These days, releasing a classic compilation feels like a safe bet. But care and devotion needs to be put into that collection to make it attractive to gamers. Tomb Raider Remaster clearly handled that with ease a few days ago; and Star Wars Battlefront Collection looks to do the same when it drops next week. Alongside Contra: Operation Galuga, might I add. (Not a collection, but a remaster, so kinda counts.)
In-between all of those, we have QUByte Interactive’s collection of classic Top Gear racing games, under the name Top Racer Collection. Not sure why the name had to change, but my guess is that it had something to do with rights. No matter. This compilation features three classic Top Gear SNES games in all their glory, along with a bonus title with ties to the more recent release Horizon Chase Turbo.
The bare-bones presentation and lack of history – not to mention the missing N64 gems Top Gear Rally and Top Gear Overdrive – do leave Top Racer Collection feeling a little anemic. Still, if you grew up on 16-bit style racers or just need an old-school driving challenge, there’s fun to be had here.
Make Vroom For Cars
The Top Racer Collection contains three games as the main highlight – the Japanese versions of Top Racer, Top Racer 2, and Top Racer 3000. In addition, there’s a “new” game called Top Racer Crosswords, which is essentially a hack (albeit a successful one) of an older game to include vehicles from the successful Horizon Chase. A novel idea, to be sure, but a mod is still just a mod.
Nevertheless, all three games handle just as well as the SNES games that came before them. Driving along roads is still a great challenge, especially in some of the later tracks in each game. For good measure, you can also try your luck with manual shifting, if you’re into that sort of thing. The games don’t evolve the driving genre, but they’re true to the code of the original releases, so no problem there.
You can also race a friend either locally or online, which does slow down the frame rate a little bit, but still remains fun as you gun for the finish line. Outside of that, aside from the different cups (including a cool little time challenge mode), there’s only a few other things. There are filters you can play around with, along with other features here and there to tweak, but this one isn’t exactly what you’d call “in-depth.”
It would’ve been nice to have a more detailed history of the series here (along with the N64 games, which remain the pinnacle of Top Gear, at least to me), but for a mere $20 release, Top Racer Collection serves its purpose, and does so pretty well. Just don’t expect “compilation of the year” material like Tomb Raider.
Authentic Design, To a Fault
The Top Gear games play really well in Top Racer Collection, but how do they look and sound?
Well, as I mentioned before, Gremlin Graphics followed the original SNES coding for each of the three main games. That means the slowdown is still present, but the games still maintain a suitable frame rate. Plus the cars look good and the track designs can be a lot of fun, especially in Top Racer 2.
As for the Crossroads hack, it’s okay, but doesn’t show much difference from the other games in the series. I suppose that’s par for the course, but it would’ve been nice to have them address certain things. Like maybe the frame rate. Nevertheless, a solid bonus.
The music is great, though. Each of the games have their own distinctive soundtrack, and white not entirely as memorable as, say, Out Run, each of the Top Racer games have their fun, listenable tunes. All this backed up by decent car noises, though the collision one might still make you wince if you’re not expecting it.
Up To Speed?
Not every gaming compilation can be a winner like Tomb Raider Remaster, sad to say. But that doesn’t mean Top Racer Collection is a wreck by any means.
While decidedly barebones and missing some of the better games in the series, the package does include three fun 16-bit racers, which you can play alone or with a friend. The new Crossroads game is pretty cool too, though only to an extent.
Some more history or features would’ve given this game clear championship status. As it stands, though, it’s still an entertaining Sunday drive.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
(Thanks to QUByte Interactive for the game code!)
