Top Gear (video game)

Top Gear
North American cover art
Developer(s)Gremlin Graphics
Publisher(s)Kemco
Programmer(s)Ashley Bennett
Ritchie Brannan
Simon Blake
Artist(s)Paul Gregory
Composer(s)Barry Leitch
Hiroyuki Masuno
SeriesTop Gear
Platform(s)Super NES
Release
  • JP: March 27, 1992[2]
  • NA: April 16, 1992[1]
  • EU: 19 November 1992
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Top Gear[a] 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

The game uses a split screen layout specifically for multiplayer.

Top Gear is a third-person racing game where players compete across multiple countries, aiming to qualify for successive stages by finishing each race within the top five positions. Players can choose between single-player or two-player split-screen modes, select a difficulty level, and configure various options such as speed display (mph or km/h).

At the start, players register a name and choose between manual or automatic transmission. Manual mode requires gear-shifting using the controller's shoulder buttons, while automatic mode handles shifting automatically. Four controller layouts are available, allowing players to remap acceleration, braking, gear-shifting, and nitro boost controls.

The game features four cars, each with unique handling characteristics, top speeds, and fuel consumption rates. For example, the Cannibal emphasizes high speed but has low tire grip and high fuel consumption, while the Sidewinder offers superior cornering and lower fuel usage. Nitro boosts provide temporary speed bursts, but each race limits players to three boosts.

Races take place across four-course regions, with points awarded based on finishing positions. A cumulative ranking after each set of four races determines whether the player advances to the next region. Fuel management is crucial, as running out of fuel ends a race; players may refuel during pit stops, though this costs valuable time. The game also includes day and night races, as well as hazards such as road obstacles, which can significantly slow players upon collision.

Development and release

The soundtrack for Top Gear was developed using the capabilities of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System’s SPC700 sound chip, which offered eight audio channels—an impressive feature for its time. The development team utilized the SNES ICE development kit, which included a removable ISA-based sound card. This card could be installed on a standard PC, allowing the team to compose music using custom software called MEDIT, which supported multiple platforms such as the Roland MT-32, AdLib, and the SNES. (Support for the Sega Genesis’ audio hardware was not implemented.)[3]

During the early stages of development, the composer experimented with the SNES music driver to explore its potential. Although most of the technical documentation was in Japanese (Kanji), the data structure was reverse-engineered through trial and error. One notable discovery was the SNES’s real-time echo effect, made possible by its audio DSP—a feature uncommon in contemporary consoles. However, the effect consumed significant memory, which led to the Top Gear soundtrack using a precise echo of one sixteenth note, the maximum length that could be accommodated within the system’s limitations.[3]

The game’s soundtrack, composed by Scottish musician Barry Leitch, became a defining aspect of its legacy. Leitch later recalled that the music was created under a tight production schedule, with some tracks reworked from his earlier compositions for Lotus Turbo Challenge and its sequels due to time constraints. The "Vegas" track, for example, was one of the first pieces written for Top Gear, featuring Leitch’s preferred chord progressions and melodic structures.[3]

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.[4]

Developer QUByte Interactive released the game for modern systems under the name Top Racer Collection on March 7, 2024.[5]

Reception

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

Legacy

Top Gear gained notable popularity in Brazil during the early 1990s, becoming one of the country’s most recognized racing games of the era. Released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1992 by Kemco, the title competed with other early racing games on the platform, such as F-Zero, Super Mario Kart, and Lamborghini American Challenge. The widespread presence of video game rental shops and the prevalence of console piracy in Brazil at the time contributed to the game’s enduring reach and influence among players.[3]

Decades later, the Top Gear soundtrack—particularly its main theme—has achieved cult status, inspiring thousands of fan covers and tributes on platforms such as YouTube. Its influence extended to modern racing titles, most notably Horizon Chase, a spiritual successor developed by Aquiris Game Studio, which recruited Barry Leitch to compose its soundtrack as a homage to the classic SNES racer.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Also known as Top Racer (Japanese: トップレーサー, Hepburn: Toppu Rēsā) in Japan

References

  1. ^ "Super NES Games" (PDF). Nintendo. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  2. ^ "トップレーサー". Famitsu (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Interviewing veteran composer Barry Leitch (Part I). Sound chips (from ZX-81 to the SNES)". www.gamedeveloper.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  4. ^ Ryan Craddock (2019-09-10). "The Evercade Handheld's Latest Cartridge Features Several Rare SNES Games". NintendoLife.
  5. ^ "Review: Top Racer Collection Is A Great Drive Down Memory Lane – Entertainium". 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  6. ^ "Top Gear for Super Nintendo". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  7. ^ Penniment, Brad (1998). "Top Gear - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  8. ^ Fan, Fanatic (May 1992). "Super NES ProReview: Top Gear". GamePro. No. 34. IDG. p. 29.
  9. ^ Sinfield, George; Noel, Rob (July 1992). "Now Playing - Top Gear". Nintendo Power. No. 37. Nintendo of America. p. 105.
  10. ^ Rosa, Piemarco (November 1992). "Top Racer (Super Famicom)". Consolemania (in Italian). No. 13. Xenia Edizioni. p. 73.
  11. ^ Menier, Marc (May 1992). "Super Famicom Review - Top Racer". Consoles + (in French). No. 9. M.E.R.7. p. 63.
  12. ^ Daldry, Jeremy (November 1992). "Reviews - Top Gear". Game Zone. Vol. 2, no. 1. Dennis Publishing. pp. 64–66.
  13. ^ Morisse, Jean-François; Demoly, Jean-Marc (June 1992). "Top Racer: Partez Pour Un Tour Du Monde Sur Route À Grande Vitesse!". Joypad (in French). No. 9. Yellow Media. pp. 150–151. Archived from the original on 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  14. ^ Morisse, Jean-François (November 1992). "French Collection - Top Gear: Duels Pour As Du Volant!". Joypad (in French). No. 17. Yellow Media. p. 166.
  15. ^ Demoly, Jean-Marc (May 1992). "Console News: Top Racer". Joystick (in French). No. 27. Sipress. p. 162.
  16. ^ Julian; Rich (July 1992). "Super NES Review - Top Gear". Mean Machines. No. 22. EMAP. pp. 56–58.
  17. ^ a b Rice, Chris; Green, Doug (August 1992). "Reviewed! - N-Force Knockout: Top Gear". N-Force. No. 2. Europress Impact. pp. 86–87. Archived from the original on 2015-11-07. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  18. ^ Roberts, Nick (February 1993). "Six of the best! - Top Racer". N-Force. No. 8. Europress Impact. p. 71.
  19. ^ Merrett, Steve (January 1993). "Game Styles - Top Racer". Nintendo Magazine System. No. 4. EMAP. p. 107.
  20. ^ Delpierre, Christophe (November 1992). "Tests De Jeux - Top Gear". Player One (in French). No. 25. Média Système Édition. p. 122.
  21. ^ Forster, Winfried (June 1992). "Videospiele / Tests - Top Racer". Power Play (in German). No. 51. Future-Verlag. p. 155. Archived from the original on 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  22. ^ Yuste, Carlos (January 1993). "Consola - En pantalla: Top Gear - La carretera es nuestra". Superjuegos (in Spanish). No. 9. Grupo Zeta. pp. 64–65.
  23. ^ "What Cart? Super Play's Game Library - Top Gear". Super Play. No. 11. Future Publishing. September 1993. p. 92. Archived from the original on 2017-07-15. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  24. ^ "A-Z of Official Games - Top Gear". Super Pro. No. 1. Paragon Publishing. December 1992. p. 87.
  25. ^ "Auto Console - Top Gear". Tilt (in French). No. 109. Jean-Pierre Roger. November 1992. p. 69.
  26. ^ Eggebrecht, Julian (June 1992). "Test: Im Rausch Der Raser - Top Racer". Video Games (in German). No. 7. Future-Verlag. p. 112.
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