Hot Rod (video game)

Hot Rod is a top-down arcade racing game developed by Sega. Released for arcades in 1988 in Japan and in 1989 Worldwide, the game was available in a four-player cocktail-style cabinet as well as a three-player upright cabinet. Home computer ports were published by Activision in 1990 for the Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and Atari ST.

For the game based on Hot Rod Magazine, see Hot Rod: American Street Drag.
Hot Rod
Developer(s)Sega
Publisher(s)Sega (arcade)
Activision (computers)
Composer(s)Arcade
Hiroshi Kawaguchi
N.Y
Commodore 64
Jeroen Tel
Platform(s)Arcade (original)
Atari ST, C64, Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
ReleaseJP December 1988 (arcade)
WW April 1989 (arcade)
1990 (computers)
Genre(s)Racing game
Mode(s)3–4 players
CabinetUpright or Cocktail
Arcade systemSega System 24
SoundYM2151
DisplayRaster, 496 x 384 pixels (Horizontal), 16384 colors

Gameplay

It allows up to four players simultaneously, and the player competes in races with three other cars. It is possible to upgrade the car at a Parts Shop.

The concept of this game is fairly different from many other racing games. Every time a player falls off screen, they will be penalized by having gas subtracted from their gas meter. If the gas meter reaches "0", the game is over. The player can pick up flashing targets symbolized with a "G". By picking up the target, 20 units gas will be added to the player's gas meter. If the player successfully crosses the finish line, they will be rewarded additional units of gas.

After every race, the player will then go to the Parts Shop. From there, with whatever money they have earned from races, they can purchase upgrades for their car. The types of upgrades include three front or rear engines, three types of bumpers, three types of spoilers, and two types of tires. However, the selection of tires is abundant, and include radial tires, speed tires, spike tires, and snow tires. The player may equip either a front or rear engine, not both at once. It is also impossible to have a spoiler and a rear engine equipped simultaneously.

There is a total of 30 different races spanning across ten different environments, which includes busy highways, dirt roads, a beachside course, a mountain course, farmlands, snowy terrain, a desert, a construction zone, a shipyard, and city streets. There are 3 races per environment, with every third race taking the players to a stadium for a victory ceremony. Afterwards, the players find themselves in a new environment.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Hot Rod on their June 1, 1988 issue as being the fourth most-successful upright arcade unit of the year.[1]

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References
  1. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 333. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 June 1988. p. 25.
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