Difference between revisions of "Rad Mobile"

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Rad Mobile

Developer: Sega R&D 1^[1] (early), Sega AM3^[2] (final)

Genre: Racing

Number of players: 1-2

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1990-10-03 (limited)^[4]^[5]	¥1,580,000^[3]	?
JP	1991-02 (wide)^[6]	¥?	?
US	1991	$?	?
EU	1990-12^[3]	€?	?
UK	1991-01^[3]	£?	?
FR	1990-12^[3]	?F	?
DE	1991-01^[3]	DM ?	?

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Rad Mobile (ラッドモビール) is a Sega System 32 arcade driving game developed by Sega AM3 and manufactured by Sega Enterprises, Ltd. First released to arcades in late 1990, the game is notable for being the first 32-bit title developed by Sega, and for featuring the first inclusion of Sonic the Hedgehog in any video game (even predating his own, Sonic the Hedgehog, released four months later.)

The game would later receive an expanded port to the Sega Saturn as Gale Racer.

Gameplay

Rad Mobile deviates slightly from the style of Sega's previous arcade racers; it aims to provide more elements of simulation, using a first-person perspective instead of third. Recurring traffic, police, and primitive weather effects act as obstacles, the latter of which are negated with the use of in-game windscreen wipers and headlights. 14 CPU cars also race as opponents, with players receiving different ending scenarios depending on their rank at the end of the game.

Regardless of its sim-like features, a time limit and only two selectable gears are still used in Rad Mobile, grounding it in the arcade subgenre of racing games. Like OutRun, stages take place across the USA, with the goal being to reach the final destination, New York, before the time limit runs out. This is achieved by avoiding collisions with oncoming obstacles and reaching stage checkpoints, which provide time extensions.

Stages

Stage 1: Los Angeles - Day
Stage 2: Mojave Desert - Day
Stage 3: Las Vegas - Night
Stage 4: Provo - Rain
Stage 5: Salt Lake City - Day
Stage 6: Rocky Mountains - Day
Stage 7: Cheyenne -Thunder Storm
Stage 8: Lincoln - Night
Stage 9: Omaha - Day
Stage 10: Kansas City - Fog
Stage 11: St. Louis - Night
Stage 12: Springfield - Rain
Stage 13: Chicago - Day
Stage 14: Indianapolis - Night
Stage 15: Cincinnati - Day
Stage 16: Columbus - Dusk
Stage 17: Pittsburgh - Night
Stage 18: Washington, D.C. - Fog
Stage 19: Philadelphia - Day
Stage 20: New York - Day

Some stages, such as Springfield, have multiple routes.

History

Development

The game was born out of necessity, as a sample racing game for the Sega System 32 board, and the lead programmer behind the board, Yu Suzuki, went on to develop the eventual game^[8].

Release

Initially released to the world in the upright and Taikan cabinets typical of a release of its type by that point in February 1991, Rad Mobile would receive two new versions in the following months; Rad Rally, a revised edition that implements stage selection and multiplayer link features, and a limited release for adapted R360 units in Japan.

Rad Mobile features the first appearance Sonic the Hedgehog in any video game (even predating his own, released four months later), swaying from the car's rear-view mirror as a miniature plush. The game's later Sega Saturn port Gale Racer expands this cameo to a number of Sonic-series characters such as Amy and Dr. Eggman.

Legacy

Rad Mobile was later updated and released as Gale Racer for the Sega Saturn in December 1994. This version makes a few changes, and was not released outside of Japan.

"Soup Up", the first piece of background music in the game, was arranged for play by the S.S.T. Band, debuting alongside the soundtrack's first publishing in Formula, and would again be arranged by original composer Kazuhiko Nagai for Rad Mobile Original Soundtrack and Koichi Namiki for Astro City Mini: Celebration Album. The song also plays when inputting the name "R.M" in the high score table of Daytona USA.

Production credits

Main article: Rad Mobile/Production credits.

Magazine articles

Main article: Rad Mobile/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

PDF

JP flyer

DE flyer (upright cabinet)

DE flyer (deluxe cabinet)

Photo gallery

Deluxe cabinet
Upright cabinet
AOU Show 1991, R360 version

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Sinclair User (UK)

74

^[9]

User (GR)

92

^[10]

	83
Based on 2 reviews

Rad Mobile

System 32, US (upright)

System 32, US (deluxe)

System 32, JP (upright)

System 32, JP (deluxe)

System 32, DE (upright)

System 32, DE (deluxe)

References