It's unclear if there are any Virtua Racing fans at Sumo Digital and Lucky Mountain Games, but it's obvious SEGA's racing game served as inspiration for Hotshot Racing, at least graphically. With its low poly style, its absent textures, its angular cars, a sometimes limited readability and its simplistic effects, it gives the impression of having returned to the beginnings of 3D. The latter having a hard time cashing in on the years – unlike 2D – we feared for our eyes, but we must admit that the magic of the 90s still operates. And then, let's not be naive: the developers nevertheless relied on current machines to offer slightly richer environments, to add details that did not exist at the time – we can guess the interior of the cockpit with the exterior camera, the colors are more nuanced, the public is modeled in the stands, the starter who gives the start – and include the 60fps on all supports. In the end, we end up with a game of impeccable cleanliness and which offers excellent feelings of speed, whatever the view chosen (subjective, cockpit, hood, pursuit, classic). Naturally, Hotshot Racing includes different game modes, starting with the "Grand Prix" mode.
With its low poly style, its absent textures, its angular cars, a sometimes limited readability and its simplistic effects, it gives the impression of having returned to the beginnings of 3D.
Like a Mario Kart, it is made up of four competitions (Le Tour, Circuit Pro, Race Elite, Ace of Aces!) themselves divided into as many races. Basically, the game therefore has 16 circuits, knowing that it will be necessary to complete them in the three levels of difficulty (Normal, Difficult, Expert). Old fashioned, clearly. To script things very lightly, Sumo Digital and Lucky Mountain Games have brought together a cast of eight pilots with different backgrounds. For example, Mike wishes to enter the legend of motorsport to be a model in the eyes of his future daughter. As for Keiko, more than winning, it's the art of driving that matters to him. For its part, Aston has never been in need, and is therefore counting on the Grand Prix to put itself in danger. We are not going to give you the profile of each force present, but you should know that if we finish on the first step of the podium, we will be entitled to a short epilogue explaining what happens to the protagonists. On the side of the cars, Hotshot Racing does not play it small arm since each of the pilots has four; 32 office cars in the garage, that's not bad, especially since they are based on known models. For example, Alexa's Diamond Back is a thinly disguised nod to the Dodge Viper, while Viktor's Blade is reminiscent of an Audi R8. And at Toshiro, to say that the Heavenly Road looks like a 1971 Nissan Skyline doesn't strike us as crazy.
"GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINE !"
Arcade requires, we can not have fun fiddling with the settings, and only four setups are available: balanced, acceleration, speed, skid. Depending on our driving style therefore, but also in relation to the circuits, we will have to choose between this or that configuration. Of course, we are tempted to play it safe with balanced settings, but as soon as the level of difficulty rises, we realize that it is preferable to bet on a particular area, even if it means leaving some feathers on some races. Benefiting from good acceleration is invaluable for recovering quickly from an impact, while favoring top speed helps to move up the rankings more easily. Finally, promoting OutRun-style skids not only guarantees good handling of the car in curves, but also allows you to fill the boost gauge much faster. Cut into four segments, it requires thoughtful use because you have to wait for a dose to be completely filled in order to consume it. In this case, it is better to use it in case of absolute necessity, just to avoid being eliminated for not having reached the checkpoint in the allotted time. We often stigmatize Mario Kart and its abuses from space, but we tend to forget that thirty years ago, it was the rule in arcade racing games. The adversaries who stick to our buttocks without digging into the nitro, or the AI that comes into us with impunity, it's depressing to force. Everything is done so that the rhythm remains nervous from beginning to end, and we rarely manage to distance ourselves from the pack which always manages to catch up. Afterwards, it's true that the suction is easily triggered and offers a surplus of speed defying understanding. The super start? There is one – you have to press the accelerator so that you are in the yellow zone of the speedometer when the "GO!" – but it picks up quite quickly behind, generally.
Paradoxically, all of this contributes to the charm of Hotshot Racing whose content does not stop at the “Grand Prix” mode. Behind, we find the “Solo race” mode in which we can vary the pleasures with the races “Dash or explode” and “Cops and robbers”. In the first, the goal is never to go below a certain speed over the checkpoints crossed, otherwise our car will explode. To complicate the debate a little, the damage suffered causes our health gauge to drop, even if it regenerates with each closed sector. As for "Cops and Robbers", as you may have guessed, the thugs will have to do everything to escape the forces of order. More concretely, the game begins with two players embodying the cops and whose objective is to reduce to crumbs the other cars present on the track, whatever the means employed. Understand by this that if they want to drive in the opposite direction, they have every right to do so. When a thief is neutralized, he then joins the police camp and in turn tries to nab his ex-partners who are still on the trail. They should only focus on one thing: go for it. Go for it to dodge the police, also go for it to collect as much money as possible. Under pressure, they must systematically reach the next checkpoint before the loot they have not yet secured is completely wasted, which would mean failure.
Quick to learn, checkpoints that become obsessive, the AI cheating enough to push us to put a coin back in the terminal, we find all the ingredients that made the salt of arcade racing games in the 90s.
Among the other festivities, we note the "Stopwatch" mode on which there is no need to linger, as well as the online multiplayer (up to 8) for those who do not want to stuff themselves with local four-player races and their 30fps. Nothing special to report, in the sense that the content is the same as that of the "Solo Race" mode. The voice chat treats when everyone chases the same target in "Cops and Robbers", and sets up a scheme to trap them dirty. Let's not forget the "Atelier" with which you can customize the appearance of the cars at will. Be careful though, the coins are not free, which explains why it is important to multiply the prowess on the track; overtaking, slipping, or skidding for as long as possible allow you to meet all kinds of challenges, and therefore fill your pockets. The icing on the cake: the developers intend to offer free DLC in the future, so that this return to the 90s does not end abruptly. A new mode and more circuits are on the program. We look forward.
