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Chester Cheetah

2025-10-22T18:05:16Z

2600:1700:E5D0:A9A0:1124:A96:2185:D683: /* Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest */

{{short description|Animal mascot of Cheetos}}
{{Infobox character
| image = Chester Cheetah.png
| name = Chester Cheetah
| first = {{start date and age|1986}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trademarks.justia.com/736/15/chester-cheetah-73615636.html |title=CHESTER CHEETAH - Trademark Details |website=trademarks.justia.com |access-date=2023-01-28}}</ref>
| voice = [[Joel Murray]] (1986–1997) Pete Stacker (1997–2000) Johnny Michaels (5 spots; early 2000s) [[Christopher Murney]] (2006) Adam Leadbeater (2008–2017) Max Koch (2017–present)
| species = [[Cheetah]]
| occupation = [[Mascot]] of [[Cheetos]]
}}
[[File:Chester the Cheetah at 2024 MLK Jr. Day Parade in Houston.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cosplay]] of Chester Cheetah]]
'''Chester Cheetah''' is a fictional [[character (arts)|character]] and the official [[mascot]] for [[Frito-Lay]]'s [[Cheetos]] brand snacks as well as Chester's Snacks which consists of flavored fries, [[popcorn]] and [[puffcorn]].<ref>{{cite web |title=CHESTER'S® FLAMIN' HOT® Fries Flavored Corn & Potato Snacks.|url=https://www.fritolay.com/snacks/product-page/chesters-snacks |website=www.fritolay.com |access-date=21 June 2018}}</ref>

==History==
===1986–2003: Traditional animation===
Cheetos' original mascot was the Cheetos Mouse,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wafflewhiffer.blogspot.com/2006/03/cheetos-mouse.html|title=[:::] Waffle Whiffer Zone: The Cheetos Mouse|first=Waffle|last=Whiffer [brandon|date=March 31, 2006}}</ref> who debuted in 1971 and disappeared around 1979. In 1986<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trademarks.justia.com/736/15/chester-cheetah-73615636.html |title=CHESTER CHEETAH - Trademark Details |website=trademarks.justia.com |access-date=2023-01-28}}</ref> Chester Cheetah was created by Brad Morgan, who art directed the commercials and designed the character, and Stephen Kane who wrote the original scripts for [[television advertisement|television commercials]]. The original 24-[[film frame|frame]] animation was done by [[Richard Williams (animator)|Richard Williams]]. After Chester's introduction, the sly, smooth voiced cheetah began starring in more commercials and eventually became Cheetos' official mascot. He used the slogans "It's not easy being cheesy" and "The cheese that goes crunch!" from 1986 to 1997,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Elliot |first1=Stuart |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Commercial Cartoon Furor Grows |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/05/business/the-media-business-advertising-commercial-cartoon-furor-grows.html |access-date=May 2, 2023 |date=March 5, 1992 |work=New York Times}}</ref> until it became "Dangerously cheesy!" from 1997 onward.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trademark.trademarkia.com/dangerously-cheesy-75226133.html|title=DANGEROUSLY CHEESY Trademark of Frito-Lay North America, Inc. Serial Number: 75226133 :: Trademarkia Trademarks|website=trademark.trademarkia.com}}</ref>

From the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, television adverts often featured Chester's desperate attempts to eat other people's Cheetos. The self-described "hip kitty" would often speak in [[rhyme]] and sneak up on an unsuspecting stranger at a beach or public park. The result would always involve [[cartoon physics|cartoon violence]] in the vein of ''[[Looney Tunes]]'', such as Chester riding a motorcycle off a bridge, getting thrown to the top of a coliseum, or plunging miles through the air to unwittingly grab a hang-gliding bodacious babe, only to cast her aside in favor of Cheetos. These spots were first directed by Keith Van Allen and later by ''[[Cow and Chicken]]'' creator [[David Feiss]].

In 1992, Chester's own television program called ''Yo! It's the Chester Cheetah Show!'' was under development for the [[Fox Kids]] Saturday morning fall lineup. However, an ethics debate erupted over Chester's status as an advertising character, and likely due to the protests of [[Action for Children's Television]], the show was prevented from airing.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schorow |first1=Stephanie |title=Chester Cheetah show angering TV activists |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19920319&id=gtorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WGQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6027,1663039 |access-date=15 August 2023 |work=Kentucky New Era |date=19 March 1992}}</ref> Their petition marked the first time that the organization protested something before it actually became a program.

Chester's character underwent slight revamping in 1997. With the introduction of the "Dangerously cheesy!" slogan and Pete Stacker replacing Joel Murray as his voice actor. Chester began appearing in [[Live-action animated film|live-action/animated]] hybrid advertisements where he entered the real world. During this time, the ads began portraying him in a less [[antagonist]]ic manner; he went from being bumbling to suave and cool, and he actually managed to eat Cheetos unlike in the older commercials.

===2003–2009: Jump to CGI===
In the United States in 2003, Chester was rendered as a [[Computer-generated imagery|computer generated]] character, but he continued to appear in his old animation style in other countries.

In one specific 2006 commercial series, Chester emerged victorious over competitor Chef Pierre in a baking competition to develop Baked Cheetos. This resulted in an advertising campaign called Chester Goes Undercover, wherein Pierre steals the Baked Cheetos formula while wearing a shadow, and Chester pursues him by tracking down hints that point him in the direction of Pierre's goons, Twisty McGee, Flamin' Hot Fiona, and The Cruncher. When Chester confronted Chef Pierre, he gave the order for his operatives to show up, capture Pierre and his henchmen, and retrieve the stolen formula. There was an interactive web campaign associated with these commercials.

===2008–present: OrangeUnderground redesign===
By 2008, Cheetos took aim at an adult [[demographics|demographic]] with a series of ads featuring the mascot in promotion of OrangeUnderground.com.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/business/2008/03/the-delightfully-creepy-new-cheetos-ads.html|title=The delightfully creepy new Cheetos ads.|first=Seth|last=Stevenson|date=March 17, 2008|website=Slate Magazine}}</ref> In this incarnation, Chester (originally a puppet) is computer generated, but now with photorealistic textures/detail; he speaks with a British-sounding [[Good American Speech|Mid-Atlantic accent]] and encourages people to use their Cheetos in acts of revenge or to solve problems (e.g. plug the nostrils of a snoring man or dirty the [[cubicle]] of a [[Wiktionary:mysophobe|neat freak]]), sometimes referring to himself as "Papa Chester". In this incarnation, Chester is voiced by Adam Leadbeater.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adamleadbeater.com/Home.html|title=Home|website=www.adamleadbeater.com|access-date=2019-08-16|archive-date=2022-06-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604074104/http://www.adamleadbeater.com/Home.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Merchandise==
Chester starred in two [[video game]]s produced by [[Kaneko]] for the [[Sega Genesis]] and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]: ''Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool'' in 1992 and ''Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest'' in 1993.<ref name="auto">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/08/22/chester-cheetah-invades-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-dlc.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728101207/https://www.gameinformer.com/index.php/b/news/archive/2014/08/22/chester-cheetah-invades-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-dlc.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=July 28, 2018|title=Chester Cheetah Leaves His Cheesy Fingerprints On Plants Vs. Zombies|magazine=Game Informer|access-date=2018-07-28|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/08/26/crazy-corporate-mascots-who-starred-in-their-own-game.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828005300/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/08/26/crazy-corporate-mascots-who-starred-in-their-own-game.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=August 28, 2014|title=Seven Corporate Mascots Who You Never Thought Would Get Their Own Game|magazine=Game Informer|access-date=2018-07-28|language=en}}</ref>

Chester Cheetah makes a cameo appearance in [[Archie Comics]]' ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}

The Angry Birds Cheetos and Angry Birds Cheetos 2 Facebook games were released in 2012 and 2013. With the exception of the addition of a new Cheetos bag power up in both games, the games are quite identical to past Angry Birds versions. A normal Cheetos bag that behaves like the Blue bird and splits into many Cheetos is added in the first game, and a flaming hot Cheetos bag that behaves like the Bomb bird and explodes on impact is added in the sequel.

A promotional plush doll was produced, featuring dark sunglasses and lace-up shoes. It was 18" tall. A 10" doll is still available today.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}

In 2023, the company Jada Toys released an action figure of Chester Cheetah.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Joe |title=Chester Cheetah Action Figure by Jada Toys |url=https://www.toyark.com/2023/05/31/chester-cheetah-action-figure-by-jada-toys-502582 |website=The Toyark - News |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=31 May 2023}}</ref>

== Video games ==
{{Infobox video game
| title = Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool
| image =
| suppressfields = image 
| caption = Cover art (Super NES)
| developer = System Vision
| publisher = [[Kaneko]]
| platforms = [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], [[Sega Genesis]]
| released = '''Super NES''' {{vgrelease|NA|December 1992<ref name="NintendoList">{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/snes_games.pdf |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=April 12, 2023 |title=Super NES Games |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/snes_games.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2014 }}</ref>}} '''Genesis''' {{vgrelease|NA|January 1993<ref name=GI-93>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-9-march-april-1993_202408/page/n35/mode/2up|title=What's in Store for the First Half of 1993?|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|issue=9 (March/April 1993)|pages=34-35}}</ref>}}
| genre = [[Platform game|Platform]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|italic title=no
}}
{{Video game reviews
|CP=SNES: 77%<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=March 1993 |title=Super NES Review|magazine=Consoles+|issue=18 |pages=124–125}}</ref>
|EGM=SNES: 31/40<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Harris |first1=Steve |last2=Semrad |first2=Ed |last3=Alessi |first3=Martin |author4=Sushi-X |date=January 1993 |title=Chester Cheetah |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |volume=6 |number=1 |page=28 |url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20042%20%28January%201993%29/page/n27/mode/2up |via=archive.org}}</ref>
|rev1=''[[Electronic Games]]''
|rev1Score=SNES: 82%<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1993 |url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1993-01/Electronic+Games+1993-01#page/n69/mode/2up |title=Video Game Gallery |magazine=Electronic Games |volume=1 |issue=4 |page=70 |via=archive.org}}</ref>
}}

=== ''Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool'' ===
''Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool'' is a 1992 [[video game]] that starred Cheetos mascot Chester Cheetah, only released in [[North America]].

The game is composed of simple side-scrolling platform levels. On each level there is a hidden "scooter" part. In game, Chester can dash and stun enemies by jumping on their heads.

The instruction manual contains a popular [[Engrish]] recognized by many gamers: "As is Chester Cheetah way, is one-person play." The Engrish spawned due to bad translations and an attempt to rhyme in [[anapestic tetrameter]] like [[Dr. Seuss]].{{Original research inline|date=February 2013}} No actual mention of the Cheetos snack food is made in the game, but Chester's health points are represented as Cheetos Paws.

''Time Extension'' listed ''Too Cool to Fool'' as one of the worst SNES games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=The Worst SNES Games Of All Time |url=https://www.timeextension.com/guides/the-worst-snes-games-of-all-time |website=Time Extension |publisher=[[Hookshot Media]] |access-date=August 19, 2023 |date=November 17, 2022}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

=== ''Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest'' ===
{{Infobox video game
| title = Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest
| image =
| suppressfields = image 
| caption = Cover art (Genesis)
| developer = [[Kaneko]]
| publisher = Kaneko
| platforms = [[Sega Genesis]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
| released = '''Genesis'''{{vgrelease|NA|January 1994<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_056_March_1994/page/n58/mode/1up|title=Genesis ProReview: Chester Cheetah... Wild Wild Quest|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=56|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=March 1994|page=57}}</ref>}} '''Super NES'''{{vgrelease|NA|March 1994<ref name="NintendoList" />}}
| genre = [[Platform game|Platform]]
| modes = [[Single player]]
| designer =
| italic title=no
}}
'''''Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest''''' is a 1994 video game by [[Kaneko]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] and [[Sega Genesis]]. The game stars Cheetos mascot Chester Cheetah and is the sequel to ''Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool''.<ref name=":2"/><ref name="auto"/>

The player dies in one hit unless they have a cheese puff on hand.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|date=February 1994|title=Chester Cheetah... Wild Quest|journal=Sega Visions|pages=84}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|date=December 1993|title=Wild Wild Quest Fact File |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=53|pages=271}}</ref> Collecting 100 paws per level results in a new continue,<ref name=":3" /> and there are three difficulty levels.<ref name=":3" /> Some stages involve controlling vehicles, like a car or a motorcycle.<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine|last=Lance|first=Boyle|date=March 1994|title=ProReviews|magazine=GamePro|pages=59}}</ref>

The game was shown at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] in [[Las Vegas]] in 1994.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=March 1994 |title=CES Showtime|journal=Mean Machines Sega|issue=17 |pages=12}}</ref>

After breaking out of a zoo, Chester Cheetah is going to Hip City when Mean Eugene tears up his map into 10 pieces and scatters it across the [[United States]]. Chester Cheetah must then travel across America to recover the map.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=February 1994 |title=Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest|journal=SNES N-Force Magazine|issue=9|pages=10}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Chester visits fictional cities in states such as [[Nebraska]], [[California]], [[Florida]], [[Arkansas]], and [[Alaska]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

The game was released only in America.

Both the Genesis and SNES versions of the game received mixed reviews. ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' reviewed both the versions.<ref name=":1">{{cite magazine |author1=Carpenter, Danyon |author2=Manuel, Al |author3=Semrad, Ed |author4=Sushi-X |author5=Wiegand Mike |date=January 1994|title=Chester Chetah: Wild Wild Quest Review|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=54|pages=43–47|issn=1058-918X}}</ref> They gave the SNES version a score of 28 out of 50, and the Genesis version 24 out of 40. The reviewers praised the graphics and animations but cited poor control as a negative.<ref name=":1" />

''[[Sega Visions]]'' gave it a score of 12 out of 20, and gave it strong score for sound and music.<ref name=":3" />

''[[Nintendo Power]]'' reviewed the SNES version and stated it had stiff controls, low challenge, but had good audio and graphics.<ref name=":5">{{Cite magazine|date=March 1994|title=Chester Cheetah: Wild Quest|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|issue=58|pages=105}}</ref> They gave it an average score of 3.3/5.<ref name=":5" />

''[[GamePro]]'' magazine called it "High on the list of unnecessary sequels" and said "like the cheese puffs themselves, Chester might sound like a tempting idea, but you'll get no nourishment and you'll soon be hungry again".<ref name=":4" />

=== ''Just Dance 4'' ===
Chester Cheetah made a cameo appearance in the background of the redeemable version of the song "[[You Make Me Feel...]]" featured on the ''[[Just Dance 4]]'' video game. The track could be unlocked with a code found in a [[Cheetos]] bag, having exclusive traits on its background like a throne, and Chester Cheetah appearing sometimes on the back pillars and dancing along with the coach. Since the offer expired, the map became available as a downloadable track for all consoles in all regions, however, without the special characteristics, equivalent to following games said map is featured in, such as ''[[Just Dance Now]]'' and ''[[Just Dance (video game series)#Specials|Just Dance Unlimited]]''. Along with the redeemable version, a commercial was released to promote it.

==Health concerns and legal status across countries==
Chester Cheetah, as well as other mascots featured in products targeted to children (such as Kellogg’s [[Tony the Tiger]] and [[Toucan Sam]]), has been the subject of controversy in several countries. A study published in the journal ''[[Obesity Reviews]]'', suggested familiar media character branding appeared to be "a powerful influence on children's preferences, choices and intake of less healthy foods."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kraak |first1=V I |last2=Story |first2=M |title=Influence of food companies' brand mascots and entertainment companies' cartoon media characters on children's diet and health: a systematic review and research needs |journal=Obesity Reviews |date=February 2015 |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=107–126 |doi=10.1111/obr.12237 |pmid=25516352 |pmc=4359675 |issn=1467-7881}}</ref> Chester and similar mascots, have been banned from being featured in packaging and advertising in countries like Chile, Peru, Argentina and Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |title=In Sweeping War on Obesity, Chile Slays Tony the Tiger |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/health/obesity-chile-sugar-regulations.html |work=The New York Times |date=7 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who Killed Tony the Tiger? |url=https://reasonstobecheerful.world/who-killed-tony-the-tiger/ |work=Reasons to be Cheerful |date=24 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ley de etiquetado: despiden al Tigre Tony con burlas y memes |url=https://www.mdzol.com/sociedad/2021/10/27/ley-de-etiquetado-despiden-al-tigre-tony-con-burlas-memes-197007.html |work=MdzOnline |language=spanish}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mexico moves to ban junk food sales to children, citing obesity as coronavirus risk factor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/19/mexico-kids-junk-food-ban/ |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> A study by a coalition that included [[Action on Sugar]] and Children's Food Campaign in the UK, found that 51% of 526 assessed "child-friendly" food and drink products with popular cartoon characters on their packaging were high in sugar, saturated fat, salt and fat, with only 18 healthy products such as fruit, vegetables and water were found to use child-friendly cartoons.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sweet makers 'using cartoon characters to appeal to children' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/04/food-drink-companies-cartoon-characters-appeal-children-sugar-survey |work=The Guardian |date=4 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref> [[Tom Watson (Labour politician)|Tom Watson]] of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] said using playful characters to appeal to children is “grossly irresponsible”,<ref>{{cite news |title=Labour vows to ban 'grossly irresponsible' cartoon cereal characters like Tony the Tiger and Honey Monster to fight obesity |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/cereal-mascots-ban-sugar-child-obesity-crisis-health-labour-tom-watson-a8752466.html |work=The Independent |date=30 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Health and Social Care Select Committee]] issued calls<ref>{{cite web |title=Childhood obesity is everyone's business - News from Parliament - UK Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/health-and-social-care-committee/news/childhood-obesity-report-published-17-19/ |date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116140036/https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/health-and-social-care-committee/news/childhood-obesity-report-published-17-19/ |archive-date=2020-01-16 }}</ref> for a blanket ban on ‘brand-generated characters or licensed TV and film characters which are used to promote foods high in fat, sugar or salt."<ref>{{cite news |title=Tony the Tiger and Honey Monster should be BANNED from advertising sugary foods, say MPs (and Jamie Oliver) |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tony-tiger-honey-monster-banned-advertising-sugary-foods-say-mps-jamie-oliver-151146063.html |work=uk.news.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tony the Tiger and Honey Monster could be banned |url=https://news.sky.com/story/tony-the-tiger-and-honey-monster-could-be-banned-11389680 |work=Sky News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Ban cartoon characters' on unhealthy food, MPs say |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-44298135 |work=BBC News |date=30 May 2018}}</ref> Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks dropped 25 percent in the 18 months after Chile adopted these regulations, which also included [[Food labelling and advertising law (Chile)|octagon front-of-package warning labels]] and a ban on junk food in schools.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |title=Sugary Drink Consumption Plunges in Chile After New Food Law |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/health/chile-soda-warning-label.html |work=The New York Times |date=11 February 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Frito Bandito]]
*[[Tony the Tiger]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{PepsiCo}}

[[Category:Animated characters|Cheetah, Chester]]
[[Category:Feline mascots]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic felids|Cheetah, Chester]]
[[Category:Fictional cheetahs]]
[[Category:Food advertising characters]]
[[Category:Frito-Lay]]
[[Category:Male characters in advertising|Cheetah, Chester]]
[[Category:Mascots introduced in 1986]]

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

2025-10-22T17:59:07Z

2600:1700:E5D0:A9A0:1124:A96:2185:D683:

{{Short description|1992 video game}}
{{Redirect|Mystic Quest|the Game Boy title called ''Mystic Quest'' in Europe|Final Fantasy Adventure{{!}}''Final Fantasy Adventure''}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
| image = Final Fantasy Mystic US boxart.jpg
| caption = North American box art
| developer = [[Square (video game company)|Square]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/NA|Square|PAL|[[Nintendo]]}}
| director = Kouzi Ide
| producer =
| designer =
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer = [[Chihiro Fujioka]] Yoshihiko Maekawa [[Ted Woolsey]]
| composer = [[Ryuji Sasai]] Yasuhiro Kawakami
| series = ''[[Final Fantasy]]''
| platforms = [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
| released = {{Video game release|NA|October 1992<ref name="NintendoList">{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/snes_games.pdf |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=July 27, 2024 |title=Super NES Games |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/snes_games.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2014 }}</ref>|JP|September 10, 1993|EU|October 1993<ref name="GMaster"/>}}
| genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest''''', released as '''''Mystic Quest Legend''''' in PAL regions and as {{nihongo foot|'''''Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest'''''|ファイナルファンタジーUSA ミスティッククエスト|Fainaru Fantajī USA Misutikku Kuesuto|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} in Japan, is a [[role-playing video game]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. It was released as a spin-off to [[Square (video game company)|Square]]'s ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series of video games. ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' was first released in North America in 1992 and marketed as a "simplified role-playing game... designed for the entry-level player"<ref name="gamecase"/> in an attempt to broaden the genre's appeal.<ref name = "ogopogo"/> The game's presentation and battle system is broadly similar to that of the main series, but differs in its inclusion of [[action-adventure game]] elements. It was also the first ''Final Fantasy'' game to be released in Europe.

The player controls a youth named Benjamin in his quest to save the world. His goal is to reclaim a set of stolen crystals that determine the state of the world's four elemental powers. The gameplay takes a departure from the main series in a variety of ways, eliminating many series staples such as [[random battle]]s, [[save point]]s, manual equipment, and the party system. The game received middling reviews and sales in North America and Japan, citing its simplified gameplay and lack of depth in the game's story. It has retained its reputation for being a "beginner's ''Final Fantasy''" and has been praised for its music.

==Gameplay==
===Exploration===
Like previous games in the series, ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' is presented in a top-down perspective, with players directly navigating the main character around the world to interact with objects and people. The game features a unique way of traveling the world map. Unlike past ''Final Fantasy'' games, players cannot freely roam the world map. Instead, they travel along set paths from one "icon" (pictorial image on the world map) to the next. Some routes are blocked off (restriction is indicated by a gray arrow), but become accessible when the player succeeds in a specific task, such as completing a dungeon. Once its path is open, the player can enter an icon; the game's plot and action takes place within these icons, which include towns, dungeons, and battlefields.<ref name="options"/> The game is characterized by featuring [[action-adventure game]] elements; besides jumping, players can use weapons outside of battle, which play an active role in exploration. Players can chop down trees with an axe, detonate bombs to open sealed doorways, or use a [[grappling hook]] to clear wide gaps.<ref name="controls"/> The game has more puzzles than earlier ''Final Fantasy'' games. In the Falls Basin, for example, players must move pillars of ice across the ground level in such a fashion that they can be used as platforms to jump across on the second level. ''Mystic Quest'' does away with save points; players can save their progress at any time during exploration.<ref name="save"/>

===Battle system===
[[Image:Ffmq battlescreen.png|thumb|right|Benjamin and Tristam facing enemies on the battle screen]]
''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' eliminates the system of [[random encounter|random enemy encounters]], a trademark of the main series. Instead, battles are represented in dungeons as stationary enemy [[sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]]s, and the player is given the option of approaching the enemy and engaging a battle. Once engaged in battle, the player is thrust into the battle screen, which presents a [[window (computing)|window]]-based menu with three commands to choose from: battle, run, or control. Running from battle transports the player back to the field screen, while choosing "control" toggles between the ally's battle mode, where the player can manually control the main character's ally or opt for a [[Game artificial intelligence|computer-controlled]] ally. If players choose to battle, they are presented with a submenu of four more options: physically attack the enemy, cast a spell, use a curative item (such as a Cure potion), or defend.<ref name="combat"/> The game's battle system relies on [[Recurring elements in the Final Fantasy series#Battle systems|conditional turn-based combat]], where the characters and enemies cycle through rounds in battling each other, with the first action of the turn awarded to the fastest character. Enemy sprites are always far larger than player sprites in battle, despite appearing further away from the game camera. Some animals attack by physically crushing the players.

Character health is represented by an incremental [[Health (game mechanism)#Life bar|life bar]], although the player may choose to have it displayed in numerical fractions as in most role-playing games. If all character life bars reach zero, the game is over, but the player is given the option of continuing and restarting the battle. If the player chooses this option, however, the main character's attack power may suffer temporarily as a penalty. A character's performance in battle is determined by numerical figures (called [[Attribute (role-playing games)|statistics]]) for vitality, attacking power, defensive capabilities, speed, magical prowess, accuracy, and evasion. Character statistics are driven by [[experience point]]s (EXP) gained from winning battles, which accumulate until players achieve milestones known as "experience levels". Besides awarding experience points, battling enemies also earns the player gold pieces (GP), which can be used to buy weapons, armor, and curative items. In the absence of random enemy encounters, battlefields are scattered across the world map. Players are immediately thrust into a battle when entering a battlefield, and must win ten enemy battles to "clean out" the battlefield. Once a battlefield is cleaned out, players are awarded either a large amount of experience, a large amount of GP, a piece of armor, or a magic spell.<ref name="combat"/>

===Customization===
[[Image:Ffmq grapple2.png|thumb|right|The hero uses a [[grappling hook]] on a stationary pre-set loop in order to cross a gap.]]
Unlike all other ''Final Fantasy'' games, players cannot manually equip characters with armor. Instead, newly acquired armor replaces the main character's current equipment, or upgrades a current version of a weapon, e.g. obtaining the knight sword will replace the steel sword. Using the L and R buttons allows the user to cycle through the weapons that have been collected so far. Benjamin uses four types of weapons: swords, axes, bombs, and claws. Although the weapons share a similar function in battle, all have different purposes when exploring the field map. The Dragon Claw, for example, doubles as a [[grappling hook]]. The weapon arsenal in ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' is considerably smaller than most role-playing games.<ref name="gameplay"/>

[[Final Fantasy magic|Magic]] in ''Mystic Quest'' is not learned by designated spellcasters through experience. Instead, the main character acquires magic spells through treasure chests or as a reward for clearing out battlefields. The system of spellcasting is similar to that of the original ''Final Fantasy''; rather than using [[magic point]]s to draw upon for supplying magic, spells are used according to a set number for their type, i.e., white magic, black magic, or wizard magic. The allotted number for each type increases as a character levels up. A spell's effectiveness is proportional to a character's experience level; the higher the character's level, the more powerful the Fire spell, for example. The spell catalog in ''Mystic Quest'' is limited compared to most other ''Final Fantasy'' games.<ref name="gameplay"/> Items in the game are analogous to the spells. Notably, the Heal spell and potion act as a cure-all for [[status effect|status ailments]], eliminating the need for unique status recovery items.<ref name="gameplay"/> Similarly, the Cure spell and potion each restore 25% of player's maximum hit points regardless of level, so there is no need for a range of potion or spell strengths.

==Plot==
===Setting===
''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' takes place on a single continent of an unnamed world, which is divided into four distinct regions: Foresta, Aquaria, Fireburg, and Windia. The welfare of each region is determined by the state of one of four shining crystals: earth, water, fire, and wind, respectively. For centuries the Focus Tower had stood at the heart of the world. It had been a center for trade and knowledge, and the world's people met there to peacefully settle their differences. But on one warm summer day, powerful monsters stormed the Tower, stole the four crystals, and took off with the magical coins that kept the Tower's doors unlocked. The monsters began consuming the power of the crystals; they grew in strength while the world began to decay. An old prophecy tells that at the time the "vile four" steal the power and divide the world behind four doors, a knight will appear to vanquish the darkness.<ref name="plot"/>

===Story===
The game opens with an adventurous youth named Benjamin climbing the Hill of Destiny.<ref name="plot"/> While exploring, his village is destroyed in an earthquake. As Benjamin is climbing the Hill, he meets a mysterious old man who charges Benjamin with fulfilling the knight's prophecy. Although initially in disbelief, Benjamin accepts the role and the Old Man shows him the Focus Tower, supposedly the center of the World. After defeating a monster at the top of the hill, Benjamin follows the Old Man to the Level Forest, where he is tasked with recovering the Crystal of Earth. Proceeding to Foresta, he meets with an axe-wielding girl named Kaeli, who agrees to help Benjamin if he can help her rid the Level Forest of monsters. Kaeli is ambushed and poisoned in the process, and her mother informs Benjamin of the Elixir and where it can be found. Benjamin's search for Elixir to heal Kaeli brings him to Bone Dungeon, where he's aided by a treasure hunter named Tristam in succeeding dual purposes: not only does Benjamin get Elixir from Tristam to heal Kaeli, but he defeats one of the four Vile Evils, Flamerous Rex, to free the Crystal of Earth and in turn restore life to the dying village of Foresta. Tristam leaves and Benjamin heals Kaeli.<ref name="plot"/>

Benjamin is told that Aquaria is in danger, and is in need of help. He is told by the Old Man and various others that he should see Spencer. He is told that a girl named Phoebe can help him as well. After proceeding through the first stage of the Focus Tower, and arriving in the province of Aquaria, Benjamin locates Phoebe, and learns that Spencer is trapped underground by thick ice floes. Phoebe needs the "wakewater", which is said to be able to help free Aquaria. Benjamin and Phoebe head to the Wintry Cave and defeat a monster to obtain the Libra Crest. Using this crest to enter Life Temple from the Libra Temple, they find that the source of the "wakewater" has dried up. Finding the Old Man in the back of the Life Temple, they find that he holds the only bag of wakewater, and to use it on the plant in the center of town. Back in Aquaria, they find that the wakewater does not work, and reviving the crystal is the only thing that will save the town and Spencer. They head off for the Ice Pyramid and defeat the second of the Vile Evils, the Ice Golem. The Water Crystal is saved, and Benjamin and Phoebe head back to Aquaria. They find the town is now like Foresta after the crystal is revived there and Spencer is back and digging his tunnel to save Kaeli's father Captain Mac. Upon leaving, Spencer hands the Venus Key to Benjamin, and tells him to head for Fireburg.<ref name="plot"/>

Benjamin arrives in the Focus Tower to find the Old Man again, who tells him to find Reuben, and disappears. Benjamin heads for Fireburg, and finds Reuben. Reuben joins when Benjamin promises to help free Reuben's dad, Arion. Upon finding Tristam in the Inn who gives Benjamin the Multi-Key, they find the coward who left Arion in the mine in a locked house. He teaches Benjamin how to throw the bombs and says that it will free Arion. Benjamin and Reuben then proceed to the Mine and free Arion. Arion tells some tales of how the Fire Crystal has gone berserk, and Reuben goes off with Benjamin to the Volcano to stop the Vile Evil from stealing the crystal's power. After defeating the Dualhead Hydra, Benjamin and Reuben find the Fire Crystal returning to power. They decide to head to Windia, and Reuben is ambushed by monsters and falls off the rope bridge. Tristam comes along and helps Benjamin cross the bridge, but they are stymied by a tree who won't talk to them. Tristam says that there is a gal in Foresta who can talk to tree spirits, and the two drop in on Aquaria where Kaeli was trying to find Spencer. Benjamin and Tristam go down into the tunnel and find Spencer, who tells Tristam of a great treasure. They leave, and Phoebe plants a bomb that collapses a tunnel Spencer was building. She leaves to tell Spencer what happened, and Benjamin takes Kaeli to the Alive Forest to talk to the dormant tree spirit. He tells them that he will take them to Windia if they kill the monsters dwelling within him. They do and he takes them to Windia.<ref name="plot"/>

Upon arriving in Windia, Benjamin and Kaeli find Otto, whose daughter Norma was caught in Pazuzu's Tower when the winds from nearby Mount Gale knocked out his Rainbow Road. The only way the road works is when there is no wind, so Benjamin and Kaeli proceed to Mount Gale and stop the wind by defeating a powerful monster at the top. After returning to Windia, Otto powers up the Rainbow Road and the two adventurers proceed to Pazuzu's Tower. After giving chase, they corner Pazuzu and defeat the fourth Vile Evil and restore the Wind Crystal. Norma is reunited with Otto, and Kaeli stays to take care of her. Reuben shows up and after a series of long events Captain Mac is rescued. Reuben falls down because of the injury sustained on the Rope Bridge, and Phoebe joins Benjamin instead.<ref name="plot"/>

The Old Man tells Benjamin an ominous addendum to the prophecy: "The one behind the four is darker than the night, and rises midst the land". It becomes known that the Dark King is the true source of evil. Benjamin thus sails to Doom Castle to confront the Dark King, who threatens to enslave Benjamin along with the rest of mankind. The Dark King claims that he wrote and spread the prophecy Benjamin had followed throughout his quest. Once the Dark King is defeated, the old man congratulates Benjamin and reveals that he is the Crystal of Light in the guise of a human. At the end of the game, Benjamin is seen still craving adventure, and he borrows the ship from Captain Mac as his friends gather to wish him off. While sailing, Tristam makes a surprise appearance.<ref name="plot"/>

==Development==
Although designed by one of Square's development teams in Japan, ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' was specifically geared for the U.S. market. At the time, console role-playing games were not a major genre in North America; Square thus attempted to broaden the genre's appeal through this title.<ref name = "ogopogo"/> Square had already released several ''Final Fantasy'' spin-offs in North America, including the first three titles in the [[SaGa (series)|''SaGa'' series]] as ''Final Fantasy Legend'', and the first [[Mana (series)|''Mana'' series]] game as ''Final Fantasy Adventure'', and wished to further break into the popular American consciousness.<ref name="ign"/> Square's executives cited the alleged difficulty of role-playing games as the reason Americans shied away from them, and eased the difficulty level by tweaking various aspects of the main series' gameplay.<ref name = "ogopogo"/> The American release of ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'' was altered to make the game simpler, for example. ''Mystic Quest'' was to take this one step further, and the Japanese developers worked with the American offices to make sure the game was accessible to children.<ref name="ign"/>

''Mystic Quest'' was developed in a graphic and gameplay style similar to ''[[Final Fantasy Legend III]]'' (part of the aforementioned ''SaGa'' series). The gameplay shares numerous similarities with that title, featuring a very similar battle system, graphical interface, and dungeon system.<ref name="similar"/> Even the jump feature from ''Final Fantasy Legend III'' has been reproduced, and almost all of the icons - from caves to the enemy sprites - are a color-upgraded version of ''Final Fantasy Legend III''{{'}}s character set. Besides allowing for computer-controlled allies, the game did away with random battles, complicated storylines, and text-based menus. To appeal to the perceived tastes of North American audiences, which gravitated towards fast-paced games, Square included [[action-adventure game]] elements; players could now brandish weapons outside of battle, jump, use a grappling hook, and set bombs to open new paths.<ref name="bombs"/> North American translator [[Ted Woolsey]] explained that "the action/adventure players... are larger in numbers and the demographic is different. They tend to be younger and like the idea of jumping straight into the action with a sword in their hands; it's an empowerment issue - you get to go out there, start whacking things and it feels good! With the more traditional RPGs, it takes a good 15 or 20 hours of playing before you're finally hooked".<ref name="woolsey"/> Woolsey said that ''Mystic Quest'' was one of the easiest games he had to translate, due to the game's small size.<ref name="ted"/> Because the game was marketed towards a younger demographic, the game sold for [[United States dollar|US$]]39.99.<ref name="gamespotffhistory"/>

===Release===
After its U.S. debut, ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' was released in Japan under the title ''Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest''.<ref name="ign"/> The European release of the game was released in English, German and French. The European release had its title changed to ''Mystic Quest Legend'' to avoid confusion with ''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]'', which had been released in Europe as ''Mystic Quest''.<ref name="european">{{cite web|title=Definitive Years in Gaming History: 1991 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |author=Jaz Rignall |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-07-definitive-years-in-gaming-history-1991 |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209004520/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-07-definitive-years-in-gaming-history-1991 |archive-date=February 9, 2013}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' was first unveiled in June at the 1992 [[Summer Consumer Electronics Show]] in [[Chicago]], where it was a popular venue,<ref name="ogopogo"/> and the game was later presented in more detail in the Fall 1992 issue of the ''Ogopogo Examiner''.

===Audio===
The game's soundtrack was composed by [[Ryuji Sasai]] and Yasuhiro Kawakami.<ref name="MQ">{{cite web |last=Gann |first=Patrick |title=Final Fantasy USA Mystic Quest Sound Collections |publisher=RPGFan|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ffmq/index.html |date=2001-03-23 |access-date=2009-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116213532/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ffmq/index.html |archive-date=2013-01-16 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was one of the first games bearing the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' name not to be composed by series regular [[Nobuo Uematsu]], after ''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]'' (known in Japan as ''Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden'') and the ''[[Final Fantasy Legend]]'' trilogy (known in Japan as the ''Sa·Ga'' trilogy).<ref name="SEMO">{{cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/composers/sasai/biography.shtml|title=Ryuji Sasai :: Biography|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|author=Chris|date=2007-09-10|access-date=2010-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222144628/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/composers/sasai/biography.shtml |archive-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> The album was first released on one [[compact disc]] by [[NTT Publishing]] on September 10, 1993.<ref name="MQ"/> ROM capacity limits and hardware limitations made the composition process difficult.<ref name="musicinterview"/> After the game was completed, Sasai recorded two remixes on his days off for the game's album, and personally played the guitar parts.<ref name="musicinterview"/> "Mountain Range of Whirlwinds" was built off of Sasai's liking of the sound of the [[french horn]], and its ability to go the length of the song and convey a sense of mountains.<ref name="musicinterview"/> The track "Last Castle" was written in a short time, and was used to create imagery of a field, but its length left very little space for the "Battle 3" song.<ref name="musicinterview"/>'

{{Track listing
| Headline = ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Original Soundtrack'' listing
| total_length =
| title1 = MYSTIC RE-QUEST I
| length1 = 4:14
| title2 = MYSTIC RE-QUEST II
| length2 = 4:11
| title3 = Mystic Quest
| length3 = 2:22
| title4 = Hill of Fate
| length4 = 1:28
| title5 = World
| length5 = 0:47
| title6 = Beautiful Forest
| length6 = 2:30
| title7 = Battle 1
| length7 = 2:22
| title8 = Victory Fanfare
| length8 = 0:33
| title9 = City of Forest
| length9 = 2:18
| title10 = Fossil Labyrinth
| length10 = 1:35
| title11 = Battle 2
| length11 = 1:47
| title12 = Middle Tower
| length12 = 1:25
| title13 = Shrine of Light
| length13 = 3:14
| title14 = Rock Theme
| length14 = 1:12
| title15 = Fanfare of Friendship
| length15 = 0:06
| title16 = Dungeon of Ice
| length16 = 2:52
| title17 = Dungeon of Waterfall
| length17 = 2:21
| title18 = City of Fire - Faeria
| length18 = 1:59
| title19 = Rock 'n' Roll
| length19 = 1:03
| title20 = Lava Dome
| length20 = 1:46
| title21 = City of Wind - Windaria
| length21 = 2:28
| title22 = Mountain Range of Whirlwinds
| length22 = 2:15
| title23 = The Crystal
| length23 = 1:16
| title24 = Last Castle
| length24 = 2:33
| title25 = Battle 3
| length25 = 2:10
| title26 = Mystic Ballad
| length26 = 2:18
| title27 = Ending
| length27 = 2:18
| title28 = RE-MIXTIC QUEST
| length28 = 7:36
}}

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 67%<ref name="GR" />
| EGM = 7/10, 8/10, 7/10, 7/10<ref name="EGM" />
| Fam = 23/40<ref>{{cite magazine | author=''Famitsu'' staff | date=September 17, 1993 | title=クロスレビュー | trans-title=Cross Review | magazine=[[Famitsu]] | publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]] | number=248 | page=37 | language=ja}}</ref>
| GMaster = 75%<ref name="GMaster">''GamesMaster'', episode 42 ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpG4IBdV2Rs series 3, episode 6] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026214014/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpG4IBdV2Rs |date=2013-10-26}}), 14 October 1993</ref>
| GamePro = 16/20<ref name="GP">{{cite magazine |last1=Nihei |first1=Wes |title=Super NES Pro Review: Final Fantasy Mystic Quest |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=November 1992 |issue=40 |page=74 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/5/5e/GamePro_US_040.pdf#page=76 |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref>
| RPGFan = 79%<ref name="rpgfan" />
| rev1 = ''[[Electronic Games]]''
| rev1Score = 86%<ref name="EG">''Electronic Games'', volume 1, issue 3 (December 1992), pages 64-65</ref>
}}

According to Square's publicity department, ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest'' sold a total of 800,000 units, with roughly half of these sold in Japan.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Final Fantasy III|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=63|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=October 1994|page=172}}</ref>

The game did not generate much excitement in either America or Japan, although it is thought to have appealed to younger fans.<ref name="ign"/> The game ultimately failed in its bid to bring mainstream North American popularity to console RPGs, and simultaneously alienated fans of the series anticipating another epic following ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]''.<ref name="history"/> ''Electronic Games'' described the title as "''Final Fantasy'' with an identity crisis" due to the inherent flaw of creating a game that didn't appeal to the masses or the hard-core gaming audience.<ref name="crisis"/>

Reviews written in the years after its initial release remained largely negative. After the Wii Virtual Console release, ''[[Kotaku]]'' dubbed it "The Worst Final Fantasy" in the title of the review,<ref name="worst" /> and ''[[GamesRadar]]'' called it a "franchise embarrassment" for its enemies that stand still and wait for players to attack.<ref name="embarrass"/><ref name="worst"/> ''[[IGN]]'' rated the Wii Virtual Console release a 6.0, or "Okay", citing an extremely repetitive and simple battle system, and very little character development.<ref name="retroign"/> ''[[1UP.com]]'' rated the game a "Not Worth It!", calling it "handholding" and "insubstantial".<ref name="notworthit">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy Series Roundup|website=[[1UP.com]]|author=Jeremy Parish|url=http://www.1up.com/features/final-fantasy-roundup?pager.offset=0|date=December 8, 2007|access-date=March 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102215913/http://www.1up.com/features/final-fantasy-roundup?pager.offset=0|archive-date=November 2, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

It was, however, praised for its music, including ''1UP.com'' praising its "sweet sampled metal guitar licks", and listed the final boss battle music as one of the must download songs for the ''Final Fantasy'' music game ''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy]]''.<ref name="guitar"/><ref name="music"/> It was also praised by ''GamesRadar'' for its music, mentioning the boss battle in their "Game Music of the Day" column, and also mentioning the rest of the game music as smooth and easy listening.<ref name="smooth"/> On April 1, 2006, ''[[GameSpot]]'' included ''Mystic Quest'' in an [[April's Fools]] list entitled "Top 10 Final Fantasy Games", which mostly consisted of [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]]s from the main series and unrelated games. ''Mystic Quest'' was "praised" for being easy and having simplistic graphics and plot.<ref name="ten"/> In October 2010, the game was released on Nintendo's [[Virtual Console]].<ref name="virtual"/> ''[[Famitsu]]'' has also reported that Square was preparing the game for release on the Android mobile platform in 2012.<ref name="android"/> In 2018, [[Complex Networks|Complex]] ranked the game 66th on their "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". They liked the game being a simple more laid back ''Final Fantasy'' game and also liked the game music.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Knight|first=Rich|date=April 30, 2018|title=The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/the-100-best-super-nintendo-games/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Complex|language=en}}</ref>

The main character Benjamin and several songs have appeared in ''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Curtain Call Adds Mystic Quest, FFT, And Chocobo Songs |publisher=Siliconera |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/16/theatrhythm-final-fantasy-curtain-call-adds-mystic-quest-fft-chocobo-songs/ |date=April 16, 2014 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619031958/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/16/theatrhythm-final-fantasy-curtain-call-adds-mystic-quest-fft-chocobo-songs/ |archive-date=June 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=From Mystic Quest To Lighting Returns, The Spinoff Songs In Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Curtain Call |publisher=Siliconera |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/17/mystic-quest-lighting-returns-spinoff-songs-theatrhythm-final-fantasy-curtain-call/ |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522060454/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/17/mystic-quest-lighting-returns-spinoff-songs-theatrhythm-final-fantasy-curtain-call/ |archive-date=May 22, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[Theatrhythm Final Bar Line]]''.

==References==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="android">{{cite web|title=Square-Enix Working On Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy For Android |publisher=[[Tech Crunch]] |author=Chris Velazco |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/09/16/square-enix-working-on-chrono-trigger-final-fantasy-for-android/ |date=September 16, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309220925/http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/16/square-enix-working-on-chrono-trigger-final-fantasy-for-android/ |archive-date=March 9, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="bombs">{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2010/06/22/final-fantasy-mystic-quest-getting-a-phoenix-down/ |title=Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest Getting A Phoenix Down? |publisher=Siliconera |date=June 22, 2010 |author=Spencer |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223163636/http://www.siliconera.com/2010/06/22/final-fantasy-mystic-quest-getting-a-phoenix-down/ |archive-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="combat">{{cite book | year=1992 | editor=Square Co. | title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual | pages=22–23 | publisher=Square Soft | id=SNS-MQ-USA}}</ref>

<ref name="controls">{{cite book | year=1992 | editor=Square Co. | title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual | pages=12–13 | publisher=Square Soft | id=SNS-MQ-USA}}</ref>

<ref name="crisis">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/10/final-fantasy-virtual-console/ |title=Retro Review: Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest |magazine=Wired |publisher=8BitGuys |access-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021074610/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/10/final-fantasy-virtual-console |archive-date=2010-10-21 |last1=Kohler |first1=Chris}}</ref>

<ref name="EGM">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/655cda65-223d-48a3-97ff-34927b1aa19c|via=[[Video Game History Foundation]] |title=Review Crew |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |date=November 1992 |page=26 |access-date=September 22, 2025|last1=Harris|first1=Steve|last2=Semrad|first2=Ed|last3=Alessi|first3=Martin|author4=Sushi-X|volume=5|issue=11}}</ref>

<ref name="embarrass">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-franchise-embarrassments/?page=2 |date=January 7, 2008 |author=Charlie Barratt |title=The Top 7... Franchise Embarrassments |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306125525/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-franchise-embarrassments/?page=2 |archive-date=March 6, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="gamecase">{{cite book|title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (Game Case)|publisher=Square Soft, Inc.|year=1992}}</ref>

<ref name="gameplay">{{cite book | year=1992 | editor=Square Co. | title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual | pages=24–25 | publisher=Square Soft | id=SNS-MQ-USA}}</ref>

<ref name="gamespotffhistory">{{cite web|url=http://au.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec4_2.html |title=The History of Final Fantasy -Final Fantasy Mystic Quest|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=2008-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040612041102/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec4_2.html |archive-date=June 12, 2004}}</ref>

<ref name="guitar">{{cite web|date=June 25, 2010|url=http://www.1up.com/features/theatrhythm-final-fantasy-diy|title=Theatrhythm Final Fantasy D.I.Y.|website=[[1UP.com]]|access-date=March 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628130359/http://www.1up.com/features/theatrhythm-final-fantasy-diy|archive-date=June 28, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="history">{{cite web | url =http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_square/p1_04.html | title=The History of Square | website = [[GameSpot]] | access-date = 2006-09-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310001133/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_square/p1_04.html | archive-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="ign">{{cite web | url =http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/26/ign-presents-the-history-of-final-fantasy?page=3 | title=IGN Presents the History of Final Fantasy | website = IGN | date=June 26, 2009 | author=Travis Fahs | access-date = March 8, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208064015/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/26/ign-presents-the-history-of-final-fantasy?page=3 | archive-date=December 8, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="music">{{cite magazine|date=October 18, 2010 |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/10/final-fantasy-virtual-console/ |title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Now Available on Virtual Console |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |author=Chris Kohler |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802061815/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/10/final-fantasy-virtual-console/ |archive-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="musicinterview">{{cite web|url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/school-of-rock-interview-with-squaresoft-composer-ryuji-sasai/ |date=September 29, 2009 |author=Jayson Napolitano |title=School of Rock: Interview With Squaresoft Composer Ryuji Sasai |publisher=Original Sound Version |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607054935/http://www.originalsoundversion.com/school-of-rock-interview-with-squaresoft-composer-ryuji-sasai/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013}}</ref>



<ref name="ogopogo">{{cite book | title=Ogopogo Examiner | author=Ted Woolsey | publisher=Square Soft, Inc. | year=1992}}</ref>

<ref name="options">{{cite book | year=1992 | editor=Square Co. | title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual | pages=8–9 | publisher=Square Soft | id=SNS-MQ-USA}}</ref>

<ref name="plot">{{cite book | year=1992 | editor=Square Co. | title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual | pages=4–5 | publisher=Square Soft | id=SNS-MQ-USA}}</ref>

<ref name="retroign">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/10/20/final-fantasy-mystic-quest-review |date=October 19, 2010 |author=Lucas M. Thomas |title=Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest Review |website=IGN |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325095418/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/10/20/final-fantasy-mystic-quest-review |archive-date=March 25, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="rpgfan">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/finalfantasymysticquest/Final_Fantasy_Mystic_Quest.html |author=Musashi |title=RPGFan Reviews - Final Fantasy Mystic Quest |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=2006-07-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060329192700/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/finalfantasymysticquest/Final_Fantasy_Mystic_Quest.html |archive-date=2006-03-29}}</ref>

<ref name="save">{{cite book | year=1992 | editor=Square Co. | title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest instruction manual | pages=20–21 | publisher=[[Square Soft]] | id=SNS-MQ-USA}}</ref>

<ref name="similar">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5937675/ode-to-the-final-fantasy-games-that-werent-really-final-fantasy-games |title=Ode To The Final Fantasy Games That Weren't Really Final Fantasy Games |publisher=Kotaku |date=August 24, 2010 |author=Jason Schreier |author-link=Jason Schreier|access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128181921/http://kotaku.com/5937675/ode-to-the-final-fantasy-games-that-werent-really-final-fantasy-games |archive-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="smooth">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/game-music-of-the-day-final-fantasy-mystic-quest/ |title=Game music of the day: Final Fantasy Mystic Quest |publisher=[[GamesRadar]] |date=October 18, 2010 |author=Brett Elston |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306125518/http://www.gamesradar.com/game-music-of-the-day-final-fantasy-mystic-quest/ |archive-date=March 6, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="ted">{{cite web|title=Bob Rork Woolsey Interview |publisher=Chrono Compendium |author=Bob Rork |url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Bob_Rork_Woolsey_Interview.html |date=May 26, 2005 |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060713020606/http://chronocompendium.com/Term/Bob_Rork_Woolsey_Interview.html |archive-date=July 13, 2006}}</ref>

<ref name="ten">{{cite web | title=TenSpot: Top 10 Final Fantasy Games | website=[[GameSpot]] | url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6146818/p-5.html | date=2005-04-01 | access-date=2008-03-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020033638/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6146818/p-5.html | archive-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="virtual">{{cite web |title=Final Fantasy Mystic Quest travels to Virtual Console|website=[[GameSpot]] |author=Eddie Makuch|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/final-fantasy-mystic-quest-travels-to-virtual-console-6282207|date=October 18, 2010|access-date=March 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415053148/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-mystic-quest-travels-to-virtual-console/1100-6282207/ |archive-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="woolsey">Neil West (September 1994). "Interview with Ted Woolsey". ''Super Play Magazine''</ref>

<ref name="worst">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5666644/the-nintendo-download-the-worst-final-fantasy/ |date=October 18, 2010 |author=Michael Fahey |title=The Nintendo Download: The Worst Final Fantasy |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=March 8, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222163015/http://kotaku.com/5666644/the-nintendo-download-the-worst-final-fantasy/ |archive-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="GR">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/532476-final-fantasy-mystic-quest/index.html |title=Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest for Super Nintendo |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105208/http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/532476-final-fantasy-mystic-quest/index.html |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/final-fantasy-mystic-quest}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050716075927/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ff/ffmq/ffmq.html ''Final Fantasy Mystic Quest''] at RPGamer

{{Final Fantasy series|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}

[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy spinoffs]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games for Wii U]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Ryuji Sasai]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Yasuhiro Kawakami]]
[[Category:1993 soundtrack albums]]
[[Category:1992 video games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]

Top Gear (video game)

2025-10-22T17:53:32Z

2600:1700:E5D0:A9A0:1124:A96:2185:D683:

{{Short description|1992 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Top Gear
|image = SNES Top Gear cover art.jpg
|caption = North American cover art
|developer = [[Gremlin Graphics]]
|publisher = [[Kemco]]
|programmer = Ashley Bennett Ritchie Brannan Simon Blake
|artist = Paul Gregory
|composer = [[Barry Leitch]] Hiroyuki Masuno
|series = ''[[Top Gear (video game series)|Top Gear]]''
|platforms = [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|March 27, 1992<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/17180/|title=トップレーサー|language=ja|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|access-date=2023-12-05}}</ref>|NA|April 16, 1992<ref name="SNESGamestg">{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.com:80/consumer/gameslist/manuals/snes_games.pdf|title=Super NES Games|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|access-date=2020-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920223937/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/snes_games.pdf|archive-date=2008-09-20|url-status=live}}</ref>|EU|November 19, 1992{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}}}
|genre = [[Racing game|Racing]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
}}

'''''Top Gear'''''{{efn|Also known as {{nihongo|'''''Top Racer'''''|トップレーサー|''Toppu Rēsā''||lead=yes}} in Japan}} is a 1992 [[racing video game]] developed by [[Gremlin Graphics]] and published by [[Kemco]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. The objective of the game is to become the fastest driver in the world by racing other drivers across several nations.

It marks the first game in the ''Top Gear'' racing game franchise, and it is one of the first racing games to be released on the SNES. This game and its next two sequels were created by the same developers as the similar ''[[Lotus (series)|Lotus]]'' series of games was released earlier on the [[Amiga]] and [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive]].

== Gameplay ==
[[File:SNES Top Gear (Top Racer).png|thumb|left|The game uses a split screen layout specifically for multiplayer.]]
''Top Gear'' is a third-person racing game where players compete across multiple countries, aiming to qualify for successive stages by finishing each race within the top five positions. Players can choose between single-player or two-player split-screen modes, select a difficulty level, and configure various options such as speed display (mph or km/h).

At the start, players register a name and choose between manual or automatic transmission. Manual mode requires gear-shifting using the controller's shoulder buttons, while automatic mode handles shifting automatically. Four controller layouts are available, allowing players to remap acceleration, braking, gear-shifting, and nitro boost controls.

The game features four cars, each with unique handling characteristics, top speeds, and fuel consumption rates. For example, the Cannibal emphasizes high speed but has low tire grip and high fuel consumption, while the Sidewinder offers superior cornering and lower fuel usage. Nitro boosts provide temporary speed bursts, but each race limits players to three boosts.

Races take place across four-course regions, with points awarded based on finishing positions. A cumulative ranking after each set of four races determines whether the player advances to the next region. Fuel management is crucial, as running out of fuel ends a race; players may refuel during pit stops, though this costs valuable time. The game also includes day and night races, as well as hazards such as road obstacles, which can significantly slow players upon collision.

== Development and release ==
The soundtrack for ''Top Gear'' was developed using the capabilities of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System’s SPC700 sound chip, which offered eight audio channels—an impressive feature for its time. The development team utilized the SNES ICE development kit, which included a removable ISA-based sound card. This card could be installed on a standard PC, allowing the team to compose music using custom software called '''MEDIT''', which supported multiple platforms such as the Roland MT-32, AdLib, and the SNES. (Support for the Sega Genesis’ audio hardware was not implemented.)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Interviewing veteran composer Barry Leitch (Part I). Sound chips (from ZX-81 to the SNES). |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/interviewing-veteran-composer-barry-leitch-part-i-sound-chips-from-zx-81-to-the-snes- |access-date=2025-07-30 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}</ref>

During the early stages of development, the composer experimented with the SNES music driver to explore its potential. Although most of the technical documentation was in Japanese (Kanji), the data structure was reverse-engineered through trial and error. One notable discovery was the SNES’s real-time echo effect, made possible by its audio DSP—a feature uncommon in contemporary consoles. However, the effect consumed significant memory, which led to the ''Top Gear'' soundtrack using a precise echo of one sixteenth note, the maximum length that could be accommodated within the system’s limitations.<ref name=":0" />

The game’s soundtrack, composed by Scottish musician Barry Leitch, became a defining aspect of its legacy. Leitch later recalled that the music was created under a tight production schedule, with some tracks reworked from his earlier compositions for ''Lotus Turbo Challenge'' and its sequels due to time constraints. The "Vegas" track, for example, was one of the first pieces written for ''Top Gear'', featuring Leitch’s preferred chord progressions and melodic structures.<ref name=":0" />

The game (under the title ''Top Racer''), along with several other retro titles, was released by [[Piko Interactive]] on a multi-cart for the [[Evercade]] handheld gaming system in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/08/the_evercade_handhelds_latest_cartridge_features_several_rare_snes_games/|title=The Evercade Handheld's Latest Cartridge Features Several Rare SNES Games|publisher=[[NintendoLife]]|author=Ryan Craddock|date=2019-09-10}}</ref>

Developer QUByte Interactive released the game for modern systems under the name ''Top Racer Collection'' on March 7, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-05 |title=Review: Top Racer Collection Is A Great Drive Down Memory Lane – Entertainium |url=https://entertainium.co/2024/03/05/review-top-racer-collection/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
|GR = 78%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588802-top-gear/|title=Top Gear for Super Nintendo|work=[[GameRankings]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=2019|access-date=2020-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012445/https://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588802-top-gear/|archive-date=2019-12-09|url-status=live}}</ref>
|Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AGtg">{{cite web|last=Penniment|first=Brad|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15795&tab=review|title=Top Gear - Review|work=[[AllGame]]|publisher=[[All Media Network]]|date=1998|access-date=2020-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116030427/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15795&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-16|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|GamePro = 23 / 25<ref name="GProtg">{{cite magazine|last=Fan|first=Fanatic|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_034_May_1992#page/n49/mode/1up|title=Super NES ProReview: Top Gear|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=34|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=May 1992|page=29}}</ref>
|NP = 14.6 / 20<ref name="NPtg">{{cite magazine|last1=Sinfield|first1=George|last2=Noel|first2=Rob|title=Now Playing - Top Gear|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|issue=37|publisher=[[Nintendo of America]]|date=July 1992|page=105}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''[[:it:Consolemania|Consolemania]]''
|rev1Score = 80 / 100<ref name="CManiatg">{{cite magazine|last=Rosa|first=Piemarco|url=https://archive.org/stream/Consolemania-013#page/n72/mode/1up|title=Top Racer (Super Famicom)|magazine=[[:it:Consolemania|Consolemania]]|issue=13|publisher=Xenia Edizioni|date=November 1992|page=73|lang=it}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[:fr:Consoles +|Consoles +]]''
|rev2Score = 82%<ref name="C+tg">{{cite magazine|last=Menier|first=Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Consoles%20Plus/consoleplus_numero009/Consoles%20%2B%20009%20-%20Page%20063%20%28mai%201992%29.jpg|title=Super Famicom Review - Top Racer|magazine=[[:fr:Consoles +|Consoles +]]|issue=9|publisher=[[:fr:M.E.R.7|M.E.R.7]]|date=May 1992|page=63|lang=fr}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''Game Zone''
|rev3Score = 86%<ref name="GZtg">{{cite magazine|last=Daldry|first=Jeremy|title=Reviews - Top Gear|magazine=Game Zone|volume=2|issue=1|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|date=November 1992|pages=64–66}}</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[:fr:Joypad (magazine)|Joypad]]''
|rev4Score = 88%<ref name="Jpadtg1">{{cite magazine|last1=Morisse|first1=Jean-François|last2=Demoly|first2=Jean-Marc|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=84&num=1778&album=oui|title=Top Racer: Partez Pour Un Tour Du Monde Sur Route À Grande Vitesse!|magazine=[[:fr:Joypad (magazine)|Joypad]]|issue=9|publisher=[[:fr:Yellow Media|Yellow Media]]|date=June 1992|pages=150–151|lang=fr|access-date=2020-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719070320/https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=84&num=1778&album=oui|archive-date=2020-07-19|url-status=live}}</ref> 88%<ref name="Jpadtg2">{{cite magazine|last=Morisse|first=Jean-François|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joypad/joypad_numero014/Joypad%20014%20-%20Page%20166%20%281992-11%29.jpg|title=French Collection - Top Gear: Duels Pour As Du Volant!|magazine=[[:fr:Joypad (magazine)|Joypad]]|issue=17|publisher=[[:fr:Yellow Media|Yellow Media]]|date=November 1992|page=166|lang=fr}}</ref>
|rev5 = ''[[Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]''
|rev5Score = 86%<ref name="Jsticktg">{{cite magazine|last=Demoly|first=Jean-Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero027/page%20162.jpg|title=Console News: Top Racer|magazine=[[Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]]|issue=27|publisher=[[:fr:Joystick (magazine)#Les années Sipress|Sipress]]|date=May 1992|page=162|lang=fr}}</ref>
|MM = 92%<ref name="MMtg">{{cite magazine|author1=Julian|author2=Rich|url=https://archive.org/stream/Mean_Machines_Issue_22_1992-07_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n55/mode/2up|title=Super NES Review - Top Gear|magazine=[[Mean Machines]]|issue=22|publisher=[[Ascential|EMAP]]|date=July 1992|pages=56–58}}</ref>
|rev7 = ''[[Europress#Europress Impact|N-Force]]''
|rev7Score = 91%<ref name="N-Ftg1">{{cite magazine|last1=Rice|first1=Chris|last2=Green|first2=Doug|url=https://archive.org/stream/N-Force_No_2_1992-08_Europress_Impact_GB#page/n85/mode/2up|title=Reviewed! - N-Force Knockout: Top Gear|magazine=[[Europress#Europress Impact|N-Force]]|issue=2|publisher=[[Europress|Europress Impact]]|date=August 1992|pages=86–87|access-date=2020-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107000110/https://archive.org/stream/N-Force_No_2_1992-08_Europress_Impact_GB#page/n85/mode/2up|archive-date=2015-11-07|url-status=live}}</ref> 93%<ref name="N-Ftg1"/> 87%<ref name="N-Ftg2">{{cite magazine|last=Roberts|first=Nick|url=https://archive.org/stream/N-Force_No_8_1993-02_Europress_Impact_GB#page/n70/mode/1up|title=Six of the best! - Top Racer|magazine=[[Europress#Europress Impact|N-Force]]|issue=8|publisher=[[Europress|Europress Impact]]|date=February 1993|page=71}}</ref>
|rev8 = ''[[Mean Machines#Mean Machines Sega and Nintendo Magazine System|Nintendo Magazine System]]''
|rev8Score = 85%<ref name="NMStg">{{cite magazine|last=Merrett|first=Steve|title=Game Styles - Top Racer|magazine=[[Mean Machines#Mean Machines Sega and Nintendo Magazine System|Nintendo Magazine System]]|issue=4|publisher=[[Ascential|EMAP]]|date=January 1993|page=107}}</ref>
|rev9 = ''[[:fr:Player One (magazine)|Player One]]''
|rev9Score = 49%<ref name="POtg">{{cite magazine|last=Delpierre|first=Christophe|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Player%20One/playerone_numero025/Player%20One%20025%20-%20Page%20122%20%281992-11%29.jpg|title=Tests De Jeux - Top Gear|magazine=[[:fr:Player One (magazine)|Player One]]|issue=25|publisher=[[:fr:Média Système Édition|Média Système Édition]]|date=November 1992|page=122|lang=fr}}</ref>
|rev10 = ''[[:de:Power Play (Zeitschrift)|Power Play]]''
|rev10Score = 72%<ref name="PPtg">{{cite magazine|last=Forster|first=Winfried|url=https://www.kultpower.de/powerplay_testbericht_extern.php3?im=topracer.jpg|title=Videospiele / Tests - Top Racer|magazine=[[:de:Power Play (Zeitschrift)|Power Play]]|issue=51|publisher=[[Future plc|Future-Verlag]]|date=June 1992|page=155|lang=de|access-date=2020-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317103004/http://www.kultpower.de/powerplay_testbericht_extern.php3?im=topracer.jpg|archive-date=2009-03-17|url-status=live}}</ref>
|rev11 = ''[[:es:Superjuegos|Superjuegos]]''
|rev11Score = 94 / 100<ref name="SJtg">{{cite magazine|last=Yuste|first=Carlos|url=https://archive.org/stream/Superjuegos_009#page/n63/mode/2up|title=Consola - En pantalla: Top Gear - La carretera es nuestra|magazine=[[:es:Superjuegos|Superjuegos]]|issue=9|publisher=[[:es:Grupo Zeta|Grupo Zeta]]|date=January 1993|pages=64–65|lang=es}}</ref>
|rev12 = ''[[Super Play]]''
|rev12Score = 76%<ref name="SPtg">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Superplay_Issue_11_1993-09_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n91/mode/1up|title=What Cart? Super Play's Game Library - Top Gear|magazine=[[Super Play]]|issue=11|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|date=September 1993|page=92|access-date=2020-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715042028/https://archive.org/stream/Superplay_Issue_11_1993-09_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n91/mode/1up|archive-date=2017-07-15|url-status=live}}</ref>
|rev13 = ''Super Pro''
|rev13Score = 69%<ref name="SuperProtg">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/super-pro-01#page/22/mode/1up|title=A-Z of Official Games - Top Gear|magazine=Super Pro|issue=1|publisher=[[Paragon Publishing]]|date=December 1992|page=87}}</ref>
|rev14 = ''[[Tilt (French magazine)|Tilt]]''
|rev14Score = 17 / 20<ref name="Tilttg">{{cite magazine|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Tilt/tilt_numero109/Tilt%20N%b0109%20-%20Novembre%201992%20Page%20069.jpg|title=Auto Console - Top Gear|magazine=[[Tilt (French magazine)|Tilt]]|issue=109|publisher=Jean-Pierre Roger|date=November 1992|page=69|lang=fr}}</ref>
|rev15 = ''[[:de:Video Games|Video Games]]''
|rev15Score = 75%<ref name="VGtg">{{cite magazine|last=Eggebrecht|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Eggebrecht|url=https://www.ninretro.de/img/scans/snes/Top_Gear_VG_6-92.jpg|title=Test: Im Rausch Der Raser - Top Racer|magazine=[[:de:Video Games|Video Games]]|issue=7|publisher=[[Future plc|Future-Verlag]]|date=June 1992|page=112|lang=de}}</ref>
}}

''Top Gear'' was met with positive reception from critics and reviewers alike since its release.

== Legacy ==
''Top Gear'' gained notable popularity in Brazil during the early 1990s, becoming one of the country’s most recognized racing games of the era. Released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1992 by Kemco, the title competed with other early racing games on the platform, such as ''F-Zero'', ''Super Mario Kart'', and ''Lamborghini American Challenge''. The widespread presence of video game rental shops and the prevalence of console piracy in Brazil at the time contributed to the game’s enduring reach and influence among players.<ref name=":0" />

Decades later, the ''Top Gear'' soundtrack—particularly its main theme—has achieved cult status, inspiring thousands of fan covers and tributes on platforms such as YouTube. Its influence extended to modern racing titles, most notably ''Horizon Chase'', a spiritual successor developed by Aquiris Game Studio, which recruited Barry Leitch to compose its soundtrack as a homage to the classic SNES racer.<ref name=":0" />

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/588802-top-gear ''Top Gear''] at [[GameFAQs]]
* [https://www.giantbomb.com/top-gear/3030-9364/ ''Top Gear''] at [[Giant Bomb]]
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/snes/top-gear ''Top Gear''] at [[MobyGames]]

{{Top Gear series}}
{{Portal bar|1990s|United Kingdom|Video games}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Top Gear (video game)}}
[[Category:1992 video games]]
[[Category:Evercade games]]
[[Category:Gremlin Interactive games]]
[[Category:Kemco games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Piko Interactive games]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Top Gear (video game series)]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Barry Leitch]]
[[Category:Video games set in Brazil]]
[[Category:Video games set in California]]
[[Category:Video games set in Europe]]
[[Category:Video games set in France]]
[[Category:Video games set in Germany]]
[[Category:Video games set in Italy]]
[[Category:Video games set in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games set in Mexico]]
[[Category:Video games set in Nevada]]
[[Category:Video games set in New York City]]
[[Category:Video games set in Peru]]
[[Category:Video games set in South America]]
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Miracle Piano Teaching System

2025-10-22T15:33:00Z

2600:1700:E5D0:A9A0:1124:A96:2185:D683:

{{more citations needed|date=July 2008}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=The Miracle Piano Teaching System
|image=Miracle Piano Teaching System cover.jpg
|caption=
|developer=[[The Software Toolworks]]
|publisher=The Software Toolworks
|designer=Jon Mandel Henrik Markarian
|released=1990
|genre=[[music video game|Music]], [[educational software|educational]]
|modes=[[Single-player]]
|platforms=[[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], [[Macintosh]], [[Amiga]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], [[MS-DOS]]
}}

'''''The Miracle Piano Teaching System''''' is [[educational software]] which uses a [[MIDI]] keyboard to teach how to play the piano.<ref name="innovation_avoiding_trap">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cqmVLoQRvwC&pg=PA197 |page=197 |title=Innovation and Marketing in the Video Game Industry: Avoiding the Performance Trap |last1=Barczak |first1=Gloria |last2=Wesley |first2=David |year=2012 |publisher=Gower Publishing |isbn=9781409459620 |access-date=2014-04-22}}</ref> It was published in 1990 by [[The Software Toolworks]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], [[Macintosh]], [[Amiga]], [[Sega Genesis]], and [[MS-DOS]] compatible operating systems.

==Description==
[[File:Miracle-Piano-Teaching-System-keyboard.jpg|thumb|right|A Miracle system keyboard (NES edition)|alt=A photo of a Miracle Piano Teaching System keyboard]]
The Miracle Piano Teaching System consists of a keyboard, connecting cables, power supply, soft foot pedals, and software. The software comes either on 3.5" [[floppy disk]]s for [[personal computer]]s or on cartridges for [[video game consoles]]. After the supplied MIDI keyboard is connected to a console or computer and the included software is loaded, a user follows the on-screen notes. Its marketed value is as a tool to teach users to play the [[piano]]. It provides hundreds of lessons,<ref name="pc_mag_patient_teacher">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hqQJaNzN9IcC&pg=PA618 |author=Kendall, Robert |title=Miracle System Turns Your PC Into a Patient Piano Teacher |date=August 1992 |page=618 |access-date=2014-04-22}}</ref> and was advertised as the perfect adjunct to formal lessons. It was sold for US$500 and had low sales, in part due to its high price.

It was released in the United States and in multiple regions of Europe. Some of the NES Miracle keyboards were later converted for PC use and the [[Nintendo]] Seal of Quality on these boards was covered up with a piece of plastic.

With the exception of the metronome that is used in the Miracle system's lessons, the Miracle system does not ever generate sounds through the video game console hardware. All MIDI information from the console is converted into audio by the instrument's built-in ROM and played through the instrument's stereo speakers, allowing the keyboard to be used independently of the console.

===Features===
[[File:Miracle-Piano-Teaching-System-screenshot.png|thumb|right|alt=A screenshot of the ''Robo Man'' game activity in the Miracle system software.|Game activities in the Miracle system (such as ''Robo Man'', shown here) combine video gaming-type gameplay and practicing of musical skills.]]
Students can learn to play [[Classical music|classic piano]], [[rock and roll|rock piano]], or [[show tune]]s.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_pcmMWnxp80C&pg=PA30 |title=Electronics Newsfront |page=30 |author=Free, John |date=February 1993 |access-date=2014-04-23}}</ref> The Miracle system assesses the player's ability to create custom lessons.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lgEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32 |title=Electronics Newsfront |author=Stover, Dawn |page=32 |date=August 1990 |access-date=2014-04-22}}</ref> Fun exercises were meant to make learning the piano seem less like a chore and more like playing a video game. Instead of using the traditional NES controller, the [[piano]] becomes the controller as players aim at targets in order to perfect their [[music]] skills.

There are multiple games that students can play to help teach musical skills. One game is called ''Robo Man'' where the player has to press the correct keys at the right time to create a bridge. If they miss, Robo Man falls and the player loses. In the duck hunting game, the player has to press the keys that correspond to the positions of the ducks on a musical staff to shoot them.<ref name="miracle_major_key_lakeland_ledger">{{cite news |url=//news.google.com/newspapers?id=Dt0vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TPwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5295%2C707585 |title='Miracle' in a major key |author=Brown, Lonnie |page=10C |date=1992-08-22 |access-date=2014-04-23}}</ref> In the ''Ripchord'' game, players must press the correct combination of keys for a chord to land [[paratroopers]] onto a target.<ref name="miracle_major_key_lakeland_ledger"/>

==Successors==
Around 1995, technology from the Miracle system was incorporated into the ''Piano Discovery System'', an interactive PC software application that works with any MIDI keyboard including the Miracle keyboard.<ref>{{cite web|date=1995-05-05|title=Piano Discovery System Uses PC to Make Music Lessons Easy and Fun.|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Piano%20Discovery%20System%20Uses%20PC%20to%20Make%20Music%20Lessons%20Easy%20and%20Fun.-a016903666|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015809/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Piano%20Discovery%20System%20Uses%20PC%20to%20Make%20Music%20Lessons%20Easy%20and%20Fun.-a016903666|archive-date=March 5, 2016|access-date=2014-04-26|publisher=[[BusinessWire]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=1995-09-18|title=Jump! Music to Publish Piano Discovery System; Multimedia music tutorial system will join comprehensive line of music products|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Jump!%20Music%20to%20Publish%20Piano%20Discovery%20System;%20Multimedia%20music...-a017441929|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611012553/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Jump!%20Music%20to%20Publish%20Piano%20Discovery%20System;%20Multimedia%20music...-a017441929|archive-date=June 11, 2015|access-date=2014-04-26|publisher=[[BusinessWire]]}}</ref> By 1997, the Miracle product had been discontinued in favor of the ''Piano Discovery System''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jumpmusic.com/HTML/Products/pdFAQ07.html |title=Questions about Miracle Piano |publisher=Jump! Music |access-date=2014-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970105120927/http://www.jumpmusic.com/HTML/Products/pdFAQ07.html |archive-date=1997-01-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = [[Amiga Format]]
| rev1Score = 93%<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Noonan |first=Damien |title=The Miracle Keyboard Tutor |magazine=[[Amiga Format]] |issue=13 |publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]] |date=March 1992 |page=125}}</ref>
}}
The Miracle system failed commercially with its high price of {{US$|299}}–{{US$|419}} (equivalent to US${{Inflation|US|299|1993}}–US${{Inflation|US|419|1993}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}, depending on format),<ref name=oppenheim>{{cite book |last=Oppenheim |first=Joanne and Stephanie |author-link= Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award |title = The Best Toys, Books & Videos for Kids |publisher = [[Harper Perennial]] |series = [[Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award|Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Guide Book]] |volume = 1 |edition = 1st |location = New York |date = 1993 |section= Computer Software/CD-ROM - Life After Arcade: Getting Value From Sega and Nintendo - 'The Miracle Piano Teaching System' |pages = 278–279 |isbn = 0-06-273196-3 }}</ref> but it was overall well received by critics.

''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' liked the Miracle system's games and graphics, describing them as "not only entertaining and challenging, but they are also cleverly designed to reinforce the lessons". The magazine concluded, "everything that Software Toolworks promises about this system is true [but] there is still no substitute for parental involvement".{{r|rich199204}} David Wesley and Gloria Barczak mentioned that the system was praised by educators and that in 1990 it was the highest-rated third-party NES title by Nintendo's software review team. It was not well-suited to average gamers who lacked musical experience or who were not highly committed and dedicated to undertaking long-term electronic piano learning.<ref name="innovation_avoiding_trap"/> ''[[PC Magazine]]'' mentioned the system as being easy to use and likely more patient than a live piano teacher though the system did not cover certain aspects of piano playing such as hand position.<ref name="pc_mag_patient_teacher"/> The game was reviewed in the ''[[Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award|Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Guide Book]]'' where the authors described it as "by far the highest use a video-game machine has ever been put to".<ref name=oppenheim/>

[[NPR]] personality [[Noah Adams]] begins his 1997 memoir ''Piano Lessons'' attempting to teach himself how to play through the use of Miracle for PC software, ultimately finding greater success by taking more traditional lessons.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Adams|first1=Noah|title=Piano Lessons: Music, Love & True Adventures|url=https://archive.org/details/pianolessonsmusi00adam|url-access=limited|date=1997|publisher=Delta Trade Paperbacks|isbn=0385318219|oclc=1001862507|pages=[https://archive.org/details/pianolessonsmusi00adam/page/27 27], 80, 86|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Katy|title=Noah Adams' Keys to Happiness|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/books/leb333.htm|work=USAToday|publisher=Gannett Co. Inc.|date=2 December 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Childress|first1=Kyle|last2=Kennedy|first2=Rodney Wallace|title=Will Campbell, Preacher Man: Essays in the Spirit of a Divine Provocateur|date=August 4, 2016|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|isbn=978-1-4982-0273-2|page=17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PDXkDAAAQBAJ&q=noah+adams+piano+miracle&pg=PA17|oclc=951646286}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Synthesia (video game)|Synthesia]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="rich199204">{{cite magazine |title=The Software Toolworks Puts a Miracle into Music | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | issue=93 | date=April 1992 | last=Rich | first=Jason R. | pages=58–59}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/nes/miracle-piano-teaching-system}}
*[https://www.pianoeducation.org/pnompfaq.html ''Miracle Piano Teaching System FAQ for PC Versions'' at the Piano Education Page]

{{Nintendo Entertainment System}}

[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System accessories]]
[[Category:Music video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Children's educational video games]]
[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:Sega Genesis games]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:The Software Toolworks games]]