Hot Wheels - Turbo Racing

Description

"Hot Wheels - Turbo Racing" is an exciting racing video game released for the PlayStation in 1999. Developed by Stormfront Studios and published by Electronic Arts, this game stands out for incorporating 40 vehicles based on the famous Hot Wheels toy series. Plus, it includes Kyle Petty's 1999 NASCAR race car, sponsored by Hot Wheels. The game is known for its energetic music, with tracks from artists such as Primus, Metallica, The Reverend Horton Heat and Mix Master Mike. In terms of gameplay, "Hot Wheels - Turbo Racing" allows players to compete in a selection of vehicles across varied themed tracks.

Players can unlock secret tracks by winning races and access new cars by finding 'Mystery Car' bonuses hidden on each track. Six vehicles participate in each race, and the game has a total of 40 playable vehicles. Players can perform stunts by holding the directional pad or analog stick in certain directions while in the air, which increases the turbo meter for greater speed. The 'Turbos' earned allow for short bursts of speed and are essential to victory. Vehicle damage accumulates when hitting obstacles or other cars, and power-up icons scattered around the track offer various performance upgrades. Each car has its own measurements in four categories: Top Speed, Stunts, Durability and Control.

The Maximum Speed ​​determines the maximum speed of the car, although for some vehicles this information may be incorrect. The Stunts skill determines the car's maneuverability in the air; The larger it is, the faster it will spin, roll or do somersaults in the air, allowing for more turbos to be gained. Durability indicates the car's resistance to hazards, and a car with high Durability will destroy one with lower durability in a collision. Finally, the Control determines the drivability of the car; Cars with better handling are better suited for the curves of each track. "Hot Wheels – Turbo Racing" received generally positive reviews on both platforms according to video game review aggregator GameRankings. Despite being a title with a more children's focus, it was considered a fun game suitable for parties, although some critics noted that the sound effects were average and the songs limited and repetitive. Graphically, the game was described as somewhat disappointing, with graphics that appeared to have been quickly and cheaply ported from a CD-ROM game to cartridge format.