Written: 11.3.06 Acquired: 9.24.06 Status: Cart only Price: $9
Publisher: Banpresto
Released: 3.17.95
Developer: Minato Giken
Scarcity: 3
Ah, did Banpresto milk these fella's or what? One in a long line of "Battle" SFC games, these titles all feature the same four blokes, namely, Ultraman the Great, Radar RX 'The Masked Rider,'Battle Knight Gundam F-91 and Earth Fighter Roah. They've done dodgeball, they've done soccer, now they're slugging it out in a charge-to-the-finish-line duel
Standard Grand Prix mode, Time Trial (which saves your best lap and overall times of course) and 2P mode. 2 players can battle it out in the Grand Prix mode, or a battle game where the objective is to capture a ball and enter 10 zones, deactivating them one by one. Meanwhile, your opponent tries his damndest to knock the ball out of your clutches and begin his own 10 zone spree. There are (surprise surprise) four different specific battle courses
Power sliding feels very natural. There's nothing like turning the corner without slowing down, brushing past a group of pillars untouched -- speeding your way to the finish line
Makes for a great adrenaline kick!
In the Grand Prix mode, there are 6 racers. Points are handed out much like Mario Kart.
Shameless huh?
Capsules are strewn about the courses. Changing colors every few seconds, they range from health refills to projectile based attacks
5 laps per course... some of which are very short -- 11 to 15 second laps are not uncommon! 4 cups are available, with the 4th having to be unlocked
The 1st cup has four courses, 2nd cup five and 3rd cup sixth (Total of 15 initial tracks for the mathematically impaired)
Standard pits and water hazards are present
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Battle Racers is fun and feels 'right.' I thought coming in, it was going to be a poor clone. It's a lot better than I expected. In fact, I came away liking it a lot. Give it a shot
