Off Road Challenge

Off Road Challenge
Developer(s)	Midway Games Avalanche (Nintendo 64)
Publisher(s)	Midway Games GT Interactive (European)
Platform(s)	Arcade Nintendo 64
Release date(s)	Arcade NA: 1997 Nintendo 64 NA: June 1998 PAL: September 1998
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer (2 Players)
Arcade system	Midway V Unit Software

Off Road Challenge is a video game developed and published by Midway Games. The game was originally released in 1997 for arcades using the Midway V Unit hardware. It is part of the Off Road series which began with Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road.

The game was eventually released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998 developed by Avalanche Software and published by Midway Games. The Nintendo 64 conversion included several unlockable tracks and an added circuit mode.

Gameplay

The levels are mostly offroad tracks, sometimes containing urban areas. It features a very primitive vehicle tuning system that allows the player to "Beef Up Your Truck!!" by purchasing upgrades to suspension, tires, "acceleration", and various other performance items. It also features power-ups which the player drives over with your vehicle, such as nitro, crash helmets (to prevent the player from losing speed when colliding with others) and money to spend upgrading your vehicle. Treasure Chests and Nitro Capsules can be found lying on the ground during the race. When you race, you are against seven other opponents, there are various obstacles depending on the place you race in (such as wagon carts, a train, water slicks, trees, etc.) Top four places earn cash, with first place being the most rewarding. The faster the finish, the better chance the player has to make a new record on the Top-Ten leaderboard.

Tracks

The game has six tracks, ranging in difficulty from beginner, to intermediate, to advanced:

• Beginner
  • Mojave
  • Baja
• Intermediate
  • El Paso
  • Pikes Peak
• Advanced
  • Vegas
  • Ol' South

Plus three more unlockable tracks:

• Beginner
  • Flagstaff
• Intermediate
  • Guadalupe
• Advanced
  • El Cajon

For more information, see this walkthrough on Gamefaqs.com

Vehicles

• Toyota Trophy Truck
• Class 8 Mini Metal
• Baja Buggy
• Class 10 Heavy Metal

These four can be accessed by pressing the C-Buttons on the controller on the Vehicle Selection Screen

• The Crusher
• The Punisher
• Thunderbolt
• Toyota 4x4 Monster Truck

Reception

IGN gave the Nintendo 64 version of Off Road Challenge a 2.5 out of 10 criticising the graphics stating "it was dated with most objects having blurry sprites, the textures being muddy and the framerates being low" and the presentation saying that the menus that were directly ported from the arcade slowed down.^[1]

References