ハイウェイスター Highway Star (Famicom, 1987), Rad Racer (NES, 1987)

Channel:

World of Nintendo

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Published on February 8, 2015 3:48:12 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ORE-1_GTQ

Game:

Rad Racer (1987)

Duration: 9:17

6,567 views

86

Link to my unboxing video of Highway Star, the Famicom 3D System, and Rad Racer: http://youtu.be/-Nz3O_0YVF0

In 1987, Square published a racing game to compete with SEGA's Out Run for the Master System. On the Japanese Famicom it was known as ハイウェイスター (Highway Star) and in other regions on the Nintendo Entertainment System, it was called Rad Racer.

Both games featured attractive graphics, catchy tunes, and tight play control, but what set it apart from a lot of other games of the time was its 3D graphics. Even more unique was the way that the 3D graphics were realized on the Famicom versus the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The Famicom's 3D System produced a rather convincing 3D effect reminiscent of paper cutouts on top of one another to create a sense of depth. The Nintendo Entertainment System, on the other hand, was without any type of 3D hardware peripheral and had to use anaglyphic 3D glasses to produce its rather paltry effect that barely resemebled anything 3D. While the 3D effects on the Famicom version were neat, they certainly were not a necessary component to this already teriffic racing game. The 3D effects on the NES were an altogether throwaway gimmick.

In this video I take a look at the games side by side and attempt to show what their on-screen graphics looked like without the use of any 3D glasses. Unfortunately, the recorded footage of the 3D mode does not resembel what it actually looks like on a standard tube TV.

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