Super Hang-On, a port of the arcade game and sequel to Hang-On, was one of the early releases for the Genesis and despite it's age, is still a really good game.
Gameplay
There are two modes of play in Super Hang-On: Arcade and Original. If you want a pick up and fast paced type of game then Arcade Mode is your kinda game. There are four types of difficulty levels spread across four continents and they are, Beginner (Africa), Junior (Asia), Senior (America) and Expert (Europe). Obviously the higher level of difficulty you pick, the harder the races will be. Once you pick one of those it's on to the game, the goal of which is to race from checkpoint to checkpoint before the timer runs out or until you beat the race. But of course, there are obstacles that will prevent you from finishing, from nasty curves, other motorcyclists, objects on the side of the road and time itself (of course). You may think the other bikers don't pose much of a threat at first, but it becomes painfully obvious that they become more pesky when you reach the latter stages. When your about to go into a corner, they magically appear out of nowhere giving you hell or when you're just riding along, another bike slowly moves in front of your bike trying to hit it! But despite this one annoyance, you can still have fun. There is one thing you have that'll help you get by the races more faster, a turbo button. What's the catch? You can only use it when you reach 280 KM, when it reaches that you'll see the numbers flashing red, signaling you to hit the button to speed up. Although it's a cool feature you must be careful using it, you can easily go off course and crash or bump into another motorcycle.
Now if the fast paced game play of Arcade Mode isn't your style and want more of a simulation type of feel, then you will want to play the Original Mode. Exclusive to the Genesis version, there are many options and lots of difficulty in the Original Mode. In this mode, the goal is to beat your rivals time, you have to beat them five times each in order to move onto the next rival. When you begin the first race, you'll realize that your bike is a piece of junk that moves like a tank, but with the help of wannabe looking mechanics and sponsors, your bike will be in great shape in no time. How so? The mechanics will tell you what items needs to be replaced on your bike if they are wearing out, if continue to ignore their warnings then chances are you'll have an accident in the race that will force you to retire. The sponsors help you out by giving you money (which you can use to fix your motorcycle) depending on how well you race. And what did I mean by ''wannabe looking mechanics and sponsors'', well most of them look like someone else from other forms of entertainment. One of the sponsors looks like Lupin the 3rd with red hair and one of the mechanic's name is Tom Jones, who literally looks like Tom Jones! Anyway, if you have the patience and like the simulation aspects, then you'll enjoy Original Mode.
Graphics
For a game that was released during the early years of the Genesis', the graphics in the game don't look too bad. From the nice detail on your player and his/her's bike, to the constantly changing backgrounds, it's actually nice on the eyes (despite a few glitches). Just don't stare at it too long or you'll crash!
Sound/Music
The sounds in the game are generic at best, from the noises of the bikes, to the skidding, to the weird noise your motorcycle makes when it goes turbo. The soundtrack on the other hand sounds great! The in game tunes are nice to listen to and fits with the action, but it does become a bit repetitive at times.
Replay Value
There's plenty of replay value in this game, from the arcade mode's easy to pick up and play type game play (ugh, I've been saying that alot), to the original mode's simulation type game play for those who want the extra challenge.
In Closing
Despite the minor flaws in the game (and I do mean minor) Super Hang-On is a enjoyable yet challenging game that will have you....sorry, gotta do this....hanging on for dear life!!
....you may proceed to smack me.....
Overall Rating: 8/10