When it comes to car racing, the genre has come a long way from games as far back as
Atari to the realistic racers of today that emulate the F1 and NASCAR experience.
Developers have toiled hard to make sure that everything looks and sounds good, but most
of all, feels like the real thing.
When developers Stormfront Studios and EA Sports put themselves into the driver's seat,
they wanted to make sure they got advice straight from the source.
They summoned a certain Italian-American F1 champion to advise them, and thus, Mario Andretti
Racing was born.
This game deserves respect not only for the racing giant it's named for, but because of
one particular innovation that would subsequently help create the NASCAR Racing series that
would later be released onto next gen systems.
Mario Andretti Racing allows you to take control of three types of race cars: indy, stock,
and sprint.
EA didn't just allow you to choose three as a gimmick.
Each car handles differently in terms of speed, control, and physics, and might take some
getting used to if you are impatient like me.
For example, driving on a dirt track with a sprint car will require you to have an understanding
of turning left, but when you have to keep your speed up with the other cars, it’s
not so easy as it sounds.
Driving around in a circle is probably the sprint mode's weakness, and if you choose
to start a new career, you'll be stuck with driving them first, and that is a tough hole
to climb out of, especially because of the sometimes erratic AI that can knock you out
of a race.
Indy car racing is probably the most exciting.
You will be able to race on tracks that are modeled after real ones, such as Watkins Glen
International, Darlington, and Daytona International Speedway.
Sound in this game is unmistakably 16-bit, which means I love it.
Voices from your headset will tell you when you are low on fuel or when your tires need
to be replaced.
The sound of your car accelerating from zero to 180 is thrilling from the green flag
to your exit from a pit stop.
Learn to drive smart and you'll be an ace on the track in Mario Andretti Racing.
It's definitely not the greatest racing game ever made, but it certainly ranks up there
in terms of Genesis racers and can provide a fun and challenging racing experience, on
dirt or on the tarmac.