I've recently noticed a surge in 80s styled racers, and it left me in a quandary as to
which one I buy. So, rather than sit and deliberate, I went and bought all 7 of them. Which might
sound extravagant, but then I wouldn't have been able to make this video if not. To be
honest none of them are expensive, although some are definitely worthy of your time.
I'll begin with MY 1980's DASHBOARD. I didn't even know this existed until I started searching
for the others, but boy, am I glad I found it. Remember the Tomy Turbo Dashboard, or
Tomy Racing Turbo, or Turnin' Turbo Dashboard. WHY DOES IT HAVE SO MANY NAMES?! Well, remember
that guy who hacked his to run Outrun... which was incredible. Well, here's the next best
thing. It's a video game representation of the Turbo Dashboard, and at £1.70, it's pretty
darn good.
There isn't much to the game. You don't even get to control the gear stick. Your controls
are limited to accelerate, brake, left and right. It's the kind of game you can play
whilst holding a cup of coffee, but you may find that coffee goes cold, because it's pretty
addictive. The controls are responsive and the collision detection - for the most part
- is spot on. So you find yourself just driving, nipping in tight gaps, driving, occasionally
crashing, but mostly driving. Even when you do crash, you recover pretty quick, so it's
not a jarring experience. You can even dispense with the Turbo Dashboard mock up and play
this thing full screen. Which you'll probably do, after getting bored of squinting at a
tiny racing window.
6/10
NEXT, is Razortron 2000. Again similar to a toy; The Digital Derby Auto Raceway, but
vastly updated for the modern day. Now this is also quite an addictive one. Here we take
control of a car, collect fuel and avoid other motorists in a bid to see how far you can
progress. It actually reminds me a lot of the car sections on Ghostbusters. You can
change cars, which also changes the neon colouring, and other than that, just drive. It's not
going to occupy you for weeks, but it provides another serving of cheap, casual 80s inspired
gameplay & music to get your a e s t h e t i c flowing.
6/10
Which brings us onto Neon Drive. A slightly more expensive affair, which combines top
down and third person perspectives to offer it's own take on the driving genre. Now from
the go, this is filled with neon aesthetic. It's practically pouring the 80s out onto
your desk, but we can forgive it's faux pas, simply because it's aware of it and bloody
loves it.
Again we're in a world of avoidance, although this time the avoidance is more ordered into
an endless runner world of static blocks. Although we have a vehicle present, it's no
racer, and it would be easy enough to replace the car with anything else and still have
an agreeable game. But the fact it is a car, an 80s styled car, makes this game worthy
of inspection. As do the perspective changes, which brings a flow of fixed lane, oncoming
traffic for you to contend with.
All in all, it's a good concept, offering the most engrossing and addictive experience
we've seen so far. Although the later levels can be incredibly tough.
7/10
On the face of it, Outdrive's aesthetic is very similar to Neon Drive, but this is a
much more traditional driving game. I say traditional, but then the story is anything
but. Having been present as your girlfriend is shot, apparently your only choice is to
plug her heart into the car's engine to sustain her. Pretty standard. So, driving here, has
no goals, except to keep your girlfriend alive for as long as possible - you'd think finding
a hospital might be a better goal, but no - our task is to drive, and keep driving,
and keep driving, and it doesn't end. Keeping your girlfriend alive involves keeping the
car speed up, by using boosts, but not too high as to overheat the engine and kill your
passenger. Occasionally a gunship will fly down, attempting to disrupt proceedings, but
it's really, really quite easy. I played it for about half an hour, before I pressed the
wrong button, which reset the game.. and really that's your biggest risk here... pressing
the wrong button. Otherwise it's plain sailing.
I mean it looks and sounds great, so if you can get off on that, and find driving endlessly
relaxing, then knock yourself out. Otherwise... maybe move onto the next.
4/10
Just to break things up, let's have a motorbike game. One which takes it's cues from Super
Hang On, and then adds some slightly bubbly aesthetic to create a game which looks weird,
but plays ok. SUPER NIGHT RIDERS is the name, and SUPER NIGHT RIDING is it's game... along
with day riding, and evening riding, and all that.
Now, this is quite an enjoyable experience. We've got some goals again, we've got NPCs
riding about, but we also have an incredibly jolting slow down if we hit any other bikers.
It's upsetting. I mean, once you get in the flow of the game, you can avoid collisions
for the most part, but there's always going to be that one, getting in your way, ruining
your day.
Still, worth a look for Super Hang On fans.
6/10
OK, this is what you've been waiting for... I presume at least. Slipstream, released on
21st May of this year, and offering a look akin to games like Full Throttle and Lotus
Turbo Challenge. It's a good look, and indeed, it's a good game, for the most part. After
choosing our 4 wheeled power house, offering various familiar looking takes on 80s classics
such as this Lancia, or the Toyota Supra, we get to speed through various cityscapes
and backgrounds reeking of 80s finesse, but rather than the usual controls, this time
we have the added advantage of drift. This is an essential element to game play as we
blast through level after level, trying to beat our rival opponent. It's not essential
to beat your opponent, but it's a good marker and ensures you don't run out of time before
getting to the outrun-esque fork and choosing a direction.
We've got various modes such as Arcade, Quick Race and Grand Prix. With Grand Prix offering
a number of cups, difficulty levels, car upgrades and of course, opponents. There's enough here
to keep you satisfied for a good while.
But it does have a couple of negatives for me. The first being the lack of split screen
mode - something which made games like Lotus Turbo Challenge 2, an absolute joy. But that
can be forgiven. What I find slightly harder to forgive is the finicky drift controls,
especially given its importance. Whereas games like Outrun arcade mastered this to perfection,
here, it sometimes doesn't seem to recognise the drift action. What's more when you wing
the car in the opposite direction, father than fluidly drifting, you have to re-instigate
the drift, and it's all a bit of a faff.
There's a lot to offer here, it's a decent game, but it's not as enjoyable as perhaps
it should be.
7/10
Which brings me onto Horizon Chase Turbo; the desktop version of that addictive mobile
game. Thankfully it's not a straight port either. They've truly made this into a sensational
desktop experience.
Although it doesn't share the same pixelated, nostalgic graphics of Slipstream, it's clear
this is a game very much rooted in Outrun Lore... and what's better; it's just as playable.
Of all the games here, Horizon Chase is by far the easiest to pick up and get stuck into.
It's enjoyable from the go, and although there's no drift action per-say, the effortless grace
your car moves around even the tightest bends is sure to keep you engaged. The controls
are incredibly responsive, allowing you to weave through traffic and slap a smile on
your face. If you don't, then you do get knocked back, but because the controls are so tight,
rather than being annoying, this time, it actually gives you the incentive to weave
and engage in the game.
Crashes put you back on the road quick, alleviating frustration, and when you've had enough of
the various 1 player modes, there's local multiplayer for up to 4 people.
The price tag is sightly higher, but for the wealth of content and gameplay. Horizon Chase
is the one to pick.
9/10
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