Developer : Sega
Release date : 1992
Synopsis :
Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II is an arcade-style Formula One racing video game developed and manufactured by Sega for the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive, Master System, and the Game Gear in 1992. It is a follow-up to Super Monaco GP. The game was also endorsed by, and had technical input from, the then-Formula One champion Ayrton Senna. Gameplay includes a World Championship season featuring recreations of the tracks in the 1991 Formula One World Championship, along with a three-race « Senna GP » mode set on fictional tracks. The game was initially suggested by Sega's distributor in Brazil, Tectoy, but developed by Sega in Japan. The game's development was also assisted by Senna, who personally supplied his own advice about the tracks featured in the game. Reception to Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II was mixed to positive, with reviewers praising the gameplay and the graphics but criticizing too few changes from Super Monaco GP. Based on Formula One, Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II features 19 race tracks: unnamed recreations of the tracks in the 1991 Formula One World Championship, and three fantasy tracks in the Senna GP mode. Players take control of a race car from the driver's seat view, with a rear view at the screen top. The display also includes a map, tachometer, and speedometer. Six individual save slots are included to save games. In the game's World Championship mode, players have a choice of Beginner or Master difficulty. In addition to the difficulty of the competition, Beginner races take three laps while Master races take six. Each season takes place over sixteen races, in which the player races against fifteen computer-controlled opponents. Players can also enter their name and nationality when starting the mode. Before a race, players can choose their car's transmission: automatic, 4-speed semi-automatic, or 7-speed manual. While automatics are easier to control, manuals provide greater speed. Players must qualify before each race or else start in 12th place. Additionally, the Senna GP mode features races on three tracks, completion of which will earn the player an Ayrton Senna Super License. A Free Practice mode is also available. The initial pitch for Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II came from Tectoy, Sega's distributor in Brazil. Tectoy approached Sega with the concept of developing a game starring Brazilian F1 driver Ayrton Senna, who was the 1988, 1990, and 1991 World Champion. Sega executive vice president Shoichiro Irimajiri personally knew Senna, having previously been an executive at Honda with its F1 division, the engine provider for Senna's team at McLaren, under his oversight. As development of the game began, Senna was personally involved in providing direction for the game and ensured he saw to changes he suggested. Among Senna's suggestions was a lack of speed reduction when driving over stripes in the corners, which the first game had done. A visit Senna made to Sega's Japanese headquarters shortly before the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix resulted in a three and a half hour visit, with developers flocking to meet with him. Senna also recorded voice segments commenting on each of the F1 tracks in the game; he refused to record a segment for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya until he had raced on it at the 1991 Spanish Grand Prix, his first time on the track. The game was announced in Japan by October 1991. Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II was released on July 17, 1992 in Japan, August 1992 in PAL regions, and September 1992 in North America. For an article in their magazine, Mega Drive Advanced Gaming had F1 racing driver Johnny Herbert play the game. In 1994, an article in Computer and Video Games called the game « easily the biggest selling driving game for the Mega Drive. »
