Stunt Race FX


Stunt Race FX, known in Japan as Wild Trax, is a cartoon-style, 3D-racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD with the assistance of Argonaut Software and published by Nintendo for the Super NES. It was the second game to use the 3D-centric Super FX powered GSU-1.
Stunt Race FX was added to the Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo Switch Online service on September 5, 2019, marking the first time the game has been re-released in over two decades.

Gameplay

The gameplay differs from Nintendo's own Super Mario Kart by being somewhat more difficult and through the lack of weapons to use to attack other vehicles in the game. Similarities with Nintendo's F-Zero include the ability to boost the speed of the vehicles; the use of the L and R buttons to make sharper turns; the possibility of damaging vehicles by running into walls, hazards, or other vehicles; and the possibility of receiving damage by falling.

Vehicles

There are three vehicles to choose from originally, as well as a fourth one that is unlockable ; a fifth vehicle is only used in bonus games. Stunt Race FXs use of eyes on the vehicles was a late-in-development addition, to give character to otherwise personality-free cars. Each vehicle has different capabilities in terms of speed, body and acceleration. According to the instruction booklets in English, the vehicles are male; however, according to the Japanese instruction manual and the Japanese television commercial, the COUPE is female and every other vehicle is male.
The game features five modes: three for racing levels, one for obstacle courses, one for test-driving, one for time-attacking, and one for multiplayer racing.
The capabilities of the Super FX chip are demonstrated extensively in Stunt Race FX. Each course is constructed of 3D polygons, complete with road bumps and overhead passes. Detailed billboard advertisements also appear throughout each race course. The lack of speed is incorporated into the gameplay by featuring cars that are heavier and clumsier than those included in conventional racing games.

History

Development

In 1991, Nintendo began developing a custom 3D cartridge chip called the Super FX chip with Dylan Cuthbert from Argonaut Software as their assistant, so that it could be used in Super NES games to create polygonal 3D graphics. The first game that used the Super FX was Star Fox, which became a success. After the release of Star Fox, Nintendo and Argonaut began conducting various experiments throughout the co-development of the Super FX chip. The development of Stunt Race FX, which was tentatively titled as FX Trax back then, started when Giles Goddard and Colin Reed joined in and later became Nintendo employees. Nintendo used the polygon concept to create a 3D-animated racing game filled with high-flying stunts and obstacles, as well as normal racing. While the game was solid, the overall product quality and timing of release weren't favorable to its success. Nintendo has since discontinued the idea of franchising the series. The one prior incident took form with a canceled sequel on the Nintendo 64 called Buggie Boogie. Wataru Yamaguchi created the official clay models of the Stunt Race FX vehicles used on the Japanese version's box art and the instruction booklet of all versions.
During early versions of the game, the 2WD vehicle was not a part of the car roster. In its place was a three-wheeled vehicle called the 3WD, bearing a color scheme very close to the 4WD's blue paint job.

Marketing

Two different television commercials were made and aired: one for Japan and one for North America and Europe. The Japanese commercial was a short Japanese animation showing the vehicles from the game in action along with gameplay footage of the game itself. It was narrated by Akira Kamiya. In the commercial for North America and Europe, it showed a police officer talking to the viewers who he thinks are breaking the law while some gameplay footage of the game itself were shown. There were two slightly different versions of the English commercial.
Around the time Stunt Race FX was released in the United States, Nintendo of America teamed up with Kellogg's and Mattel to give away a promotional, Hot Wheels brand, F-Type race car to people who mailed two proofs from boxes of Apple Jacks to Kellogg's to receive it for free. The television commercial for it showed the toy car move across a kitchen table in front of a box of Apple Jacks while a young, blonde-haired boy wearing glasses looks at the toy car from behind the box of Apple Jacks. At the same time, the announcer in the commercial said, "Now you can get the Super NES Stunt Race FX car free, with two proofs from Kellogg's Apple Jacks." Followed by a pit crew refilling the boy's bowl with Apple Jacks and milk and taking care of other things around him like clearing his glasses while the announcer said "It's almost like the real thing." The limited-edition F-Type car have been quite rare, especially if still factory-sealed. It is a repaint of an existing Hot Wheels car called Shock Factor, which had already resembled F-Type.

Reception

Stunt Race FXs sales had surpassed 1 million copies by 1998.
Critics were varied in their response to the game. Electronic Gaming Monthly commented that Stunt Race FX is a disappointment after the first Super FX game, Star Fox, elaborating that "the game feels awkward with the touchy steering and the feeling of speed just isn't there. Overall, there are better racing games on the market." GamePro criticized that Stunt Race FX isn't realistic. They also thought the racing game "still delivers a good time, especially if you're not old enough to drive." Game Zero scored the game a 94 out of 100, saying the controls are "out of this world!" and the "attention to detail is truly superior". Edge gave it a 9 out of 10 rating, while stating that Stunt Race FX is "one of the best racing games currently available for any home system." In season 3's third episode of a mid 1990s British factual television programme Bad Influence!, a few reviewers combined their ratings into an overall score of 4 out of 5.

Related releases

Cameos

Wild Trax - Rare Tracks for Driving is the soundtrack for Stunt Race FX. The album was a collection of original music composed by Shinobu Amayake, as well as many sound effects. It also included arranged music by Yoshiyuki Ito and Akira Hoshi, and was released by Sony Records only in Japan on September 21, 1994. The album is currently quite rare.