Developer: Genki
Publisher: Ratalaika Games
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Tested on: Nintendo Switch
Rider’s Spirits – Review
Originally a Japan-exclusive title for the Super Famicom (SNES), Bike Daisuki! Hashiriya Kon has now made its way to the West as Rider’s Spirits. This release includes both the translated game and the original Japanese version. Rider’s Spirits is a track racing game where players can choose from 8 characters to compete for the top spot while using items and nitro boosts. Published by Ratalaika Games, it became part of the Nintendo Switch NES and Super NES games collection on June 7, 2024. Let’s explore what we’ve been missing all these years and see if the criticism of it being a ‘Mario Kart clone’ holds true.
Story
Rider’s Spirits is a classic racing game that primarily focuses on the racing experience. While there is no explicit storyline, an implied progression is built into the GP game mode’s difficulty levels. Players begin as ‘Prospect’, advance to ‘Rookie’, and ultimately compete at the ‘Rider’ level. The game emphasizes the thrill of riding, making a detailed story unnecessary.
Graphics
Originally released in 1994, Rider’s Spirits features a pixel art style that has been given a bit of a makeover. While it remains a 2D-pixel game, it has been updated for modern monitors, resulting in crisper visuals. Characters are easily distinguishable by their different colors and bikes. During races, a surprising amount of detail is shown, especially in the rearview mirrors. The game lacks a mini-map to display progress on the track, but the relatively simple tracks mitigate this. While a mini-map to show road hazards like ice, oil spills, and traffic cones would be nice, these hazards are already easily visible due to their distinct colors, making them easy to intuitively avoid. This port has taken a good thing and made it better.
Sound
As a product of its time, Rider’s Spirits features a sound design that is basic but well-executed. The game includes funky themes for the main menu and the menu between races, with each track having its own distinct tune. The rumbling of the engines while accelerating provides an audible cue for your speed. Additionally, both graphical and sound cues are used for drifting, with the sound of tires skidding along enhancing the experience.
Gameplay
As a racing game, the core gameplay of Rider’s Spirits revolves around accelerating and navigating the track. This involves not only acceleration, directional input, and braking, but also the options to lean left and right and pop a wheelie. These additional controls allow you to take turns with style and develop your own driving technique. Drifting, which must be activated manually, is also a key part of the gameplay.
Beyond just driving, the game offers two extra layers of gameplay: obstructions and items. Obstructions include obstacles, such as traffic cones and bumper poles, and difficult terrain like grass, dirt, oil spills, and ice. Obstacles cause you to crash and stop immediately, while difficult terrain slows you down. Water is an exception, as you’ll sink and need to be put back on the track by a mechanic. These obstacles are essential elements that spice up racing games, making it clear why they are staples in the genre.
The game also features items and a nitro boost, adding more complexity. In the GP game mode, where you race against seven other racers (including up to one friend in local multiplayer), you can collect items at the pitstop. These items can be used to hinder other racers or give yourself an advantage. You can hold up to three items at once and cycle through them. Some items are straightforward, like a grenade or rocket launcher, while others, like a cogwheel, pill, or crossed-out lamp, are more mysterious. Additionally, each race gives you three charges of nitro for a short-term speed boost. These boosts don’t refuel during the race but are replenished for the next track.
Besides the GP game mode, Rider’s Spirits includes time trials and endurance races. Time trials let you practice your lap times on any track with access to the nitro boost but without items. Endurance races challenge you to complete as many laps as possible within a chosen time limit. During an endurance race, you select a team of two riders and switch between them at the pitstop, where you can also refuel your gas tank. Running out of gas will cause you to fail and be returned to the selection menu.
Conclusion
Rider’s Spirits is a refreshing addition to the racing genre which will mostly find its success in the nostalgia niche. Because it is a port it has a generally higher difficulty level than current racing games which provides a nice challenge. This difficulty is also present in the game overall as the only way to know the controls is to go to options. So between the nicely executed art style and difficulty, it is a very nice ‘blast to the past’ experience especially if games like Mario Kart are something you play regularly. And because it only got ported now, it is an enjoyable combination of playing a new game but also getting the nostalgia of the early years of racing games.
No Comments