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Zippy Race

NES

NES

In a game reminiscent of both Road Fighter and Rally Bike, the player takes control of a motorcyclist who's in a race to be the first to traverse the United States from the west to the east coast, starting in Los Angeles and ending up in New York City. Gameplay consists of the player dodging c...

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Developer
Irem

Released on
1985

Size
1–2 Players

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Racing

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

In a game reminiscent of both Road Fighter and Rally Bike, the player takes control of a motorcyclist who’s in a race to be the first to traverse the United States from the west to the east coast, starting in Los Angeles and ending up in New York City.

Gameplay consists of the player dodging cars and other roadway hazards on their way to the next checkpoint. Players can either accelerate or hit the brakes on their motorcycle so they can avoid getting into an accident. Accidents cause the player to lose fuel and running out of fuel can end the game. So players must keep an eye out on the fuel gauge, which can be refilled by fuel barrels littered throughout each stage. Each car the player passes betters their ranks which increases their score.

Zippy Race

Overview & History

Released by IREM in 1983 as an arcade title before making its way to the Famicom in 1985 and the NES via American Sammy, Zippy Race (known as Traverse USA in certain regions) is a bizarrely charming hybrid of a motorcycle racing game and a top-down endurance cross-country trip. Players take on the persona of a helmeted daredevil piloting a dirt bike across the expansive geography of the United States, starting in Los Angeles and racing furiously against a tight countdown clock to reach the ultimate destination of New York City. Along the way, the game shifts between two entirely distinct visual perspectives: a pseudo-3D, third-person trailing view where dodging obstacles and fuel trucks is paramount, and a tricky overhead view used for navigating tight city gridlocks and dodging erratic civilian traffic. The game stands out in retro history for its unique blend of driving genres, quirky rendition of American landmarks, and its infamous, instantly recognizable chiptune fanfare that plays upon clearing a stage.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay loop of Zippy Race revolves around balancing speed with survival against a relentless timer. In the forward-scrolling third-person stages, players must weave left and right, jump over gaping potholes, and avoid colliding with oncoming cars, police cruisers, and reckless drivers. Fuel is your ultimate metric; running out before reaching the checkpoint spells an immediate game over, forcing players to occasionally collect fuel cans or draft behind rival racers to conserve energy. The character moves are handled through precise acceleration, braking, and a dedicated jump mechanic that allows the dirt bike to clear obstacles and cross perilous wooden bridges. When transitioning to the top-down urban stages, the control scheme demands absolute precision as you navigate narrow city blocks, dodge sharp corners, and avoid stationary road hazards.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Steer left/right (overhead view) and shift lanes / balance (3D view)
Action Keys: Accelerate (A button) and Jump (B button)
Enter: Start / Pause