QUByte has put in a ton of work restoring the games with modern UI and menus to add in a lot of QOL improvements, and while that may be off-putting to some who want the purist experience, it was probably for the better. The menus have all been modernized including car selection, difficulty settings and more, which helps the experience a great deal. When you start a race, however, the classic experience is what greets you for good and for bad.
The Top Gear/Top Racer games do show their age when playing, and the first two games in this collection do not use the SNES version of the games meaning there is a distinct lack of mode 7 visuals and instead a typical 2D racer that you would see on the Amiga and Mega Drive. They are not bad by any means, but the difference is very notable and the games do show their age. This includes issues with the framerate, screen size and visibility in general, but overall the games can still be enjoyed and are still fun.
I have very fond memories of playing the SNES versions of the games back in the day and had a lot of fun with friends when it came to the games, and one thing that stuck out always was the music. Barry Leitch’s soundtrack for the Top Gear / Top Racer games is iconic, and some of the best you will ever hear in a racing game. The Las Vegas theme in particular is a true classic and an earworm that will stay in your head for a long time after.
Now, I had mentioned that the first two games in the collection did not use the SNES versions of the game, probably due to the franchise’s roots on the Amiga, but the third game Top Gear 3000 / Top Racer 3000 was a SNES exclusive and the difference is notable. Easily the most advanced game in the original trilogy, the screen size, framerate and visibility are far improved and the overall visuals and gameplay took a massive leap forward and is extremely fun. The same QOL and menu changes are here as well, which makes it the standout entry to enjoy in the collection.
QUByte also added a new title of sorts with Top Racer Crossroads. This is a crossover title with Horizon Chase Turbo, a spiritual sequel to the original games and while based on the classics, has a significant increase in performance and more content. The new content includes four new cars and four new tracks that tie the two franchises together in a great way.
The games can be played in local or online multiplayer, and you can challenge friends and opponents all over the world in ranking mode. The online works well here and the matches I had were a lot of fun. I also loved the filters added to give that classic visual experience, and it helped me recapture that classic feeling I had with friends back in the day.
Top Racer Collection is a fantastic collection for fans of the classic Top Gear / Top Racer games and a great way to play them all in one single package. These games have a massive following and even with some parts not aging well, there is still a lot of fun to be had and QUByte was smart in what it changed and what it left alone when bringing these games to a modern audience on current systems. With the additional content added with the crossover with Horizon Chase Turbo and the inclusion of online play, this has become the definitive collection and a must-have for fans and newcomers alike.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
