RC Pro Am 2
Reviewed by Bill O'Toole III
Graphics: 8 out of 10
Since RC Pro Am 2 was released relatively late in the system's life,
its graphics are superior to most earlier NES games. There is a huge
difference between this game and the original RC Pro Am. Rare did a
good job here; the backgrounds are always colorful and filled with
detail. The changes of scenery, from an urban setting to the middle
of the desert, are refreshing and very well done. Visually, the RC cars
aren't anything to brag about, but the later iterations look much
sportier than the trucks you start out with.
Sound: 4 out of 10
I was quite disappointed with the sound in RC Pro Am 2. There is music
in between races while you're powering up your cars, but none during
the actual races. The drone of the cars gets on your nerves a little after
a while; explosions, crashes, and nitro boosts don't do that good of a job
breaking up the monotony. Rare and Tradewest have a good track record
of writing music for NES games (look at the Battletoads series!), but
didn't bother putting tunes in this game. In the end, I guess it really
doesn't matter; you'll be too busy either laughing or cursing at your
friends while playing the game's awesome 4-player mode.
Play Control: 8.5 out of 10
There's really not much to complain about here. The cars react in
whatever way you direct them to. Of course, responsiveness suffers
when you use a nitro boost or you hit a power strip on the track, but the
boosts only last for a few seconds anyway. The only real gripe I have
comes during the bonus rounds (a drag race and a tug-o-war). Basically,
they are just contests of who can mash the buttons the fastest. The
tug-o-war can go on so long that both of your arms start to hurt. Wasn't
there a better way to do this?
Fun: 8.5 out of 10
No matter how good the graphics and play control are, it always comes
down to whether the game is fun to play or not. Rare did not disappoint
with their follow up to the classic RC Pro Am. Tossing the little cars
into the corners is as fun as it ever was. The various weapons that you
can buy help a lot, too; being able to destroy each other helps the 4-player
mode become, literally, a blast. RC Pro Am 2, a Four Score (or a Satellite,
if you can actually find one of these things that still works), and a few
friends always makes a good time.
Challenge: 7 out of 10
Depending on how lucky you are in collecting the little letters found on
the tracks in each level and how wisely you spend your money, this game
can be either fairly easy or an exercise in frustration. The letters, which
help you upgrade your car, can be quite difficult to collect. If you're the
only one on the track who hasn't gotten a new car, then you're most likely
going to lose. You also have to keep upgrading items like your engine, tires,
and weapons in order to remain a winner. It's a long game, but not too hard
to complete if you stay on top of upgrading everything.
Replay Value: 8 out of 10
Thanks to Rare throwing in a great 4-player mode, this is sure to be a
game that you'll keep coming back to. The one player mode does get a
little stale after a while, but human opponents always seem to make
the game much more interesting. Trying out all of the different weapons,
engines, etc. also add to the replay value and add some strategic
elements into the game.
Overall: 8 out of 10
When it's all said and done, this is one of the finest racers that you can
pick up for the NES. Although I slightly prefer Micro Machines and Danny
Sullivan's Indy Heat, you certainly can't go wrong with RC Pro Am 2.
Unfortunately (well, at least for those that don't own it), this game is
pretty tough find. If you want a copy, then you better start searching now,
because I doubt it will become any easier to find as time passes by.