Top Gear Overdrive
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2008) |
| Top Gear Overdrive | |
|---|---|
 North American Nintendo 64 cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Snowblind Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Kemco |
| Composer(s) | Grindstone |
| Series | Top Gear |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player,multiplayer |
Top Gear Overdriveis aracing gamereleased in 1998 for theNintendo 64and the sequel toTop Gear Rally.The game has support for high-resolution graphics if used with theExpansion Pakand features music from the band Grindstone.
Gameplay[edit]
In the main mode of play, the player races through six seasons, each season containing more races from more tracks, with faster cars competing.
At the beginning of the race the player starts at the back of the grid at the start line. Computer players at the front of the grid often start one-third of the way around the first lap. Players start with three charges ofnitrous oxide,which are used to give the player a temporary speed boost.
While racing, the player can pick up two power-ups: nitrous oxide and cash. The nitrous oxide can be used straight away, while the cash is added to the winnings at the end of the race and used for buying upgrades to the player's car.
Shortcuts are available on each track, and often the use of these decide the outcome of the races, particularly in later seasons.
At the end of each race the player is presented with a screen to allow for various upgrades to their car, such as to acceleration and handling. The player is also able to change their car for a better (or worse) vehicle and can buy extra nitrous oxide to use in the next race.
At the end of the season, if the player places fourth or better in all of that season's tracks, they are allowed to progress to the next season.
Soundtrack[edit]
The soundtrack in this game was entirely scored by the band Grindstone fromPortland, Oregon.[3]They were made the first band in history to feature on an N64 game[4][5]
Lamar Stilwell, the bands lead singer at the time, said he came across an advert inThe RocketMagazine which was "looking for a band that sounds likeAlice In ChainsandSoundgarden".Knowing Grindstone would fit that sound he wrote back describing his love for video games, the band got the gig and were offered $4000 for their soundtrack to be used.[6]
Reception[edit]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 76%[7] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |    [8] |
| Edge | 6/10[9] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7.5/10[10] |
| Game Informer | 7.25/10[11] |
| GamePro | [12] |
| GameSpot | 7.3/10[13] |
| Hyper | 85%[14] |
| IGN | 8/10[15] |
| N64 Magazine | 79%[16] |
| Nintendo Power | 7.6/10[17] |
The game received "favorable" reviews according to thereview aggregationwebsiteGameRankings.[7]
References[edit]
- ^"Arcade de conducción de gran velocidad y gráficos notables".16 March 2017.
- ^"Five to Five".IGN.1998-12-04.Retrieved2023-05-21.
- ^"Grindstone lineup, biography".Last.fm.
- ^"Artist Bio: Grindstone".15 February 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 2017-02-15.Retrieved26 January2024.
- ^"ALL ACCESS LIVE with POINT DEFIANCE'S LAMAR STILWELL".YouTube.
- ^"ALL ACCESS LIVE with POINT DEFIANCE'S LAMAR STILWELL".YouTube.
- ^ab"Top Gear Overdrive for Nintendo 64".GameRankings.Archivedfrom the original on September 9, 2015.RetrievedMay 28,2017.
- ^Marriott, Scott Alan."Top Gear Overdrive - Review".AllGame.Archived fromthe originalon November 16, 2014.RetrievedMay 28,2017.
- ^Edge staff (January 1999). "Top Gear Overdrive".Edge.No. 67.
- ^"Top Gear Overdrive".Electronic Gaming Monthly.1999.
- ^McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (January 1999)."Top Gear Overdrive".Game Informer.No. 69. p. 36. Archived fromthe originalon May 27, 2000.RetrievedMay 28,2017.
- ^Vicious Sid (1999)."Top Gear Overdrive Review for N64 on GamePro.com".GamePro.Archived fromthe originalon February 17, 2005.RetrievedMay 29,2017.
- ^GameSpot staff (January 4, 1999)."Top Gear OverDrive Review".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on May 12, 2019.RetrievedMay 28,2017.
- ^Shea, Cam (February 1999)."Top Gear Overdrive".Hyper.No. 64. p. 48.Archivedfrom the original on October 26, 2021.RetrievedMay 29,2017.
- ^Schneider, Peer (December 1, 1998)."Top Gear Overdrive".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2017.RetrievedMay 28,2017.
- ^Weaver, Tim(January 1999). "Top Gear Overdrive".N64 Magazine.No. 24. Future Publishing. pp. 49–52.
- ^"Top Gear Overdrive".Nintendo Power.Vol. 115. December 1998. p. 125.
