Shanghai Roadster glossary: every game word explained
This glossary explains the words you see in Shanghai Roadster and in this guide, from A to Z. Each one links to the page where you can learn more.
A to Z
Banked turn: A turn that leans inward, like a racetrack. The tilt helps the car round. Every turn in the game is banked. See stunts.
Board (speed board): The sign that appears before a loop or a jump, like Loop ahead: 60 km/h or more. It turns orange with a ▲ if you are too slow. See speed boards.
BOOST: The Nitrogen button's job on the track: extra speed. See nitrogen.
Bronze, silver and gold: The three medals. Bronze for finishing in time, silver and gold for faster times. See medals.
Bullseye: A perfect landing: you fire Nitrogen at the very last good moment and land softly. On a rocket jump it gives 5 units of nitrogen back.
Change driver: The button that takes you back to the three save slots.
Corkscrew: A stretch of track that twists round as you drive along it, turning you upside down sideways. Some twist once, some twice.
Crash landing: Landing much too hard, or on your roof. On a rocket jump, a hard landing or landing on your side is a crash too. The car bounces along and the race ends.
Crystal (Nitrogen crystal): A glowing ice-blue crystal over the track. Drive through it for 10 units of nitrogen. They come back every lap. See nitrogen.
Double loop, triple loop: Two or three loops right after each other.
EMPTY: What the gauge says when the nitrogen tank has run out. You can still drive.
Gauge: The round meter at the top right. It shows how much nitrogen is left, in percent, and the job the button will do: BOOST, LAND or STICK.
Jump: A ramp, a gap in the track and a landing zone. The landing zone starts extra wide, like a funnel.
LAND: The Nitrogen button's job in the air: it turns the car level and wheels-down and slows the fall, so you land softly.
Landing ring: A glowing ring on the landing pad that shows when to fire Nitrogen. Pale blue means wait, green means now, red means you are late.
Lap: One time round the track. City tracks have two laps; Rocket Test has one.
Loop: A circle of track that turns you upside down and back. You need speed, or Stick.
Low thrust: The tank is nearly empty (under 25 units), so every nitrogen job is weaker. The gauge turns orange.
Nitrogen: A cold gas in a tank on your car. The Nitrogen button blows it out of jets to Boost, Land or Stick. See nitrogen.
Open stretch: A straight with no rails, only a glowing red edge. Drive over the edge and you fall. See staying on the track.
Practice: A run with no clock and no medals, for learning a track. See race or practice.
Rails: The gold edges along the track. Touching them rubs off speed and turns you straight; slamming into them can throw you over.
Refill gate: A frosty hoop round the track before a rocket jump. It tops a low tank up to 40 units and keeps 25 for the landing. See refill gates.
Rival: The see-through pink car that races you in every race, driven by the game. You can't bump it. See the rival car.
Roadster: A two-seat sports car with a sporty shape. Yours is silver.
Rocket jump: A long, high jump that must be landed softly and on the wheels. Wait for the landing ring, then hold Nitrogen.
Rocket start: A flying start: press Nitrogen just as the start lamp turns green. Too soon, and the wheels spin. See rocket start.
Rocket Test: An extra track with a star and a Test track tag, made for practising rocket jumps. It is always open and outside the normal order.
Save slot: One of three saved drivers: Save 1, Save 2 and Save 3. Each keeps its own best times and medals.
STICK: The Nitrogen button's job in loops and corkscrews: it presses the car onto the track when you are slow, and the same press boosts you too.
Time left: The clock at the top in a race. It counts down; finish before it reaches zero.
Twist jump: A rocket jump with a twisted ramp that sends the car off spinning. Only Nitrogen turns it back onto its wheels.
See also
- The guide's front page for every page.
- The FAQ for quick answers.
- Controls for every button.
- Play Shanghai Roadster.
