Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing

as Circuit USA

Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing
File:KylenofearSNES boxart.jpg Box art of North American release
Developer(s)	Williams Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Williams Entertainment
Platform(s)	Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single player or Two player mode

Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing is a stock car racing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System that is loosely based on the NASCAR fixture that draws in fans from February to November. Players can either race on season mode, exhibition mode, or customize an original race course. This was a feature that was pioneered on the 1986 Sega Master System game World Grand Prix and is rarely used in other racing games. The object in the game is to get as to close to first place as possible by the end of the race. Practice is also necessary if the player wants to start at the pole position. There is a two player mode but it must be activated in the options menu of the game. This mode allows two players to compete against each other using a split screen. The two player mode allows equal opportunities towards teamwork and competition in the single race mode as well as in the season mode.

During the season mode, the player must score points in order to remain in the competion. If he or she fails to do this, then the game immediately ends with no other recourse other than to use passwords to restore a saved game. Even though the cars move somewhat slower than today's Dodge Charger vehicles, beating Kyle Petty and winning the NASCAR championship is still a challenge for fantasy race car drivers.

In both versions, there is no licensing for the Winston Cup because Nintendo didn't tolerate any tobacco-related sponsors back in 1995. However, the words Havoline, No Fear, Kyle Petty, and "racing" can by viewed in the main menu as the words scroll rapidly across the screen from the left to the right. This special effect is only seen in the North American version of the game.

Criticism

Some critics of this game state that the artificial intelligence is unfair, resulting in near mandatory use of the turbo booster in order to win races. Often, Kyle Petty would start out in the lead and would dominate the majority of the race. In addition to this, the announcer was also spotty and spoke only when something important happened on the race track, as opposed to doing a play-by-play announcement. Although this could be due to limitation in the speech capabilities of games released in the mid 1990s, Joe Montana Sportstalk Football '94 for the Sega Genesis was released a few years prior with complete play-by-play commentary.

Differences Between Game Play and Real Life

• In the game, most courses have right hand turns and more than four turns. In real life, most courses are oval, have only left hand turns with the exception of Watkins Glen and Infineon Raceway.

• Unlike real life, pit road can be entered at any speed without consequences of a penalty. Gasoline, turbo boosters, and tires can be changed by pressing certain buttons on the control pad. In real life, going fast on pit road always results in a speeding violation. This speeding violation is known as 10 second penalty that is served on pit road.

• Also, turbo boosters are considered mandatory for fast times unlike in real NASCAR where their use is absolutely prohibited. The use of turbo boosters in an actual race, qualifying session, or practice session is considered to be tampering with the car, which is detrimental to stock car racing. Any crew chief caught installing turbo boosters will be suspended after a failed inspection. In addition to this, any driver who is either caught using turbo boosters or simply possessing turbo boosters on his vehicle will be suspended and/or fined. Eventually, the team owner would be fined if turbo boosters are either used or attempted to be used on an actual NASCAR track for any race, qualifying session, or practice session. This equally applies to the Sprint Cup in addition to the Nationwide Series, Craftsman Truck Series, Whelen Modified Tour, Corona Series, T4 Series, the Canadian Tire Series, and all other local NASCAR sanctioned series.

• At the beginning of qualifying and the race, the announcer says "Gentlemen, start your engines" and assumes that the player controls a male stock car driver. In real life, this command is only said during the beginning of a race and never in qualifying. There has been times where the command was "Lady and Gentlemen, start your engines" or even "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines."

• Unlike real life, all competitors qualify for every race. In real life, more than 40 drivers compete and only 43 qualify (including a past champion who starts in 43rd in situations where a non-champion would have failed to qualify) for the actual race. Because most older games only have single season (and therefore do not have a proper dynasty or career mode), the last place starting spot (which is usually reserved for a former champion) can be achieved by anyone performing a slow enough time.

• The crew chief can also be switched to a female without using video game money to make the switch. However, it costs $10,000 to upgrade the crew chief (firing the current crew chief and hiring a new crew chief). In real life, most NASCAR crew chiefs are male and racers do not have a choice in deciding their crew chief. It is considered to be the jurisdiction of the team owner to decide each player's crew chief.

• When the Start button is pressed multiple times in rapid succession, the player's race car will burst into flames. This has been known to occur in the North American version but it is doubtful that is will work on the Japanese version.

Japanese version

Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing was released in Japan as Circuit USA by Virgin Interactive. The tracks are stripped of their realism, giving them more of a the feel of an open wheel racing game rather than the feel of an authentic NASCAR game. Also, its graphics are much cruder than the American version: in track crossings, there are no visible bridges or elevation effects. In the American version, Kyle Petty is mentioned by name. The Japanese version simply mentions Petty by the number (42) that he used for his race car during the 1995 NASCAR season. Meanwhile, the American-based clothing company, No Fear, had no control over the content of the Japanese game as it didn't have a viable market base in Japan during this era.

Gallery

• This is the main menu of Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing, as seen in the North American version.
  This is the main menu of Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing, as seen in the North American version.
• This is the Indianapolis Raceway, as depicted in Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing. Unlike the real track, this track is not oval shaped and has right turns.
  This is the Indianapolis Raceway, as depicted in Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing. Unlike the real track, this track is not oval shaped and has right turns.
• A sample player that is playing Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing encounters a right turn. This is considered to be an unusual turn angle in NASCAR that is only seen in road courses like Watkins Glen in real life.
  A sample player that is playing Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing encounters a right turn. This is considered to be an unusual turn angle in NASCAR that is only seen in road courses like Watkins Glen in real life.

Sources

• GameFAQs Entry on Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing
• Rotten Tomatoes Entry on Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing
• Database of Super Famicom Games (Japanese)
• You Tube
• All Game