Radar Rat Race (レーダーラットレース, Rēdā Ratto Rēsu) is a video game developed by HAL Laboratory released on cartridge in 1981 as a launch title for the VIC-20.
The game is a clone of Namco’s Rally-X arcade video game and was released in Japan as Rally-X (ラリーX) from Commodore Japan K.K. In 1982, ports were released for the MAX Machine and Commodore 64.
Gameplay
The player guides a mouse through a large maze. The camera follows the mouse and shows only a small portion of the maze at any given time. The player is pursued by at least three rats. The goal is to eat all of the pieces of cheese, shown for the entire maze on a radar screen, without getting caught by a rat or bumping into a stationary cat. By pressing the joystick button, the mouse can disperse a limited amount of magical dust (called “star screen”) which confuses the rats for about five seconds. Once the round is complete, the game starts again, with more rats and faster play. The gameplay is accompanied by a frenetic, rhythmically altered version of a phrase from “Three Blind Mice”, which cycles endlessly.
Reception
Computer and Video Games, although criticizing the game’s controls and repetitive sound, called the Commodore 64 version “quite exciting and amusing to play”.
References
External links
- C64 Gamevideo 02 – Radar Rat Race on YouTube
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Radar Rat Race has made quite a name for itself in the gaming world, captivating us with its distinctive atmosphere and compelling gameplay dynamics. Thanks to HAL Laboratory's meticulous craftsmanship and Commodore's strong presentation, the high production quality is evident in every moment of the game. Masterfully blending Maze mechanics with modern standards, the game's fluid gameplay makes hours fly by unnoticed. If you're looking for an absorbing world and satisfying mechanics that pull you right in, this game might be exactly what you've been searching for.