Rough Racer is an arcade game released by Sega for Sega System 24 hardware in 1990. It is a top-down driving game in which players race around a track. Wheel and shield upgrades can be purchased with the players’ winnings, as can nitro boosters.
The game is similar to Atari’s Sprint series, but more colorful. Like racing games in the 1980s such as Hot Rod – another fellow System 24 game and Power Drift (released in 1988), the goal is to finish 3rd or better. While racing, an enemy (known as “Bandit Racers”) is added to try to hinder the performance of the four racers (sometimes disguised as road equipment). Running into them and forcing them to crash with your nitrous oxide will cause them to drop coins, which can be used to purchase upgrades for your car. Destroying shortcut bricks near pavement signs that read “BREAK!!” with nitrous oxide will drop coins as well. There are 10 tracks in the game, each with their own theme. The player has the option of continuing if he or she finishes in last place, which is fourth.
Rough Racer