| Radar Rat Race | |
|---|---|
) | |
| Developer(s) | HAL Laboratory |
| Publisher(s) | Commodore |
| Designer(s) | HAL Laboratory |
| Platform(s) | VIC-20, MAX Machine, Commodore 64 |
| Release | 1981 |
| Genre(s) | Maze |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Radar Rat Race (レーダーラットレース, Rēdā Ratto Rēsu) is a 1981 game made by HAL Laboratory. A licensed clone of Namco's Rally-X arcade game, it was one of the launch titles for the VIC-20 on cartridge.[1] It was originally released in Japan as Rally-X (ラリーX) from Commodore Japan K.K. and, in 1982, was converted to the Commodore MAX Machine and Commodore 64. Radar Rat Race is cartridge number VIC-1910 for the Commodore VIC-20.
Gameplay
The player guides a mouse through a large maze. The camera follows the mouse and shows only a small portion of the maze at any given time. The player is pursued by at least three rats. The goal is to eat all of the pieces of cheese, shown for the entire maze on a radar screen, without getting caught by a rat or bumping into a stationary cat. By pressing the joystick button, the mouse can disperse a limited amount of magical dust (called "star screen") which confuses the rats for about five seconds. Once the round is complete, the game starts again,with more rats and faster play. The gameplay is accompanied by a frenetic, rhythmically altered version of a phrase from Three Blind Mice, which cycles endlessly.
Reception
Computer and Video Games, although criticizing the game's controls and repetitive sound, called the Commodore 64 version "quite exciting and amusing to play".[2]
References
- ^ Dillon, Roberto (2016). The Golden Age of Video Games: The Birth of a Multibillion Dollar Industry. CRC Press. p. 52–53. ISBN 9781439873243.
- ^ "Software Reviews: Radar Rat Race". Computer and Video Games. No. 27. January 1984. p. 32.
External links
- C64 Gamevideo 02 - Radar Rat Race on YouTube