Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Products | Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat |
Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat is a 1991 racing game created and distributed in arcades by Leland Corporation. The game spotlights American Indy car racer Danny Sullivan and showcases circuits from the early 1990s CART series. Versions for home platforms were made available on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Amiga, Atari ST, and Commodore 64.
Gameplay
In arcades, Indy Heat accommodates up to three players simultaneously, while the NES version supports four participants. The gameplay style is comparable to Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road, where players earn cash rewards based on race results, which can then be used to enhance their vehicles. The season culminates with the Tradewest Speed Bowl, a race modeled after the iconic Indianapolis 500.
Tracks
The arcade edition features 14 tracks inspired by authentic Indy car venues. Meanwhile, the NES adaptation offers nine tracks with altered names and some relocated settings—most notably, Pocono is shifted to Illinois, and Indianapolis is retitled Tradewest in honor of the NES publisher. Additionally, the NES version’s Michigan track differs from its arcade counterpart.
- Phoenix (arcade exclusive): 8 Laps
- Vancouver (West Canada on NES): 5 Laps
- Indianapolis (Tradewest on NES): 8 Laps; 12 Laps on NES final and arcade finale
- Long Beach (S. California on NES): 5 Laps
- Detroit (Michigan on NES): 5 Laps
- Pocono (Illinois on NES): 8 Laps
- Cleveland (Ohio on NES): 5 Laps
- East Rutherford/Meadowlands (New Jersey on NES): 5 Laps
- Toronto (East Canada on NES): 5 Laps
- Michigan/Brooklyn (arcade exclusive): 8 Laps
- Lexington/Mid Ohio (arcade exclusive): 5 Laps
- Elkhart Lake (arcade exclusive): 5 Laps
- Cook's/Monterey (arcade exclusive): 5 Laps
- Denver (Colorado on NES): 5 Laps
Ports
In 1992, Rare developed the arcade title for the Nintendo Entertainment System, with publication handled by Tradewest. This marked the third NES game to feature an American Indy car racer, following Al Unser Jr.'s Turbo Racing and Michael Andretti's World GP. That same year, ports for the Amiga, Atari ST, and Commodore 64 were produced by The Sales Curve, now known as Square Enix Europe. Because Danny Sullivan's endorsement had ended, the Commodore 64 release was issued under the simpler title "Indy Heat". Although a Sega Genesis adaptation was developed, it never saw an official release; nevertheless, reproduction copies have been distributed.
Reception
The British publication The One evaluated the arcade version in 1991, commending its thoughtfully crafted circuits and engaging gameplay mechanics. The review emphasized the strategic balance between cautious driving to reduce pit stops and aggressive tactics that risk mechanical failure. Additionally, it praised the prize money-based upgrade system as a major factor contributing to its enjoyment, ultimately naming it "game of the month."
See also
External links
- Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat on Arcade History
- Interview with Amiga developer John Croudy
- Indy Heat featured on Lemon64