Cycle Race: Road Man
Encyclopedia
is a Family Computer
video game based on the sport of road bicycle racing
.
It is the player's ultimate objective to make it all the way around Japan
. If the player ends up completely damaging the bicycle
, running out of energy, or falling behind a certain ranking, then he or she will automatically lose the race. Players can choose a representative from either Team USA
, Team Japan
, Team France
, or Team Italy
. As long as the player has at least one spare bicycle in his inventory, games will never end on a completely damaged bicycle. Passwords
are used to save the game, as opposed to a battery save.
Translating the Japanese title into English reveals that the race is 4000 kilometers long (2485.5 miles). During these 4000 kilometres, players must traverse the countryside that separates major Japanese cities along the coastline. Interesting scenery includes forest
s and cattle
farms. All the menus that help the game function (except for the title screen) use the English language
despite the fact that the game was never released in either North America or Europe; even the passwords use the Latin alphabet
instead of either hiragana
or katakana
.
Teammates give out useful power-ups that increase the speed of the bicycle. The power-ups can also give the player the opportunity to make on the spot repairs
, and extra energy (i.e., water or energy drink
) for those longer courses. Each team has five members to choose from; each with their own strengths and weaknesses and a name that is typical of his nationality. Points (which are used as currency) are earned by finishing as close to first place as possible. Once acquired, points can be used to buy bicycles that are faster and longer lasting. Potential bicycle purchasers must be aware; bicycle sales cannot be cancelled or revoked. Discarding a bike is only possible by intentionally destroying them in a race. Bicycles come in different colors including green
, red
, and blue
.
There are also technical differences with the different bicycles. Some are better in higher altitude places like mountain
s while others function better in lower altitude places like valley
s and flat land. However, there are also bicycles that can endure both high altitude and low altitude places. The more expensive the bicycle is, the lighter and faster it is. Endurance is linked directly to the weight and speed of the bicycle (and indirectly to the cost of the bicycle). Longer races require bicycles with a larger endurance rating. These three different types of bicycles and four different types of price ranges for each type of bicycle encourage the player to make his or purchases carefully. Strategy will increasingly come into importance as the player has to decide between having more bicycles or better quality bicycles.
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
video game based on the sport of road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
.
General gameplay
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. If the player ends up completely damaging the bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
, running out of energy, or falling behind a certain ranking, then he or she will automatically lose the race. Players can choose a representative from either Team USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Team Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Team France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, or Team Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. As long as the player has at least one spare bicycle in his inventory, games will never end on a completely damaged bicycle. Passwords
Password (video games)
In many video games of the 8-bit and, to a lesser extent, 16-bit eras , after a level was beaten and/or when all continues were used, the game would display a password, that when entered in the game would allow the player to return to this part in the game...
are used to save the game, as opposed to a battery save.
Translating the Japanese title into English reveals that the race is 4000 kilometers long (2485.5 miles). During these 4000 kilometres, players must traverse the countryside that separates major Japanese cities along the coastline. Interesting scenery includes forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
farms. All the menus that help the game function (except for the title screen) use the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
despite the fact that the game was never released in either North America or Europe; even the passwords use the Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
instead of either hiragana
Hiragana
is a Japanese syllabary, one basic component of the Japanese writing system, along with katakana, kanji, and the Latin alphabet . Hiragana and katakana are both kana systems, in which each character represents one mora...
or katakana
Katakana
is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with hiragana, kanji, and in some cases the Latin alphabet . The word katakana means "fragmentary kana", as the katakana scripts are derived from components of more complex kanji. Each kana represents one mora...
.
Strategy elements
Maintenance, repair, and operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
, and extra energy (i.e., water or energy drink
Energy drink
Energy drinks are beverages whose producers advertise that they "boost energy." These advertisements usually do not emphasize energy derived from the sugar and caffeine they contain but rather increased energy release due to a variety of stimulants and vitamins....
) for those longer courses. Each team has five members to choose from; each with their own strengths and weaknesses and a name that is typical of his nationality. Points (which are used as currency) are earned by finishing as close to first place as possible. Once acquired, points can be used to buy bicycles that are faster and longer lasting. Potential bicycle purchasers must be aware; bicycle sales cannot be cancelled or revoked. Discarding a bike is only possible by intentionally destroying them in a race. Bicycles come in different colors including green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
, red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
, and blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
.
There are also technical differences with the different bicycles. Some are better in higher altitude places like mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s while others function better in lower altitude places like valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
s and flat land. However, there are also bicycles that can endure both high altitude and low altitude places. The more expensive the bicycle is, the lighter and faster it is. Endurance is linked directly to the weight and speed of the bicycle (and indirectly to the cost of the bicycle). Longer races require bicycles with a larger endurance rating. These three different types of bicycles and four different types of price ranges for each type of bicycle encourage the player to make his or purchases carefully. Strategy will increasingly come into importance as the player has to decide between having more bicycles or better quality bicycles.