Stunt Car Racer

Cunning STunts

Stonish are having a fantastic year with tons of new additions to their database. I downloaded a few of these cracking disks (see what I did there?) and ended up loving the goods on Supremacy #7: James Pond, a Steve Bak classic. Action Fighter, hey this is good. The Mystic Well, one for geeks! But it was Stunt Car Racer that had me hooked. So, here we are!

I remembered friends telling me about this 3D racer by Geoff Crammond - I was told a mix of Evel Knievel and (a playable version of) Hard Drivin'. However, I simply couldn't control my buggy for love nor money and failed to see what the attraction was. I placed it in the same category as the above or even Powerdrome. Yep, nice ideas but impossible to control.

With that in mind, two things become apparent. 1) how wrong I can be about so many different things (as the wife often reminds me). 2) Like a fine wine, my gaming skills have bettered with age. 3). Maths ain't my strong point.

Okay, enough! Let's take a peep at all the drivers. A weird bunch although High Flyer looks cute...

Genius track design with incredibly cunning tricks and a motley crew to race against!

30 years later...

Well, thanks to Stonish (now Atarilegend - see link below) for this floppy disk - I booted up Stunt Car Racer and attempted a couple of practice laps like it was 1989 again. To my surprise, I didn't crash or fall off the track!!! So I played another game and even participated in a league challenge - which I won. Now, I began gleaming with pride because this wasn't like me at all. Yup, this success went straight to my head and I started to get very excited - not easy at my age!

So I dared myself on and practised several different tracks, with varying degrees of success. Well, I'm being kind there: The Stepping Stones is a killer which I think everybody should foolishly attempt, Kamikaze style!! The Draw Bridge looks easy but has a nifty trick up its sleeve... and The Big Ramp features a ginormous monster gap which can only be jumped by going over 200mph. There might only be 8 tracks but they are all beauties and this game was proving itself a classic.

Right then, I wanna see some gameplay screenshots. Are you up for that? Of course, you are...

I love the way you are dropped in!

Now the fun begins against a blocky opponent.

I thought I was catching him up...

Sigh, I skidded into the dirt - only to watch him zoom away!

This game is fun fun fun!!

Stunt Car Racer is controlled using the joystick: pushing up accelerates whilst fire enables turbo boost for bucket more speed. Pulling down breaks and can also reverse - which comes in handy after falling off the tracks. Turning left or right isn't overly sensitive but precise and feels perfect - very natural and comfortably realistic. Thus instantly playable and mastering the buggy's controls isn't tedious like so many other similar games. In fact, it's rather rewarding.

Practice mode is great for learning the ropes and mastering those difficult parts of most tracks but I found myself jumping straight into the league to compete against a computer-controlled opponent. These guys are well-balanced - the computer ain't no slouch but nor is it Jimmie Johnson. Additionally, you can compete against friends and even hook up your ST to another glorious Atari computer. Maybe you have an Amiga friend? Nah, I didn't think so but it is an option. ;)

Success will come because this game is playable! A simple trait often overlooked and here I triumphed...

    
You win some, you lose some... Stick with it and you'll be their hero (click 'em)

Aesthetics!

Graphically, this racer lacks the polished flair and pizzazz of Lotus 2 or Crazy Cars 3. Thankfully, that is actually a good thing because the framerate doesn't suffer from unnecessary aesthetics. The graphics may look rather bland but this simplicity is what keeps the motion smooth. I'd rather have that any day compared to nicer aesthetics.

Sadly, the sounds aren't exactly the best I've heard from my ST: there are numerous effects but that engine noise could have been better (I found myself turning the volume down a bit). In fact, I'd love to see this game improved with STe DMA effects just like we've seen in other games over recent years [subtle hint directed at Jon or PP!!]

So it looks & sounds weirdly acceptable but moves like a dream, which matters the most. Screenshot time...

This is always a cool glimpse at the next track which I love.

In fact, I'd go as far as saying that these images are some of the best in the entire game ;)

The CryptO'pinion?

Stunt Car Racer is fast and furious with wonky tracks which are a thrill to compete on. Whether you choose to master the tricky stunts (in Practice mode) or jump straight into a league battle, I guarantee hours of fun. The physics are spot-on perfect and that's something you need to experience. The stunt aspect is very addictive, unlike Hard Drivin. Dear Mr Crammond, you did it again and delivered a racer which is both exciting and bucket loads of fun!!

Overall, this is one of the very best Atari ST racers and is worth nothing less than a glorious rating of 10/10.

I suggest you bob over to Stonish

to download this and lots more ST goodies!!