After being revealed last October, publisher QUByte Interactive has today announced that the Top Racer Collection will no longer be coming to Switch later this month, but will instead be returning to the pit lane until 7th March 2024.
The collection comprises the three SNES titles in the Top Gear series (albeit with the licence-free 'Top Racer' title) — Top Gear, Top Gear 2 and Top Gear 3000 — and also includes a series crossover with Horizon Chase, Top Gear Crossroads.
All of this was set to come our way on 11th January, but QUByte has made the decision to delay the collection so that it can "enhance the experience for everyone and refine all the classic and exclusive modes". While it's never nice to see a delay, we'd much rather see a game taken to the garage for an extra few weeks then sent out to the track in an unfit state — and a push of two months is hardly the most drastic that we have seen.
You can check out some of the upcoming collection's features as well as a handful of screenshots in the following from the publishers:
Top Racer Collection brings back the 90s classic in one incredible package, bringing together three iconic games from the renowned racing franchise. With online features, get up to speed and experience the nostalgic mix of action and addictive gameplay!
The Top Racer Collection features classic titles such as Top Racer, Top Racer 2 and Top Racer 3000. In addition, the collection will feature the brand new Top Racer Crossroads and more exclusive content.
Originally released for older systems, Top Racer won over gamers with its engaging gameplay, vibrant graphics and iconic soundtracks.
Features:
- Filters for a nostalgic experience;
- Online mode for multiplayer races;
- Challenges with friends and opponents from around the world in ranking mode;
- Time Attack mode to test your racing skills against the clock.
- Campaign Mode and Custom Cup Mode
It might not be time to start your retro engines just yet, but there's not too long to wait before Top Racer Collection speeds onto Switch this March.
Will you be picking this one up later this year? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 22
Developers need to stop giving out release dates. If a game isn't going to be done by a realistic date, then don't give one.
Guess I will just play my original cartridge on my Super NT for now.
That's a bummer. I was super excited to play Crossroads. Honestly couldn't care less about the original games.
I'm just here wondering when the hell QUByte is re-releasing Rage of the Dragons already.
It's only a two months delay so that's okay to me, it's not like Nintendo where they wouldn't tell you when the game (ex: Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp) will actually come out despite the delay.
Still play Top Gear 2. Awesome racer!
Woah! How did I miss this. I hope it's going to include the original Barry Leitch soundtrack. Yes, I can play the originals on my SNES, but this sounds interesting on the face of it. I'm off to do some research...
Edit: Just watched the video, which seems to answer my question about the soundtrack!
"(albeit with the licence-free 'Top Racer' title)"
was "top gear" a license the whole time?
or is it actually a trademark dispute between unassociated entities?
just curious, i hadnt known. ✌️
Why didn't I know this waa coming out? I'll watch out for it in March.
Well, I hadn't heard about this collection anywhere till I read this headline and all I can say is YYYEEEESSSSS!! I love the franchise. Some of my most cherised gaming memories was playing Top Racer (the Super Famicom release), then Top Gear 2. I've never liked 3000 that much, but the whole franchise is still very playable and so fun!
Is this a digital release only? I can’t find the physical copy to preorder.
This was unveiled long before "last October". Try two Octobers ago now. While NintendoLife didn't cover the October 2022 announcement of the game, last October was simply the announcement of a release date after 12 months of waiting (which obviously has now changed). Entirely unimportant of course, but I find it kind of interesting personally to see a classic compilation be unveiled so long before an actual release happens.
@Don I believe the developer has a relationship with Strictly Limited Games and that physical releases usually seem to get announced after the digital release. So you're probably looking at an announcement later this year if one is going to happen (which I hope does; I'm a big Top Gear fan and envision grabbing this digitally on Xbox at launch and then the cartridge on Switch later).
@LadyCharlie They promised Daraku Tenshi: The Fallen Angels Complete Edition back in 2019, so... I don't know what to say...
@Don Likely the physical copy will be announced a few months after the digital release. The Breakers Collection had a physical release two months after the digital one.
These games suck anyway, I'm just interested to see what form the Horizon title takes. New tracks in a SNES style? Old tracks with new visuals?
@Vyacheslav333 That's okay, King of Fighters 99 is already on Switch
@LadyCharlie Lol. I understood. 😉
Loved the overused racer puns 🤣
How hard can it be to port over some old SNES games? I'm guessing the new Crossroads Horizon Chase must have been the issue.
TenEighty wrote:
IGN included in their "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time" list.
I never even knew about this collection! I'm hyped for it, and secretly wished it would happen. I'd say Top Gear 3000 is my favourite of the three because of the new energy system that involved driving over power strips on the road. If you ran out of power, you could still coast along and try reach the next one or the finish line. In the later stages, there were often insufficient numbers or length of them, or you might miss them or get knocked from them, so races became quite nerve-wracking!
Top Gear 2 is probably the best one for most people. It certainly looked stunning, especially those hills. My main annoyance with it was in split screen mode where the player that picked up the most $$ on the road could upgrade the car first. While these upgrades were incremental, given everything equal, it was an advantage that you could stretch and stretch to utter domination until the point where both cars were fully upgraded. In the first game, which had no upgrades, the faster cars used more fuel so had to pit more often so added variety and excitement to the races. Had Top Gear 2 retained refuelling as an offset to more speed, that would have helped with the imbalance in two player mode.
@-wc- The Top Gear licence probably relates to the TV show, even if the game was released way earlier. The publishers probably want to avoid any issues because the game series was dormant for so long.
PS: Tell Elaine I said Hi!
@HalBailman
"Hel-loooooooo!"
Nice surprise this, i had either not seen or forgotten that this was coming. I have fond memories of playing these on SNES. Aah simpler times..
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