Racing Mini Game: Difference between revisions

It's hard to say exactly the whys, whens, or wherefores, but somewhere along the line, racing mini-games became one of the most common forms of [[Unexpected Gameplay Change]].

* '''The World Is Your Grand Prix:''' Whoever or ''whatever'' challenged the player character to race makes it from Point A to Point B on whatever map you're already on. Sometimes it's in the [[Hub Level]], but it can occur within a level or dungeon, as well. While your character may be on foot, they may also have a vehicle--eithervehicle—either part of their usual arsenal, or provided for them--inthem—in order to provide them extra speed. Since most maps tend to be somewhat... ''larger'' than your standard race course, the game will frequently provide some sort of "marker" to keep you on course, usually with penalties if you stray too far. The markers can range from a simple line on the ground to actually making the player ''lose'' if they don't [[Pass Through the Rings|pass through every ring.]]

* '''This Course One Way Only:''' Unlike the above, this actually ''does'' take place on its own map, designated for the race. However, such course is usually one way only. Your goal is simply to get to the end, through whatever means you have at your disposal. Because they're designed explicitly for the race, the maps for these particular mini-games are frequently more elaborate, and feature more devious twists and turns.

* '''I Can't Believe It's Not ''[[Mario Kart (Video Game)|Mario Kart]]!'':''' The most elaborate of the three options, this is when a racing mini-game actually takes pains to resemble a sort of tiny [[Wacky Racing]] game in its own right. In addition to having designated "race" maps, they often feature proper laps, and even, sometimes, power ups. (They'll usually throw in a [[Nitro Boost]], at the very least.)

* ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'' contains examples of all ''three'' varieties.

** Lanky also has a few races against a beetle--thesebeetle—these require you to collect ''coins'' as well as beat him to the end. Also, the courses he has? Really, ''really'' perilous. They're not ''just'' Type 2, [[That One Sidequest|oh no...]]

** Finally, Tiny has ''several'' races against a toy car, in a cart just like his. She gets [[Nitro Boost|Nitro Boosts]]s and ''missles'' to use against him, and they go for several laps. Type 3.

* ''[[Ty the Tasmanian Tiger]] 2: Bush Rescue'' has a surprisingly fleshed-out kart mode. While you can participate in the races in-game for some prizes, a fully multiplayer version of the kart mini-game--withgame—with lots of racers, several tracks, and items--ititems—it available from the title screen from the get-go. 3.

* ''[[Super Mario 64 (Video Game)|Super Mario 64]]'' has you race--twice--againstrace—twice—against a big penguin, in two Type 2 races down a very... precarious slide.

** Koopa the Quick in ''[[Super Mario 64 (Video Game)|Super Mario 64]]'' as well? Except it's a foot race. Type 1 obviously.

* ''[[Super Mario Sunshine (Video Game)|Super Mario Sunshine]]'' has Il Piantissimo, a strange man in a Pianta costume, who occasionally challenges Mario to a race within the stage. This one's Type 1.

* ''[[Beyond Good and& Evil (Videovideo Gamegame)|Beyond Good and Evil]]'' has several Type 3 races--oneraces—one of them, you have to participate in for plot purposes (to find a secret exit on the track). In addition to in-track speed boosters, you can also bring in your own items from outside to aid you.

* The ''[[Mario Party (Video Game)|Mario Party]]'' games have featured almost too many of these over their run to list. They're typically all Type 2 and Type 3... probably because the "overworlds" are, y'know, ''board games.''

* ''[[Banjo -Kazooie]]'' has you racing Boggy the polar bear throughout his world (so Type 1) on a sled, and later, with Kazooie's Sprint Shoes.

* ''[[The Simpsons Hit and& Run]]'' had several Type 1 races on every level.

* ''[[Chrono Trigger (Video Game)|Chrono Trigger]]'' had Johnny, that cool transforms-into-a-vehicle cyborg in the future. You had to beat him in a Type 2 race in the main quest.

* [[Super Mario Galaxy (Video Game)|Super Mario Galaxy]]: Types 1 and 2 (several A-B races; the water slide)

** To clarify ''[[Super Mario Galaxy (Video Game)|Super Mario Galaxy]]'' further, one of the more interesting Type 1 races is against a Boo, while one of the Type 2 races is against-- youagainst—you guessed it-- ait—a penguin.

** [[Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Video Game)|Super Mario Galaxy 2]] has two type 2 levels (aka, the Fluzzard flying levels). First mission is just to reach the end, second is to beat the AI opponents to the end of the course.

* ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]'': Types 1 and 2 (the chocobo race; [[That One Sidequest|those goddamn butterflies]])

* [[War CraftWarcraft]] 3: Type 3 (not in-campaign, but a custom map)

* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2 (Video Game)|Sonic Adventure 2]] Battle'' has both Type 2 racing levels and an unlockable Type 3 multiplayer racing game.

** Twinkle Park Circuit in the first ''[[Sonic Adventure (Video Game)|Sonic Adventure]]'' (Type 3).

** All of Tails' stages in the first ''[[Sonic Adventure (Video Game)|Sonic Adventure]]'' could be considered Type 1 or 2. Most of them take place in the same areas as other characters' stages, but with differences (such as aerial speed boost rings for Tails to fly through). Speed Highway branches off in its own direction

* ''[[Mafia: theThe City of Lost Heaven]]'' has a single level in which the player must cover for a racecar driver the Don has bet on. It's a [[Scrappy Level]] due to the frailty (as in, tip over and you die, no exceptions) and unstable nature (as in, turn around a corner or hit a slight bump at anything but low speed and you will likely tip over) of the car and the difficulty in traversing the track safely while staying ahead of the racers, but, luckily, there's a secret area that allows you to skip pretty much the entire lap and finish it with ease.

* ''[[Psychonauts (Video Game)|Psychonauts]]''. To earn the Levitation power, you must win a Type 3 race, including speed boosts, unusual obstacles and hidden alternate paths.

* ''[[LEGOLego Island]]'' features both Type 1 races as a variety of its missions, spawning obstacles that make your path very difficult, if not impossible for many routes around the island. The race car and water ski missions, however, are strictly Type 3 races.

* ''[[Mortal Kombat]]: Armageddon'' features a Type 3 minigame called "Motor Kombat." It's separate from the rest of the game, which is probably a good thing -- althoughthing—although it's a surprisingly elaborate Kart clone, it's pretty [[So Okay It's Average|meh]].

* ''[[Bully (Videovideo Gamegame)|Bully]]'' has both Type 1 (bicycle) and Type 3 (kart) races.

* [[Naruto|Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2]] has a minigame where you can race against Might Guy. It's a Type 3 (kind of), though you run by hitting Square and Circle alternately as fast as you can [[Sarcasm Mode|until you get RSI]]. This is unfortunately required for [[Hundred-Percent100% Completion]]. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 also had a Type 3 racing minigame where you were racing Sakura to the top of a tree, though this time you move forward automatically and only have to worry about dodging obstacles.

* ''[[Final Fantasy XII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XII]]'' had a Type 1 race similar to the above example, against Rikken, Raz and Eliza in The Port at Balfonheim. You only have to race him once (and that's only if you want him to tell you about a mark to be hunted - you don't even have to win), but the more races you win, the more prizes you get. You can get a total of 100 prizes, after which Rikken will finally admit that you are the fastest in Ivalice. Most of the prizes are utterly useless, but some of the later ones give you loot to make new stuff at the Bazaar. Just like the Naruto example above, you run by hitting Square and Circle rapidly.

** ''[[Final Fantasy IX (Video Game)|Final Fantasy IX]]'' has a similar Type 1 race, where you race Hippaul as Vivi near the start of the game, when playing as Vivi (though if you miss it, you can go back and do it as Eiko later, when you get free access to Alexandria). It's another one where you mash Square and Circle to run. It's completely unnecessary, though participating in it will trigger an extra Mognet letter (describing an "amazing sprinter"), and if you win 80 times or more, the letter will name Vivi as the "amazing sprinter" (otherwise it will say the sprinter's name is Hippaul).

* ''[[Strong BadsBad's Cool Game for Attractive People (Video Game)|Strong Bads Cool Game for Attractive People]]: Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner'' features the Tri-annual Race to the End of the Race. It probably counts as a Type 1, though it's done against the clock rather than specifically racing someone. You have to do it twice, {{spoiler|first disguised as Homestar, where you proceed to [[Epic Fail|make him look really bad]], and then again after "cheating up" the track in order to make it easier for the decidedly un-athletic Strong Bad}}.

* A different genre of racing minigame witinwithin a racing game: ''[[F -Zero]] GX'' has three Type 2 missions in Story Mode; Goroh the Vengeful Samurai, Rescue Jody, and Black Shadow's Trap.

* ''Call of Duty 4'' had this at the end of the level "Crew Expendable" where the player must escape the sinking ship. Basically, it is a timed race where you follow your allies, but as they inevtably outpace the player audio cues over the radio and general memory of the level already traveledtravelled through becomes very important. Even at the end you have to jump into the back of a helicopter but don't worry, "Nobody makes the first jump..."

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[[Category:Racing MiniVideo Game Genres]]