Stunt Race FX

• Title — Stunt Race FX • Developer — Nintendo EAD Argonaut Software • Publisher — Nintendo • Producer — Shigeru Miyamoto • Director — Tatsuya Hishida • Programmer — * Giles Goddard • Masato Kimura • Kenji Yamamoto • Colin Reed • Composer — Shinobu Amayake • Genre — Arcade racing • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer • Platforms — Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Stunt Race FX is a racing game with various anthropomorphic vehicles. The player can choose between three vehicles (F-Type is like a Formula One, Coupe is a coupé, and 4WD is a monster truck), a fourth unlockable (2WD), or a fifth in bonus games (Trailer which is a semi-trailer truck). The eyes as headlights was a late-in-development addition. Each vehicle has different capabilities of speed, body, and acceleration. According to the instruction booklets in English, the vehicles are male, but in the Japanese instruction manual and the Japanese television commercial, the Coupe is female and every other vehicle is male. The game features five modes: three for racing levels, one for obstacle courses, one for test-driving, one for time-attacking, and one for multiplayer racing. During gameplay, vehicles can use various functions to their advantage; the speed can be boosted, L and R buttons make sharper turns, and vehicles are damaged by collisions. The capabilities of the Super FX chip are demonstrated extensively. Each course is constructed of 3D polygons, complete with road bumps, overhead passes, and detailed billboard advertisements. The lack of speed is incorporated into gameplay by featuring cars that are heavier and clumsier than in conventional racing games.

In 1991, Nintendo and Argonaut Software began developing a custom 3D cartridge chip called the Super FX chip to enable create polygonal 3D graphics on the Super NES. The primary goal was what became Star Fox, but during the Super FX's development, Nintendo and Argonaut experimented with general 3D game development. The development of Stunt Race FX, which was tentatively titled as FX Trax back then, started when Giles Goddard and Colin Reed joined in and later became Nintendo employees. Wataru Yamaguchi created the clay models of vehicles on the Japanese version's box art and the instruction booklet of all versions. 3D polygonal graphics are the game's main highlight, and producer Shigeru Miyamoto had his designers emphasize realistic vehicle dynamics. For instance, the F-Type's center of gravity is set at the rear of its body. The direction, weight, and force applied by each tire to the road surface is unique, making it quicker and easier for the car's tail to drift when cornering compared to other vehicles. Miyamoto stated that the player could notice these more subtle details by mastering each vehicle. In early development, the 2WD vehicle was not a part of the car roster. In its place was a three-wheeled vehicle called the 3WD, bearing a color scheme very close to the 4WD's blue paint job.

Two television advertisements were made and aired: one for Japan and one for North America and Europe. The Japanese advertisement is a short Japanese animation showing the vehicles in action along with gameplay footage. It is narrated by Akira Kamiya. The advertisement for North America and Europe has a police officer talking to the viewers (as the driver) who he thinks infracted traffic laws while some gameplay footage is shown. Around the release of Stunt Race FX in the United States, Nintendo of America contracted with Kellogg's to give away a promotional, Hot Wheels brand, F-Type race car to people who mailed two proofs of purchase of Apple Jacks breakfast cereal.