LED Storm, known as Mad Gear (マッド・ギア, Maddo Gia^?) in Japan, is an arcade racing game released in 1989. The acronym "LED" stands for "Laser Enhanced Destruction".^[1]

The game was ported to Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. During development, the game was titled Rally 2011 LED Storm (ラリー２０１１レッドストーム, Rarī 2011 Reddo Sutōmu^?)^[2] and featured a different story, futuristic graphics and instead of selecting between three vehicles, the player had a vehicle that could transform between a car and a bike.^[2][3] This version was eventually shelved and later reworked under Akira Nishitani's charge into its final release form as Mad Gear.^[4]

The prototype version was officially released as part of the compilation game Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium

Gameplay

LED Storm is a vertical scrolling racing game. The player has top view and control of the car for speed, left, right, and jump. The player races across various courses, and can force other cars off the road or jump on top of them. The original version only has a single vehicle named Storm 11 that can transform from a car into a bike, while the released versions allows the player to choose from between 3 different vehicles.

Except for the transformation feature, all ports of the game used features from the early built, including the player's vehicle being Storm 11.

Story

It is the opening day of "World Race 24", the most dangerous rally in the world. Daredevils are coming for the rally to get the award of US$1,000,000. Fred wonders to himself "What type of cars is most easy-driving for me?" Then Fred challenges the race.

Fred and Snake are two talented racers that compete to become famous in the world of motor sports, racing in nine roads: Capital, Netwood Forest, Coral Sea, Big Cave Tunnel, Ruins Desert, Million Valley, Thunder Road, Marine Snow Pipeway, and Sky City.

The story in the prototype instead focus on two friends named Fred and Robert who argue over whose vehicle can run across 2 big cities first and accept a bet over it, both taking the dangerous "Hyper Way" route to find the shortest distance.^[2]

Characters

• Fred (マッド・ギア, Maddo Gia^?, Mad Gear in Japan) - The player's character in the released version, a man driving a red vehicle selected by the player in the arcade version. In the prototype and computer ports it is a futuristic car named Storm 11. Interestingly, the character's name in the prototype was Fred (フレッド, Fureddo^?) in Japanese^[2]. Fred can choose from one of three cars:
  • Formula A-1 (also F-1 Machine and F-1 for short) - Fast but fragile, with a max. speed of 246 mph (395 km/h).
  • Porsche 959 - Balanced machine with a max. speed of 197 mph (316 km/h in the Japanese version).
  • Convoy - Sturdy but slow, with a max. speed of 130 mph (237 km/h in the Japanese version).
• Mac (Max in the Commodore 64 version) - A character from the prototype version and home ports. It is a Storm Navigating Computer Type K1 from the player's Storm 11 vehicle. While mostly removed from the arcade version, Mac was kept in the ending, where he mentions to be glad to have raced alongside the player and will always keep the memory of the event deep into his RAM. In the prototype version he also offers commentary and assistance to the player during each race.

• Robert (ロバート, Robāto^?) - The friendly rival of Fred in the prototype. He is a bearded guy who bets a lot of money to win a dangerous race against Fred.
• Snake (スネーク, Sunēku^?) - Fred's rival, a man driving a blue Testarossa.
• Hougan (ホーガン, Hōgan^?) - A bald man driving an orange Big Foot.
• Arnold (アーノルド, Ānorudo^?) - A blond man with goggles. He drives a blue tank truck called T.N.T. Car that explodes when damaged. His name, appearance, and vehicle are a reference to the film The Terminator.
• Vebroag (ベブローグ, Beburōgu^?) - A man with shades driving a white Porsche 930.
• Mohikan (モヒカン^?) - A man with a mohican hairstyle driving a yellow Land Buggy.

Trivia

• Staff at Capcom came up with the name of the Final Fight thugs, the Mad Gear Gang, from the Japanese title of this game, since both games shared a lot of the same staff members^[4]. Today, this remains what the game is best known for, if at all. It is one of Capcom's more obscure games.

Credits

Arcade Version [Staff]

Normal Version

Plan: P.Takashi, T.Sadamoto
Game Design: T.Sadamoto
Program: N.Kaneko, Akikoro, Ken.Ken, Maekawa
Character Design: K., Ashenden
Art: Puttun.Midori, Inu, Innocent.Saicho
Sound: Ogeretsukun
Hard: Masayan
Special Thanks: Mr. K, SX200R, Helper One, Yasukichi, Chakkari Minoru, and You.
Presented by: Capcom

Alternate Version

Plan: P.Takashi, T.Sadamoto
Game Design: Nin Nin
Program: N.Kaneko, Shouji♥︎Akikoro, Ken.Ken, Maekawa
Character: S.Y, Tetu.Tuker, Jinkun, Maruo, Nissui
Sound: Simarisukun
Hard: Masayan
Special Thanks: Mr. K, SX200R, Helper One, Yasukichi, Chakkari Minoru, FUJINAKAsan, EGAWAsan, ARAIsan, NISHIYAMAsan, TANAKAsan, KOMATUsan, YAMAUCHIsan, YAMAWAKIkun, YAMADAkun, TUNAZAKIkun, YOKOYAMAkun, Y O U, YAMANOUCHIkun, SINOHARAkun and SOFTnoMINASAN, and N.Housoukyoku
Presented by: Capcom

Additionally, a programmer named "Saka" is identified in the game's code, as noted here.

Amiga and Atari ST Version

Programming: David J Broadhurst
Graphics: Andrew R Threlfall
Music by: Tim and Mike Follin

Additionally, the game's staff is credited in its default Ranking Display table as follows:

• 1st 100000 PTS DJB
• 2nd 80000 PTS KMD
• 3rd 70000 PTS .CB
• 4th 60000 PTS MSF
• 5th 50000 PTS SWR
• 6th 40000 PTS ART
• 7th 30000 PTS LAD
• 8th 20000 PTS COM
• 9th 10000 PTS .GO
• 10th 5000 PTS CAP

Amstrad CPC Version

By Software Creations for Capcom/GO!

Programmed by: D.Belfield
Graphics by: W.Blake & J.Tatlock
Music by: T.Follin

ZX Spectrum Version

Spectrum Version;

Programming: Mike Follin
Graphics: John Tatlock
Music: Timothy Follin

Additionally, the game's staff is credited in the default Ranking Display table as follows:

• 1. 2000000 MSF
• 2. 1945678 JPT
• 3. 1745678 TJF
• 4. 1005678 SWR
• 5. 345678 ART
• 6. 200038 NJB
• 7. 100028 MSH
• 8. 22218 @@@

Commodore 64 Version

Commodore Conversion: Software Creations
Producer: GO !
Copyright 1988: Capcom
Programmer: Stephen Ruddy
Artists: Andrew Threlfall, Mark Wilson
Musician: Tim Follin

Gallery

References