______________________ | _________________ /______________________ __________ | | _____ /_________________________| |____ __ \ _____ ___| | | __ \ _____ _____ _____ ______ | | \ \ |___ | | _ | | | \ \ |___ | | _ | | _ | / ____| TM | |__/ / ___| | | | | | | |__/ / ___| | | | |_| | |_| | | | | _ / | _ | | | | | | _ / | _ | | | _ | ___| | | | | \ \ | |_| | | |_| | | | \ \ | |_| | | |_| | | |___ | | |_| \_\ |_____| |_____| |_| \_\ |_____| |_____| |_____| |_| ______________________________________________________________________ |______________________________________________________________________| Rad Racer FAQ/Walkthrough Copyright Square 1987 Written By Brian P. Sulpher E-mail: briansulpher@hotmail.com Version 1.6 Dates Written: March 2nd to March 5th, 2004 I dedicate this FAQ to all the people out there who appreciate the challenge and grace of the old school NES. A lot of good memories were had, and I look forward to creating even more good memories in the future. Also, for Cougar, Howler, Koonce, and Gracey. I miss you, and I hope you are living it up in the afterlife as you did in this world. You will always be in my memories, and you will never be forgotten. ----------- Version 0.5 ----------- -Submitted FAQ on March 4th, 2004 -Everything is complete, except for Tracks 5 through Tracks 8 -Next update should have the other four tracks complete ----------- Version 1.0 ----------- -Submitted FAQ on March 5th, 2004 -Everything is now complete -Accepting any reader contributions ----------- Version 1.5 ----------- -Submitted FAQ on December 18th, 2004 -Updated the controls to include the Turbo Boost for the car (thanks to Jeff Schaefer for correcting me on this oversight) -also altered the format slightly ----------- Version 1.6 ----------- -Submitted guide on 16th of October, 2005 -I added in Retronintendo and Honestgamers as sites allowed to use my FAQs -Altered the format to make it easier on the eyes of the reader ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------Table Of Contents------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Introduction 2) Controls 3) Sunset Coastline 4) San Fransisco Highway 5) Grand Canyon 6) Ruins Of Athens 7) Los Angeles Night Way 8) Snow White Line 9) Seaway In Typhoon 10)Last Seaside Running 11)Driving Tips 12)Codes/Secrets 11)Final Word ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------Introduction------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Welcome to a game that not all know was made by Square (Yes, THAT Square). This is an adrenaline rush (well, not a super one or anything) with some big speed, harrowing turns, and some tight squeezes with other vehicles. Drive a REALLY good race, or you will find yourself coming up short in this rather tough game! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------Controls--------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) This section will look at the controls for your vehicle. LEFT/RIGHT: Steers your car in the corresponding directions. UP........: When held, it will increase the speed of your vehicle slightly, but the penalty for this is a less responsive turning ability. Use it sparingly, rememberering to take it off the moment you see a curve coming up in the road. DOWN......: Shifts the radio between the various songs as well as just shutting off the darn noise to hear the hum of the engines, the squealing tires, and the brakes. SELECT....: Toggles the 3-D effects of the game on and off. START.....: Starts, pauses, and unpauses the game. B Button..: Causes your car to slam the brakes. A Button..: The Gas Pedal is your friend, so keep your finger on this Button! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------Sunset Coastline----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) This is the first track, offering up a fairly serious challenge. It is a day course. o-------------o | Segment One | o-------------o A long straightaway to start here, leading into a long turn leading to the left. This is followed up by a shorter straightaway that turns left, then turns right, and then finally turns left once more to pass through the first Checkpoint. o-------------o | Segment Two | o-------------o A long straightaway greets you to start, which leads into a left curve. This turns into a small straightaway that will again lead into a left turn, which then has a really long straightaway. Now the road leads left for a short span, followed by a quick turn right that will lead through the Checkpoint. o---------------o | Segment Three | o---------------o The almost customary long straightaway to start here, leading into a really long and swift turning path leading to the right. This will abruptly end as the road suddenly starts leading left in a vicious corner, which is then followed up by a long straightaway leading to the Checkpoint. o--------------o | Segment Four | o--------------o a short straightaway will lead into a turn leading left for a long while, followed up by a brief straightaway leading into a right turning corner. A third straightaway is next, which turns into a fairly lengthy left leading corner, followed by another brief straightaway that goes into a right leading corner. Yet another brief straightaway beckons, followed up by a corner leading left to find one final straightaway that waits to be driven to the Goal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------San Fransisco Highway--------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) This is the second track, offering up a fairly serious challenge. It is a night course. o-------------o | Segment One | o-------------o Starting off with a small straightaway, the course will quickly turn right to find a second small straightaway, with this one entering into a long corner leading to the left. A longer straightaway is next, then a small left turn, which leads to a long stretch of straightaway to find the Checkpoint. o-------------o | Segment Two | o-------------o The straightaway continues for a little bit, turning left to find another straightaway that will bring the vehicle to a quick left turn followed by a right turn. Now a brief straightaway will lead to the Checkpoint. o---------------o | Segment Three | o---------------o The straightaway continues, turning the road to the left on the corner, which then becomes another straightaway. This section will continue for a fair bit before heading right around a corner to find a straightaway that leads to the Checkpoint. o--------------o | Segment Four | o--------------o The straightaway will last for just a few seconds, which ends at a corner moving to the left. The next portion of road is a small straightaway that becomes a brief left corner that will switch over quickly to a corner leading to the right. Now a fairly decent straightaway will move along into a lengthy corner moving to the right to find another straightaway that goes to a brief left corner. Next up is a straightaway that will corner to the left, and then one final straightaway will lead into the Goal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------Grand Canyon------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) This is the third track, offering up a serious challenge. This is a late day course. o-------------o | Segment One | o-------------o A decent straightaway will help to build your speed up, which will enter a turn moving right, followed by turn leading left to a second straightaway. The next challenge is a large corner moving to the right to find another straightaway that will find a massive corner that moves left to locate yet another straightaway. Continue down this fairly lengthy patch to find a corner leading right to find a final straightaway to the Checkpoint. o-------------o | Segment Two | o-------------o The straightaway will turn into a turn right, then a turn to the left, which then becomes a straightaway to the Checkpoint in his short segment of the course. o---------------o | Segment Three | o---------------o The road will quickly turn to the right, followed by an even quicker corner leading left to find a small straightaway. Next up is a right turn, then a straightaway, and then a long left corner will lead to a rather long straightaway. This will turn into a long turning right corner to find some straightaway to head through the Checkpoint. o--------------o | Segment Four | o--------------o The straightaway will continue for a little while, leading into a right corner that will straighten out to move down the road to a long left corner. The straightaway that awaits is not that long, as it leads into a corner moving right to find the final straightaway that leads to the Goal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------Ruins Of Athens------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) This is the fourth track, offering up a serious challenge. This is a day course. o-------------o | Segment One | o-------------o The short straightaway at the start will lead into a constant shifting of the turns in the road, back and forth, alternating left and right for four full sets to finally find a straightaway that passes through the Checkpoint. o-------------o | Segment Two | o-------------o Almost immediately, the road enter into a corner moving left, which will then be followed by a massively long straightaway. However, the challenge here is that the vehicles will be very thick on the road, requiring some swift and sure driving to not be forced off the road into the an obstacle on the side of the road. If you are successful, you will find a Checkpoint. o---------------o | Segment Three | o---------------o The straightaway will give way to a turn to the left, followed by a straightaway to a corner leading to the right. This long corner will then turn left to find a straightaway, which will turn left to find another straightaway to pass through a Checkpoint. o--------------o | Segment Four | o--------------o A small straightaway will turn left briefly, leading into a longer straightaway that will again turn left. This will quickly become a turn to the right, followed by a small straightaway that will again become a corner leading to the right. Right after that, a massively long left turn will present itself, which will turn into a final straightaway that leads to the Goal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------Los Angeles Night Way--------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) This is the fifth track, offering up a tough challenge. This is a night course. o-------------o | Segment One | o-------------o A shorter straightaway to begin than the normal beginning straightaway will hit a left corner, a small straightaway, and then another left corner that becomes a right corner rather quickly. Next is a straightaway, then a left corner that leads into another straightaway that passes through the Checkpoint. o-------------o | Segment Two | o-------------o The straightaway continues for a small length before turning left, then right, then left, then right, and finally left to find a straightaway. This will not last long as the corner ahead will lead to the right to a very small straightaway that yields to a left corner, followed by a right corner. Once the roads straightens out, it will remain this way to the Checkpoint. o---------------o | Segment Three | o---------------o A left corner will immediately assault your vehicle, leading to a small straightaway that will enter into a corner leading right to find a longer straightaway. Once this section of pure speed driving ends, a left corner will lead into a small straightaway before cornering to the right. Now a decent straightaway is next, followed up by a left corner that melds into a brief straightaway that will enter into a corner leading to the right. Now another straightaway beckons, but quickly become a left corner that turns into a fairly lengthy straightaway before a corner leading left breaks that monotony. Now the course will enter into a pattern of small straightaway, a right corner, another straightaway, and then a left corner, which will repeat twice over. Next up for the Rad Racer is a straightaway, a corner turning right into a straightaway, and then a corner moving right to find a small straightaway that passes through the Checkpoint. o--------------o | Segment Four | o--------------o This will become a corner leading left almost immediately, becoming a straightaway that goes to another left corner. The next portion of the course is a speedy straightaway, becoming a left turn into a smaller straightaway, followed by turn to the right to find a final straightaway where maneuvering past other cars will lead to the Goal with time to spare! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------Snow White Line------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) This is the sixth track, offering up a tough challenge. This is a day course. o-------------o | Segment One | o-------------o The usual straightaway exists to build some speed, followed by a right corner that leads to a smaller straightaway, which is then followed up by a second right corner. The straightaway that is next will lead through the Checkpoint. o-------------o | Segment Two | o-------------o The straightaway will continue for a brief period before turning left on a longer corner that turns into a small straightaway that will then curve ro the right. Next up is two sets of the following road designs: straightaway, left curve, straightaway, and right curve, which finally empties into one more straightaway that will go through a Checkpoint. o---------------o | Segment Three | o---------------o The straightaway will end rather quickly, turning right to find another straightaway, this one leading into a left curve. Another short straightaway will lead into a left curve, followed up by yet another breif straightaway that will move into a corner leading to the right. Yes, another short straightaway will appear, then a right curve, and finally one last straightaway that leads to the Checkpoint. o--------------o | Segment Four | o--------------o a corner will appear to lead to the right, then a small straightaway will turn into a another right curve. Now a slightly longer straightaway than what you have been seeing is will appear, then a right curve into an even longer straightaway than the previous one will turn right to find one last straightaway that will go to the Goal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------Seaway In Typhoon----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) This is the seventh track, offering up a very tough challenge. This is a day course in the middle of a Typhoon. o-------------o | Segment One | o-------------o The starting straightaway is shorter than most, leading into a corner leading left to a new straightaway that turns into a massive right curve. Now a short straightaway will lead into a left curve that becomes another short straightaway that will segue into a set of curves that go right and then left. Now a brief straightaway will give way to a continually curvy road, moving left, right, left, right, and then left to arrive on a straightaway that will carry your vehicle to the Checkpoint. o-------------o | Segment Two | o-------------o The straightaway will end abruptly, leading into a right curve that straightens out to a longer straightaway where cars will be your big headache. The road will turn left to find a short straightaway that will then curve back to the right to a slightly longer straightaway. This will end at the right curve ahead that will become a left curve almost immediately after, which will then experience the same change when the right curve reasserts itself. This curve will end as the roads heads left to come to a small straightaway that will curve left, followed by alternating right curves and super small straightaways that will end up on a long straightaway to the Checkpoint. o---------------o | Segment Three | o---------------o The straightaway will continue along for a bit, finding a curve going left that will switch to going right to then coming back to being a left curve. This will be followed by a straightaway to find a right curve leading to the Checkpoint. o--------------o | Segment Four | o--------------o The straightaway that results at the Checkpoint will not last too long as the road returns to be curvy, sending you down a path that will curve right, left, right, left, right, and then left. A short straightaway will give your reflexes a slight break, then it is back to a curve leading right to find the final straightaway to the Goal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------Last Seaside Running---------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10)This is the eighth and final track, offering up an extremely tough challenge. This is a day course that continues off during the storm on Track Seven. o-------------o | Segment One | o-------------o A fiarly long straightaway will lead into a left curve that becomes a curve to the right that repeats the left then right pattern for curves once more. Another straightaway greets you next, which will lead into the left curve, which will become a right curve, which will then be followed up by a curve to the left to find the Checkpoint. o-------------o | Segment Two | o-------------o Welcome to the toughest segment of any Track in the game. The road will curve immediately to the right, which will lead into a continually swerving roadway. You will have to navigate alternating left curves, then right curves, which are in six sets. Then you will have one last curve leading left to find a small straightaway that the Checkpoint sits on. o---------------o | Segment Three | o---------------o The road will curve left briefly, finding a straightaway that will lead to a right curve that turns into a longer left curve. A decent sized straightaway greets you, followed by a right curve, a small straightaway, and then one more right curve. Next up are a couple of left curves to find a long straightaway that will find two sets of left curve, small straightaway, and a right curve. This will bring your vehicle to a long straightaway that will pass through the Checkpoint. o--------------o | Segment Four | o--------------o The final segment is almost like a victory cruise compared two segments two and three of this course. Cruise down the straightaway (dealing with cars) to find a brief left curve that will straighten out for a second before turning to the right. You will now be greeted by another straightaway to have cars to deal with, followed by a curve to the right to find yet another lengthy straightaway. Continue down this road to turn right to enter a small straightaway that enters into two right curves to find the final straightaway in the game where you can cruise to the Goal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------Driving Tips------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11)This section will give some general driving tips to increase your chances of finishing every Track in the game. i) This should be a given, but try to keep your speed at as high as possible. The farther you advance into the game, the less time you have to waste while going from one Checkpoint to the next to eventually get to the Goal. Make use of the turbo for this, remembering to use it on straightaways only, or you will quickly wipe out on some sort of obstacle on the side of the road, losing time instead of gaining it. ii) When you are turning on a curve, your car will eventually start to skid if you are going at higher speeds. This is when applying the brakes will slow your car's skid down, eventually getting it to stop. At this point, let go of the brake and start picking up speed once again to get to the next Checkpoint/Goal. iii) Most cars will stay in their lanes, so passing them is just the matter of choosing an alternate lane. However, sometimes you will have to face aggressive drivers who will change lanes frequently, so do your best to bait them into moving to a new lane, followed by shooting through the now open lane to get past them. iv) Anything that appears along the side of the road (Signs, rocks, trees, etc.) is a hazard to your vehicle. So, stay off the shoulders or your car will be launched through the air in a crash that kill any other person, yet your driver not only lives, but can and will continue to drive. Seriously, how doe that car come close to not only surviving the wreck, then it continues to run!? It should be a big fireball on the side of the road, never mind that even if it avoided that it should never run again! v) Remember that even though the time has run out, your car will still coast along, so steer past cars and be ready to re-apply the gas if you make it through the next Checkpoint/Goal. vi) If you are having trouble with other cars while on a corner, brake to let them move ahead of your vehicle. You can catch them and pass them in the near future when the odds are more favourable for a no-incident pass to occur. vii) Try to use the opposing cars to your advantage. If you are on a corner and you manage to pull up equal to one, use those cars to buffet your car, protecting your car from skidding off the road. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------Codes/Secrets------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12)This section will take a look at the secret and codes within the game that allow a player to continue, skip tracks, even see the great ending without ever driving a single kilometre (single mile for you backward yanks)! o-----------------o | Change The Demo | o-----------------o Not really a code so much, but if you lose on any course, the resulting driver demo will be on that same course. o-----------o | Continues | o-----------o When the game ends, hold the A Button, then press START. You will continue on the same track that you did not finish! o----------------o | Select A Track | o----------------o While the demo is running, you can press the B Button to make the speedometer on the bottom of the screen fill up. This is also how to gauge which Track you will go to if you use this Code. Press the B Button one less than the number of times that is equal to the Track Number you wish to go to. Then hold UP + RIGHT before pressing START to appear at whichever venue you wish to! The following chart will lay it out for those who have trouble understanding the explanation above (B Button refers to number of presses before holding UP + RIGHT and then pressing START): ______________________ __________ | Track Name | B Button | |______________________|__________| |San Fransisco Highway | 1 | |______________________|__________| |Grand Canyon | 2 | |______________________|__________| |Ruins Of Athens | 3 | |______________________|__________| |Los Angeles Night Way | 4 | |______________________|__________| |Snow White Line | 5 | |______________________|__________| |Seaway In Typhoon | 6 | |______________________|__________| |Last Seaside Running | 7 | |______________________|__________| o-------------------------------------------------o | Go Directly To The Ending, Do Not Keep Your Car | o-------------------------------------------------o While the demo is running, you can press the B Button to make the speedometer on the bottom of the screen fill up. This is also how to gauge which Track you will go to if you use this Code. Press the B Button a total of 64 times (eight times of filling, then emptying the speedometer of lights), followed by holding UP + RIGHT, which is then followed by START to go see the ending teaches a valuable life lesson (go see it to learn this valuable lesson!). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------Final Word--------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12)As is the usual, this walkthrough is copyright property of Brian P. Sulpher, 2004. The only website, group, person, etc. to have access to post it is www.gamefaqs.com, www.ign.com, www.retronintendo.com, and www.honestgamers.com. You must ask for permission before posting this, as doing so without consent is a violation of international copyright law. If you liked it, hated it, have anything to add, then please E-mail me at briansulpher@hotmail.com. You can also contact me through MSN messenger through the same E-mail address. A neat look at a game genre most fans of Square did not know that their beloved RPG producing company dabbled in. Play it, enjoy it, and remember that no matter what you here, CULEX IS NOT IN THIS GAME! Also, thanks to GameFAQs for refreshing my memory on how to make the codes work for me, as I my old notes did not mention holding UP + RIGHT while pressing START. Thanks GFAQs, and those who contributed the information to the site's impressivle large and comprehensive source of gaming knowledge!