Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally
Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally (ファミコングランプリII スリーディーホットラリー) is a racing game for the Family Computer Disk System, and was released exclusively in Japan on April 14, 1988. The game serves as the sequel to Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race, although it is very different from it, and is the third title of the F1 Race series. Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally is one of the eight games compatible with the Famicom 3D System. A soundtrack for the game was released on July 25, 1988.
Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally | |
Developer | Nintendo EAD HAL Laboratory |
Publisher | Nintendo |
Platform(s) | Family Computer Disk System |
Release date | April 14, 1988 |
Genre | Racing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Media | FDS:
Floppy disk
|
Input | NES:
|
Like its predecessor, Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally was also subject of a tournament, which was held from April 14 to May 31, 1988. The top 100 players of each car class received a trophy in the form of a gold car of their class encased in quartz crystal with their name and rank on the base. Thus, there are 300 such trophies. They and thousands of runners-up and raffle winners received a "Pretty Mini", which is a yellow stationery set in the form of Diskun, the FDS mascot. It is similar to a white stationery set that was sold in stores.[1][2] They also received mock driver's licenses.[3]
Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally marks the first time that Luigi appears taller and thinner than Mario on a game's box art, though this design was established in official artwork for Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels such as its tie-in film Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!.
Gameplay
The gameplay is often compared to Rad Racer, due to both being arcade-style racing games with 3D modes. The main objective of the game is to drive a car down a long road, while trying to make it to certain check points in a given amount of time. The timer only stops between checkpoints, but it does not reset. If the timer reaches zero, the game ends.
There are three cars to choose from: Kattobi, Yonque, and Monster. Each car has its own stats, namely affects its speed and how it handles certain off-road terrain, such as grass and dirt. The player's car has a set amount of health, which decreases upon crashing with the other cars on the road or the objects on its sides. Players can also choose an area to make repairs to their car, although this still costs them time.
Characters
Main characters
Vehicles
Vehicle | Top Speed | 1/4 Mile | Highway | Grass | Snow | Sand | Dirt |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kattobi |
220km/h | 13.71 sec. | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★☆☆ | ★☆☆ | ★☆☆ |
Yonque |
200km/h | 17.03 sec. | ★★☆ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★☆ |
Monster |
180km/h | 15.59 sec. | ★☆☆ | ★☆☆ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Obstacles
-
Abunaiwa
(Boulders) -
Nanisuruki
(Shrubs) -
Jamadatō
(Street lamps)
Collectible
Staff
- Main article: List of Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally staff
Development and release
Since most Famicom Disk System titles lack shutters and are often damaged by accident, Nintendo released Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally and some of their other Famicom Disk System titles in blue disks with shutters for protection. Nintendo designed and programmed the game with auxiliary program support from HAL Laboratory.
Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally was shown to Nintendo of America, who heavily criticized the game, particularly the "cute" design of the vehicles, and stated it would not sell. This reaction infuriated director Kazunobu Shimizu, who would later become one of the drivers behind the graphical style of F-Zero.[4]
Gallery
Artwork
-
The game's logo
-
Mario holding a tire
-
Mario and Luigi, tired from hard work
-
Mario pointing
-
Mario with a steering wheel
-
Front window view of Mario driving as Luigi anxiously provides directions
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Mario and Luigi posed next to the Yonque
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Mario popping champagne
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Mario popping champagne in front of Luigi
-
Kattobi
-
Monster
-
Yonque
-
Mario and Luigi riding in the Monster
-
Key artwork used for the game cover
-
Promotional flyer
-
Tournament flyer
Screenshots
-
Title screen
-
Screenshot showing the Monster
-
Screenshot showing the Yonque
-
Collecting a Hot Mark in the Yonque
-
Course 1 map
-
Course 2 map
-
Course 3 map
Sprites
-
Logo, as shown from the title screen
-
Luigi (left) and Mario (right) surrounding the Monster
Other
-
Game disk
Media
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Title Theme | File info 0:30 |
References in later games
- Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up: The box art's artwork of Mario and Luigi driving the Monster is replicated on the "Racecar Driver/Mechanic" page.
- Super Smash Bros. Melee: A trophy of the Monster is obtainable.
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U: An arrangement of the title theme, named "Title (3D Hot Rally)", appears in both games. It can be played in the Mario Circuit stage.
- Mario Kart Wii: The Tiny Titan is designed after the Monster; its Japanese name also translates to "Hot Rally", a further reference to the original game.
- Mario Kart 7: The design of the Monster Tires were heavily based from the cars of this game.
- Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: The Mario Motors logo features the artwork of Mario holding a tire from this game.
- Super Mario Odyssey: The Mechanic Outfit and Mechanic Hat from this game are references to Mario's appearance in Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The artwork of Mario and Luigi driving the Monster appears as a spirit in this game.
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ Types of Pretty Mini stationery sets
- ^ Video of the prizes
- ^ Nintendo (September 19, 2017). F-Zero developer interviewer (Wayback Machine). Retrieved July 24, 2022.