Rally-X
| Rally-X | |
| Missing image Rallyx2.png Arcade version of Rally-X | |
| Developer: | Namco |
| Publisher: | Midway Games |
| Release: | 1980 |
| Genre: | Retro/Fixed Shooter |
| Game modes: | Up to 2 players, alternating turns |
| Cabinet: | Standard and sit-down |
| Controls: | joystick; buttons 1 |
| Arcade system: | Main CPU: Z80 3.072 Mhz |
| Monitor: | Raster, resolution 288 x 224 (Horizontal) Palette Colors 16 |
| Notes: | A Rally-X unit appears in the 1982 movie Tron |
Rally-X is an arcade game made by Namco in 1980. It holds a few similarities to Pac-Man.
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Description
In the game, the player controls a blue car through a maze. The car will automatically move in whichever direction the joystick is pushed, but if it hits a wall, it will turn and continue.
In each stage, ten flags are scattered around the maze. The player must collect all of them to clear the stage and move on. The flags increase in value as they are collected: the first is 100 points, second is 200, third is 300, and so on. There are also special flags- if the player collects one of them, the value earned from flags doubles for the rest of the round. If the player dies, however, the first flag value is set back to 100 and the double bonus is lost.
Several red cars patrol the maze and collision with any of them results in death. However, the player can use a smokescreen (by pushing a button) against the red cars. If any of them runs into a cloud of it, the car will freeze for a moment. Using the smokescreen uses a small amount of fuel.
The car has a limited amount of fuel which is consumed with time, though it is normally sufficient to last until all flags are cleared. When fuel runs out, the car moves very slowly and the smokescreen no longer works, so its death is insured in a matter of seconds.
There are also rocks that the player must avoid.
Every few rounds, a charanging stage will start. The player must collect flags in the normal way, but the red cars are stuck. If the player runs out of fuel, the cars will start moving.
Ports
Rally-X was not ported to any of the major systems of its day, i.e. ColecoVision, Atari or any of the other systems. However, it was included in the Namco Museum series of the late 1990s, which was released for the PlayStation, among others.
A version of New Rally-X is the load-up game in the PSP game Ridge Racer.
Sequels
The game had a sequel, New Rally-X. It was basically just the original with better graphics and easier gameplay. Also, a feature called the "Lucky Flag" was added, which gives you extra fuel if you touch a certain flag. New Rally-X was actually made in greater numbers and became more popular (at least in Japan) than the original.
External link