Top Gear Rally
The Cars
There are nine regular cars in the game that become gradually available as you progress through the first year
Season 1 |
Season 2 |
Type LD (Lancia Delta) |
Type CE (Toyota Celica) |
Season 3 |
Season 4 |
Type M3 (BMW M3) |
Type NS (Nissan GTIR) |
Season 5 |
Season 6 |
Type PS (Porsche) |
N/A |
Recover from crashes
Here are a couple of tips on how to quickly recover after a crash:
There are some crashes that are fatal and you will end up in either a vertical position or stuck horizontally in a tree, obstacle, etc. Don't give up too easily. If the car's nose is facing down at an angle and you appear to be stuck, take your finger off the accelerator, step on the brakes and pull the stick towards you. Most of the time, this will make the car drive up the obstacle backwards. Now be sure to turn as far right or left as possible and drive down. If you drive forward, you may get yourself stuck for good.
Coastline Track
The coastal track is the easiest one of them all and placing first shouldn't be a problem. Since most of the course is made up of asphalt/streets, you should go for the fastest machine possible. Grippy tires are not necessary during clear or rainy conditions, unless you're having trouble maneuvering on the beach. Skidding through the curves with the help of your manual transmission is of course the best way to do it, but you should have no problem with automatic either. Keep speeds down in Winter, or break slightly before the tough curves. When going into the last tunnel, don't forget to align your car straight for the final jump. Normally, I would advise to brake slightly before the jump, since you're faster on the ground than in the air -- but it's too much fun (and you won't have a problem winning any way).
Short Cuts
Two roads: The road forks before a tunnel. Take the right fork to shave off some seconds and overtake other cars safely.
Across the beach: After the second tunnel, be sure to drive through the gap in the fence onto the beach. Stay in the middle and head up the hill where you can get back onto the track through another opening.
Over the fields: After the beach shortcut, keep an eye on the left side of the track. After a curve, just before another fence begins, you can drive onto the green and cut across a pasture. Drive along the left fence (in case you're confused by mirror tracks, not the side where the lighthouse is).
Jungle Track
Probably the prettiest course in the game, this track is all mud and dirt. Pick some grippy tires. Beginners may opt for a center drive car. You can pretty much go full speed through the whole track, but watch out for the long curve up a hill. If you take it too quickly, you will hit a rock at the side and go flying. Also be careful in the tunnel (the one with the torches) during winter. It's quite slippery and you may bump into one of the torches, making you spin out and lose valuable time. Note that cutting across the wet plains slows you down.
Short Cuts
Tunnel: Turn right after the first curve and cut through a tunnel through the rock that leads back to the main course.You may find it necessary to slow down before turning so that you don't smash into the wall on ice or wet surfaces.
Tunnel 2: If for some reason you missed the first shortcut, it's not over yet. Turn right when you see the sign with the arrow and you can cut through another tunnel, much like the first one. It's not quite as good, but you can take a look at the bridge from the bottom.
Over the field: After an S-curve, notice a natural "green ramp" that leads onto the embankment. Drive up onto the green and stick close to the jungle. Then turn slightly left and jump back down onto the track. There is a second (much smaller) shortcut like it after the next curve.
Ice skidding: When the water on the wide plains is frozen in the winter seasons, you can drive over the ice without losing time. In the very end, when the road turns left and leads back into the jungle, simply go in a straight line, rather than following the curved street. Be sure to start turning early, because you will eeeeeeeeeeeee....
Desert Track
The gorgeous ride through the desert can turn ugly if you don't get your car to stick to the streets. The curbsides are almost all slanted and will make you crash if you take them at a wrong angle. The key to the best times is to know when to speed up and where to slow down. Dangerous spots are the
After the stone bridge, take the next big jump at around 80-90mph and you'll be safe. Throughout the whole course, watch out for the little bumps right before the turns. If a curve follows a bump, be sure to slow down a little when driving one of the faster cars. All other cars should have no problem jumping them at a slight angle and landing with the front facing in the right direction. If you're really good, you can avoid some of them by partially driving on the curb.
Short Cuts
Turn at the house: The best shortcut in the desert. Right after the curve that follows the city you will see a house on the right side. Turn right, skidding over the dirt. Refer to the tire tracks on the ground to guide you back to the street. It's sometimes easier to stick close to the "tree walls" at the side, but be sure to get back to the road fast in the end (head towards the tunnel). Aim for the two little bushes toward the end. If you mess this one up and smack into a tree, the shortcut loses its effectiveness.
Two roads: Close to the end of the track, the road splits in two. Take the left fork (through the rock arch), that way you won't have any cars in your way. Watch for the left side of the track. There is a small rock there that will make you crash, so stay off the curb.
Mountain Track
The toughest track is actually not all that hard to tame. Make sure to brake or downshift before tough turns, so that you don't constantly bang into the walls. Sometimes you have to be patient when overtaking cars. Don't smash into them, that only speeds them up (and you down), wait for your chance. If you're really good, try overtaking cars by going up on the sloped mountain sides. The Mountain track can be murderous in the wet and icy seasons, so be sure to get a car with good traction and grippy tires. The shortcut, which may seem difficult at first sight is a key to winning. Don't miss it!
Short Cuts
Down the bumpy road: Although there is only one shortcut on this track, this one is got to be the coolest one in the game. After passing the lake and making it around a couple of more curves, you will see a yellow road sign and a small dirt road that leads down the mountain. Drive down as fast as you can and slow down for the exit ramp. If you drive too fast, you will go airborne and lose valuable time (and you will probably crash).
Strip Mine
Whether you like Top Gear Rally, or not: Do not judge the game until you have played the Strip Mine. Yes, it's true, the visually most impressive track in the game is hidden. To get to the Strip Mine, you need to win every single race in the last season (Season 6 / Expert). To whet your appetite, that lets you see a Porsche race down the this killer circuit. Unlike the other courses, this track is full of shortcuts (look below), which makes it ideal for two player battles. The graphics on the Strip Mine course are amazing, with mirages, animated objects and a post-apocalyptic Mad Max look. At one point, there is some draw-in at the horizon, but along with the "sweltering desert " effect, it actually looks like it was meant to be there (this is the first time that I actually didn't mind draw-in). If you thought the Desert or the Jungle track looked hot, try racing the Strip Mine in winter, and your jaw will drop. The fact that Boss Game Studios had the nerve to make THIS a hidden track, pushes Top Gear Rally over the top.
Ways through the Strip Mine
Main Road: Stick to the left and follow the road. You will come to a fork with a giant construction crane to the right and a tunnel entrance to the left. You will drive through a long tunnel and come out at a traffic light (there are helicopters in the air). Simply follow the road. You can also shave off some seconds by driving directly over the sand.
The Fork: After the curve you can follow the road straight, or make a hard left and drive down. A quicker way is of course to go left over the sand, but you may find the giant rock somewhat "obstructive." If you take the right way, you simply make a long turn and join the other road again.
The Fork 2: The next curve is again split into two. Skid either the lower way, or try to play out the speed you built up by taking the upper road.
The Fork 3: Another split follows. If you take the left path, you will have to drive underneath a construction vehicle. Switch to first-person view for some head-ducking action. The two roads join again after the curve.
This concludes one whole lap of the Strip Mine. If that wasn't enough thrill for you, try this route:
The Sewer: Right after the start, you will see a crashed airplane on the right side. Keep your eyes open for the road split now. Arrows will be pointing left -- but if you go right instead you will be able to take a shortcut through a sewer. After the split, there will be an opening on the right that leads into the underground. The sewer shortcut gets back to the main road at the aircraft carrier. Note that there are two levels to the sewer. Either stick to the left side and you will drive on the top one, or stick to the right and you will squeeze your way through a passage underneath, filled with the green stuff from Doom.
The Bypass: If you miss the sewer entrance, you will get back to the main road at the crane. If you have trouble squeezing by the construction machines left on the street, this is the road to take. Note that there is a nasty rock here, though. Don't hit it.
The Ramp: If you feel like playing stuntman, this is your chance. After you see the aircraft carrier, you get to a part with "post-apocalyptic" buildings. Stick to the right and you drive up a ramp. If you take the jump at the right angle, you can pull off a cool spiral and land on the track again. It doesn't really win you any time, but it's THE thing to do if you want to show off. It's not all that easy, however. You need to drive up straight and start veering off the ramp ever so slightly towards the iddle. Your right two tires will go off the side off the ramp first, causing the car to tilt and eventually flip slowly in the air. Yeah, baby.
Jump 2: When you get to a bulding, drive on its right side and you can take a small detour that lets you skip the two caterpillars on the main road. You will jump back on the track, so watch your speed.
Twin Bumps: If you took the jump, you will drive on the main track. However, if you braved the caterpillars, you can make a right (don't follow the arrows) and drive over an extremely bumpy part of the track that looks like it survived more than one earthquake. If you don't want to mess with the bumps, simply drive over the dunes to the right.
Gas Station: This is not really a shortcut, but if you want some extra room to skid after coming out of the sharp curve, simply drive on the left side of the gas station. That way, you can take a close look at the cool moving spot lights, too.
The Dunes: After the gas station, you can jump down onto the dunes to the right. You will be treated to an awesome mirage/water effect and you bypass the road completely, joining it again at the crashed airplane. Do this if you're in the habit of smacking into the discarded truck on the main road. Note that you can drive underneath that truck, too.
This code removes bi-linear filtering, giving the game a pixelated loook similar to that of PlayStation games.
In gameplay hit: B, Left, Right, Up, Left, Z, Right
This code turns the game into a rainbow graphic mess.
In gameplay enter: C-down, Z, B, Up, Up, Right
NOTE: This mode could cause sickness or nausea, be careful...
Changing the color of a player's vehicle's isn't nearly as complex as most sites are reporting. You don't have to be blessed with double-jointedness to manage the button presses.
It's just a matter pushing the D-Pad while holding the C button(s). This is one way to 'taint' the Milk Truck...
Left C Red
Up C Green
Right C Blue
Up on D-pad
Increase the intensity of the color(s)
Down on D-pad Decrease the intensity of the color(s)
NOTE: Regardless of how your car's paint job is changed - the "quickie" method or the paint shop - it will affect the base coat of the other vehicles as well! Once the car has been transformed, go back to the vehicle selection screen and choose another car.
You can easily change the color of your car in Top Gear Rally (including bonus cars). Before you select your car, hold down the right and left shoulder buttons and all four C buttons -- all at the same time -- and press either up or down on directional pad. Pressing up will change the car color to white, pressing down will change the color to black. After you have done that you have the choice of changing the cars to different colors by holding down the right and left shoulder buttons, up or down on the directional pad and pressing any C-Button.
Want to see when the programmers at Boss Game Studios finished work on Top Gear Rally? Start the game and hold down all four C-Buttons, and the date and time will appear on the title screen.
Only through diligent playing and an almost alarming addiction to Top Gear Rally, Nintendojo's editors unveil yet another secret oddity from the TGR Files: The Mirror Cars. Finish the -- geez, has it been this long -- fifth year (that's season 30), and you will be able to toggle your cars from normal to mirror by pressing the C-Down button. Essentially, instead of the normal decals, your car will be mapped with a (pseudo) reflective chrome surface, much like Metal Mario. It's really cool, because the maps differ from track to track.
In the Fourth year of Top Gear Rally if you beat the Sixth season with all first places you'll get the Beach Ball Car.
General
Driving Skills
Here are a few simple pointers to improved driving times:
This is a rally game. That means much sliding around and crashing into things when you first start playing. However, power sliding is easily mastered with little practice. Lift off the accelerator on the approach to a corner, just before you start turning. Start turning and slide the car around to point at the apex of the corner and then press accelerate. The car will exit the corner at max speed. The faster the car, the more you have to utilize the throttle off, turn-and-point, throttle on technique -- corners that can be taken flat out in the earlier cars become super slide-fests when youre driving a speedier mobile.
Dont go flying over jumps at top speed (unless its one of the few big air jumps that are designed for max speed). As you crest a hill, let off the accelerator -- the cars nose will drop over the brow, keeping the wheels in contact with the road, allowing for earlier acceleration. If you fly over a jumps at top speed, the car is out of control for longer because its bouncing, and its more difficult to set yourself up correctly for the next corner.
Driving Conditions
Sunny/Night
Sunny and night are where you can drive like a maniac. Conditions
are perfect in both, and once you know a track, it doesnt
matter whether its night or day -- you should be able to
drive just as fast on both.
Fog
This isnt too tricky. As obvious as it sounds, dont
drive too fast. Being smooth is the key to success -- its
better to drive slower and not crash than drive fast and crash
every few seconds. On straights, go hell for leather, but on
corners be prepared to let off the accelerator earlier than
normal, then only gas it when the car is lined up correctly to
drive out of a corner. With that advice, it should be a piece of
cake.
Snow
Snow is the only condition thats a real pain in the ass.
Much more slippery than fog, you simply have to use the same
techniques, but drive even slower. Again, smoothness is the key,
not out-and-out speed.
Suspension
Jungle: Softer
Desert : Softer or Normal (depending on driving style)
Mountain: Normal or Harder (depending on driving style)
Coastline: Harder
Tires
Jungle: Grippy
Desert: Grippy
Mountain: Slippy
Coastline: Slippy
Handling
Type 3 is only choice for the true Master, as it gives maximum
control. It might seem twitchy at first, but once you get used to
it, all other options will feel like driving a truck.
Non-sticking Cars
One of the biggest flaws in the game - and something that should
have been spotted and eradicated by the games testers - is
that cars dont slow down when they scrape along railings or
walls. Either that or the cars are coated with Teflon. This means
that on courses with walls, fences or barriers, you can actually
drive along a wall and use it to corner without braking or power
sliding. The car simply follows the wall as it goes around the
corner and doesnt slow down.
This is best seen on the Coastline track. Start driving and ride the outside wall all the way down the track. As soon as a corner comes up that has a wall on the outside, just steer so that the car is parallel to the wall, gently collide with it and drive without steering or taking your finger off the accelerator. Youll fly around the corner, and with little practice youll find that you can actually drive around most of the track using the walls in this way. If you cant get first place on Coastal using this technique, then you are hereby banned from visiting the hallowed portals of N64.com ever again.
All the tracks feature walls which can be used to your cornering advantage, but you just have to learn which ones can be used successfully, and which ones cant. Happy driving!
Short-cuts:
Coastline
Tunnel Fork:Right
before you reach the first tunnel, there is a split in the road.
Take the road to the right to beat out a car or two.
Beach Break: Soon after the second tunnel, the guard rail on the right ends, enabling racers to cut across the beach. Stay in the middle and head toward the opening on the other side. This is an excellent short cut, and even though you slow in the sand, you beat out opponents handily.
Over the Fields and through the...: Just after the beach break shortcut, watch for an opening on the left side. Once found, youll drive across a wide grassy pasture. Keep near the left fence to reach the opening on the other side.
Jungle Track
Tunnel: At the very
beginning of the race, make a sharp right after the initial turn.
Youll see a tunnel which cuts through to the main course.
If you make the initial turn into it (by slowing down a touch),
youll shave off as many as 5-10 seconds.
Field of Green: After an S-shaped curve, take a short cut across the fields. The embankments are on each side lower down, which resemble ramps. Stay close the jungle, but dont try to go through the jungle (as far as we know there isnt any short-cut through it). There is a similar, shorter-cut right after it but a giant rock makes this second route trickier at high speeds.
Mud, Fire, and Ice When you hit the mud slogs in any season except snow, stay on the roads. When youre in Snow, the mud freezes to ice and can be fruitful in knocking off significant seconds.
Desert Track
Back Yard Breaker:
In the beginning of the race, you will enter and then leave a
city area. Just after departing, youll see a house on the
right. turn before it, and a foot trail will lead you back to the
road. This is a major short cut that should be mastered.
Fork: Near the tracks end, the road forks in twain. Go left, or rather, stay on the main road -- its safer and faster than taking the right road, which is narrower, riskier and not any faster.
Mountain
Dirt Path: After
passing the lake and a few more curves, a small yellow road sign
followed by a small dirt should appear. Drive down the dirt path
quickly, slowing down near the ramp at the end, and pick up the
road at the end.
This one slipped through the fingers of the beta testers: Many people complained about problems saving their season data.
The cause: If a Rumble Pak is plugged into the second controller port while attempting to save on a memory pak in port 1, the game will seemingly freeze.
The fix: Simply remove the Rumble Pak from controller 2. You will now be able to save your data. Since you only save records in the one player mode anyway, it is wise to simply leave the second controller's memory slot empty.
A version of the credits is accessible any time in the options menu. But there are different credits, with the Strip Mine shown in the background, that are a little more interesting: Go to Options, click on the Credits icon, then press left (on the D-pad), down C, right (on the D-pad), down (on the D-pad), and Z.
New cars are awarded each time you beat a season. There are as many as eight bonus cars.
You start of
with:
1. Type-LD (Lancia Delta)
2. Type-ES (Escort Cosworth)
In subsequent
seasons, you are rewarded with these cars:
Second Season
3. Type-CE (Toyota Celica)
4. Type-IP (Isuzu P)
Third Season
5. Type-M3 (BMW M3)
6. Type-SP (Toyota Supra)
Fourth Season
7. Type-NS (Nissan GTIR)
8. Type-RS (Ford RS 200)
Fifth Season
9. Type-PS (Porsche)
Mirror Season
10. The amazing Milk Truck
11. The Helmet Car
Finish the third year (all six seasons, including Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Expert and Professional), and you will receive the Cupra Car. Essentially, this is an ice cube floating on top of four wheels. It doesn't have any special odomoter or features, but it handles nicely and drives as fast as only an ice cube could.
If you beat the Expert Mode on the second season you will get the helmet car and the mirror of the Strip Mine.
After beating the first season, you are rewarded with the the Milk Truck. I find it to be great especially when off road.
In the Championship Mode, gamers are rewarded with new seasons and variations of tracks. There are five courses, four seasons, day/night, and mirror tracks.
The Tracks are Coastline, Desert, Jungle, Mountain, and Stripmine. Jungle, Mountain, and Stripmine open up after you beat certain courses.
The Mirror courses open up after achieving the proper point total in Championship, and beating all of the seasons.
Stripmine
To get to the Strip Mine, achieve first place on all of the races
in the last season (Season 6).
You can also get a mirror version of the Stripmine, too!