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| title = Rally-X
| title = Rally-X
| image = Rallyx-arcade-flyer.jpg
| image = Rallyx-arcade-flyer.jpg
| caption = Advertising flyer
| caption = Arcade flyer
| developer = [[Namco]]
| developer = [[Namco]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/DE|Namco<ref name="flyers">{{cite web |title=Rally-X Video Game Flyers |url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=archive&db=videodb&name=Rally-X |website=The Arcade Flyer Archive |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref>|NA|[[Midway Games|Midway Manufacturing]]|EU|Karateco<ref name="flyers"/>}}
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/DE|Namco<ref name="flyers">{{cite web |title=Rally-X Video Game Flyers |url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=archive&db=videodb&name=Rally-X |website=The Arcade Flyer Archive |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref>|NA|[[Midway Games|Midway Manufacturing]]|EU|Karateco<ref name="flyers"/>}}
| series = ''Rally-X''
| series =
| platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[MSX]], [[Commodore VIC-20]], [[Sharp X1]], [[Fujitsu FM-7]], [[Sharp MZ|MZ-1500]]
| platforms = [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[MSX]], [[VIC-20]], [[Sharp X1]], [[Fujitsu FM-7]], [[Sharp MZ|MZ-1500]]
| released = {{Video game release|JP|October 3, 1980{{efn|First demonstrated in January 1980,<ref name="MAD1"/><ref name="MAD2"/> followed by wide release on October 3, 1980.<ref name="USCO"/>}}|NA|February 1981|EU|1981<ref name="flyers"/>}}
| released = {{Video game release|JP|October 3, 1980{{efn|First demonstrated in January 1980,<ref name="MAD1"/><ref name="MAD2"/> followed by wide release on October 3, 1980.<ref name="USCO"/>}}|NA|February 1981|EU|1981<ref name="flyers"/>}}
| genre = [[List of maze video games|Maze]]
| genre = [[List of maze video games|Maze]]
| modes = [[Single player]], [[multiplayer]] (alternating turns)
| modes = [[Single-player]], 2 players alternating
| designer = Hirohito Ito
| designer = Hirohito Ito
| programmer= {{ubl|Kazuo Kurosu|Kouichi Tashiro}}
| programmer= {{ubl|Kazuo Kurosu|Kouichi Tashiro}}
| composer = Toshio Kai
| composer = Toshio Kai
| artist = [[Hiroshi Ono (artist)|Hiroshi Ono]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/former-namco-pixel-artist-hiroshi-mr-dotman-ono-has-died/|title=Former Namco Pixel Artist Hiroshi ‘Mr. Dotman’ Ono Has Died|website=[[Siliconera]]|date=October 17, 2021|access-date=October 17, 2021|last=Kiya|first=Andrew}}</ref>
| artist = [[Hiroshi Ono (artist)|Hiroshi Ono]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/former-namco-pixel-artist-hiroshi-mr-dotman-ono-has-died/|title=Former Namco Pixel Artist Hiroshi 'Mr. Dotman' Ono Has Died|website=[[Siliconera]]|date=October 17, 2021|access-date=October 17, 2021|last=Kiya|first=Andrew}}</ref>
}}
}}


{{nihongo foot|'''''Rally-X'''''|ラリーX|Rarī-Ekkusu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a [[List of maze video games|maze chase]] [[arcade game]] developed and released by [[Namco]] in 1980. Players control a blue Formula One racecar through a series of multi-[[scrolling]] levels and must collect yellow flags scattered about. There are enemy red cars that pursue the player in an attempt to collide with them, and there are also boulders that must be avoided. Red cars can be temporarily stunned by laying down [[smoke screens]] at the cost of a portion of their fuel.
{{nihongo|'''''Rally-X'''''|ラリーX|Rarī-Ekkusu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a [[List of maze video games|maze chase]] [[arcade video game]] developed in [[Japan]] and [[Germany]] by [[Namco]] and released in 1980. In [[North America]], it was distributed by [[Midway Games|Midway Manufacturing]] and in [[Europe]] by Karateco. Players drive a blue [[Formula One]] race car through a multidirectional scrolling maze to collect yellow flags. Boulders block some paths and must be avoided. Red enemy cars pursue the player in an attempt to collide with them. Red cars can be temporarily stunned by laying down [[smoke screens]] at the cost of fuel. ''Rally-X'' is one of the first games with [[bonus stage]]s and continuously-playing background music.


''Rally-X'' was designed as a successor to [[Sega]]'s ''[[Head On (video game)|Head On]]'' (1979), a similar maze chase game with cars. It was a commercial success in Japan, where it was the sixth highest-grossing [[1980 in video games|arcade game of 1980]], but [[Midway Manufacturing]] released the game in North America to largely underwhelming results. The game is best known in North America for an often-repeated, though untrue, story involving its demonstration at the 1980 Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) trade show, where the attending press believed ''Rally-X'' was of superior quality than the other games presented, specifically ''[[Pac-Man]]''. Though it was well-received by attendees, ''Rally-X'' failed to attract much attention during its presentation.
''Rally-X'' was designed as a successor to [[Sega]]'s ''[[Head On (video game)|Head On]]'' (1979), an earlier maze chase game with cars. It was a commercial success in Japan, where it was the sixth highest-grossing game of 1980, but [[Midway Manufacturing]] released the game in North America to largely underwhelming results. An often-repeated, though untrue, story involving its demonstration at the 1980 Amusement & Music Operators Association trade show, where the attending press believed ''Rally-X'' was of superior quality than the other games presented, specifically ''[[Pac-Man]]''. Though it was well-received by attendees, ''Rally-X'' failed to attract much attention during its presentation.


Reception for ''Rally-X'', both at release and retrospectively, has highlighted its technological accomplishments and high difficulty. Some reviewers have found it to be influential and ahead of its time. ''Rally-X'' received several remakes and sequels, beginning with ''[[New Rally-X]]'' in 1981, and is also included in several [[List of Bandai Namco video game compilations|Namco compilations]]. It is credited as one of the first games to implement [[bonus stage]]s and continuously-playing [[Video game music|background music]].
Reception for ''Rally-X'', both at release and retrospectively, has highlighted its technological accomplishments and high difficulty. Some reviewers have found it to be influential and ahead of its time. ''Rally-X'' received several remakes and sequels, beginning with the slightly tweaked ''[[New Rally-X]]'' in 1981. It is also included in several [[List of Bandai Namco video game compilations|Namco compilations]].


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
[[File:Rally-X screenshot.png|thumb|left|The player about to collect a flag while being pursued by enemy cars.]]
[[File:Rally-X screenshot.png|thumb|left|The player (blue) about to collect a flag with two red enemy cars in pursit.]]

''Rally-X'' is a maze chase game where the player controls a blue Formula One racecar. The objective is to collect yellow flags that are scattered around an enclosed maze while avoiding collision with red-colored cars that pursue the player.<ref name="Allgame"/> Mazes scroll in the four cardinal directions and are clustered with dead ends, long corridors, and stationary boulders that are harmful to the player.<ref name="Allgame"/><ref name="RGamer">{{cite web |author1=Retro Gamer Staff |title=Rally-X |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/rally-x/ |website=[[Retro Gamer]] |access-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707013707/https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/rally-x/ |archive-date=July 7, 2015 |date=August 18, 2008}}</ref> Each level contains ten flags that increase their point value when collected in succession.<ref name="CashBox"/> One of the flags is a "Special Flag", indicated by an S next to it, which doubles the value of each flag collected thereafter.<ref name="RGamer"/><ref name="CashBox">{{cite news |title=Midway Bows New 'Rally-X' Video |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox42unse_37/page/42/mode/2up |access-date=March 22, 2021 |agency=[[Cash Box]] |date=February 24, 1981 |pages=40, 42}}</ref> The player can temporarily stun the red cars with [[smoke screens]], which depletes a portion of their fuel meter at the right of the screen.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref name="RGamer"/> The meter constantly depletes the longer the player takes in a level, and acts as a timer.<ref name="RGamer"/> As the game progresses, more red cars are added and become more aggressive.<ref name="RGamer"/>
''Rally-X'' is a maze chase game where the player controls a blue Formula One racecar. The objective is to collect yellow flags that are scattered around an enclosed maze while avoiding collision with red-colored cars that pursue the player.<ref name="Allgame"/> Mazes scroll in the four cardinal directions and are clustered with dead ends, long corridors, and stationary boulders that are harmful to the player.<ref name="Allgame"/><ref name="RGamer">{{cite web |author1=Retro Gamer Staff |title=Rally-X |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/rally-x/ |website=[[Retro Gamer]] |access-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707013707/https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/rally-x/ |archive-date=July 7, 2015 |date=August 18, 2008}}</ref> Each level contains ten flags that increase their point value when collected in succession.<ref name="CashBox"/> One of the flags is a "Special Flag", indicated by an S next to it, which doubles the value of each flag collected thereafter.<ref name="RGamer"/><ref name="CashBox">{{cite news |title=Midway Bows New 'Rally-X' Video |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox42unse_37/page/42/mode/2up |access-date=March 22, 2021 |agency=[[Cash Box]] |date=February 24, 1981 |pages=40, 42}}</ref> The player can temporarily stun the red cars with [[smoke screens]], which depletes a portion of their fuel meter at the right of the screen.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref name="RGamer"/> The meter constantly depletes the longer the player takes in a level, and acts as a timer.<ref name="RGamer"/> As the game progresses, more red cars are added and become more aggressive.<ref name="RGamer"/>


The player has a radar beneath their fuel meter, which displays their current position on the map as well as the location of the flags and red cars.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Extended Play - Namco Museum |url=https://archive.org/details/maximum-the-video-game-magazine-issue-5-april-1996-uk/page/56/mode/2up?q=%22Rally-X%22 |access-date=March 22, 2021 |agency=Maximum |issue=5 |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |date=April 1996 |pages=54–59}}</ref> The third level and every fourth thereafter is a [[bonus round]], where the objective is to collect the flags in a certain amount of time. In these bonus rounds, the red cars remain idle and will not chase the player unless their fuel is empty.
The player has a radar beneath their fuel meter, which displays their current position on the map as well as the location of the flags and red cars.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Extended Play - Namco Museum |url=https://archive.org/details/maximum-the-video-game-magazine-issue-5-april-1996-uk/page/56/mode/2up?q=%22Rally-X%22 |access-date=March 22, 2021 |agency=Maximum |issue=5 |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |date=April 1996 |pages=54–59}}</ref> The third level and every fourth thereafter is a [[bonus round]] (called a "[[Engrish|Charanging Stage]]"), where the objective is to collect the flags in a certain amount of time. In these bonus rounds, the red cars remain idle and will not chase the player unless their fuel is empty.


==Development and release==
==Development and release==
''Rally-X'' was created by [[Namco]] and designed by Hirohito Ito, with hardware developed by Kouichi Tashiro.<ref name="Szczepaniak">{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |date=11 August 2014 |isbn=978-0992926007 |pages=201 |edition=First }}</ref> It was produced as a successor to ''[[Head On (video game)|Head On]]'' (1979), an older [[arcade game]] from [[Sega]] that similarly involved collecting items in a maze while avoiding enemy cars that pursued the player.<ref name="Smith"/> ''Head On'' was a popular title in Japanese arcades, which gave Namco the idea of creating a game that built on its mechanics.<ref name="Gamest2"/> ''Rally-X'' was created on a version of the ''[[Pac-Man]]'' arcade system board that supports multi-directional scrolling. The programming was done by Kazuo Kurosu, who went on to design the [[shoot 'em up|multi-directional shooter]] ''[[Bosconian]]'' (1981), and featured music from ''Pac-Man'' composer Toshio Kai.<ref name="Szczepaniak"/>
''Rally-X'' was created by [[Namco]] and designed by Hirohito Ito, with hardware developed by Kouichi Tashiro.<ref name="Szczepaniak">{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |date=11 August 2014 |isbn=978-0992926007 |pages=201 |publisher=SMG Szczepaniak |edition=First}}</ref> It was produced as a successor to ''[[Head On (video game)|Head On]]'' (1979), an older [[arcade game]] from [[Sega]] that similarly involved collecting items in a maze while avoiding enemy cars that pursued the player.<ref name="Smith"/> ''Head On'' was a popular title in Japanese arcades, which gave Namco the idea of creating a game that built on its mechanics.<ref name="Gamest2"/> ''Rally-X'' was created on a version of the ''[[Pac-Man]]'' arcade system board that supports multi-directional scrolling. The programming was done by Kazuo Kurosu, who went on to design the [[shoot 'em up|multi-directional shooter]] ''[[Bosconian]]'' (1981), and featured music from ''Pac-Man'' composer Toshio Kai.<ref name="Szczepaniak"/>


''Rally-X'' was first demonstrated in Japan in January 1980,<ref name="MAD1">{{cite web |title=Rally-X (upright) |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M731935 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |language=ja |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="MAD2">{{cite web |title=Rally-X (table) |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M731936 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |language=ja |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref> before receiving a wide release on October 3, 1980.<ref name="USCO">{{cite web |title=Rally-X (Registration Number PA0000088049) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=[[United States Copyright Office]] |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> When preparing to release the game overseas, Namco believed ''Rally-X'' had more foreign appeal than ''Pac-Man'' with its audiovisual presentation and challenge, which it believed American audiences would prefer to the simplicity and "cuteness" present in ''Pac-Man''.<ref name="Smith">{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Alexander |title=They Create Worlds |date=November 19, 2019 |publisher=CRC Press |pages=587―589 |isbn=9780429752612 }}</ref> Namco presented ''Rally-X'' at the 1980 Amusement & Music Operators Union (AMOA) tradeshow in [[Chicago, Illinois]], alongside ''Pac-Man'', ''[[King & Balloon]]'', and ''[[Tank Battalion]]''. An often-repeated story is that out of the games presented, specifically ''Pac-Man'', the attending industry analysists believed ''Rally-X'' was the stand-out and the one destined to be successful.<ref name="Allgame"/><ref name="PDF"/> Though it received praise from the press,<ref name="PMeter 1"/> ''Rally-X'' did not attract much attention during the event.<ref name="Smith"/> According to ''[[Play Meter]]'' magazine, both ''Pac-Man'' and ''Rally-X'' received mild attention at the show.<ref name="PM94">{{cite magazine |title=Pac-Man gobbles his way into the industry |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=December 1994 |volume=20 |issue=13 |pages=22, 24, 26 |url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-20-number-13-december-1994/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%2020%2C%20Number%2013%20-%20December%201994/page/22}}</ref> [[Midway Manufacturing]], the video game division of [[Bally Manufacturing]], agreed to distribute ''Rally-X'' and ''Pac-Man'' in North America. Dave Marofske, the president of Midway, believed the two had the most potential out of the four Namco games presented. Midway released ''Rally-X'' in North America in February 1981 in upright, tabletop, and cabaret cabinet variations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coin Machines - Manufacturers Equipment |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox43unse_8/page/38/mode/2up |access-date=March 22, 2021 |agency=[[Cash Box]] |date=July 25, 1981 |page=38}}</ref>
''Rally-X'' was first demonstrated in Japan in January 1980,<ref name="MAD1">{{cite web |title=Rally-X (upright) |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M731935 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |language=ja |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="MAD2">{{cite web |title=Rally-X (table) |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M731936 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |language=ja |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref> before receiving a wide release on October 3, 1980.<ref name="USCO">{{cite web |title=Rally-X (Registration Number PA0000088049) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=[[United States Copyright Office]] |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> When preparing to release the game overseas, Namco believed ''Rally-X'' had more foreign appeal than ''Pac-Man'' with its audiovisual presentation and challenge, which it believed American audiences would prefer to the simplicity and "cuteness" present in ''Pac-Man''.<ref name="Smith">{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Alexander |title=They Create Worlds |date=November 19, 2019 |publisher=CRC Press |pages=587―589 |isbn=9780429752612}}</ref> Namco presented ''Rally-X'' at the 1980 Amusement & Music Operators Union (AMOA) tradeshow in [[Chicago, Illinois]], alongside ''Pac-Man'', ''[[King & Balloon]]'', and ''[[Tank Battalion]]''. An often-repeated story is that out of the games presented, specifically ''Pac-Man'', the attending industry analysists believed ''Rally-X'' was the stand-out and the one destined to be successful.<ref name="Allgame"/><ref name="PDF"/> Though it received praise from the press,<ref name="PMeter 1"/> ''Rally-X'' did not attract much attention during the event.<ref name="Smith"/> According to ''[[Play Meter]]'' magazine, both ''Pac-Man'' and ''Rally-X'' received mild attention at the show.<ref name="PM94">{{cite magazine |title=Pac-Man gobbles his way into the industry |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=December 1994 |volume=20 |issue=13 |pages=22, 24, 26 |url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-20-number-13-december-1994/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%2020%2C%20Number%2013%20-%20December%201994/page/22}}</ref> [[Midway Manufacturing]], the video game division of [[Bally Manufacturing]], agreed to distribute ''Rally-X'' and ''Pac-Man'' in North America. Dave Marofske, the president of Midway, believed the two had the most potential out of the four Namco games presented. Midway released ''Rally-X'' in North America in February 1981 in upright, tabletop, and cabaret cabinet variations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coin Machines - Manufacturers Equipment |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox43unse_8/page/38/mode/2up |access-date=March 22, 2021 |agency=[[Cash Box]] |date=July 25, 1981 |page=38}}</ref>


===Conversions===
===Conversions===
A home conversion of ''Rally-X'' was released for the [[Commodore VIC-20]] in Japan in 1981. The port was developed by [[HAL Laboratory]] and published by the Japanese division of [[Commodore International]].<ref name="RGamer VIC">{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Mat |title=Retroinspection: VIC-20 |url=https://archive.org/details/Retro_Gamer_UK_46/page/34/mode/2up |access-date=March 23, 2021 |agency=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=46 |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |date=March 2010 |pages=34–41}}</ref> Due to licensing restrictions, HAL changed the game's characters to mice and cats and released it in North America as ''[[Radar Rat Race]]''.<ref name="RGamer VIC"/> Namco released a port for the [[MSX]] in 1984 that adopted the gameplay of ''New Rally-X'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Dempa Micomsoft Super Soft Catalogue |url=https://archive.org/details/MicomsoftSuperSoftCatalogue19845/page/n3 |access-date=14 July 2019 |publisher=Dempa |date=May 1984 |page=4}}</ref> which was released in Europe by Argus Press Software under the [[Bug-Byte]] name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zzap! Budget - Pac-Man |url=https://archive.org/details/zzap-italia-22/page/n63/mode/2up |access-date=March 23, 2021 |agency=[[Zzap!64]] |issue=22 |publisher=[[Newsfield Publications Ltd]] |date=April 1988 |language=it}}</ref> Dempa Shinbun developed versions for the [[Fujitsu FM-7]], [[Sharp MZ|MZ-1500]], and [[Sharp X1]] computers in Japan the same year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dempa Shinbun Software Catalog |url=https://archive.org/details/micomBASIC_1986-06/page/n209/mode/2up |access-date=March 23, 2021 |agency=Micom BASIC |publisher=Dempa Shinbun |date=June 1986 |pages=210–211 |language=ja}}</ref>
A home conversion of ''Rally-X'' was released for the [[VIC-20]] in Japan in 1981. The port was developed by [[HAL Laboratory]] and published by the Japanese division of [[Commodore International]].<ref name="RGamer VIC">{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Mat |title=Retroinspection: VIC-20 |url=https://archive.org/details/Retro_Gamer_UK_46/page/34/mode/2up |access-date=March 23, 2021 |agency=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=46 |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |date=March 2010 |pages=34–41}}</ref> Due to licensing restrictions, HAL changed the game's characters to mice and cats and released it in North America as ''[[Radar Rat Race]]''.<ref name="RGamer VIC"/> Namco released a port for the [[MSX]] in 1984 that adopted the gameplay of ''New Rally-X'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Dempa Micomsoft Super Soft Catalogue |url=https://archive.org/details/MicomsoftSuperSoftCatalogue19845/page/n1/mode/2up |access-date=14 July 2019 |publisher=Dempa |date=May 1984 |page=3}}</ref> which was released in Europe by Argus Press Software under the [[Bug-Byte]] name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zzap! Budget - Pac-Man |url=https://archive.org/details/zzap-italia-22/page/n63/mode/2up |access-date=March 23, 2021 |agency=[[Zzap!64]] |issue=22 |publisher=[[Newsfield Publications Ltd]] |date=April 1988 |language=it}}</ref> Dempa Shinbun developed versions for the [[Fujitsu FM-7]], [[Sharp MZ|MZ-1500]], and [[Sharp X1]] computers in Japan the same year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dempa Shinbun Software Catalog |url=https://archive.org/details/micomBASIC_1986-06/page/n209/mode/2up |access-date=March 23, 2021 |agency=Micom BASIC |publisher=Dempa Shinbun |date=June 1986 |pages=210–211 |language=ja}}</ref>


''Rally-X'' remained relatively obscure for many years until 1995, when it was included in the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] compilation ''[[Namco Museum Vol. 1]]'' along with six other Namco arcade games.<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="PDF"/> The port uses a [[JAMMA]] emulator running the source code of the original, making it a near-perfect conversion.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Finals ― Namco Museum Vol. 1|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=21|publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]]|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-021/page/n151|date=September 1996|page=148|access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref> ''Rally-X'' has been included in several [[List of Bandai Namco video game compilations|Namco compilations]] including ''Namco History Vol. 2'' (1997),<ref name="PCW">{{cite web |title=「ナムコヒストリーVOL.2」デモ版ダウンロードサービス実施中 ナムコヒストリー、ソフト＆グッズプレゼント! |url=https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/971031/game.htm |website=PC Watch |publisher=Impress Group |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611105229/https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/971031/game.htm |archive-date=June 11, 2016 |language=ja |date=October 31, 1997}}</ref> ''[[Microsoft Revenge of Arcade]]'' (1998), ''[[Namco Museum Battle Collection]]'' (2005),<ref name="Battle">{{cite web |author1=Nix |title=Namco Museum Battle Collection |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/namco-museum-battle-collection |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=4 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517201838/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/namco-museum-battle-collection |archive-date=17 May 2019 |date=25 August 2005}}</ref> ''[[Namco Museum 50th Anniversary]]'' (2005), ''[[Namco Museum Virtual Arcade]]'' (2008),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Geddes |first1=Ryan |title=Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/06/namco-museum-virtual-arcade-review |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616231512/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/06/namco-museum-virtual-arcade-review |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |date=November 6, 2008}}</ref> and ''[[Namco Museum Megamix]]'' (2010).<ref name="IGN Megamix">{{cite web |last1=Buchanan |first1=Levi |title=Namco Museum Megamix Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/22/namco-museum-megamix-review |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216185805/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/22/namco-museum-megamix-review |archive-date=16 February 2019 |date=22 November 2010}}</ref> In 1996, ''Rally-X'' was re-released for arcades as part of ''[[Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2]]''.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Bruised Lee |title=Hot At The Arcades - Namco Classics |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_096_Volume_08_Number_09_1996-09_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n61/mode/2up |access-date=March 23, 2021 |agency=[[GamePro]] |issue=96 |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=September 1996 |page=60}}</ref> It has also appeared in several Namco "[[Handheld TV game|plug'n play]]" game controllers from [[Jakks Pacific]]. ''Rally-X'' is also included in both ''Pac-Man’s Arcade Party'' (2010)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Matt |title=The Best All-in-One Arcade Game Cabinets 2019 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-all-in-one-arcade-game-cabinets |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218134907/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-all-in-one-arcade-game-cabinets |archive-date=18 February 2019 |date=6 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pac-Man Arcade Party |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=18630 |website=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325040100/https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=18630 |archive-date=25 March 2019}}</ref> and ''Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanford |first1=Time |title=Pac-Man's Pixel Bash Chill Cabinet Targets 8-Bit Classics Enthusiasts |url=https://www.vendingtimes.com/articles/pacmans-pixel-bash-chill-cabinet-targets-8bit-clas-11829 |website=Vending Times |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713230806/https://www.vendingtimes.com/articles/pacmans-pixel-bash-chill-cabinet-targets-8bit-clas-11829 |archive-date=13 July 2019 |date=2 August 2018}}</ref> In 2021, ''Rally-X'' saw a digital release under the ''[[Arcade Archives]]'' label for the [[Nintendo Switch]] and [[PlayStation 4]].
''Rally-X'' remained relatively obscure for many years until 1995, when it was included in the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] compilation ''[[Namco Museum Vol. 1]]'' along with six other Namco arcade games.<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="PDF"/> The port uses a [[JAMMA]] emulator running the source code of the original, making it a near-perfect conversion.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Finals ― Namco Museum Vol. 1|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=21|publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]]|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-021/page/n151|date=September 1996|page=148|access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref> ''Rally-X'' has been included in several [[List of Bandai Namco video game compilations|Namco compilations]] including ''Namco History Vol. 2'' (1997),<ref name="PCW">{{cite web |title=「ナムコヒストリーVOL.2」デモ版ダウンロードサービス実施中 ナムコヒストリー、ソフト＆グッズプレゼント! |url=https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/971031/game.htm |website=PC Watch |publisher=Impress Group |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611105229/https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/971031/game.htm |archive-date=June 11, 2016 |language=ja |date=October 31, 1997}}</ref> ''[[Microsoft Revenge of Arcade]]'' (1998), ''[[Namco Museum Battle Collection]]'' (2005),<ref name="Battle">{{cite web |author1=Nix |title=Namco Museum Battle Collection |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/namco-museum-battle-collection |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=4 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517201838/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/25/namco-museum-battle-collection |archive-date=17 May 2019 |date=25 August 2005}}</ref> ''[[Namco Museum 50th Anniversary]]'' (2005), ''[[Namco Museum Virtual Arcade]]'' (2008),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Geddes |first1=Ryan |title=Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/06/namco-museum-virtual-arcade-review |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616231512/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/06/namco-museum-virtual-arcade-review |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |date=November 6, 2008}}</ref> and ''[[Namco Museum Megamix]]'' (2010).<ref name="IGN Megamix">{{cite web |last1=Buchanan |first1=Levi |title=Namco Museum Megamix Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/22/namco-museum-megamix-review |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216185805/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/22/namco-museum-megamix-review |archive-date=16 February 2019 |date=22 November 2010}}</ref> In 1996, ''Rally-X'' was re-released for arcades as part of ''[[Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2]]''.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Bruised Lee |title=Hot At The Arcades - Namco Classics |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_096_Volume_08_Number_09_1996-09_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n61/mode/2up |access-date=March 23, 2021 |agency=[[GamePro]] |issue=96 |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=September 1996 |page=60}}</ref> It has also appeared in several Namco "[[Handheld TV game|plug'n play]]" game controllers from [[Jakks Pacific]]. ''Rally-X'' is also included in both ''Pac-Man’s Arcade Party'' (2010)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Matt |title=The Best All-in-One Arcade Game Cabinets 2019 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-all-in-one-arcade-game-cabinets |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218134907/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-all-in-one-arcade-game-cabinets |archive-date=18 February 2019 |date=6 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pac-Man Arcade Party |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=18630 |website=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325040100/https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=18630 |archive-date=25 March 2019}}</ref> and ''Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanford |first1=Time |title=Pac-Man's Pixel Bash Chill Cabinet Targets 8-Bit Classics Enthusiasts |url=https://www.vendingtimes.com/articles/pacmans-pixel-bash-chill-cabinet-targets-8bit-clas-11829 |website=Vending Times |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713230806/https://www.vendingtimes.com/articles/pacmans-pixel-bash-chill-cabinet-targets-8bit-clas-11829 |archive-date=13 July 2019 |date=2 August 2018}}</ref> In 2021, ''Rally-X'' saw a digital release under the ''[[Arcade Archives]]'' label for the [[Nintendo Switch]] and [[PlayStation 4]].
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The game was a commercial success in Japan, where it became the sixth highest-grossing [[1980 in video games|arcade game of 1980]], and Namco's third highest that year below ''Pac-Man'' and ''[[Galaxian]]''.<ref name="GM159">{{cite magazine|title=ベストスリー 本紙調査 (調査対象1980年) 〜 アーケードゲーム機|trans-title=Best Three Book Survey (Survey Target 1980) ~ Arcade Game Machines|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=159|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 February 1981|page=2|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19810215p.pdf#page=2}}</ref> In contrast, the game was not as successful in North America. By July 1981, Midway had sold 2,500 ''Rally-X'' arcade machines, significantly less than the company's other releases at the time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Midway Mfg. Co. v. Dirkschneider, 543 F. Supp. 466 (D. Neb. 1981) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/543/466/1460981/ |website=Justia Law |publisher=[[U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska]] |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=July 15, 1981}}</ref> Dick Pearson of ''RePlay'' highlighted its colorful visuals and sound effects in a preview from the tradeshow, comparing its gameplay favorably to ''Pac-Man'' and writing that it "shows promise as an entertaining maze video game".<ref name="PMeter 1">{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Dick |title=Play Meter Plays The Games |agency=[[Play Meter]] |date=January 15, 1981}}</ref> A writer for ''[[Cash Box]]'' provided similar comments, further applauding its scoring system and layer of strategy.<ref name="CashBox"/> In 1991, ''[[Gamest]]'' listed it as being a "masterpiece" alongside ''New Rally-X'', and believed its underwhelming critical and commercial reception was attributed to it being ahead of its time. Staff considered it a successor to ''Head On'', as well as being influential for the maze genre.<ref name="Gamest1">{{cite book |title=ザ・ベストゲーム 月刊ゲーメスト7月号増刊 |date=July 1, 1991 |publisher=[[Gamest]] |asin=B00BHEECW0 |pages=175―266 |edition=Volume 6, Number 7 |language=ja}}</ref>
The game was a commercial success in Japan, where it became the sixth highest-grossing [[1980 in video games|arcade game of 1980]], and Namco's third highest that year below ''Pac-Man'' and ''[[Galaxian]]''.<ref name="GM159">{{cite magazine|title=ベストスリー 本紙調査 (調査対象1980年) 〜 アーケードゲーム機|trans-title=Best Three Book Survey (Survey Target 1980) ~ Arcade Game Machines|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=159|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 February 1981|page=2|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19810215p.pdf#page=2}}</ref> In contrast, the game was not as successful in North America. By July 1981, Midway had sold 2,500 ''Rally-X'' arcade machines, significantly less than the company's other releases at the time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Midway Mfg. Co. v. Dirkschneider, 543 F. Supp. 466 (D. Neb. 1981) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/543/466/1460981/ |website=Justia Law |publisher=[[U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska]] |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=July 15, 1981}}</ref> Dick Pearson of ''RePlay'' highlighted its colorful visuals and sound effects in a preview from the tradeshow, comparing its gameplay favorably to ''Pac-Man'' and writing that it "shows promise as an entertaining maze video game".<ref name="PMeter 1">{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Dick |title=Play Meter Plays The Games |agency=[[Play Meter]] |date=January 15, 1981}}</ref> A writer for ''[[Cash Box]]'' provided similar comments, further applauding its scoring system and layer of strategy.<ref name="CashBox"/> In 1991, ''[[Gamest]]'' listed it as being a "masterpiece" alongside ''New Rally-X'', and believed its underwhelming critical and commercial reception was attributed to it being ahead of its time. Staff considered it a successor to ''Head On'', as well as being influential for the maze genre.<ref name="Gamest1">{{cite book |title=ザ・ベストゲーム 月刊ゲーメスト7月号増刊 |date=July 1, 1991 |publisher=[[Gamest]] |asin=B00BHEECW0 |pages=175―266 |edition=Volume 6, Number 7 |language=ja}}</ref>


In his review of ''Namco Museum Vol. 1'', ''[[Computer & Video Games]]'' reviewer Ed Lomas said ''Rally-X'' was fun at first, but quickly became repetitive and suffered from poor movement controls.<ref name="CVG">{{cite news |last1=Lomas |first1=Ed |title=CVG Review - Namco Museum Vol. 1 |agency=[[Computer and Video Games]] |issue=171 |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |date=February 1996 |pages=42–43}}</ref> Brett Alan Weiss of ''[[AllGame]]'' was similarly mixed in his review from 1998, where he claimed its only noteworthy aspects were the "merciless" difficulty and smoke screen weapon. Weiss found its visuals and sounds to only be "merely functional", and secondary to the difficult level.<ref name="Allgame"/> ''[[IGN]]'' staff contrasted their statements, and believed ''Rally-X'', like the other games in ''Vol. 1'', holds up well today.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |author1=IGN Staff |title=Namco Museum Vol. 1 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/25/namco-museum-vol-1 |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429224206/https://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/25/namco-museum-vol-1 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=25 November 1996}}</ref> It was listed among the greatest arcade games by ''Gamest'' readers in 1998, being selected for its innovation and evolution on the traditional gameplay of maze chase action games.<ref name="Gamest2">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/vol.-112-2#page/n89/mode/1up |title=GAMEST MOOK Vol.112 ザ・ベストゲーム2 アーケードビデオゲーム26年の歴史 |date=January 17, 1998 |publisher=[[Gamest]] |isbn=9784881994290 |page=88 |edition=Volume 5, Number 4 |language=ja}}</ref>
In his review of ''Namco Museum Vol. 1'', ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' Ed Lomas said ''Rally-X'' was fun at first, but quickly became repetitive and suffered from poor movement controls.<ref name="CVG">{{cite news |last1=Lomas |first1=Ed |title=CVG Review - Namco Museum Vol. 1 |agency=[[Computer and Video Games]] |issue=171 |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |date=February 1996 |pages=42–43}}</ref> Brett Alan Weiss of ''[[AllGame]]'' was similarly mixed in his review from 1998, where he claimed its only noteworthy aspects were the "merciless" difficulty and smoke screen weapon. Weiss found its visuals and sounds to only be "merely functional", and secondary to the difficult level.<ref name="Allgame"/> ''[[IGN]]'' staff contrasted their statements, and believed ''Rally-X'', like the other games in ''Vol. 1'', holds up well today.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |author1=IGN Staff |title=Namco Museum Vol. 1 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/25/namco-museum-vol-1 |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429224206/https://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/25/namco-museum-vol-1 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=25 November 1996}}</ref> It was listed among the greatest arcade games by ''Gamest'' readers in 1998, being selected for its innovation and evolution on the traditional gameplay of maze chase action games.<ref name="Gamest2">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/vol.-112-2#page/n89/mode/1up |title=GAMEST MOOK Vol.112 ザ・ベストゲーム2 アーケードビデオゲーム26年の歴史 |date=January 17, 1998 |publisher=[[Gamest]] |isbn=9784881994290 |page=88 |edition=Volume 5, Number 4 |language=ja}}</ref>


''Rally-X'' has continued to earn praise in retrospective commentary.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref name="RGamer"/><ref name="PDF"/> Writing for ''[[Eurogamer]]'' in 2007, Sir Clive believed the game was unique enough to discern it from ''Pac-Man'' and similar maze-chasers. He identified its high difficulty and design, and that it gave an adrenaline rush to players. Clive commented: "When you are playing the game, just imaging a yellow circle where your car is and repeat the mantra 'wakawakawakawaka' as you play and you will start to see just how huge this game could have been".<ref name="EuroG"/> ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' staff were positive towards its colorful graphics, smooth scrolling, and increasing level of difficulty, writing it makes for a unique derivative of ''Pac-Man'' and was worth playing in its own right.<ref name="RGamer"/> ''Phosphor Dot Fossils''{{'}}s Earl Green found its gameplay addictive and commented on its similarities to ''Pac-Man''. Green believes ''Rally-X'' failed to catch on as it lacked ''Pac-Man''{{'}}s abstract characters and design, and was too similar to other driving games from the era.<ref name="PDF">{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Earl |title=Rally-X |url=https://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/1980/rally-x/ |website=Phosphor Dot Fossils |publisher=TheLogBook.com |access-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415102310/https://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/1980/rally-x/ |archive-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref>
''Rally-X'' has continued to earn praise in retrospective commentary.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref name="RGamer"/><ref name="PDF"/> Writing for ''[[Eurogamer]]'' in 2007, Sir Clive believed the game was unique enough to discern it from ''Pac-Man'' and similar maze-chasers. He identified its high difficulty and design, and that it gave an adrenaline rush to players. Clive commented: "When you are playing the game, just imaging a yellow circle where your car is and repeat the mantra 'wakawakawakawaka' as you play and you will start to see just how huge this game could have been".<ref name="EuroG"/> ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' staff were positive towards its colorful graphics, smooth scrolling, and increasing level of difficulty, writing it makes for a unique derivative of ''Pac-Man'' and was worth playing in its own right.<ref name="RGamer"/> ''Phosphor Dot Fossils''{{'}}s Earl Green found its gameplay addictive and commented on its similarities to ''Pac-Man''. Green believes ''Rally-X'' failed to catch on as it lacked ''Pac-Man''{{'}}s abstract characters and design, and was too similar to other driving games from the era.<ref name="PDF">{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Earl |title=Rally-X |url=https://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/1980/rally-x/ |website=Phosphor Dot Fossils |publisher=TheLogBook.com |access-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415102310/https://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/1980/rally-x/ |archive-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
''Rally-X'' is credited as being one of the first games to feature continuous [[Video game music|background music]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Gaming's Most Important Evolutions |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-2 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727235947/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-2 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |page=1 |date=October 9, 2010}}</ref> and a bonus round, predating Sega's ''[[Carnival (video game)|Carnival]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=June |first1=Laura |title=The Classics: 'Carnival' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/12/8/3733578/the-classics-carnival |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823080357/https://www.theverge.com/2012/12/8/3733578/the-classics-carnival |archive-date=August 23, 2016 |date=December 8, 2012}}</ref> which released in June 1980.<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite book |chapter=1979 |title=Sega Arcade History |date=2002 |series=[[Famitsu DC]] |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |pages=37–39 (38) |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/segaarcadehistoryfamitsudc/page/n39 |language=ja}}</ref>
''Rally-X'' is credited as being one of the first games to feature continuous [[Video game music|background music]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Gaming's Most Important Evolutions |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-2 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727235947/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-2 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |page=1 |date=October 9, 2010}}</ref> and a bonus round, predating Sega's ''[[Carnival (video game)|Carnival]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=June |first1=Laura |title=The Classics: 'Carnival' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/12/8/3733578/the-classics-carnival |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823080357/https://www.theverge.com/2012/12/8/3733578/the-classics-carnival |archive-date=August 23, 2016 |date=December 8, 2012}}</ref> which was released in June 1980.<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite book |chapter=1979 |title=Sega Arcade History |date=2002 |series=[[Famitsu DC]] |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |pages=37–39 (38) |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/segaarcadehistoryfamitsudc/page/n39 |language=ja}}</ref>


In response to player feedback from the original, Namco released a sequel named ''[[New Rally-X]]'' in 1981, which was designed to improve on the original's flaws and make it easier for newcomers.<ref name="Gamest2"/> It also adds several new mechanics, such as a "Lucky Flag" that awards bonus points based on how much fuel remains.<ref name="Allgame New">{{cite web |author1=Brett Alan Weiss |title=New Rally-X - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=4257&tab=review |website=[[AllGame]] |publisher=All Media Network |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115143525/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=4257&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |date=1998}}</ref> ''New Rally-X'' has been seen as an improvement over the original and has been ported to several consoles and compilations, such as [[mobile phones]] and the [[Xbox 360]].<ref name="Allgame New"/><ref>{{cite web |title=ナムコのEZweb用アプリ『ニューラリーX』がアツイ!! |url=https://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/2004/09/29/607,1096438215,31664,0,0.html |website=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215053816/https://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/2004/09/29/607,1096438215,31664,0,0.html |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |language=ja |date=September 29, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Douglass C. Perry |title=New Rally-X Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/17/new-rally-x-review |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002235328/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/17/new-rally-x-review |archive-date=October 2, 2015 |date=January 17, 2007}}</ref> ''Rally-X Arrangement'', included in ''Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2'' (1996), is a remake of the original that implements [[power-ups]] and new enemy types.<ref name="CVG"/> A similar game titled ''New Rally-X Arrangement'' is included in ''Namco Museum Battle Collection'' (2005).<ref name="Battle"/> The 2007 [[Wii]] game ''[[Namco Museum Remix]]'' and its 2010 update ''Namco Museum Remix'' include a 3D remake named ''Rally-X Remix'', which replaces the player's car with [[Pac-Man (character)|Pac-Man]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aaron |first1=Sean |title=Namco Museum Remix Review (Wii) |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429204017/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=12 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="IGN Megamix"/> [[Namco Bandai Games]] released a sequel for [[iOS]] in 2011, ''Rally-X Rumble'', that uses a neon-inspired graphical motif in the style of ''[[Pac-Man Championship Edition DX]]'' (2010) and is designed as a multiplayer battle royale game.<ref>{{cite web |title=あの『ラリーX』がiPhoneで復活！『RALLY-X RUMBLE』配信開始 |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2011/08/18/50980.html |website=Inside Games |publisher=IID |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215053816/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2011/08/18/50980.html |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |language=ja |date=August 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sakuraoka-Gilman |first1=Matt |title=Reviews - Rally-X Rumble |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/032916/rally-x-rumble/ |website=[[Pocket Gamer]] |publisher=Steel Media |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010090802/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/032916/rally-x-rumble/ |archive-date=October 10, 2019 |date=August 30, 2011}}</ref>
In response to player feedback from the original, Namco released a sequel named ''[[New Rally-X]]'' in 1981, which was designed to improve on the original's flaws and make it easier for newcomers.<ref name="Gamest2"/> It also adds a "Lucky Flag" that awards bonus points based on how much fuel remains.<ref name="Allgame New">{{cite web |author1=Brett Alan Weiss |title=New Rally-X - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=4257&tab=review |website=[[AllGame]] |publisher=All Media Network |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115143525/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=4257&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |date=1998}}</ref> ''New Rally-X'' has been seen as an improvement over the original and has been ported to several consoles and compilations, such as [[mobile phones]] and the [[Xbox 360]].<ref name="Allgame New"/><ref>{{cite magazine |title=ナムコのEZweb用アプリ『ニューラリーX』がアツイ!! |url=https://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/2004/09/29/607,1096438215,31664,0,0.html |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215053816/https://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/2004/09/29/607,1096438215,31664,0,0.html |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |language=ja |date=September 29, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Douglass C. Perry |title=New Rally-X Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/17/new-rally-x-review |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002235328/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/17/new-rally-x-review |archive-date=October 2, 2015 |date=January 17, 2007}}</ref> ''Rally-X Arrangement'', included in ''Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2'' (1996), is a remake of the original that implements [[power-ups]] and new enemy types.<ref name="CVG"/> A similar game titled ''New Rally-X Arrangement'' is included in ''Namco Museum Battle Collection'' (2005).<ref name="Battle"/> The 2007 [[Wii]] game ''[[Namco Museum Remix]]'' and its 2010 update ''Namco Museum Megamix'' include a 3D remake named ''Rally-X Remix'', which replaces the player's car with [[Pac-Man (character)|Pac-Man]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aaron |first1=Sean |title=Namco Museum Remix Review (Wii) |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429204017/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=12 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="IGN Megamix"/> [[Namco Bandai Games]] released a sequel for [[iOS]] in 2011, ''Rally-X Rumble'', that uses a neon-inspired graphical motif in the style of ''[[Pac-Man Championship Edition DX]]'' (2010) and is designed as a multiplayer battle royale game.<ref>{{cite web |title=あの『ラリーX』がiPhoneで復活！『RALLY-X RUMBLE』配信開始 |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2011/08/18/50980.html |website=Inside Games |publisher=IID |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215053816/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2011/08/18/50980.html |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |language=ja |date=August 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sakuraoka-Gilman |first1=Matt |title=Reviews - Rally-X Rumble |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/032916/rally-x-rumble/ |website=[[Pocket Gamer]] |publisher=Steel Media |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010090802/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/032916/rally-x-rumble/ |archive-date=October 10, 2019 |date=August 30, 2011}}</ref>


The Special Flag has become a symbol for Namco and has made frequent appearances in games, usually as an item that awards an extra life. It has appeared in games such as ''[[Xevious]]'' (1983),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Savorelli |first1=Carlo |title=Xevious |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/xevious/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=31 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922055052/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/xevious |archive-date=22 September 2019 |date=6 May 2015}}</ref> ''[[Gaplus]]'' (1984),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Dan |title=Virtual Console Roundup - Gaplus |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup- |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208095245/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup- |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |date=April 12, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Tinkle Pit]]'' (1994),<ref>{{cite news |author1=Scott Alan Marriot |title=MAMEusements - Tinkle Pit |url=https://archive.org/details/Classic_Gamer_Magazine_Volume_2_Issue_1_2004-04_Classic_Gamer_US/page/n17/mode/2up |access-date=March 16, 2021 |agency=Classic Gamer |issue=1 |date=April 2004 |volume=2 |pages=18–19}}</ref> ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]'' (1995),<ref>{{cite book |title=テイルズオブファンタジアオフィシャルガイドブック |date=December 1995 |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |isbn=978-4757700802 |language=ja}}</ref> ''[[Xevious Resurrection]]'' (2009),<ref>{{cite web |title=6つのゲームを収録した『ナムコミュージアム.comm』明日リリース |url=https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/135/135889/ |website=Dengeki Online |access-date=30 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715185106/https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/135/135889/ |archive-date=15 July 2019 |date=28 January 2009}}</ref> ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U]]'' (2014),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Olney |first1=Alex |title=The Namco Special Flag Will Boost Your Score in the New Super Smash Bros. |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/08/the_namco_special_flag_will_boost_your_score_in_the_new_super_smash_bros |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119174249/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/08/the_namco_special_flag_will_boost_your_score_in_the_new_super_smash_bros |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Gita |title=Eight Of Your Weirdest Smash Ultimate Rule Sets |url=https://kotaku.com/eight-of-of-your-weirdest-smash-ultimate-rule-sets-1831264192 |website=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[G/O Media]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111174218/https://kotaku.com/eight-of-of-your-weirdest-smash-ultimate-rule-sets-1831264192 |archive-date=November 11, 2018 |date=December 24, 2018}}</ref> Namco Bandai's "game consulting" service, which provides insight on the company's design philosophies to clients, is named Special Flag,<ref>{{cite web |title=バンダイナムコゲームスがゲームのノウハウを異業種のサービスに役立てる"ゲームメソッドコンサルティング"を展開 |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201110/18052092.html |website=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215053816/https://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/2004/09/29/607,1096438215,31664,0,0.html |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |language=ja |date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> as are its indoor restaurants located in its VR Zone amusement centers. Merchandise such as enamel pins and keychains featuring the Special Flag have also been produced.<ref name="PCW"/><ref>{{cite web |title=ナムコクラシック ドットキャラキーチェーン |url=https://epoch.jp/rc/capsule/2005/item/200511/namcochain.html |website=[[Epoch]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324004404/https://epoch.jp/rc/capsule/2005/item/200511/namcochain.html |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |language=ja |date=2005}}</ref>
The Special Flag has become a symbol for Namco and has made frequent appearances in games, usually as an item that awards an extra life. It has appeared in games such as ''[[Xevious]]'' (1983),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Savorelli |first1=Carlo |title=Xevious |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/xevious/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=31 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922055052/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/xevious |archive-date=22 September 2019 |date=6 May 2015}}</ref> ''[[Gaplus]]'' (1984),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Dan |title=Virtual Console Roundup - Gaplus |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup- |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208095245/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup- |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |date=April 12, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Tinkle Pit]]'' (1994),<ref>{{cite news |author1=Scott Alan Marriot |title=MAMEusements - Tinkle Pit |url=https://archive.org/details/Classic_Gamer_Magazine_Volume_2_Issue_1_2004-04_Classic_Gamer_US/page/n17/mode/2up |access-date=March 16, 2021 |agency=Classic Gamer |issue=1 |date=April 2004 |volume=2 |pages=18–19}}</ref> ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]'' (1995),<ref>{{cite book |title=テイルズオブファンタジアオフィシャルガイドブック |date=December 1995 |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |isbn=978-4757700802 |language=ja}}</ref> ''[[Xevious Resurrection]]'' (2009),<ref>{{cite web |title=6つのゲームを収録した『ナムコミュージアム.comm』明日リリース |url=https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/135/135889/ |website=Dengeki Online |access-date=30 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715185106/https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/135/135889/ |archive-date=15 July 2019 |date=28 January 2009}}</ref> ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U]]'' (2014),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Olney |first1=Alex |title=The Namco Special Flag Will Boost Your Score in the New Super Smash Bros. |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/08/the_namco_special_flag_will_boost_your_score_in_the_new_super_smash_bros |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119174249/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/08/the_namco_special_flag_will_boost_your_score_in_the_new_super_smash_bros |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Gita |title=Eight Of Your Weirdest Smash Ultimate Rule Sets |url=https://kotaku.com/eight-of-of-your-weirdest-smash-ultimate-rule-sets-1831264192 |website=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[G/O Media]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111174218/https://kotaku.com/eight-of-of-your-weirdest-smash-ultimate-rule-sets-1831264192 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |date=December 24, 2018}}</ref> Namco Bandai's "game consulting" service, which provides insight on the company's design philosophies to clients, is named Special Flag,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=バンダイナムコゲームスがゲームのノウハウを異業種のサービスに役立てる"ゲームメソッドコンサルティング"を展開 |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201110/18052092.html |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215053816/https://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/2004/09/29/607,1096438215,31664,0,0.html |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |language=ja |date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> as are its indoor restaurants located in its VR Zone amusement centers. Merchandise such as enamel pins and keychains featuring the Special Flag have also been produced.<ref name="PCW"/><ref>{{cite web |title=ナムコクラシック ドットキャラキーチェーン |url=https://epoch.jp/rc/capsule/2005/item/200511/namcochain.html |website=[[Epoch]] |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324004404/https://epoch.jp/rc/capsule/2005/item/200511/namcochain.html |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |language=ja |date=2005}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Video games|Japan|1980s}}
{{Portal|Video games|Japan|1980s}}
*{{KLOV game|9259|Rally-X}}
* {{KLOV game|9259|Rally-X}}
*[http://www.arcade-history.com/?page=detail&id=2171 ''Rally-X''] at the Arcade History database
* [http://www.arcade-history.com/?page=detail&id=2171 ''Rally-X''] at the Arcade History database


[[Category:1980 video games]]
[[Category:1980 video games]]
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[[Category:Arcade Archives games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Bandai Namco Entertainment franchises]]
[[Category:FM-7 games]]
[[Category:Hamster Corporation games]]
[[Category:Karateco games]]
[[Category:Maze games]]
[[Category:Maze games]]
[[Category:Midway video games]]
[[Category:Midway video games]]
[[Category:MSX games]]
[[Category:MSX games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Namco arcade games]]
[[Category:Namco arcade games]]
[[Category:Bandai Namco Entertainment franchises]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:Sharp X1 games]]
[[Category:Sharp X1 games]]
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[[Category:FM-7 games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Multiplayer hotseat games]]

Latest revision as of 16:54, 28 November 2024

Rally-X
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Namco
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Hirohito Ito
Programmer(s)
  • Kazuo Kurosu
  • Kouichi Tashiro
Artist(s)Hiroshi Ono[5]
Composer(s)Toshio Kai
Platform(s)Arcade, MSX, VIC-20, Sharp X1, Fujitsu FM-7, MZ-1500
Release
Genre(s)Maze
Mode(s)Single-player, 2 players alternating

Rally-X (Japanese: ラリーX, Hepburn: Rarī-Ekkusu) is a maze chase arcade video game developed in Japan and Germany by Namco and released in 1980. In North America, it was distributed by Midway Manufacturing and in Europe by Karateco. Players drive a blue Formula One race car through a multidirectional scrolling maze to collect yellow flags. Boulders block some paths and must be avoided. Red enemy cars pursue the player in an attempt to collide with them. Red cars can be temporarily stunned by laying down smoke screens at the cost of fuel. Rally-X is one of the first games with bonus stages and continuously-playing background music.

Rally-X was designed as a successor to Sega's Head On (1979), an earlier maze chase game with cars. It was a commercial success in Japan, where it was the sixth highest-grossing game of 1980, but Midway Manufacturing released the game in North America to largely underwhelming results. An often-repeated, though untrue, story involving its demonstration at the 1980 Amusement & Music Operators Association trade show, where the attending press believed Rally-X was of superior quality than the other games presented, specifically Pac-Man. Though it was well-received by attendees, Rally-X failed to attract much attention during its presentation.

Reception for Rally-X, both at release and retrospectively, has highlighted its technological accomplishments and high difficulty. Some reviewers have found it to be influential and ahead of its time. Rally-X received several remakes and sequels, beginning with the slightly tweaked New Rally-X in 1981. It is also included in several Namco compilations.

Gameplay

[edit]
The player (blue) about to collect a flag with two red enemy cars in pursit.

Rally-X is a maze chase game where the player controls a blue Formula One racecar. The objective is to collect yellow flags that are scattered around an enclosed maze while avoiding collision with red-colored cars that pursue the player.[6] Mazes scroll in the four cardinal directions and are clustered with dead ends, long corridors, and stationary boulders that are harmful to the player.[6][7] Each level contains ten flags that increase their point value when collected in succession.[8] One of the flags is a "Special Flag", indicated by an S next to it, which doubles the value of each flag collected thereafter.[7][8] The player can temporarily stun the red cars with smoke screens, which depletes a portion of their fuel meter at the right of the screen.[9][7] The meter constantly depletes the longer the player takes in a level, and acts as a timer.[7] As the game progresses, more red cars are added and become more aggressive.[7]

The player has a radar beneath their fuel meter, which displays their current position on the map as well as the location of the flags and red cars.[9][10] The third level and every fourth thereafter is a bonus round (called a "Charanging Stage"), where the objective is to collect the flags in a certain amount of time. In these bonus rounds, the red cars remain idle and will not chase the player unless their fuel is empty.

Development and release

[edit]

Rally-X was created by Namco and designed by Hirohito Ito, with hardware developed by Kouichi Tashiro.[11] It was produced as a successor to Head On (1979), an older arcade game from Sega that similarly involved collecting items in a maze while avoiding enemy cars that pursued the player.[12] Head On was a popular title in Japanese arcades, which gave Namco the idea of creating a game that built on its mechanics.[13] Rally-X was created on a version of the Pac-Man arcade system board that supports multi-directional scrolling. The programming was done by Kazuo Kurosu, who went on to design the multi-directional shooter Bosconian (1981), and featured music from Pac-Man composer Toshio Kai.[11]

Rally-X was first demonstrated in Japan in January 1980,[1][2] before receiving a wide release on October 3, 1980.[3] When preparing to release the game overseas, Namco believed Rally-X had more foreign appeal than Pac-Man with its audiovisual presentation and challenge, which it believed American audiences would prefer to the simplicity and "cuteness" present in Pac-Man.[12] Namco presented Rally-X at the 1980 Amusement & Music Operators Union (AMOA) tradeshow in Chicago, Illinois, alongside Pac-Man, King & Balloon, and Tank Battalion. An often-repeated story is that out of the games presented, specifically Pac-Man, the attending industry analysists believed Rally-X was the stand-out and the one destined to be successful.[6][14] Though it received praise from the press,[15] Rally-X did not attract much attention during the event.[12] According to Play Meter magazine, both Pac-Man and Rally-X received mild attention at the show.[16] Midway Manufacturing, the video game division of Bally Manufacturing, agreed to distribute Rally-X and Pac-Man in North America. Dave Marofske, the president of Midway, believed the two had the most potential out of the four Namco games presented. Midway released Rally-X in North America in February 1981 in upright, tabletop, and cabaret cabinet variations.[17]

Conversions

[edit]

A home conversion of Rally-X was released for the VIC-20 in Japan in 1981. The port was developed by HAL Laboratory and published by the Japanese division of Commodore International.[18] Due to licensing restrictions, HAL changed the game's characters to mice and cats and released it in North America as Radar Rat Race.[18] Namco released a port for the MSX in 1984 that adopted the gameplay of New Rally-X,[19] which was released in Europe by Argus Press Software under the Bug-Byte name.[20] Dempa Shinbun developed versions for the Fujitsu FM-7, MZ-1500, and Sharp X1 computers in Japan the same year.[21]

Rally-X remained relatively obscure for many years until 1995, when it was included in the PlayStation compilation Namco Museum Vol. 1 along with six other Namco arcade games.[22][14] The port uses a JAMMA emulator running the source code of the original, making it a near-perfect conversion.[23] Rally-X has been included in several Namco compilations including Namco History Vol. 2 (1997),[24] Microsoft Revenge of Arcade (1998), Namco Museum Battle Collection (2005),[25] Namco Museum 50th Anniversary (2005), Namco Museum Virtual Arcade (2008),[26] and Namco Museum Megamix (2010).[27] In 1996, Rally-X was re-released for arcades as part of Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2.[28] It has also appeared in several Namco "plug'n play" game controllers from Jakks Pacific. Rally-X is also included in both Pac-Man’s Arcade Party (2010)[29][30] and Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash (2019).[31] In 2021, Rally-X saw a digital release under the Arcade Archives label for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

Reception

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The game was a commercial success in Japan, where it became the sixth highest-grossing arcade game of 1980, and Namco's third highest that year below Pac-Man and Galaxian.[32] In contrast, the game was not as successful in North America. By July 1981, Midway had sold 2,500 Rally-X arcade machines, significantly less than the company's other releases at the time.[33] Dick Pearson of RePlay highlighted its colorful visuals and sound effects in a preview from the tradeshow, comparing its gameplay favorably to Pac-Man and writing that it "shows promise as an entertaining maze video game".[15] A writer for Cash Box provided similar comments, further applauding its scoring system and layer of strategy.[8] In 1991, Gamest listed it as being a "masterpiece" alongside New Rally-X, and believed its underwhelming critical and commercial reception was attributed to it being ahead of its time. Staff considered it a successor to Head On, as well as being influential for the maze genre.[34]

In his review of Namco Museum Vol. 1, Computer and Video Games Ed Lomas said Rally-X was fun at first, but quickly became repetitive and suffered from poor movement controls.[35] Brett Alan Weiss of AllGame was similarly mixed in his review from 1998, where he claimed its only noteworthy aspects were the "merciless" difficulty and smoke screen weapon. Weiss found its visuals and sounds to only be "merely functional", and secondary to the difficult level.[6] IGN staff contrasted their statements, and believed Rally-X, like the other games in Vol. 1, holds up well today.[22] It was listed among the greatest arcade games by Gamest readers in 1998, being selected for its innovation and evolution on the traditional gameplay of maze chase action games.[13]

Rally-X has continued to earn praise in retrospective commentary.[9][7][14] Writing for Eurogamer in 2007, Sir Clive believed the game was unique enough to discern it from Pac-Man and similar maze-chasers. He identified its high difficulty and design, and that it gave an adrenaline rush to players. Clive commented: "When you are playing the game, just imaging a yellow circle where your car is and repeat the mantra 'wakawakawakawaka' as you play and you will start to see just how huge this game could have been".[9] Retro Gamer staff were positive towards its colorful graphics, smooth scrolling, and increasing level of difficulty, writing it makes for a unique derivative of Pac-Man and was worth playing in its own right.[7] Phosphor Dot Fossils's Earl Green found its gameplay addictive and commented on its similarities to Pac-Man. Green believes Rally-X failed to catch on as it lacked Pac-Man's abstract characters and design, and was too similar to other driving games from the era.[14]

Legacy

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Rally-X is credited as being one of the first games to feature continuous background music[36] and a bonus round, predating Sega's Carnival,[37] which was released in June 1980.[38]

In response to player feedback from the original, Namco released a sequel named New Rally-X in 1981, which was designed to improve on the original's flaws and make it easier for newcomers.[13] It also adds a "Lucky Flag" that awards bonus points based on how much fuel remains.[39] New Rally-X has been seen as an improvement over the original and has been ported to several consoles and compilations, such as mobile phones and the Xbox 360.[39][40][41] Rally-X Arrangement, included in Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2 (1996), is a remake of the original that implements power-ups and new enemy types.[35] A similar game titled New Rally-X Arrangement is included in Namco Museum Battle Collection (2005).[25] The 2007 Wii game Namco Museum Remix and its 2010 update Namco Museum Megamix include a 3D remake named Rally-X Remix, which replaces the player's car with Pac-Man.[42][27] Namco Bandai Games released a sequel for iOS in 2011, Rally-X Rumble, that uses a neon-inspired graphical motif in the style of Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (2010) and is designed as a multiplayer battle royale game.[43][44]

The Special Flag has become a symbol for Namco and has made frequent appearances in games, usually as an item that awards an extra life. It has appeared in games such as Xevious (1983),[45] Gaplus (1984),[46] Tinkle Pit (1994),[47] Tales of Phantasia (1995),[48] Xevious Resurrection (2009),[49] Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U (2014),[50] and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018).[51] Namco Bandai's "game consulting" service, which provides insight on the company's design philosophies to clients, is named Special Flag,[52] as are its indoor restaurants located in its VR Zone amusement centers. Merchandise such as enamel pins and keychains featuring the Special Flag have also been produced.[24][53]

Notes

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  1. ^ First demonstrated in January 1980,[1][2] followed by wide release on October 3, 1980.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Rally-X (upright)". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Rally-X (table)". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Rally-X (Registration Number PA0000088049)". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Rally-X Video Game Flyers". The Arcade Flyer Archive. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ^ Kiya, Andrew (October 17, 2021). "Former Namco Pixel Artist Hiroshi 'Mr. Dotman' Ono Has Died". Siliconera. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e Brett Alan Weiss (1998). "Rally-X - Review". Allgame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Retro Gamer Staff (August 18, 2008). "Rally-X". Retro Gamer. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Midway Bows New 'Rally-X' Video". Cash Box. February 24, 1981. pp. 40, 42. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e Sir Clive (October 25, 2007). "Rally-X". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "Extended Play - Namco Museum". No. 5. Future Publishing. Maximum. April 1996. pp. 54–59. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Szczepaniak, John (11 August 2014). The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers (First ed.). SMG Szczepaniak. p. 201. ISBN 978-0992926007.
  12. ^ a b c Smith, Alexander (November 19, 2019). They Create Worlds. CRC Press. pp. 587―589. ISBN 9780429752612.
  13. ^ a b c GAMEST MOOK Vol.112 ザ・ベストゲーム2 アーケードビデオゲーム26年の歴史 (in Japanese) (Volume 5, Number 4 ed.). Gamest. January 17, 1998. p. 88. ISBN 9784881994290.
  14. ^ a b c d Green, Earl. "Rally-X". Phosphor Dot Fossils. TheLogBook.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Pearson, Dick (January 15, 1981). "Play Meter Plays The Games". Play Meter.
  16. ^ "Pac-Man gobbles his way into the industry". Play Meter. Vol. 20, no. 13. December 1994. pp. 22, 24, 26.
  17. ^ "Coin Machines - Manufacturers Equipment". Cash Box. July 25, 1981. p. 38. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Allen, Mat (March 2010). "Retroinspection: VIC-20". No. 46. Imagine Publishing. Retro Gamer. pp. 34–41. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  19. ^ "Dempa Micomsoft Super Soft Catalogue". Dempa. May 1984. p. 3. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Zzap! Budget - Pac-Man" (in Italian). No. 22. Newsfield Publications Ltd. Zzap!64. April 1988. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  21. ^ "Dempa Shinbun Software Catalog" (in Japanese). Dempa Shinbun. Micom BASIC. June 1986. pp. 210–211. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  22. ^ a b IGN Staff (25 November 1996). "Namco Museum Vol. 1". IGN. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Finals ― Namco Museum Vol. 1". Next Generation. No. 21. Imagine Media. September 1996. p. 148. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  24. ^ a b "「ナムコヒストリーVOL.2」デモ版ダウンロードサービス実施中 ナムコヒストリー、ソフト＆グッズプレゼント!". PC Watch (in Japanese). Impress Group. October 31, 1997. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Nix (25 August 2005). "Namco Museum Battle Collection". IGN. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  26. ^ Geddes, Ryan (November 6, 2008). "Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  27. ^ a b Buchanan, Levi (22 November 2010). "Namco Museum Megamix Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  28. ^ Bruised Lee (September 1996). "Hot At The Arcades - Namco Classics". No. 96. International Data Group. GamePro. p. 60. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  29. ^ Clark, Matt (6 February 2019). "The Best All-in-One Arcade Game Cabinets 2019". IGN. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Pac-Man Arcade Party". Killer List of Videogames. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  31. ^ Sanford, Time (2 August 2018). "Pac-Man's Pixel Bash Chill Cabinet Targets 8-Bit Classics Enthusiasts". Vending Times. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  32. ^ "ベストスリー 本紙調査 (調査対象1980年) 〜 アーケードゲーム機" [Best Three Book Survey (Survey Target 1980) ~ Arcade Game Machines] (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 159. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 February 1981. p. 2.
  33. ^ "Midway Mfg. Co. v. Dirkschneider, 543 F. Supp. 466 (D. Neb. 1981)". Justia Law. U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. July 15, 1981. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  34. ^ ザ・ベストゲーム 月刊ゲーメスト7月号増刊 (in Japanese) (Volume 6, Number 7 ed.). Gamest. July 1, 1991. pp. 175―266. ASIN B00BHEECW0.
  35. ^ a b Lomas, Ed (February 1996). "CVG Review - Namco Museum Vol. 1". No. 171. Future Publishing. Computer and Video Games. pp. 42–43.
  36. ^ "Gaming's Most Important Evolutions". GamesRadar+. Future plc. October 9, 2010. p. 1. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  37. ^ June, Laura (December 8, 2012). "The Classics: 'Carnival'". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  38. ^ "1979". Sega Arcade History. Famitsu DC (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 2002. pp. 37–39 (38).
  39. ^ a b Brett Alan Weiss (1998). "New Rally-X - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  40. ^ "ナムコのEZweb用アプリ『ニューラリーX』がアツイ!!". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. September 29, 2004. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  41. ^ Douglass C. Perry (January 17, 2007). "New Rally-X Review". IGN. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  42. ^ Aaron, Sean (12 July 2009). "Namco Museum Remix Review (Wii)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  43. ^ "あの『ラリーX』がiPhoneで復活！『RALLY-X RUMBLE』配信開始". Inside Games (in Japanese). IID. August 18, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  44. ^ Sakuraoka-Gilman, Matt (August 30, 2011). "Reviews - Rally-X Rumble". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  45. ^ Savorelli, Carlo (6 May 2015). "Xevious". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  46. ^ Whitehead, Dan (April 12, 2009). "Virtual Console Roundup - Gaplus". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  47. ^ Scott Alan Marriot (April 2004). "MAMEusements - Tinkle Pit". Vol. 2, no. 1. Classic Gamer. pp. 18–19. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  48. ^ テイルズオブファンタジアオフィシャルガイドブック (in Japanese). Famitsu. December 1995. ISBN 978-4757700802.
  49. ^ "6つのゲームを収録した『ナムコミュージアム.comm』明日リリース". Dengeki Online. 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  50. ^ Olney, Alex (August 12, 2014). "The Namco Special Flag Will Boost Your Score in the New Super Smash Bros". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  51. ^ Jackson, Gita (December 24, 2018). "Eight Of Your Weirdest Smash Ultimate Rule Sets". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  52. ^ "バンダイナムコゲームスがゲームのノウハウを異業種のサービスに役立てる"ゲームメソッドコンサルティング"を展開". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. October 18, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  53. ^ "ナムコクラシック ドットキャラキーチェーン". Epoch (in Japanese). 2005. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
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