Top Gear OverDrive
Encyclopedia
Top Gear Overdrive is a racing game
released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64
and the sequel to Top Gear Rally
. This game had support for high-resolution graphics if used with the Expansion Pak and featured music from a band known as Grindstone
.
At the beginning of the race the player would start at the back of the grid, at the start line. Computer players at the front of the grid would often start a third of the way around the first lap. Players started with three charges of nitrous oxide
, which were used to give the player a temporary speed boost.
While racing, the player could pick up two power-ups: nitrous oxide and cash. The nitrous oxide could be used straight away, while the cash was added to the winnings at the end of the race and was used for buying upgrades to the player's car.
Shortcuts were available on each track, and often the use of these decided the outcome of the races, particularly in later seasons.
At the end of each race the player would be presented with a screen to allow for various upgrades to their car, such as to acceleration and handling. The player was also able to change their car for a better (or worse) vehicle and could buy extra nitrous oxide to use in the next race.
At the end of the season, if the player had placed fourth or better in all of that season's tracks, they were allowed to progress to the next season.
In later seasons all of the above tracks with the exception of Space Truckin' was available mirrored and/or with a variety of weather conditions, such as snowing, thunder and night time. As the player unlocked each track it became available in all the other game modes, except for Space Truckin', which could only be played in the main championship mode.
Further "cars" could be unlocked by beating all six of the seasons in championships mode, including:
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
and the sequel to Top Gear Rally
Top Gear Rally
Top Gear Rally is a rally game for the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. The Game Boy Color version was released under the name Top Gear Pocket, although the European release uses the original name. It features five tracks. It has a feature that allows the user to give their virtual...
. This game had support for high-resolution graphics if used with the Expansion Pak and featured music from a band known as Grindstone
Grindstone
Grindstone may refer to:*Grindstone , a tool used for sharpening*Grindstone, a type of millstone used to grind grains such as wheat*Grindstone , 1996 Kentucky Derby winner and sire of the racehorse Birdstone...
.
Gameplay
In the main mode of play, the player races through six seasons, each season containing more races from more tracks, and with faster cars competing.At the beginning of the race the player would start at the back of the grid, at the start line. Computer players at the front of the grid would often start a third of the way around the first lap. Players started with three charges of nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or sweet air, is a chemical compound with the formula . It is an oxide of nitrogen. At room temperature, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic...
, which were used to give the player a temporary speed boost.
While racing, the player could pick up two power-ups: nitrous oxide and cash. The nitrous oxide could be used straight away, while the cash was added to the winnings at the end of the race and was used for buying upgrades to the player's car.
Shortcuts were available on each track, and often the use of these decided the outcome of the races, particularly in later seasons.
At the end of each race the player would be presented with a screen to allow for various upgrades to their car, such as to acceleration and handling. The player was also able to change their car for a better (or worse) vehicle and could buy extra nitrous oxide to use in the next race.
At the end of the season, if the player had placed fourth or better in all of that season's tracks, they were allowed to progress to the next season.
Tracks
- Frigid Peaks
- Fertile Canyon
- Swampy Depot
- Downtown
- Sandy Beaches
- Space Truckin'
In later seasons all of the above tracks with the exception of Space Truckin' was available mirrored and/or with a variety of weather conditions, such as snowing, thunder and night time. As the player unlocked each track it became available in all the other game modes, except for Space Truckin', which could only be played in the main championship mode.
Cars
None of the cars in Top Gear Overdrive actually had real names, instead having a codename. However, the cars did bear striking resemblances to the following real world cars:- Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen BeetleThe Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
- Mitsubishi EclipseMitsubishi EclipseThe Mitsubishi Eclipse was a coupe that was in production since 1989 for left hand drive traffic markets. According to Mitsubishi, the car was named after an 18th century English racehorse which won 26 races, and has also been sold as the Eagle Talon and the Plymouth Laser captive imports through...
- Jeep WranglerJeep WranglerThe Jeep Wrangler is a subcompact four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle and an off-road vehicle manufactured by American automaker Chrysler, under its Jeep marque – and now in its fourth generation. It is a successor to the famous World War II 'Jeep' vehicle by way of the Willys civilian...
- Chevrolet CamaroChevrolet CamaroThe Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang...
- Dodge ViperDodge ViperThe first prototype was tested in January 1989. It debuted in 1991 with two pre-production models as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 when Dodge was forced to substitute it in place of the Japanese-built Stealth because of complaints from the United Auto Workers, and went on sale in January...
- Hummer H1Hummer H1The Hummer H1 is a civilian off-road vehicle based on the M998 Humvee, which was created by AM General. The vehicle was produced from 1992 through 2006, and was the first of what became the Hummer line...
- Porsche 911 Turbo
- Ferrari F40Ferrari F40The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupé sports car produced by Ferrari from 1987 to 1992 as the successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO. From 1987 to 1989 it was Ferrari's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car...
- Chrysler Jeep Jeepster(Prototype)
- McLaren F1McLaren F1The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car...
Further "cars" could be unlocked by beating all six of the seasons in championships mode, including:
- A Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
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- A Nintendo PowerNintendo PowerNintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
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