Nintendo Beetle Adventure Racing

In an ironic twist, one of the coolest, most action-packed auto racing games in eons stars one of the world s most sluggish cars. But racers will never sense a lack of speed in Beetle Adventure Racing as they zip, jump, and fall around some of the most original and beautiful tracks seen on the Nintendo 64.

The uniqueness of this game lies in the beautiful graphics and rampant, humorous action (à la San Francisco Rush). On a Tiki-themed island track, for instance, racers are startled by a roaring T-Rex (clearly a nod to Jurassic Park), and risk a molten demise as the road passes alongside rivers of realistically rendered lava. With unusually long tracks, vertigo-inducing jumps and falls, tons (and tons) of hidden areas and shortcuts, breakable obstacles, and well-placed power-ups, this is a game that just keeps getting better with each play.

Solo racers are pitted against seven other cars in a single race or championship mode, duel against one other computer car, or race against the clock. Multiplayer variations include head-to-head racing for up to four racers, and a Beetle Battle that could easily be its own game cartridge. In this Mario Kart-style mode, racers are armed with mines, rockets, magnets, and shield power-ups that impede the progress of fellow racers attempting to collect a variety of ladybug icons. Those looking for a long-lived gaming experience can t go wrong with this one. --Eric Twelker

Pros:

• Gorgeous graphics rival many arcade racing games
• Enormously fun driving action, long, well-designed tracks, many shortcuts and hidden areas
• Excellent car physics

Cons:

• No single-player Beetle Battle mode

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