Top Gear 2

If you've got the notion, shift into high and gas up your SNES. Kemco's Top Gear 2 drives for the finish in racing excellence. This sequel isn't a vast upgrade, but it's still the leader of the pack. More international races and cool options turn this hot rod into one mean machine.

M.P.H.: More Megs Per Hour

TG 2 doubles its "meggage" (from four to eight megs) to create some spiffy improvements over its predecessor. Right away you'll notice the new full-screen, 3D racing environment in the one-player mode, which is much better than sharing the screen with a computer-driven car the way you did in Top Gear. The two-player split-screen display, however, is virtually unchanged.

The graphics are a slightly higher octane. The look is the same, but you'll notice the bumps are more pronounced and the background scenery is more detailed. The heads-up display is chock full of useful info, such as a track map. However, a rear-view mirror is sorely needed, because the CPU opponents blow by you with no warning.

You'll be jammin' to some hot tunes during the race, but the music isn't as high on the funko meter as Top Gear 1's. You'll hear some crazy voices sprinkled into the intro nine, and there are some great sound FX to keep your engine purrin'.

Live Pit Crew

The smartest new feature in TG 2 is your ability to soup up your racer with super spare parts, which adds more strategy to your game play. Win the purse and you can enhance your engine, nitro injectors, transmission, tires, armor, and even your car's looks with a paint job. Bumping up the trans is great for stick-shiftin' thrill seekers, 'cause you can reach a higher top gear (and top speed). Save your custom car with a password, then plug in the password to race it against a friend's road rocket later!

The races take you on a taxing tour of 16 countries. New challenges, like weather conditions, computer drivers with a higher intelligence who cut you off at every turn, and three difficulty settings, guarantee fun, fun, fun under the one-player sun. Your car handles great, and automatic or manual options make the game accessible to both speed racers and driver's ed rejects.

Things That Make You Go Vroooom

Indianapolis 500-style, hard-core circuit racing fans may want to steer clear, 'cause Top Gear 2 is just a joyride. What a joy it is, though! There aren't mega improvements over the last version, but who cares? This sequel is stylin'.

The race of a lifetime continues with Top Gear 2! Get behind the wheel of two hot sports cars, the Lotus Esprit and Elan, and make tracks on city streets around the world!

You and a buddy can compete for the lowest lap time or hop on the streets to see who can reach the checkpoints first. Split screen action with sweat-inducing speed is what makes Top Gear 2 a good entry in the video driving category.

Buyer's Guide: Match your sports car against the best on 64 international tracks. Upgrade your car with prize money, and experiment with components to create a winning formula. A split screen allows for two-player simultaneous racing.

Drivers' Ed: Don't hoard your cash. Buy a middle-class turbo unit as soon as possible, then continue to buy items so you remain competitive with the rest of the pack.

Get ready to race, 'cause this one's for real! This game is one of the most intense driving games to ever come out. Awesome scaling and cool looking backgrounds make for a wild race. Starting with your basic car, you have to win races to earn enough money to upgrade the car. Choose different engines, transmissions, tires, body armor, and even visit the paint shop! Cover the entire globe in your search for glory. Race in many different countries and unique tracks! Varying weather conditions (like snow, fog and rain) change the feel of the tracks and reduce visibility.

Do you wanna go fast, or do you wanna go really fast? Buckle your seatbelt - you're in for some serious pavement-poundin', motor-rewin', gear-grindin' action!

Kemco's taken a great racing game and made it even better, adding 64 tracks and 16 countries. Unlike the first Top Gear, this sequel allows you to race on a full screen in the one-player mode. And the two-player split-screen mode still kicks asphalt, letting you and a friend race head-to-head against 18 of the world's top racers.

You earn valuable race points and cash to upgrade your car after a good finish. You can improve your engine, gear box, nitro, armor, tires, or put in for a free paint job. With all the extras, you can put together a car with a top speed in excess of 260 mph!!

Other nice touches such as changing weather conditions, large colorful graphics, and screaming sound effects make Top Gear 2 a real winner. It's a pretty tough game - don't be surprised if you have to start the circuit over a few times. You also need to place well and earn lots of money early on, or you won't be able to keep up in later races. That's not really a fault, though - as a matter of fact, experienced gamers should appreciate the refreshing challenge.

Guess what? If you liked Top Gear, then you will probably also like Top Gear 2! This time there are some improvements over the original - most notably the scrolling is much smoother! Good weather conditions, too.

Buckle up, folks! This is going to be the fastest race you’ve ever embarked upon. You'll speed through an astounding 64 different cities in 16 detailed countries in your pursuit of victory. You’ll reach speeds of up to 200 mph as you spin, flip, jump, and turn your way through the world. The competition is only the beginning of your worries, as you’ll race from day to night, through snow, rain, and other weather conditions. Win enough prize money, and you’ll be able to upgrade your engine, tires, transmission, armor, and more. There are lots of power-ups hidden throughout the race, so keep your eyes open and your wits sharp! Play alone or challenge a friend to a simultaneous match-up.