Rapid Racer

Rapid Racer, known as Turbo Prop Racing in North America, is a racing video game developed by SCE Studios Soho and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation. In the game, the player takes control of a motorboat and races around six different tracks. Eventually, all six tracks can be raced mirrored, as well as set at night time.

Rapid Racer
Developer(s)SCE Studios Soho
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Producer(s)Pascal Jarry
Richard Skews
Daniel Boutros
Composer(s)Apollo 440 (Music) Jason Page (SFX)
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • EU: October 01, 1997
  • NA: July 15, 1998[1]
  • JP: July 15, 1998
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

By winning championships and completing bonus rounds (unlocked by five yellow icons during a race but first two-day tracks), players can unlock them which they can use to either upgrade their boat or unlock a higher-powered one.

Gameplay

Rapid Racer was one of the first PlayStation games to take full advantage of the DualShock controller; the game allow steering with the analog sticks, and the gamepad vibrates during gameplay.[2] The intensity of the vibrations depends on what type of water the player is in; calm rapids mean low vibrations, while heavier rapids give high vibrations.

After reaching a certain point in the game, players can unlock the Fractal Generator. This feature allows the player to select from a large number of tracks besides the normal six. Players can either allow the generator to randomly select a track or manually input their own.

Development

Work on Rapid Racer began in 1995.[3] Six months were spent modeling the physics and behavior of the water.[3] The European version of the game runs at 50 frames per second, while the North American version runs at 60 frames per second.[4]

The game's soundtrack was composed by Apollo Four Forty (Loudmouth in Turbo Prop Racing). The game's main theme "Carrera Rapida" by Apollo 440 was released as a single and on their 1997 album Electro Glide in Blue.

Reception

Rapid Racer received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[5] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on 16 July 1998, Famitsu gave it a score of 27 out of 40.[10]

GameSpot criticized the courses for being very narrow and limited, but praised the game's "hip-hop/techno" music, comparing it favorably to that of Wipeout.[2] Edge highlighted the fluid graphics and frame rate, but criticized the unoriginal gameplay and unrealistic boat handling, which can frustrate players. The magazine concluded: "As a technological showcase, Rapid Racer is a truly impressive achievement. As a game in its own right, however, it falls disappointingly short of the expectations aroused by its glorious visuals."[4] GamePro said of the game, "The sounds never rise above average and the controls are way too sensitive (even with the analog controller), which makes racing in the already arduous turns a difficult task and adds to [the] game's general frustration level. With such severe visual and control maladies, Turbo Prop doesn't even come close to crossing the finish line."[17][lower-alpha 2] However, Next Generation said, "Anyone who thinks that PlayStation is finished should check this game out."[15]

Notes
  1. In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the game, one critic gave it 6.5/10, two others gave it each a score of 4.5/10, and the other gave it 5/10.
  2. GamePro gave the game 1/5 for graphics, 3/5 for sound, 1.5/5 for control, and 2/5 for fun factor.

References
  1. GameSpot staff (7 July 1998). "videogames.com Game Calendar". GameSpot. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 21 February 1999. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  2. Ryan MacDonald (4 August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 12 December 2004. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  3. "NG Alphas: Sony Computer Entertainment U.K." Next Generation. No. 23. Imagine Media. November 1996. pp. 135–38. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. Edge staff (November 1997). "Rapid Racer" (PDF). Edge. No. 51. Future Publishing. pp. 88–89. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. "Turbo Prop Racing for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  6. Skyler Miller. "Turbo Prop Racing - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  7. Tom Chick (14 August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  8. Dean Hager; Shawn Smith; Crispin Boyer; John Davison (September 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 110. Ziff Davis. p. 149. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  9. Victor Lucas (25 August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on 3 February 1999. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. "ラピッドレーサー [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  11. "Turbo Prop Racing". Game Informer. No. 64. FuncoLand. August 1998.
  12. "REVIEW for Turbo Prop Racing". GameFan. Metropolis Media. 8 June 1998.
  13. Mark Cooke (August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on February 19, 2004. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  14. Randy Nelson (24 August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  15. "Turbo Prop Racing". Next Generation. No. 45. Imagine Media. September 1998. p. 129. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  16. "Turbo Prop Racing". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 1, no. 12. Ziff Davis. September 1998.
  17. Four-Eyed Dragon (September 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. No. 120. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 25 November 2004. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
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