Top Gear Rally 2

This article is about the Nintendo 64 video game. For the Game Boy Color video game, see Top Gear Pocket 2.

Top Gear Rally 2 is a racing video game developed by Saffire and released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. It is a sequel to Top Gear Rally.

Top Gear Rally 2
North American box art
Developer(s)	Saffire
Publisher(s)	Kemco
Series	Top Gear
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64
Release	NA: December 3, 1999[1] EU: February 28, 2000
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Top Gear Rally 2 is a racing game where players drive rally cars through a series of tracks. The game features a random and dynamic weather system.

Development

Unlike the original Top Gear Rally, which was developed by Boss Game Studios, Top Gear Rally 2 was developed by Saffire.^[2] The company conceived Top Gear Rally 2 as a more realistic game than its predecessor, with more simulation-like elements such as real-time car damage and weather effects. The physics engine was completely rewritten.^[2] All the vehicles in the game are licensed versions of real rally cars such as the Ford Focus and the Renault Alpine.^[3] During the final stages of the development cycle, developers had to work between 16 and 18 hours a day to complete the game.^[2] The game supports the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak, which allows the game to be played at a resolution of 480x480 pixels.^[2]

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	73%[4]

Review scores

Publication	Score
AllGame	[5]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	4.625/10[6][a]
Famitsu	24/40[7]
Game Informer	6.75/10[8]
GameFan	(L.B.) 72%[9] 69%[10][b]
GameSpot	7.6/10[11]
Hyper	60%[12]
IGN	8.2/10[13]
N64 Magazine	90%[14]
Next Generation	[15]
Nintendo Power	7.5/10[16]

Top Gear Rally 2 received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.^[4] GameFan and GameSpot gave it favorable reviews while it was still in development.^[9][11] N64 Magazine considered it the best rally game for the Nintendo 64, but not as rewarding as World Driver Championship.^[14] Mike Wolf of NextGen praised the selection of 15 cars to choose from, realistic weather conditions that affect car handling, a paint shop customization, shortcuts to find and exploit, and multiplayer support for four players.^[15] In Japan, however, where the game was ported for release on February 3, 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 24 out of 40.^[7]

The Freshman of GamePro was generally positive to its gameplay, the race tracks and the selection of the cars, but considered that there were better racing games on Nintendo 64.^[17][c] In another GamePro review, The Bamboo Carabao said that the game was a welcome change of pace for those who want more of a simulation than Beetle Adventure Racing, but less complex and demanding than World Driver Championship.^[18][d]

Notes

1. Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 5.5/10, one gave it 4/10, and the other gave it 3.5/10.
2. In GameFan's viewpoint of the game, one critic gave it 68, and the other 69.
3. GamePro gave the game two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, and two 4/5 scores for sound and control in one review.
4. GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and control, and two 3/5 scores for sound and fun factor in another review.