/1up | magazine=Ultimate Gamer | publisher=Larry Flynt Publications | issue=5 | issn=1081-4582 | page=28}}

Rail Chase 2 was developed by Japanese studio Sega AM3, led by producer Hisao Oguchi. This was the first game worked on by assistant producer and future AM3 head Mie Kumagai, who had recently transferred from Sega's amusement park division. Kumagai stated she had brought in because AM3's staff had grown to about 100 people at this point, making it difficult for Oguchi to oversee projects directly.{{cite web | author=Denfaminicogamer staff | date=March 20, 2023 | title=出版社各社がなぜここに来て"ゲーム事業"に身を乗り出すのか？──KADOKAWAのゲーム事業が新体制になった背景には、異色の経歴を持つ女性プロデューサーの存在があった | trans-title=Why do publishers come here and lean into the "game business"? The reason behind the new system for Kadokawa's game business was the existence of a female producer with a unique background. | url=https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/230320c/3 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321041751/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/230320c/3 | archive-date=March 21, 2023 | publisher=Denfaminicogamer | language=ja | accessdate=October 14, 2023}} Kumagai also shared an ideology with AM3 that arcade games should be created to appeal to not just boys, but to girls, couples, and families. She worked closely with programmer Takeshi Goden on the project.{{cite web | author=Kushida Riko | date=May 26, 2017 | title=ゲームプロデューサー熊谷美恵さんの「セガ入社秘話、そしてAM3研時代」⎯⎯ゲーム業界、彼女の履歴書 | trans-title=Game Producer Mie Kumagai's "Secret Story of Joining Sega, and the AM3 Lab Era" Her Game Industry Resume | url=https://www.redbull.com/jp-ja/game-producer-mie-kumagai | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010111755/https://www.redbull.com/jp-ja/game-producer-mie-kumagai | archive-date=October 10, 2022 | publisher=Red Bull GmbH | language=ja | accessdate=October 10, 2022 | url-status=live}} The game is a sequel to 1991's Rail Chase, which was built on the sprite-based Sega System 32. Rail Chase 2 utilizes the Sega Model 2, which allowed for 3D, texture mapped polygons.{{cite book | author=Kurt Kulata | date=December 7, 2016 | title=HG 101 Presents: Sega Arcade Classics Volume 2 | publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 | page=145 | isbn=978-1-53-999217-2}}{{cite magazine | author=Hitech Hobby staff | date=October 1995 | title=Equipo de Mizuguchi continúa lanzando nuevos productos. Rail Chase 2, lo último de AM3 | trans-title=Mizuguchi team continues to roll out new products. "Rail Chase 2," the latest from AM3. | url=https://archive.org/details/HiTechMagazine/HiTech%2007/page/n16/mode/1up | magazine=Hitech Hobby Magazine | publisher=Hobby Press | language=es | issue=7 | page=17}}{{cite magazine | author=Edge staff | date=May 1995 | title=News: AOU: coin-op houses unveil '95 line-up | url=https://archive.org/details/Edge_Gaming/Edge%20Gaming%20Magazine%20020/page/17/mode/1up | magazine=Edge | publisher=Future plc | issue=20 | page=17 | issn=1350-1593}} The sequel also follows Rail Chase: The Ride, an attraction featured at Sega's Joypolis theme park in Yokohama from 1994 to 2001.{{cite magazine | author=Beep! MegaDrive staff | date=August 1994 | title=BE-MEGA NEWS & INFORMATION | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/thumb/2/23/BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf/page31-477px-BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf.jpg | magazine=Beep! MegaDrive | publisher=SoftBank Group | language=ja | page=29| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027133559/https://retrocdn.net/images/thumb/2/23/BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf/page31-477px-BeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf.jpg | archive-date=27 October 2021 }}{{cite web | title=レールチェイス オリジナルサウンドトラック | trans-title=Rail Chase Original Soundtrack | url=https://www.wave-master.com/ent/details/wm/wm0650/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026093936/https://www.wave-master.com/ent/details/wm/wm0650/ | archive-date=October 26, 2022 | publisher=Wave Master Co., Ltd. | language=ja | accessdate=October 26, 2022 | url-status=live}} Sega of America's vice president of sales and marketing, Ken Anderson, described Rail Chase 2 as an extension of AM3's popular rail shooter Jurassic Park.{{cite magazine | author=Play Meter staff | date=September 1995 | title=Interview: Ken Anderson Vice president of sales and marketing Sega USA | url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-21-number-10-september-1995/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%2021%2C%20Number%2010%20-%20September%201995/page/164/mode/2up | publisher=Skybird Publishing | magazine=Play Meter | volume=21 | number=10 | page=164 | issn=1529-8736}} Rail Chase 2 was released in Japan in June 1995. It was displayed prominently at the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) show that September alongside other Sega arcade cabinets including Virtua Fighter 2, Virtua Striker, and Indy 500.{{cite magazine | author=Game Players staff | date=December 1995 | title=Special AMAO {{'}}95 Report: The Future of Arcades | url=https://archive.org/details/Game_Players_Issue_59_December_1995/page/n51/mode/2up | magazine=Game Players | publisher=Signal Research | issue=59 | page=50 | issn=1087-2779}}

{{VG Reviews

| NGen = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=10|publisher=Imagine Media|date=October 1995|page=130|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-010/page/n131/mode/1up|author=Next Generation staff|issn=1078-9693}}

| rev1 = Sega Pro

| rev1Score = 85/100

| rev2 = Super GamePower

| rev2Score = 4.5/5{{cite web | author=Super GamePower staff | url=https://archive.org/details/SuperGamePower_Ano_02_No._023_1996-02_Nova_Cultural_BR_pt/page/n37/mode/1up | title=Rail Chase 2 | date=February 1996 | language=pt | issue=23 | page=38 | magazine=Super GamePower | publisher=Editora Nova Cultural}}

}}

In Japan, Game Machine listed Rail Chase 2 in their August 15, 1995 issue as the fourteenth most-successful dedicated arcade game of the first two weeks of that month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=501|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=August 15, 1995|page=21|lang=ja|url=https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19950815p/page/n10/mode/1up}} It rose to ninth place during the next two weeks and continued to chart at certain points throughout the rest of the year.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=502|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=September 1, 1995|page=25|lang=ja|url=https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19950901p/page/n12/mode/1up}}{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=503|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=September 15, 1995|page=31|lang=ja|url=https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19950915p/page/n14/mode/1up}}{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=504|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=October 1, 1995|page=25|lang=ja|url=https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19951001p/page/n11/mode/1up}}{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=505|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=October 15, 1995|page=25|lang=ja|url=https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19951015p/page/n12/mode/1up}}{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=509|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=December 15, 1995|page=25|lang=ja|url=https://archive.org/details/game-machine-magazine-19951215p/page/n12/mode/1up}}

Critical reception for Rail Chase 2 was favorable. Nick Roberts of Sega Pro lavished the game with praise, scoring it 85 out of 100. Considering it a fusion of Jurassic Park and Virtua Cop, he summarized, "Iťs fast paced, iťs slick, iťs pretty dam good! You’ll be so mesmerised by the great graphics and sound plus the constant bombardment of cronies to shoot that you’ll just háve to keep playing!" The Spanish magazine Última Generación likewise drew positive comparisons to the Virtua line and Jurassic Park when referencing the visuals and moving arcade cabinet of Rail Chase 2. The writer called it a "Sega Indiana Jones makeover" that is "worth spending a few games to understand how Harrison Ford felt."{{cite magazine | author=Última Generación staff | date=November 1995 | title=Arcade: Rail Chase 2 | url=https://archive.org/details/Ultima_Generacion_08/page/n41/mode/2up | magazine=Última Generación | publisher=MV Editores | language=es | issn=1135-4135 | issue=8 | pages=42–3}} Next Generation rated the game three stars out of five and stated, "The levels vary greatly – the icelandic and jungle stages are especially imaginative and fun – various tracks can be chosen by shooting at the train stop sign, and the action never stops. This game is simple fun, just like the arcades used to be." Game Players similarly described it as "just plain fun," finding the polygon graphics "beautiful" when compared to its sprite-based predecessor and saying that its "speed is captured so well that you lose your stomach going over some of the hills."{{cite magazine | author=Game Players staff | date=November 1995 | title=Arcades: Rail Chase 2 | url=https://archive.org/details/Game_Players_Issue_58_November_1995/page/n121/mode/2up | magazine=Game Players | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=58 | issn=1087-2779 | pages=118–9}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/92412/rail-chase-2/reviews/ Rail Chase 2] at MobyGames

Category:1995 video games

Category:Arcade video games

Category:Arcade-only video games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Rail shooters

Category:Sega arcade games

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Video games set in 1938