RC Pro AM: What’s Better?

By: J.D. Turbeville
LordJD RC Pro AM: What’s Better?

I will attempt to dissect which system ported out the better version of a game. Today’s game is Pro Am. On the NES, you may know it as “RC Pro AM” while on the Genesis it was called “Championship Pro AM”. Let’s break it down:

Plot:

You pretty much have the same goal of finishing in the top 3. The difference is that you have 4 cars to face in the NES vs. 6 in the NES, so you have the challenge of overcoming more opponents if you are from behind. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same thing from both systems.

Winner: [Genesis]

Sound:

The Genesis version sounds more groovy than its 8-bit challenger. Think of it as taking a song and then improving on it. First thing that comes to mind in this case are remixes of popular songs that you hear everyday. I don’t really have a preference for either, but the above reasons let me come to a conclusion …

Winner: [Genesis]

Graphics:

You would obviously have to give it to the 16-bit system although I didn’t think they topped the NES by much. The detail is seen in the cars and background, but there is one thing that I would give the NES a “plus”. It was particularly hard to distinguish the items on the track. I go, “what the hell is that thing? Oh yeah, I remember that this is in the same position as the NES version!”

Winner: [Genesis]

Challenge:

Playing the Genesis version for the first time, I think it wasn’t much of a challenge. I racked up about 14 consecutive golds until the yellow car did it’s 127mph zipper to win. I haven’t played the game in its entirety yet, but I would take the assumption that both games are the same, but that the Genesis has the added difficulty of fending off 5 opponents vs the 3 in the NES version.

Winner: [Genesis]

Gameplay:

Other than hating the Genesis controller for how it is built, the gameplay is exactly the same. If it were any different, I would have some sort of trouble in the Genesis version.

Winner: Tie

Final Judgement:

Oh my … I’m giving it to *shudders* the Genesis? I must really be smoking crack as I’m writing this article. What the hell is happening to me? I’M ANTI-SEGA! WHAT’S THE WORLD COMING TO?

Blast processing? The will never know. ;)