Anyone else have B.C. Racers technical difficulties?

[RaveFury]

I bought the 32X port of B.C. Racers last year during one of my retrogaming binges, but I never got around to playing it, because it looked like it was about as fun as getting stomped by Goro. Fast forward to last Friday. I was going to review it for Sega 16, but when I put it in my 32X, crazy things started happening.

With a six-button controller, the game wouldn't allow my to do anything past the title screen. It just sat there and played its music, and acted like I wasn't pressing any buttons. So I reset and used the mode button. This allowed me to get into the game itself, but as soon as I bumped into a background object while racing, the game froze every time.

"Fine," I thought, "I'll just use a three button." Well, I was able to play this time, but the music cut out in the first 30 seconds, and after the first race, it became completely mute.

I've cleaned the game and used different controllers, but the same stuff keeps happening. I'm using a fully functional 32X and Genesis Model 2 with Sega CD model 2 attached. Every other game works fine, except for Batman Forever, which sucks mightily. (But I think it does that on other systems too, though.) Might that have something to do with this?

Has anyone else experienced something similar, or is my copy of the game just plain ol' busted?

[Joe Redifer]

Clean the connectors. Mine works fine even with a 6 button.

6-button controller factoid: Resetting with the MODE button does nothing, as the power to the controller is never cut. You must power up with the mode button pressed, which will initialize the controller into 3 button mode. I will test this theory now with Forgotten Worlds, which hates the 6 button controller. If I am wrong I will edit this part of the post away.

Edit: I was correct. It MUST power up with the mode button to go into 3 button mode.

[David J.]

Before I destroyed my copy, it worked fine with a six button controller.

[Genesis Knight]

Most likely it has nothing to do with a controller - your cart is probably just shot. My first Virtua Fighter was a lot like that...

[Chris Marsh]

I own B.C. Racers for 32X and it does not run the six-button controller after the first level. A three-button controller works fine with the game. I may need to use the mode function. Prize Fighter for Sega CD hates my off-brand six-button, so I use my three-button to play that game as well.

[Joe Redifer]

Off brand 6-buttons are a sure way to lose every time.

[Wesker]

This one was an American-only release, right? Oddly because it's really an European game.

I suppose I can live on with my Mega CD copy.

[David J.]

Yes.

However, people are still wondering if there is a PAL release. PAL T-mek didn't show up until 04/05, so...

[Joe Redifer]

I like how on the back of the manual for BC Racers 32X there is an advertisement for Soul Star X and Virtual Golf, both for the 32X.

[David J.]

I have them and I am willing to sell. No, really.