The first two Top Gears set a huge trend in racing games, and my big bro and I were hooked huge on them. But could Kemco (the creators) really add to what they’ve already accomplished in Top Gear 2? They decided to try their hand at something different for the Top Gear series, and named the third game Top Gear 3000 instead of Top Gear 3. But the 3000 is there for an obvious reason, but if you don’t know just by looking at the cover art, I’ll explain everything below.

Unlike the first two games, Top Gear 3000 is set, as the name says, in the year 3000. Everything is futuristic and high tech in this game, and the game is set in fictional outer space planets instead of real world countries and cities that the first two games were set to. You go around and racing on several different planets, though this time the number of races on each planet varies. Each race has a set amount of laps, and this time there are even point A to point B races to add on to the traditional lap style races.

The staple of Top Gear, the nitro, returns. You start off with four this time, though with upgrades (which return) you can get more and have them last longer. You once again have to worry about your fuel and your armor, though unlike the second game there are no pit stops for those. Instead, there are red and blue strips along parts of the road which you drive over to refuel or repair, respectively, without having to sacrifice several spots in your position. I thought it fit the futuristic theme nicely.

The point system returns, and of course you will need to place high in order to continue your trek across the center of space. The money system is also back, used to purchase upgrades which also make a reappearance. Though this time, you don’t get every single upgrade from the get go. As you progress, new developments come in, which give you an upgrade to work for. The upgrades from the second game are all back, and this time you can also get weapons. You can purchase upgrades to make your car jump, warp, among many other very fancy things. Weather and day/night conditions also are back.

The music is all futuristic to fit the theme of the game, but I couldn’t really get into it that much. It is acceptable if you’re a fan of techno or house music. The sound effects also fit the future theme, and the graphics just add onto the year 3000 spell.

Overall, while I was disappointed in the future theme, I loved this game as a kid and I still do now. Working towards those upgrades kept me busy for ages, and they will keep you busy as well. Though it doesn’t have the spark that Top Gear 2 had, it is still a worthy addition to your SNES collection.

About the Author

Steven is active in the retro video gaming world. He is also a specialist in movies, computers, and other things. You can also look into his outdoor security cameras site, also giving out advice on wireless surveillance cameras.