Title: Super Off Road
Release Date: December 1991 (NA)
Developer: Leland Corporation/Tradewest
Publisher: Virgin Games
Hmmm another racing game? This is one that I haven't heard of, so let's see how it is! This is one that, even revisiting this blog, I don't remember at all.
Background
This game is a port of an arcade game from 1989 known as Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road. This game was ported to most everything under the sun at that time, from the ZX Spectrum to the Amiga to the NES and Genesis. Now the SNES game does not carry the endorsement from Ivan Stewart, a well known off-road racer from the time, or feature any of the other racers from that era who are featured in the arcade game, but it does feature a heavy brand deal from Toyota, even going so far to play the "I love what you do for me Toyota" jingle.
The game was developed by Leland Corporation, which was the arcade developer/predecessor to Midway games, who would eventually develop Mortal Kombat. I'm guessing that Leland developed the arcade game, and helped develop the console port with Tradewest, the company also responsible for producing Battletoads and Double Dragon for the American audiences.
Gameplay
The game itself seems to be the set up similarly to the "pocket circuit" or "slot car" style racing. You have a track seen from a tilted birdseye view; the track has a bunch of moguls, trenches, holes and water traps throughout it. The control scheme, as well, is different than a traditional racing game, or at least feels different. You have no perspective as a driver, but instead have to act as if you are guiding your car through a maze. The best correlation I can make for a modern gamer are the RC Car races in Super Mario Odyssey or one of Retro Rex's games in Yooka-Laylee.
The game is a functional "slot car" style racer. There are 16 tracks available in the game, and over 64 races that scale in difficulty as you progress through them. It maintains the arcade style of the races, but that means that after you complete your racing circuit, the game's races just repeat over again. I will say the game uses sound and level design to great effect, though. The races have a very kinetic feel to them with the revving of your engines as you go over moguls, and the sound of your car hitting gullies throughout the race track. The courses, as repetitive as they can be, are very well designed and varied, making the action pretty fun.
Between races, you can use the money won to upgrade your car with new parts, such as tires and suspension, which does help in future races, especially as the game gets more challenging. Honestly, though...that is really it for this game. It is a quick pick up and play arcade title.
Music
The music is pretty darn phenomenal for a US produced/developed game.
There are better racing games out there, BUT I will say that this is the most functional racing game, aside of F-Zero, thus far for the SNES. Jaleco 4X4 might be a close contender, but I think this one works as a more traditional and compact racing game. Honestly, though, this would probably serve better as a mini-game than a full fledged game.
The music is pretty darn phenomenal for a US produced/developed game.
Ads, Art, Commercials
Sadly only two print ads and a Dutch commercial for the original NES port.
Final Verdict
There are better racing games out there, BUT I will say that this is the most functional racing game, aside of F-Zero, thus far for the SNES. Jaleco 4X4 might be a close contender, but I think this one works as a more traditional and compact racing game. Honestly, though, this would probably serve better as a mini-game than a full fledged game.
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