View source for R.C. Pro-Am

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''R.C. Pro-Am''}}
{{Head
| type = Game
| quote = 
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| class = C
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{{Infobox CVG (Nintendo)
| name = ''R.C. Pro-Am''
| image = R.C. Pro-Am (NA).png
| caption = North American box art.
| developer = [[Rare]]
| publisher = [[Nintendo]]
| rightsholder = [[Rare]]
| system1 = Nintendo Entertainment System
| system1NA = February [[1988]]
| system1EU = April 15, [[1988]]
| system2 = Nintendo Switch Online
| system2WW = February 21, [[2024]]
| class1 = Nintendo Switch Online
| genre = Racing<br>Vehicular combat
}}

'''''R.C. Pro-Am''''' is a video game for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] that was developed by [[Rare]] in [[1987]]. The game is a vehicular racing combat title that requires the player to dodge oil pits, water puddles, enemy weapons and at the same time get in first place.

The game was uploaded to the [[Nintendo Switch Online]] on 21 February [[2024]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://nordic.ign.com/nintendo-switch-online/79036/news/nintendo-switch-online-gets-more-classic-rare-games-today|title= Nintendo Switch Online Gets More Classic Rare Games Today|publisher=IGN Nordic|author= Wesley Yin-Poole|language=English|date=21 February 2024|accessdate=6 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/138802/killer-instinct-nintendo-switch-online-rare|title=Killer Instinct comes to Nintendo Switch Online alongside other Rare classics|publisher=Shack News|author=TJ Denzer|language=English|date=21 February 2024|accessdate=6 July 2024}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
''R.C. Pro-Am'' is a classic video game made by Rare that has the player controlling remote controlled cars. As the game's box points out, there are a total of 32 tracks in which you'll be required to race three other opponents on, dodging obstacles and attempting to get in front of the pack. Being a vehicular combat title, the game also includes weapons.

==Development==
The game development company Ultimate Play the Game was founded by brothers Tim and Chris Stamper, along with Tim's wife, Carol, from their headquarters in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in 1982. They began producing video games for the ZX Spectrum throughout the early 1980s. The company was known for secrecy about operations and upcoming projects. Little was known except that they worked in "separate teams": one team worked on programming and the other concentrated on other aspects such as sound or graphics. This company later evolved into Rare, which in 1987 developed ''Pro-Am Racing'' and renamed it to ''R.C. Pro-Am''.

It was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) by Nintendo in February 1988 in North America, and in Europe on April 15. It was converted to the Sega Genesis as ''Championship Pro-Am'', released by Tradewest in 1992. Its music was composed by David Wise, known for his work on ''Cobra Triangle'' and the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series.

''R.C. Pro-Am'' is subject to preview coverage in the Fall 1987 issue of ''Nintendo Fun Club News'' – the company's predecessor to ''Nintendo Power''. A more in-depth review in the proceeding Winter 1987 issue said that "this game is a must for RC Car (radio-controlled) owners". It is the cover feature of the February–March 1988 issue, with a full walkthrough. In ''Nintendo Power''<nowiki/>'s premiere issue in July 1988, ''R.C. Pro-Am'' is listed 6th on its "Top 30" NES games list, and as the top "Dealer's Pick". It went down to the 8th position in September 1988, and 12th in November.

==Reception==
Worldwide, 2.3 million copies of ''R.C. Pro-Am'' were sold. This unqualified success made Rare into a major developer for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

''Computer Gaming World'' called it "a compelling, innovating approach to car racing video games". Bill Kunkel found that it was distinguished from earlier racing games such as Sega's ''Enduro Racer'', Nintendo's ''Mach Rider'', and Atari's ''Pole Position'' by going from a more standard "pseudo-first-person" view to an isometric perspective. He praised its simplicity and controls, comparing them to that of an actual radio-controlled car. He criticized its lack of a two-player feature and for the instruction booklet's vagueness. He concluded by lauding its graphics and sound, saying that they "help make this the best game of its kind ever produced in any electronic game format". ''Bloomberg Businessweek'' listed ''R.C. Pro-Am'', along with ''Cobra Triangle'', as Rare's most notable NES games.

===Legacy===
Two sequels of the game were created for [[Nintendo]] consoles - one for the [[NES|same console]] titled ''[[R.C. Pro-Am II]]'' and one for the [[Game Boy]] called ''[[Super R.C. Pro-Am]]''. A remake of this title was also developed for the Sega Genesis, and was thus not published by Nintendo. Various "clones" have even been created, reflecting similar gameplay aspects present in ''R.C. Pro-Am''.

While overall nothing like ''R.C. Pro-Am'', some have said the combat portion of the game influenced ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' for the [[SNES]] (and subsequent releases in the ''Mario Kart'' series). Rare's own ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' and ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'' for the [[Nintendo 64]] and [[Nintendo DS]] can also be traced back to the title in this sense.

It was later rereleased for the Xbox One under a game called ''Rare Replay'', which was a collection of Rare's thirty most famous games. By this time, Rare's contract with Nintendo had expired and the game was released under the Microsoft banner. In the rereleased version, the player must now collect letters to spell "CHAMPION" whereas the original had "NINTENDO". This is likely due to trademark/copyright issues with Nintendo.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{External Sites|Wiki=R.C. Pro-Am|GameFAQs=http://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587546-rc-pro-am|MobyGames=https://www.mobygames.com/game/rc-pro-am}}

{{Rare games}}

[[Category:1988 video games]]
[[Category:2024 video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch Online games]]
[[Category:Rare games]]
[[Category:Games published by Nintendo]]
[[Category:Racing games]]
[[Category:Vehicular combat games]]