While racing games these days are anything but boring, it seems that the heyday of arcade racers has passed us by. Sure, we can get into Forza Horizon 4 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as much as the next player, but we miss the good ol’ days when Outrun and Daytona USA beckoned to
us.
And that’s where Lucky Mountain Games comes in. Consisting of a team that worked on some of the best arcade racers from the “glory days” (including classics like Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed and Outrun 2), the developer is just about finished on its work on the retro- themed Hotshot Racing, which is set to take the lead next month on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Priced at a very affordable $15.99, the game is set to deliver the classic vibe of games like Daytona, with a motif akin to the classic Sega racer Virtua Racing, complete with polygonal visuals, a classic drift system and lots of multiplayer options. We managed to get a good look under the hood of the game to see what’s in store.
Getting Revved Up
In the game, you’ll be able to choose from a number of four-race Grand Prix events, or simply challenge one of the 16 different racing circuits available. That’s a great deal of variety for a game of this stature.
Once you’re ready to go, the next step involves choosing one of the eight racers available. Not only do they provide their own driving style to go along with their vehicle, but also consistent commentary that keeps you informed of how well you’re doing – and what you can possibly do better to capture the lead.
Once that’s done, you’ll choose your car, which can vary in performance. Want something that drifts like a dream but loses a slight bit of acceleration in the process? Or maybe you prefer something zippy that takes some mastering when it comes to handling? Hotshot Racing helps you get the right idea of what ride is best for you.
With a drift system that’s easy to get into and plenty of challengers riding up on your tail (and even causing you to crash if you’re not careful), Hotshot Racing looks to have quite the road ahead of it. Fortunately, a few boost charges – which you can earn by drifting – will help you recapture the lead.
Lots To Race With
Along with blistering 60 frames per second visuals taken straight out of arcade school, Hotshot Racing also features a selection of modes to choose from. Along with Arcade and Grand Prix, there’s also a Cops and Robbers mode, in which you can pursue – or be pursued – as you attempt to “rule the road,” as it were.
And for those that prefer to rev up with their friends, there’s four player split-screen, which doesn’t lose an ounce of that beautiful frame rate as you take on buddies in your living room.
These races look to be quite a successful feature in the game, making it a “couch” favorite. Don’t have any friends around, or keeping your distance with COVID? Not to worry. The game features eight player online race modes to jet around with, along with the ability to challenge the best laps in the game by other drivers via leaderboards. You can also download their “ghosts” and see how well you fare against them in real time.
Hit the Gas
While Hotshot Racing may not be as feature-laden as other AAA racing games on the market, it looks to cater to a time when it was all about accelerating and having a good time. Curve Digital is ready to bring those grooves home to you when the game arrives on September 10. Definitely save up your digital currency for this one, because this appears to be a ride you shouldn’t miss.
Available for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One.
