Played as part of Atari 50.
First one of these games that is actually kinda great?? I'm a little taken aback both by how the first game I really like here is, fucking, "Sprint 8" of all things, paired with the extremely mediocre 4/10 average here, but compared to everything else in this lineup so far, this feels, like, really good to control. Switching from high gear to low gear to round corners, trying to cut them as close as possible, and when failing, collision with the environment bringing you to a dead stop, it's an incredible sense of momentum especially for 1977.
Of course, this is using what I imagine are revamped controls (I don't have a steering wheel after all), but given that basically anyone logging this now is probably playing it through a collection like this it's not a huge deal. And also, of course I'm playing singleplayer, from other reviews it seems like the collision system with other opponents is kinda bad, but you can still play this as just a high-score style game and have a lot of fun.
Legitimately maybe the only racing game I have played so far that actually feels like real go-kart racing. And it looks like this. High fucking octane.
First one of these games that is actually kinda great?? I'm a little taken aback both by how the first game I really like here is, fucking, "Sprint 8" of all things, paired with the extremely mediocre 4/10 average here, but compared to everything else in this lineup so far, this feels, like, really good to control. Switching from high gear to low gear to round corners, trying to cut them as close as possible, and when failing, collision with the environment bringing you to a dead stop, it's an incredible sense of momentum especially for 1977.
Of course, this is using what I imagine are revamped controls (I don't have a steering wheel after all), but given that basically anyone logging this now is probably playing it through a collection like this it's not a huge deal. And also, of course I'm playing singleplayer, from other reviews it seems like the collision system with other opponents is kinda bad, but you can still play this as just a high-score style game and have a lot of fun.
Legitimately maybe the only racing game I have played so far that actually feels like real go-kart racing. And it looks like this. High fucking octane.
Like others, I gave this a whirl as part of the Atari 50 collection. I played each track. What stood out, particularly in combination with playing Pong and Breakout just before, is how impressive the sense of momentum is given the limitations at work. Cars do kind of slip around the track and there are accompanying, well-timed tire squeals. It already feels like Super Off-Road, which is wild considering there's a 12-year distance and an entire industry built in the intervening time.
(Atari 50)
I don't like the controls for this, but being 8 player and having 4 tracks feels pretty impressive for the era.
I don't like the controls for this, but being 8 player and having 4 tracks feels pretty impressive for the era.
It's hard for me to really rate this given its age. Its a very basic top down racer that is meant for 8 players, yet I could only play it by myself. The AI racers just go across predetermined paths and bumping into other cars just spins you out into the walls. But none of that really matters. There isn't really anything that tracks what place you are in, just a score counter that goes up for every lap you do. There isn't even really a definite start or end of the race either, the whole game is just on one big time limit, which makes the single player even less interesting. You can even force your car through walls on the track. It's super crude, but that's kind of to be expected given the fact that this is a 70's arcade game. I'm sure with a bunch of friends it would be a fun time to see who can go through the course the most, but if you are on your own, just play asteroids or breakout or something instead.
While I appreciate there is a variety of courses, the awkward handling and lack of a start/finish line and the game ending abruptly doesn't make for a satisfying experience.
Cool that they managed to get eight players on a single machine back in the late 70s. Otherwise, it's primitive by today's standards.
(Atari 50)
Pretty cool little early top down racer. It's easy to see the lineage from this to something like Super Off-Road. Simple but fun (and impressive for eight player gameplay in '77)
Pretty cool little early top down racer. It's easy to see the lineage from this to something like Super Off-Road. Simple but fun (and impressive for eight player gameplay in '77)
A racing game where you can play with 8 people? In 1977?! That's pretty fucking wild, but if only the controls weren't so jank. Then I would properly be able to enjoy it. Aside from that though, it is just an average racing game, where you go around the track over and over again. It's impressive for 1977, but nothing more.
Game #164
Game #164
Kind of nuts you can have eight people play this one on one machine and there's actually a variety of courses here for replayability. Controls are on the rough side but do take a little to get used to after a while as this isn't too bad for being one of the earlier top down racing games out there but I can't say I'm fond of this one.
(played as part of ATARI 50)
Quite nice for what it is - one of those simple, early top-down one-screen racing games. The controls are quite smooth, the sound is good, and the multiple tracks are actually quite thoughtfully designed to accommodate things like your car's top speed and the amount of cars in play.
I can't imagine how hectic this would be with eight players, though, and that actually brings up what's probably my only big issue with the gameplay. When you get bumped by another car you don't get nudged out of the way - to simulate the impact the game just turns your steering to one side or the other so you end up going off at right angle. This seems like not a great solution and is disorienting and tad unfair. With the computer AI cars that never touch each other, it's whatever, but with eight live players not particularly good at driving, I can imagine quite a shitshow and some real frustration.
Quite nice for what it is - one of those simple, early top-down one-screen racing games. The controls are quite smooth, the sound is good, and the multiple tracks are actually quite thoughtfully designed to accommodate things like your car's top speed and the amount of cars in play.
I can't imagine how hectic this would be with eight players, though, and that actually brings up what's probably my only big issue with the gameplay. When you get bumped by another car you don't get nudged out of the way - to simulate the impact the game just turns your steering to one side or the other so you end up going off at right angle. This seems like not a great solution and is disorienting and tad unfair. With the computer AI cars that never touch each other, it's whatever, but with eight live players not particularly good at driving, I can imagine quite a shitshow and some real frustration.