Kawasaki Superbike Challenge

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Game Gear version, see Kawasaki Superbike Challenge (Game Gear).

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Kawasaki Superbike Challenge
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Domark, Time Warner Interactive
Developer:
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Racing

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-48356
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Mega Drive
EU
T-48356-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
PT
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£39.9939.99[3] T-48356-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
GR
Sega Mega Drive
AU
$109.95109.95[4][5] FKAW00SMC
OFLC: G

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Kawasaki Superbike Challenge, known as Kawasaki Superbikes in Europe, is a motorbike racing game for the Sega Mega Drive and Super NES. The Mega Drive version features 3D graphics. During development the Sega Mega Drive version had the name Vroom 2.

Versions

While all versions of Kawasaki Superbike Challenge have the same underlying structure to gameplay, all take a different approach to graphics and presentation with varying results.

The Mega Drive and Super NES versions opt for a first-person perspective and attempt to render parts course in 3D. In both cases, frame rate is affected, but while the Super NES version runs faster than its Mega Drive sibling (roughly 5-10 more frames per second, though both run below 30FPS and exhibit minor slowdown in busy scenes), the Mega Drive renders all its scenery in 3D (save for rival bikes which are sprites). On the Super NES, scenery such as trees and spectators are also sprites, with only the occasional piece of 3D geometry being rendered in 3D.

The Super NES also has less scenery than the Mega Drive version, which renders walls, buildings, street lamps, bridges and rounded tunnels. Sprites are also scaled and rotated in real time on the Mega Drive, despite the console lacking the native hardware support to do so. Conversely, no sprite scaling is in place on the Super NES, with the engine swapping out different sized sprites and creating a "jerky" look in the process.

Performance of the Mega Drive version can be improved signficantly by using a "turbo mode" option, which pans the camera further back and reduces the size of in-game sprites. Such a system was seen in Lankhor's previous release, F1.

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Kawasaki Superbikes Kawasaki Superbikes
English (US) Kawasaki Superbike Challenge Kawasaki Superbike Challenge

Production credits

™ & © 1994 Domark Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Kawasaki used under license from Kawasaki Motors Ltd. Kawasaki is a registered trademark of Kawasaki Ltd. Licensed to Time Warner Interactive.
  • Developed By: Lankhor
  • Programmed By: Jean Luc Langlois and Christian Droin
  • Graphics By: Stephane Polard, Lloyd Baker and Jason Cunningham
  • Additional Graphics By: Jolyon Myers
  • Music By: Mike Ash
  • Original Design By: Chris Johnson
  • Produced By: Darren Anderson
  • Testing By: Ken Jordan, Tim Mawson and Clifford Ramsey
Source:
In-game credits


Magazine articles

Main article: Kawasaki Superbike Challenge/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in GamePro (US) #69: "April 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in Mean Machines Sega (UK) #31: "May 1995" (1995-03-28)
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
37 №11, p78
Sega Mega Drive
37
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[7]
Consoles + (FR)
78
[8]
Cool Gamer (RU)
50
[9]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
80
[3]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
75
[10]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
70
[11]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
72
[12]
Mega (UK) PAL
75
[13]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
70
[14]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
70
[15]
Megazin (SI)
52
[16]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
83
[17]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
25
[18]
Player One (FR)
81
[19]
Play Time (DE)
70
[20]
Power Up! (UK)
80
[21]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
81
[22]
Sega News (CZ)
72
[23]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
25
[24]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[25]
Todo Sega (ES)
61
[26]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
80
[27]
Última Generación (ES)
84
[28]
Video Games (DE) PAL
71
[29]
Sega Mega Drive
69
Based on
24 reviews

Kawasaki Superbike Challenge

Mega Drive, US
KSBC MD US Box.jpg
Cover
KSBC MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
KSBC MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
KSBC MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Kawasaki Superbikes MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
KSC MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, FR (Blister pack)
KSBC MD FR blister front.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, PT
KSC MD PT cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, GR
KSBC MD GR Box.jpg
Cover
KSBC MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU
KawasakiSuperbikes MD AU Box.jpg
Cover
KawasakiSuperbikes MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Kawasaki Superbikes MD AU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, AU (Silver)
KawasakiSuperbikes MD AU Box.jpg
Cover
KawasakiSuperbikes MD AU Cart Silver.jpg
Cart
Kawasaki Superbikes MD AU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Kawasaki Superbike Challenge/Technical information.

References

  1. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 12
  2. 2.0 2.1 Mean Machines Sega, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-28), page 100
  3. 3.0 3.1 Computer & Video Games, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-03-15), page 101
  4. 4.0 4.1 File:NewReleases 1994-11 AU Catalogue.pdf, page 12
  5. Sega Megazone, "March 1995" (AU; 1995-0x-xx), page 24
  6. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 45
  7. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 109
  8. Consoles +, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 104
  9. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 112
  10. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 73
  11. GamePro, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 44
  12. MAN!AC, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-09), page 86
  13. Mega, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-30), page 10
  14. Mega Force, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 89
  15. Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 76
  16. Megazin, "Letnik 3, Številka 5, Maj 1995" (SI; 1995-xx-xx), page 36
  17. Mean Machines Sega, "March 1995" (UK; 1995-01-30), page 80
  18. Next Generation, "July 1995" (US; 1995-06-20), page 80
  19. Player One, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 122
  20. Play Time, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-07), page 106
  21. Power Up!, "Saturday, March 25, 1995" (UK; 1995-03-25), page 1
  22. Sega Magazine, "March 1995" (UK; 1995-02-15), page 96
  23. Sega News, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 27
  24. Sega Power, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-16), page 60
  25. Sega Pro, "Easter 1995" (UK; 1995-03-23), page 44
  26. Todo Sega, "Mayo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 51
  27. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 100
  28. Última Generación, "Mayo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 100
  29. Video Games, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 89


Kawasaki Superbike Challenge

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Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1992-05