Top Gear (video game)

{{Infobox video game

|title = Top Gear

|image = SNES Top Gear cover art.jpg

|caption = North American cover art

|developer = Gremlin Graphics

|publisher = Kemco

|programmer = Ashley Bennett
Ritchie Brannan
Simon Blake

|artist = Paul Gregory

|composer = Barry Leitch
Hiroyuki Masuno

|series = Top Gear

|platforms = Super NES

|released = {{vgrelease|JP|March 27, 1992{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/17180/|title=トップレーサー|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|access-date=2023-12-05}}|NA|April 16, 1992{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.com:80/consumer/gameslist/manuals/snes_games.pdf|title=Super NES Games|publisher=Nintendo|access-date=2020-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920223937/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/snes_games.pdf|archive-date=2008-09-20|url-status=live}}|EU|19 November 1992}}

|genre = Racing

|modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

Top Gear{{efn|Also known as {{nihongo|Top Racer|トップレーサー|Toppu Rēsā||lead=yes}} in Japan}} is a racing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, published by Kemco and developed by Gremlin Graphics in 1992. The objective of the game is to become the fastest driver in the world by racing other drivers across several nations.

It marks the first game in the Top Gear racing game franchise, and it is one of the first racing games to be released on the Super NES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). This game and its next two sequels were created by the same developers as the similar Lotus series of games was released earlier on the Amiga and Mega Drive.

Gameplay

File:SNES Top Gear (Top Racer).png

When players first start the game, they are given several options to choose from, including entering their name, a choice of four different controller layouts, a choice between automatic or manual transmission, and their choice of four unique cars. During the race, the player will have to steer and shift gears (if they chose a manual transmission). The player is also given control over three "nitros", which allow the player to increase their speed for a short period of time. The game features a password save system, made up of automotive terms such as "gear box" and "oilcloth". Each password grants access to another country to race in. During the race, there are pits in which players must stop in order to refuel. If their car runs out of fuel and coasts to a stop before the race is finished, the player will be disqualified.

Development and release

The music in Top Gear mostly consists of remixed tracks from the Lotus series of racing games on the Amiga produced by Barry Leitch. For example, the title music of Top Gear is taken from the ending of Lotus Turbo Challenge 2, and the third race of each country uses a remixed version of the Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge title theme.

The game (under the title Top Racer), along with several other retro titles, was released by Piko Interactive on a multi-cart for the Evercade handheld gaming system in 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/08/the_evercade_handhelds_latest_cartridge_features_several_rare_snes_games/|title=The Evercade Handheld's Latest Cartridge Features Several Rare SNES Games|publisher=NintendoLife|author=Ryan Craddock|date=2019-09-10}}

Developer QUByte Interactive released the game for modern systems under the name Top Racer Collection on March 7, 2024.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

|GR = 78%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588802-top-gear/|title=Top Gear for Super Nintendo|work=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=2019|access-date=2020-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012445/https://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588802-top-gear/|archive-date=2019-12-09|url-status=live}}

|Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Penniment|first=Brad|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15795&tab=review|title=Top Gear - Review|work=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|date=1998|access-date=2020-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116030427/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15795&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-16|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

|GamePro = 23 / 25{{cite magazine|last=Fan|first=Fanatic|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_034_May_1992#page/n49/mode/1up|title=Super NES ProReview: Top Gear|magazine=GamePro|issue=34|publisher=IDG|date=May 1992|page=29}}

|NP = 14.6 / 20{{cite magazine|last1=Sinfield|first1=George|last2=Noel|first2=Rob|title=Now Playing - Top Gear|magazine=Nintendo Power|issue=37|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=July 1992|page=105}}

|rev1 = Consolemania

|rev1Score = 80 / 100{{cite magazine|last=Rosa|first=Piemarco|url=https://archive.org/stream/Consolemania-013#page/n72/mode/1up|title=Top Racer (Super Famicom)|magazine=Consolemania|issue=13|publisher=Xenia Edizioni|date=November 1992|page=73|lang=it}}

|rev2 = Consoles +

|rev2Score = 82%{{cite magazine|last=Menier|first=Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Consoles%20Plus/consoleplus_numero009/Consoles%20%2B%20009%20-%20Page%20063%20%28mai%201992%29.jpg|title=Super Famicom Review - Top Racer|magazine=Consoles +|issue=9|publisher=M.E.R.7|date=May 1992|page=63|lang=fr}}

|rev3 = Game Zone

|rev3Score = 86%{{cite magazine|last=Daldry|first=Jeremy|title=Reviews - Top Gear|magazine=Game Zone|volume=2|issue=1|publisher=Dennis Publishing|date=November 1992|pages=64–66}}

|rev4 = Joypad

|rev4Score = 88%{{cite magazine|last1=Morisse|first1=Jean-François|last2=Demoly|first2=Jean-Marc|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=84&num=1778&album=oui|title=Top Racer: Partez Pour Un Tour Du Monde Sur Route À Grande Vitesse!|magazine=Joypad|issue=9|publisher=Yellow Media|date=June 1992|pages=150–151|lang=fr|access-date=2020-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719070320/https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=84&num=1778&album=oui|archive-date=2020-07-19|url-status=live}}
88%{{cite magazine|last=Morisse|first=Jean-François|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joypad/joypad_numero014/Joypad%20014%20-%20Page%20166%20%281992-11%29.jpg|title=French Collection - Top Gear: Duels Pour As Du Volant!|magazine=Joypad|issue=17|publisher=Yellow Media|date=November 1992|page=166|lang=fr}}

|rev5 = Joystick

|rev5Score = 86%{{cite magazine|last=Demoly|first=Jean-Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero027/page%20162.jpg|title=Console News: Top Racer|magazine=Joystick|issue=27|publisher=Sipress|date=May 1992|page=162|lang=fr}}

|MM = 92%{{cite magazine|author1=Julian|author2=Rich|url=https://archive.org/stream/Mean_Machines_Issue_22_1992-07_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n55/mode/2up|title=Super NES Review - Top Gear|magazine=Mean Machines|issue=22|publisher=EMAP|date=July 1992|pages=56–58}}

|rev7 = N-Force

|rev7Score = 91%{{cite magazine|last1=Rice|first1=Chris|last2=Green|first2=Doug|url=https://archive.org/stream/N-Force_No_2_1992-08_Europress_Impact_GB#page/n85/mode/2up|title=Reviewed! - N-Force Knockout: Top Gear|magazine=N-Force|issue=2|publisher=Europress Impact|date=August 1992|pages=86–87|access-date=2020-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107000110/https://archive.org/stream/N-Force_No_2_1992-08_Europress_Impact_GB#page/n85/mode/2up|archive-date=2015-11-07|url-status=live}}
93%
87%{{cite magazine|last=Roberts|first=Nick|url=https://archive.org/stream/N-Force_No_8_1993-02_Europress_Impact_GB#page/n70/mode/1up|title=Six of the best! - Top Racer|magazine=N-Force|issue=8|publisher=Europress Impact|date=February 1993|page=71}}

|rev8 = Nintendo Magazine System

|rev8Score = 85%{{cite magazine|last=Merrett|first=Steve|title=Game Styles - Top Racer|magazine=Nintendo Magazine System|issue=4|publisher=EMAP|date=January 1993|page=107}}

|rev9 = Player One

|rev9Score = 49%{{cite magazine|last=Delpierre|first=Christophe|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Player%20One/playerone_numero025/Player%20One%20025%20-%20Page%20122%20%281992-11%29.jpg|title=Tests De Jeux - Top Gear|magazine=Player One|issue=25|publisher=Média Système Édition|date=November 1992|page=122|lang=fr}}

|rev10 = Power Play

|rev10Score = 72%{{cite magazine|last=Forster|first=Winfried|url=https://www.kultpower.de/powerplay_testbericht_extern.php3?im=topracer.jpg|title=Videospiele / Tests - Top Racer|magazine=Power Play|issue=51|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=June 1992|page=155|lang=de|access-date=2020-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317103004/http://www.kultpower.de/powerplay_testbericht_extern.php3?im=topracer.jpg|archive-date=2009-03-17|url-status=live}}

|rev11 = Superjuegos

|rev11Score = 94 / 100{{cite magazine|last=Yuste|first=Carlos|url=https://archive.org/stream/Superjuegos_009#page/n63/mode/2up|title=Consola - En pantalla: Top Gear - La carretera es nuestra|magazine=Superjuegos|issue=9|publisher=Grupo Zeta|date=January 1993|pages=64–65|lang=es}}

|rev12 = Super Play

|rev12Score = 76%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Superplay_Issue_11_1993-09_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n91/mode/1up|title=What Cart? Super Play's Game Library - Top Gear|magazine=Super Play|issue=11|publisher=Future Publishing|date=September 1993|page=92|access-date=2020-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715042028/https://archive.org/stream/Superplay_Issue_11_1993-09_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n91/mode/1up|archive-date=2017-07-15|url-status=live}}

|rev13 = Super Pro

|rev13Score = 69%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/super-pro-01#page/22/mode/1up|title=A-Z of Official Games - Top Gear|magazine=Super Pro|issue=1|publisher=Paragon Publishing|date=December 1992|page=87}}

|rev14 = Tilt

|rev14Score = 17 / 20{{cite magazine|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Tilt/tilt_numero109/Tilt%20N%b0109%20-%20Novembre%201992%20Page%20069.jpg|title=Auto Console - Top Gear|magazine=Tilt|issue=109|publisher=Jean-Pierre Roger|date=November 1992|page=69|lang=fr}}

|rev15 = Video Games

|rev15Score = 75%{{cite magazine|last=Eggebrecht|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Eggebrecht|url=https://www.ninretro.de/img/scans/snes/Top_Gear_VG_6-92.jpg|title=Test: Im Rausch Der Raser - Top Racer|magazine=Video Games|issue=7|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=June 1992|page=112|lang=de}}

}}

Top Gear was met with positive reception from critics and reviewers alike since its release.

Legacy

The game became very popular in Latin America, especially in Brazil. It inspired Brazilian company Aquiris Game Studio to create the arcade racing game Horizon Chase - World Tour, which features an original soundtrack scored by Top Gear composer Barry Leitch, who also contributes an unlockable remix of the Top Gear main title theme.{{Cite news|url=https://killscreen.com/articles/behind-sega-core-racing-tunes-horizon-chase/|title=Behind the Sega-core racing tunes of Horizon Chase - Kill Screen|date=2015-09-18|work=Kill Screen|access-date=2020-04-25|language=en-US}}