Editing R.C. Pro-Am II

{{short description|1992 racing video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = R.C. Pro-Am II
|image = RC Pro Am 2 cover.jpg
|developer = [[Rare (company)|Rare]]
|publisher = [[Tradewest]]
|artist = Chris Peil
|composer = [[David Wise (composer)|David Wise]]
|released = {{vgrelease|NA|December 1992|EU|September 1993}}
|genre = [[Racing video game|Racing]]/[[Vehicular combat game|Vehicular combat]]
|modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|platforms = [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
}}

'''''R.C. Pro-Am II''''' is a [[racing video game]] developed by [[Rare (company)|Rare]] and released by [[Tradewest]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] in December 1992. The game is the sequel to the 1988 ''[[R.C. Pro-Am]]'' and features similar gameplay with a wider variety of tracks, currency-based vehicle and weapon upgrades, and [[bonus stage]]s. In ''R.C. Pro-Am II'', four players, either human or [[Artificial intelligence (video games)|artificial intelligence]], race on a series of tracks to finish first while avoiding obstacles and hazards. The winner receives race points and money. The game features a [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] mode in which up to four human players can compete against each other simultaneously.

Reviewers praised the sequel's additional features and variety, while others found its gameplay unoriginal compared to the original and its contemporaries. Critics lauded the multiplayer mode, which some said was a reason alone to buy the game. The game was released in Rare's 2015 ''[[Rare Replay]]'' compilation for [[Xbox One]].

==Gameplay==
[[File:RCProAm2.jpg|frame|''R.C. Pro-Am II'' screenshot]]
''R.C. Pro-Am II'' is a [[racing video game]] in which four vehicles compete on a series of 24 different tracks: eight standard racetracks, eight "cityscape" tracks, and eight offroad tracks. The [[difficulty level]] increases between each type of course. Players must navigate around course obstacles to finish the race. In the [[Single-player video game|single-player mode]], the players races against three [[Artificial intelligence (video games)|artificial intelligence]] opponents. The game also has a [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer mode]] in which up to four human players can race against each other. The objective of each race is to finish in the top three places to receive [[Playoff format#Total points series (aggregate)|race points]] and money, which is used to upgrade vehicles and buy weapons. The top three finishers are qualified to participate in the next race while other players must use a [[continue (video games)|continue]]. The [[game over|game ends]] when the players run out of continues.<ref name="NP1">{{cite magazine|date=January 1993|title=''R.C. Pro-Am II''|url=https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20044%20%28January%201993%29/page/n87/mode/2up|issue=44|pages=88–91|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]}}</ref>

Players steer with the [[directional pad]], accelerate with one button, and fire their weapon with the other.<ref name=jeux/> Before each race, players can use money earned from previous races to buy vehicle performance upgrades and weapons, which can be used on other competitors. Upgrades and weapons include the following: motors (increased speed); tires (better turning); missiles, bombs, and "freeze beams"; and buckshots (steal opponents' cash). Other purchasable goods include additional ammunition. Players can save money to purchase better, more expensive upgrades later in the game.<ref name="NP1" /> Players can also collect letters that spell "PRO AM II" that are scattered on the track. Upon finishing the collection, the player receives a new, faster vehicle with tighter controls.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''R.C. Pro-Am II'' |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=42 |date=January 1993 |page=225}}</ref> Track terrain varies, including winter environments, crossroads, and rivers.<ref name=jeux/> Track hazards like water, bombs, mud, ice, ridges, oil, and bomb-dropping aircraft slow player speed. The game includes two types of bonus stages ([[tug of war]] and [[drag racing|drag race]]) that award race points and cash.<ref name="NP1" />

==Background and release==
Ultimate Play the Game was founded by brothers [[Tim and Chris Stamper]], along with Tim's wife, Carol, from their headquarters in [[Ashby-de-la-Zouch]] in 1982. They began producing video games for the [[ZX Spectrum]] throughout the early 1980s.<ref name=best>{{cite web|title=The Best of British - Ultimate|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/51/ultimate.htm|publisher=Crash|access-date=13 August 2015}}</ref> The company were known for their reluctance to reveal details about their operations and then-upcoming projects. Little was known about their development process except that they used to work in "separate teams": one team would work on development whilst the other would concentrate on other aspects such as sound or graphics.<ref name=best/> This company later evolved into [[Rare (company)|Rare]],<ref name="IGN history">{{cite web|access-date=17 May 2012 |url=http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/894/894511p1.html |title=IGN Presents the History of Rare |work=[[IGN]] |date=29 July 2008 |first=Rus |last=McLaughlin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805122442/http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/894/894511p1.html |archive-date=5 August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> the developer of ''R.C. Pro-Am II''. It was published by [[Tradewest]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] in December&nbsp;1992 in North America,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nintendo.com/doc/nes_games.pdf|title=NES Games|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|access-date=September 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317023021/http://nintendo.com/doc/nes_games.pdf|archive-date=March 17, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in September&nbsp;1993 in Europe.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Aktuella kassetter under juli-augusti 1993 |language=Swedish |trans-title=Current cassettes during July-August 1993 |magazine=[[:sv:Nintendo-Magasinet|Nintendo Magasinet]] |publisher=[[:sv:Atlantic förlag|Atlantic Förlags AB]] |date=July 1993 |volume=31 |page=4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Up Front! |page=8 |magazine=N-Force |publisher=[[Impact Magazines]] |volume=2 |issue=1 |date=July 1993 }}</ref>

==Reception==
''[[Nintendo Power]]'' praised the game's controls and upgrade options, which made the game strategic. The magazine criticized the difficulty as unfair, with aircraft hazards that gave players no reaction time in which to dodge attacks.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Now Playing |magazine=Nintendo Power |issue=44 |date=January 1993 |pages=105, 107}}</ref> ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine|Nintendo Magazine System]]'' praised the game overall and its multiplayer in particular, but felt that better games were available.<ref>{{cite journal |title=''R.C. Pro-Am II'' |journal=[[Official Nintendo Magazine|Nintendo Magazine System]] |year=1992 |quote=Definitely a great game, but there are greater. If you really have to have a four-player game, then get this. Otherwise take a look at the others.}}</ref> In 1993, ''[[GamePro]]'' said that the game was better than its predecessor, but noted that the graphics and sound could have been better.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Slo Mo |title=Nintendo Pro Review – ''R.C. Pro-Am&nbsp;II'' |magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=45 |date=May 1993 |page=34 |publisher=GamePro Publishing |location=[[San Mateo, CA]] |issn=1042-8658 |oclc=19231826}}</ref> ''Jeuxvideo.com'' appreciated how the sequel's cars had better traction, but thought the game was technically unrefined considering its few advances in four years' time. For example, they criticized Rare for recycling the original game's audio.<ref name=jeux/> In 1994, ''[[Game Players]]'' had high praise for the game's multiplayer, screeching sound effects, vehicle handling, and [[replay value]]. They criticized its lack of in-game music and current weapon indicators, and struggled to anticipate turns in the track in the game's angled perspective.<ref name=GP/>

[[Retrogaming]] magazine ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' said that ''R.C. Pro-Am&nbsp;II'' was not substantially different from its predecessor. They found the racing [[game mechanics]] similar apart from the upgrade features. The reviewer added that players expected more, especially for a title that was released five years after the original. He also noted that while the single-player mode was "passable", the multiplayer mode was what made the game stand out on its own, providing "excellent gaming despite its lack of originality".<ref name="Burton">{{cite journal |last=Burton |first=Richard |title=Back to the Nineties |journal=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=84 |date=December 2010 |page=24 |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |issn=1742-3155}}</ref>

''R.C. Pro-Am II'' was named ''Nintendo Power''{{'s}} best NES game of 1993 over ''[[Battletoads & Double Dragon]]'' and ''[[Kirby's Adventure]]''. The magazine credited the game's excellent controls and course variety.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Nintendo Power Awards 1993 |magazine=Nintendo Power |issue=60 |date=May 1994 |pages=57}}</ref> ''R.C. Pro-Am II'' is included in ''[[Rare Replay]]'', a compilation of 30 Rare titles, released on the [[Xbox One]] on August 4, 2015.<ref name="Polygon: Replay"/>

== References ==

{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=GP>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Game Players]] |issue=41 |date=June 1994 |page=66 |title=R.C. Pro-Am II }}</ref>

<ref name=jeux>{{cite web|url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00016680-r-c-pro-am-ii-test.htm|author=((Goten67))|website=[[Jeuxvideo.com]]|language=fr|date=March 8, 2012|publisher=Webedia|access-date=August 13, 2015|title=Test : R.C. Pro-Am II|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222122056/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00016680-r-c-pro-am-ii-test.htm|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="Polygon: Replay">{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/15/8783621/rare-replay-xbox-one |access-date=June 16, 2015 |title=Rare Replay for Xbox One includes 30 Rare games for $30 (update) |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=June 15, 2015 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617232305/http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/15/8783621/rare-replay-xbox-one |archive-date=June 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

}}

{{Rare|state=expanded}}
{{Portal bar|Sports|Video games|1990s}}

{{Good article}}

[[Category:1992 video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Radio-controlled car racing video games]]
[[Category:Rare (company) games]]
[[Category:Tradewest games]]
[[Category:Vehicular combat games]]
[[Category:Video games about toys]]
[[Category:Video games scored by David Wise]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]