Yep. I was a bit worried because the first game was rather crude, and the second had infuriating mechanics that angered me. So, as you can imagine, I was sceptical about the third. Okay, it's 1992 (I wish), and Titus appears to have redeemed themselves with something that actually looks rather good. What??
Yeah, it looks cool, and with a funny background story proving that you should never refuse a gift. Imagine being offered a Lamborghini Diablo? Ugh, take it and drive away as fast as you can, and that’s what we’re doing. Sure, we spent most of our life savings running it, but we now own a sexy sports car. More importantly, we have enough cash left to compete in America’s Bull Run, the Saturday Night Races.
This massive event spans the lower 48 states, pitting drivers against fierce rivals. Four divisions are contested, and the competition begins at the bottom of the fourth division with a modest $6000 in the pot (did I say modest lol). Fortunately, this is more than enough to fuel our journey through Miami, Denver, and Memphis. Each victory boosts your purse, unlocking the potential to compete in more costly races elsewhere.
Enough yapping, I think it's time we viewed the opening screens...
Put the pedal to the metal!
Before you rush off and waste cash, it makes sense to practice. The map shows many locations, and each has a varying degree of difficulty thanks to narrow, twisty lanes, obstacles, and other cars. Not to mention the cops who are looking to boost their Christmas party fund. Well, why bother arresting real criminals?
Once you feel you've practised enough, slap yourself and then practice some more - you won't regret it. Eventually, you will be ready and can head over to the Tournament with confidence. Pick yourself a character, I'm always the Mr T lookalike! It's a good idea to play safe, with something you can afford, I advise Memphis. All "yellow" places are initially open to you with details of fees, prizes, and those dreaded cops.
Prize money is awarded for coming 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, but it's possible to boost this with the rival drivers. These guys are always up for a flutter - an opportunity to earn extra money? So long as you don't get too big for your boots and practice more than just once. Yes, you really should practice. Take the hint!
Once you feel you've practised enough, slap yourself and then practice some more - you won't regret it. Eventually, you will be ready and can head over to the Tournament with confidence. Pick yourself a character, I'm always the Mr T lookalike! It's a good idea to play safe, with something you can afford, I advise Memphis. All "yellow" places are initially open to you with details of fees, prizes, and those dreaded cops.
Prize money is awarded for coming 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, but it's possible to boost this with the rival drivers. These guys are always up for a flutter - an opportunity to earn extra money? So long as you don't get too big for your boots and practice more than just once. Yes, you really should practice. Take the hint!
It sounds complex, but it's not so let's take a gander at some more sexy pixels...
Titus 2:13
Crazy Cars III is thankfully nothing like the first two in terms of gameplay and quality. It's a rush slamming down the road, zooming by the other cars, with the thrill of passing a dreaded rival. The controls are excellent, with our joystick used to steer the red beast: push up or hit fire to accelerate, and pull back to brake. You can choose between manual or automatic gearboxes, which means I choose the latter!
This racer is fast and furious (sorry) and feels like Titus sneakily took inspiration from others, like Lotus II. That's okay, there are lots of examples of rip-offs being better than the originals, and it's the gameplay that matters. So play dirty, but always keep an eye out for the cops. Those guys never give up and will try to chase you all the way through to the end. So whaddya gonna do? Flee or be a good citizen? FLEE, of course!!!
This racer is fast and furious (sorry) and feels like Titus sneakily took inspiration from others, like Lotus II. That's okay, there are lots of examples of rip-offs being better than the originals, and it's the gameplay that matters. So play dirty, but always keep an eye out for the cops. Those guys never give up and will try to chase you all the way through to the end. So whaddya gonna do? Flee or be a good citizen? FLEE, of course!!!
Win big and collect the bounty, then take what’s owed to you by rivals. Now it’s time to think about spending your winnings. You could fix your car or enhance it with a better gearbox, turbo boost, tyres, and more. Perhaps you could even unlock a tougher race now that you’re the Million Dollar Man? Repeat this process until you’ve earned enough to enter the Divisional Race and potentially get promoted.
And finally, it's time to view some amazing in-game screenshots. Enjoy these belters...
A shiny red car and a roaring engine?
Yup, now we move on to the aesthetics. They never matter, but are nice to have...
Well, the graphics are ace. Simple as that. This is one of the most glamorous 16-bit racers with a decent framerate and good sprite scaling for everything that whizzes by. The weather effects are a nice addition, but only if you've remembered to change the tyres. The palettes I adore, as they use beautiful colours. Perhaps the most visually-gorgeous racer on the ST?The audio is good with a neat tune and sound effects. Most effects are YM chippy and could have been better, but there are some cool touches, like when going under a bridge. The best is the whirring sirens of the cop cars, which are excellent. But this highlights the Diablo's mundane engine sounds. That needed to be a sample... Ah, well, can't have it all?
Here are some funny faces and the sweet smell of failure for the last few screenshots...
The CryptO'pinion?
Every game has its flaws, and I felt my Diablo could have cornered better. I also disliked the overly narrow tracks and the inconsiderate locals who caused (my) road rage. This affected my driving skills and my wallet as I had to pay for all the extra repairs. Perhaps there are simply too many cars on the roads, or is it just me?
Enough with the whingeing, ya' old whinge bag! Crazy Cars III is absolutely outstanding, and it’s easily the best in the series, hardly surprising given the fast thrills and mechanical excitement to be had. I love the freedom to customise the car, gamble and race through stunning locations. The rush of being chased by relentless police is exhilarating. Perhaps this racer is even better than Lotus II, which is a tempting thought.
Set aside a few hours for you and the kids. You won't regret this need for speedster, it's blummin' excellent!!
Download the floppies via Atari Legend
