GBA racing games

takwu · September 13th, 2005

As my Gameboy Micro comes nearer, I have to start looking for the games. Since the GBA has been around for so long, and I have never really paid attention to the titles, I got a lot to catch up on and need some advice

Note also that a lot of titles are very hard to find because they're so old (Final Fight where art thou!?) So keep that in mind.

There are too many games I want to get, so I'll start by asking about the racing games. I just browsed thru Gamespot and here's what I found so far:

For road racing, I am thinking Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed. Simple reasons: 1 - it's NFS, 2 - it's not Underground, 3 - I can find it in a store. Any comments, for or against? The GT Advance series doesn't look too good to me. Also I prefer good tracks over all the tuning or "customizing" crap they spent so much effort to put into racing games nowadays. You can really tell if a track has been carefully designed and tested rather than modelled after a long rubber band.

For rallying, Top Gear Rally is king... right? VRally 3 might be the next choice - any objections? Again there's GT Advance Rally, which again looks mediocre in comparison. Sega Rally Championship seems like a huge disappointment

Finally there's action driving. Monster Truck Madness seems cool? And Drome Racer looks sweet too. I'm not really into Mario Kart, so too bad for me I guess. Also I'm not big on Crazy Taxi and Driver series. Driving thru a city like a madman is fun sometimes, but never really got me hooked.

Almost forgot to mention sci-fi racer, but there's only F-Zero series. Don't get me wrong, I luved it on the SNES, but perhaps it is low priority to get for the time being.

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Paratech · September 13th, 2005

Don't forget the Sega Arcade Gallery has Super Hang On and OutRun...
IIRC it's a 'rare' cart, but I doubt it's expensive, just not common...
and yes I have the pack...
It has Space Harrier and After Burner as well...
I'm taping Full Metal Alchemist or I'd plop it into my Gameboy player to get the list...
I just checked EBay...only 4 games, but it's a good deal...l
I won't post any EBAY auctions, don't wanna be preferentual...but lookup Sega Arcade Gallery on the Game Boy Advance games section and you'll see some auctions...

Last edited by Paratech; September 13th, 2005 at 06:18..

takwu · September 13th, 2005

Thx. Yes I just spotted that title after posting this thread. I might buy it just for OutRun, but not for Super Hang On (I rarely like bike games). And the other two games would just be extras.

I know I can get many games on eBay, or other online stores. But if anything doesn't work, which isn't exactly rare on used cartridges, then it becomes a hassle. So I'll try to shop locally first, and look for brand new items online second.

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xRock · September 13th, 2005

Racing Gears Advance is a pretty neat game.

takwu · September 23rd, 2005

Thx xRock I'll check it out...

Update: I haven't gotten the GBM yet, but I got an SP so I started getting games already.

I found a used Monster Truck Madness in EB Games and got it. Excellent game! The graphics are best. The cars are 3D, and it has a damage model! (Altho it's cosmetic only; no effects on the driving.) The tracks don't look as good, but still nicely textured. The turns and slopes and bumps prevent the tracks from being plain, so do all the obstacles presented by detailed 2D sprites. The environments vary as well, from indoor dirt tracks to country backroads to beach runs. All this is even more amazing for the fact that I didn't feel any framerate drops in any situation.

The physics is not bad either. On flat grounds you understeer easily if you go too fast; BUT there aren't many flat grounds, hah! Most of the time you are bouncing off the bumps or driving thru the bushes on the side anyway. Also the tracks mentioned above have two types: in circuits you go around 3 laps, and in rallies you go thru 3 sections of a continuous road.

Adding to the fun is the powerups. I won't go into details in all of them, but... I once picked up the speed boost right before a bump and I flew thru the air as the truck turned sideways, so when it landed it rolled on the ground as other trucks scrambled to go around it! I hope you get the picture!

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**cooliscool** · September 26th, 2005

I got MTM as well. Really good game.. shin'en's pseudo 3D engines are awesome.

You mentioned VRally3 - incredible. A true, full 60FPS 3D engine with textures and everything. If you liked MTM you'll love VRally, even moreso.

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takwu · September 26th, 2005

Hey thx, I'll try to find VRally 3 based on your recommendation

I was looking at Top Gear Rally, and found it both new and used. But I have so many other games to get I am holding that one off for now. I wonder how these two rally games compare tho.

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Samor · September 26th, 2005

shin'en is awesome,
the DS game in my avatar is from them

I don't know much about GBA racers, sadly.
I thought GT Advance was pretty cool; that was a GBA launch title though, it's been a while since then.
Crazy Taxi was horrible.

September 13th, 2005	#1 (permalink)
takwu previous extinction Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,857	GBA racing games As my Gameboy Micro comes nearer, I have to start looking for the games. Since the GBA has been around for so long, and I have never really paid attention to the titles, I got a lot to catch up on and need some advice Note also that a lot of titles are very hard to find because they're so old (Final Fight where art thou!?) So keep that in mind. There are too many games I want to get, so I'll start by asking about the racing games. I just browsed thru Gamespot and here's what I found so far: For road racing, I am thinking Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed. Simple reasons: 1 - it's NFS, 2 - it's not Underground, 3 - I can find it in a store. Any comments, for or against? The GT Advance series doesn't look too good to me. Also I prefer good tracks over all the tuning or "customizing" crap they spent so much effort to put into racing games nowadays. You can really tell if a track has been carefully designed and tested rather than modelled after a long rubber band. For rallying, Top Gear Rally is king... right? VRally 3 might be the next choice - any objections? Again there's GT Advance Rally, which again looks mediocre in comparison. Sega Rally Championship seems like a huge disappointment Finally there's action driving. Monster Truck Madness seems cool? And Drome Racer looks sweet too. I'm not really into Mario Kart, so too bad for me I guess. Also I'm not big on Crazy Taxi and Driver series. Driving thru a city like a madman is fun sometimes, but never really got me hooked. Almost forgot to mention sci-fi racer, but there's only F-Zero series. Don't get me wrong, I luved it on the SNES, but perhaps it is low priority to get for the time being. __________________ Latest toy: Sharp LCD TV Monitor LL-M17W1U

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September 13th, 2005	#2 (permalink)
Paratech Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Franklin, Pa Posts: 4,123	Don't forget the Sega Arcade Gallery has Super Hang On and OutRun... IIRC it's a 'rare' cart, but I doubt it's expensive, just not common... and yes I have the pack... It has Space Harrier and After Burner as well... I'm taping Full Metal Alchemist or I'd plop it into my Gameboy player to get the list... I just checked EBay...only 4 games, but it's a good deal...l I won't post any EBAY auctions, don't wanna be preferentual...but lookup Sega Arcade Gallery on the Game Boy Advance games section and you'll see some auctions... Last edited by Paratech; September 13th, 2005 at 06:18..

September 13th, 2005	#3 (permalink)
takwu previous extinction Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,857	Thx. Yes I just spotted that title after posting this thread. I might buy it just for OutRun, but not for Super Hang On (I rarely like bike games). And the other two games would just be extras. I know I can get many games on eBay, or other online stores. But if anything doesn't work, which isn't exactly rare on used cartridges, then it becomes a hassle. So I'll try to shop locally first, and look for brand new items online second. __________________ Latest toy: Sharp LCD TV Monitor LL-M17W1U

September 13th, 2005	#4 (permalink)
xRock Ride the Darkness Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 337	Racing Gears Advance is a pretty neat game.

September 23rd, 2005	#5 (permalink)
takwu previous extinction Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,857	Thx xRock I'll check it out... Update: I haven't gotten the GBM yet, but I got an SP so I started getting games already. I found a used Monster Truck Madness in EB Games and got it. Excellent game! The graphics are best. The cars are 3D, and it has a damage model! (Altho it's cosmetic only; no effects on the driving.) The tracks don't look as good, but still nicely textured. The turns and slopes and bumps prevent the tracks from being plain, so do all the obstacles presented by detailed 2D sprites. The environments vary as well, from indoor dirt tracks to country backroads to beach runs. All this is even more amazing for the fact that I didn't feel any framerate drops in any situation. The physics is not bad either. On flat grounds you understeer easily if you go too fast; BUT there aren't many flat grounds, hah! Most of the time you are bouncing off the bumps or driving thru the bushes on the side anyway. Also the tracks mentioned above have two types: in circuits you go around 3 laps, and in rallies you go thru 3 sections of a continuous road. Adding to the fun is the powerups. I won't go into details in all of them, but... I once picked up the speed boost right before a bump and I flew thru the air as the truck turned sideways, so when it landed it rolled on the ground as other trucks scrambled to go around it! I hope you get the picture! __________________ Latest toy: Sharp LCD TV Monitor LL-M17W1U

September 26th, 2005	#6 (permalink)
cooliscool Global Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: South Carolina, USA Posts: 6,824	I got MTM as well. Really good game.. shin'en's pseudo 3D engines are awesome. You mentioned VRally3 - incredible. A true, full 60FPS 3D engine with textures and everything. If you liked MTM you'll love VRally, even moreso. __________________ Bottles' Glasses - Banjo Kazooie/Tooie model viewer and ripper

September 26th, 2005	#7 (permalink)
takwu previous extinction Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,857	Hey thx, I'll try to find VRally 3 based on your recommendation I was looking at Top Gear Rally, and found it both new and used. But I have so many other games to get I am holding that one off for now. I wonder how these two rally games compare tho. __________________ Latest toy: Sharp LCD TV Monitor LL-M17W1U

September 26th, 2005	#8 (permalink)
Samor racing gamer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NL Posts: 6,051	shin'en is awesome, the DS game in my avatar is from them I don't know much about GBA racers, sadly. I thought GT Advance was pretty cool; that was a GBA launch title though, it's been a while since then. Crazy Taxi was horrible.