Stunt Race FX, known in Japan as Wild Trax, is a racing video game developed by Nintendo and Argonaut Software and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom in 1994.
In a pioneering and groundbreaking shift from the traditional two-dimensional racing genre, Stunt Race FX delved into new possibilities with the use of the 16-bit FX chip, which was previously made famous by Star Fox. This game is a wonderful technical achievement and marks the dawn of the modern racing games. The most impressive part is that this game was released in 1994, a time when sprite-based gaming dominated, and the most three-dimensional titles utilized the Super Nintendo’s renowned Mode 7 graphics.
The Story
The Super FX chip lets you shift into high gear! Get behind the wheel of a formula racer, a 4WD monster truck, a subcompact, or a motorcycle—each offering a unique driving experience. Choose from over 20 pedal-to-the-metal tracks. Speed Trax allows you to hone your skills and progress from novice to master. Stunt Trax provides an obstacle course rally with ups, downs, and jumps. Battle Trax means head-to-head conflict in surprising terrain. For speed, variety, action, and fun, Stunt Race FX finishes far ahead of the competition!
The Graphics and Sound
I don't think I ever played a SNES game with better 3D graphics than this one. The vehicles looked fantastic, and the courses had amazing 3D scenery. The game also ran very smoothly, avoiding the jerkiness and slowness common in many other SNES racing games. The four vehicles had eyes that would twirl around whenever you did something good, like overtaking another driver, which was a nice touch. The game even included special effects like skid marks and darkening inside tunnels. The graphics were amazing.
The main title music for this game still occasionally pops into my head. It was an extremely catchy tune. In fact, the entire game had great music, which certainly enhanced the overall experience. The sounds of the vehicles were also excellent. Each character had different sounds for various actions like overtaking, crashing, and completing a lap. There were also great sounds for when the cars skidded, the tires screeched, and when the cars landed from a jump, there was a crashing sound. Audio effects were good for this game.
The Gameplay
There are four different vehicles in the game, each with a unique driving style. The 4WD was the easiest to drive but also the slowest. The Coupe was slightly quicker and still easy to handle. The racing car was really fast but hard to control. The 2WD was a motorbike that was extremely hard to control and suited only for expert players. It was incredibly fun to drive these vehicles around the tracks, and there were speed boosts and items to repair damage. There are 16 different tracks to race on, with a Grand Prix mode and many other modes to keep the gameplay varied and engaging.
This game offered so much variety that it remained fun indefinitely. Besides the arcade and Grand Prix modes, there was an obstacle course where you had to reach the other side before time ran out. Completing this mode unlocked another mode where you had to crash into every other car to destroy them within a set time limit. Additionally, there was a two-player mode that keeps players engaged for hours. The game seemed to have endless options, making it an enduring and enjoyable experience.
My Verdict
Overall, Stunt Race FX is one of the first 3D racers on a home console. Many people return to this game and criticize it for its simplistic 3D graphics, forgetting that it was a pioneer before all the great racers we have today. It has good control and offers a fair challenge. Just keep in mind that the game features very basic 3D graphics by today's standards. When it first came out, it was truly impressive.
Play it on the iconic Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a pretty good emulator.
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