Metascore
83 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. For some the difficulty may be a little frustrating and later on in the game it seems a little fruitless to fork out on weapons, but it's balanced, clever and exciting, almost forcing you to have one more go.
  2. 90
    Thanks to the thoughtfully designed courses, tight control, and -- thank goodness -- a battery backup and autosave feature, Racing Gears Advance is a pleasure to play from start to finish line.
  3. 90
    In a world where driving titles such as Gran Turismo and Ridge Racer rule, Racing Gears Advance stands out as a breath of fresh air; a driving game that is simply out to entertain the masses with an incredibly developed sense of excitement and panache.
  4. It runs smooth, looks great, features tight controls and an arcade sense of physics that lets anyone get a handle on it in a couple of minutes. The fact that it's challenging and deep leaves room for gamers to develop their skills, both physical and mental, over time.
  5. 89
    A fantastic, energetic racer with a ton of strategy in its design.
  6. Highly recommended to any GBA gamer looking for a fun top-down view racer.
  7. Feels like racing Hotwheels with your buddies on steroids, speed, and a whole lot of caffeine.
  8. Featuring tight racing controls, 12 wacky drivers encapsulated in 12 real-life vehicles, and fast-paced, addictive, and challenging racing, Racing Gears Advance is simply a great game in every respect.
  9. A reminder that good things are still being done in 2D. [Spring 2005, p.74]
  10. The complete package; its diversity in both the build up to the race and on the road delivers an experience that satisfies on multiple levels, making for an effective racing game. Unlike other games of the same genre, this one will test your brain, memory as well as your reflexes.
  11. Difficulty aside, I dug this game because a lot of the little touches: the shadows that fall on the track, the shortcuts, the elevation changes, and the way that every race and lap has some surprises in store. [March 2005, p.140]
  12. 80
    Thankfully, we all know it is not the graphics and sound that makes a game. The actual gameplay for RGA is some of the best I have experienced of the dozens of racers that are available for the GBA.
  13. 80
    This game hit me with the authority of a mack truck. I did not expect it to be this captivating.
  14. The game's far-overhead view serves the action well, but the cars appear very small, which could be a distraction. [March 2005, p.108]
  15. Upgrades, short cuts, environmental driving conditions, and real-life vehicles force this game above the rest.
  16. The AI is aggressive, but loads of upgrades are available to give you much-needed edge and add an element of strategy. [Apr 2005, p.70]
  17. Despite these crippling flaws, Racing Gears Advance has that rare quality of being addictive.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. MarkM.
    10
    Tight control and keeps you playing all the way to the finish line. Its nice with the auto save and the battery back-up so you dont have to worry about losing anything! Full Review »
  2. T
    10
    Addictive.
  3. AB
    10
    Finally, a truly great handheld racing game. Actually, Racing Gears Advance is a truly excellent racing game, handheld or not. The cars can be small, like Nintendo Power mentioned, but it's never a real problem. It's definitely better than any other top-down racing game (Karnaaj Rally included). If GTA Advance played this well it would be nearly as good as the console GTAs. Full Review »