Beetle Adventure Racing
(Electronic Arts for the Nintendo 64)
by Eric Johnson
Beetle Adventure Racing is packaged in such a humble and unassuming manner that nothing on the box would suggest that such a remarkably enjoyable and well-constructed racing game is held inside. Pound for pound, this cartridge could out-perform 90% of the currently available titles within its genre, managing to do so by virtue of excellent course design, exquisite controls, and only the most gentle tweaking of the laws of physics. Exhibiting no weapons, only one model of car, and only seven courses to drive on, the designers of Beetle Adventure Racing seem to’ve spent the great majority of their time turning potential drawbacks into advantages. They look alike, but the Beetles have the option of manual transmission, and the choice of a highly maneuverable, peppy, or sluggish, but ultimately fast vehicle does add allow you to tailor the car to your own driving style. Feel is a tricky thing when it comes to video entertainment; somehow in spite of the fact that you are merely seeing and hearing a game, some sense of weight and comfort can be communicated through that familiar controller. This game has that curious sensation, so crucial to a good racing title, and half of the game’s success is the result of that sensation. The other half of its success lies in the layout of the roads themselves. The “Adventure” is in seeking out those hundreds of shortcuts and hidden nooks present throughout each level. There are a lot of alternate routes, and each one can give you the edge in what is always a very tight race. The courses themselves snake through tropical islands, Egyptian caves, European villages, and active volcanoes. Although this may not sound very unique or special, the level of detail is amazing and influences the race in surprising ways; lunging Dinosaurs and wrecked UFOs cause a considerable distraction when they’re not expected. Definitely worth the price of a rental and worth hanging onto if you come across it – this game surprised me.
