CAPCOM’S ARCADE ARCHIVE IS SO STUFFED THAT FOR EVERY MEGA-HIT THERE ARE SEVERAL RELEASES THAT ARE REGULARLY OVERLOOKED. LED STORM IS ONE SUCH TITLE, AND THAT’S A SHAME BECAUSE IT’S A GREAT GAME – OR SHOULD WE SAY GAMES?

WORDS BY MARTYN CARROLL

» The flyer artwork for the original version looks like something off a pulp sci-fi paperback. That’s a good thing.

When covering coin-ops it’s common to find different versions of games. Usually the differences between versions are small – anew sprite here, a different tune there. Sometimes they’re more significant, with certain stages changed or moved or even dropped. And occasionally the differences are so great that the end result is an almost new game entirely. That’s what happened with LED Storm.

The original version was subtitled Rally 2011, referencing a year that seemed eons away in 1988 when the game was developed. As such the setting was a dystopian future where, presumably due to eternal gridlock in the cities, suspended highways (skyways?) have been constructed high above the congested streets below, enabling drivers to travel at breakneck speeds. But it’s not all fine views and fresh air up here. The roads are in poor condition with many obstacles and ruined sections you have to jump over. Worse, they’re ruled by angry drivers who either block your way or actively smash into you. Your chief menace however is Robert, an associate who drives the exact same kind of futuristic vehicle as you (yours is red, his is blue). The vague plot points to some kind of wager, where the winner of a ninestage cross-country race will pocket stacks of cash. Fair enough, but trying to kill your competitor at every opportunity for a pay day? Damn it Rob, that’s not OK.

Thankfully, your Storm 11 vehicle has a few tricks under its sleek exterior. Firstly, you can push a button to instantly transform it from a car to a bike. The bike is faster but less resilient, but otherwise there’s not much difference (morphing between four and two wheels looks cool though). Secondly, and crucially, you can jump at will. This is not just vital for avoiding obstacles, but you can also wipe out other vehicles by landing on them. This evokes memories of Data East’s 1982 coin-op Bump ‘N’ Jump (aka Burnin’ Rubber), and in many ways LED Storm plays like an opportune update of that old hit.