Top Gear 2 is a racing video game developed and published by Gremlin Interactive. As a direct sequel to the 1992 game Top Gear (which I have posted about before), it brought in improved gameplay mechanics and additional features. The game was released for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom in 1993.
Top Gear 2 is a fresh overhaul compared to the original. The graphics had an upgrade, and the gameplay has been revamped to be dynamic and engaging. However, some great features from the first game make a return, such as the cool nitros for speed boosts and the concept of racing in various locations around the globe.
The Story
Top Gear 2 brings high-octane racing action to the Super Nintendo! Speed through cities across 16 countries at over 200 mph, experiencing high twists, flips, jumps, and turns. Race it solo or challenge a friend head-to-head. Win races to earn the prize money and upgrade your car with better engines, tires, armor, and transmissions. Conquer the road in any weather condition. It delivers a high nitro ride with no damn half measures!
The Graphics and Sound
This has everything fans loved about the original and adds it with major improvements across the board. If you're familiar with the first Top Gear, this sequel will put a smile on you. While the weather effects, such as rain or snow, might not be as eye-candy impressive, the night-time driving truly shines. The realistic headlight effect, which lights up other cars and reveals their colors, adds a level of immersion rarely seen in racing games of the time. It is a small detail, but it makes a big difference in creating a more immersive experience.
The sound design is solid. Each country introduces new music tracks, ensuring the tunes stay fresh and do not annoy you any longer. With new music every four races, there is little chance of growing tired of the soundtrack. The sound effects also are good, with unique engine noises and decent crash sounds that feel more realistic compared to many other racing games of the era. While it is not perfect, it outshines most of its competition at that time.
The Gameplay
Top Gear 2 add bits of strategy to its racing with a rewarding progression system. After each race, you earn money based on your rank, which can then be used to upgrade your car’s performance. It is a gradual process that in the entire story mode, so making smart upgrade choices is important. Your poor decisions could leave you struggling to win races. To spice things up, you can also pick up money and nitro boosts scattered along the track, adding an extra layer of excitement and risk versus reward gameplay.
The racing mechanics are forgiving yet engaging. Turning feels smooth, and you rarely need to slow down when useful, making each turn satisfying to master. However, crashes are wonderfully lenient—you can go from using a nitro at top speed to a dead stop with minimum penalties, which feels odd but keeps the action moving.
Traveling across the world remains a feature, with dynamic time-of-day effects and weather changes adding variety. Night races, complete with functional headlights, let you zoom through tracks at fast speed, while rain and snow demand careful planning, as you will need to purchase specialized tires for optimal performance. These small immersive touches enhance the overall experience, making the game a memorable racing adventure.
Replayability shines in multiplayer mode, where the fun is boosted by racing alongside a friend. The split-screen gameplay is good and does not detract from the experience, making it a blast to team up and take on rival cars together.
The co-op element adds an exciting factor—whether you are drafting behind each other or blocking opponents to secure the lead, it’s all about strategy and teamwork. Despite the tech limitations of the split-screen view, the game delivers an engaging and competitive experience that deserves recognition. Racing is always better with your gaming buddy, and Top Gear 2 brings that feeling of shared excitement.
My Verdict
Top Gear 2 is a must for any racer fan. The game was by far ''best of the last'' of the linear rear chase style of racing games which is long gone and was replaced by the more forward looking styles common today. But give this game a chance and you will not be let down by how addicting an old racing game can be.
Play it on the mighty Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a damn good emulator.
Let's keep on gaming in the free world!
Retro games have a special place in my heart so seeing a review on this gave me a smile :)
well written with good research material
Keep it up :)
Thanks for reading!😊
Top Gear brings me a feeling of nostalgia, my first video game was a Super Nintendo, your text was excellent when you say that the game is better with your racing friend, in childhood I played with my friends, however it is a game that had a good feeling of even playing with the "machine" as a second player, you didn't feel alone, the music was also something remarkable. I miss that time.
Damn, so nostalgic! Thank you! 😍