Ludography
Super Sprint cover

1990 · Port · Tiger Electronics · Arcade · Racing

Super Sprint

Nintendo console exclusivePort

A port for Handheld Electronic LCD devices.

Released
31 December 1990
Platforms
Amstrad CPCAtari STHandheld Electronic LCDNESZX Spectrum
Genres
ArcadeRacing
Developers
Tiger Electronics
Publishers
Tiger Electronics
Modes
Single-player

About

Super Sprint is a 1986 racing video game developed and published by Atari Games for arcades. Up to three players drive Formula One-like cars on a circuit that is viewed from above. The game is a successor to Gran Trak 10 and the Sprint series, which were originally produced by Atari, Inc. during the 1970s.

Later in 1986, the game was revised and re-released as Championship Sprint with different tracks; this version was ported to the Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1987. The 1990 game Badlands adds vehicular combat to Super Sprint-style racing.

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Up to three players drive simultaneously on a circuit against opponents controlled by the computer. The circuits are viewed from above and always fit on the screen, so the game never scrolls. After three laps, the winner advances to the next circuit. There are eight circuits in total, but the game only ends if the player can reach race 85, where the bonus Super Speedway circuit is played.

As the player advances to higher levels, more and more obstacles appear on the track, like oil puddles and miniature tornadoes. If the car touches them, the player loses control for a short time. Driving into a wall at high speed or falling from one of the bridges destroys the car, but a helicopter will appear and replace it.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Super Sprint as the second most successful upright/cockpit arcade unit of August 1986. It became Japan's eighth highest-grossing upright/cockpit arcade game during the latter half of 1986, and the ninth highest-grossing upright/cockpit of the year. It was later Japan's tenth highest-grossing upright/cockpit of 1987.

In 1996, Next Generation magazine ranked the arcade version number 59 on their list of the "Top 100 Games of All Time"; they said that while the massive understeer in the game is highly unrealistic, it adds a sense of urgency to the gameplay.

Legacy

Later in 1986, Championship Sprint was released; it is almost identical, but with different tracks, and with a standard-size two-player cabinet instead of Super Sprint's wide three-player cabinet. It was ported to the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, and Commodore 64.

Badlands is a post-apocalyptic re-theming of Super Sprint released in arcades by Atari Games in 1990. It adds weapons to vehicles.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Handheld Electronic LCD31 December 1990North America

Editions and related releases

Part of
Super Sprint
Port of
Championship Sprint

Games like this

Collections7 collections

Platform libraries

Publishers

  • Namco gamesArcade-based games › Atari releases in Japan

Genres

Reception and records

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.