Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally is such a jump above the original Famicom Grand Prix that it might as well be a completely different game. Ditching the F-1 racers, the player (either Mario or Luigi this time) has a choice of three cars (thankfully ditching the store from the last game) and races along a track more similar to Outrun than the top-down racing track from the first game.

Having a rear-view of a faux-3D track, the player must complete sets of a course within a given time limit. Instead of the Gas/Tire/Body dynamic the player just has a time limit and damage meter that they can place a point on the map to repair the car or repair anywhere at the cost of time.

The controls are improved too - the player just uses the A to accelerate and B to break, where up/down shifts gears instead. This allows five different gears, the last of which is a super turbo that can be recharged with special HOT marks. This dramatically improves steering and speed and is absolutely necessary to fight the intensely strict speed limit. Otherwise the player usually balances between the speedy but hard to control fourth gear and lower gears. Also if the player beats a course in less than the prescribed time limit they get leftover time to apply in case they run out.

The visuals/music are FAR improved over the original. The soundtrack is peppy and doesn't skip a beat, with the subtle beats of the pause menu enough to get you dancing for a bit. The 3D landscapes (very Space Harrier) are hypnotic to behold, and the lighting gently changes over time to produce some really great effects.

That said, the game is still particularly frustrating and beating the track is nigh-impossible. The player must always get HOT marks wherever they can and avoid running into cars, obstacles, and spinning out of control. This game offers little to no room for mistakes. That said, it's still a massive bump up above Famicom Grand Prix and a suitable predecessor to Mario Kart.