Beetle Adventure Racing

Beetle Adventure Racing
Need for Speed, but with VW New Beetles (or HSV Commodores if you live in Australia)!
Genre(s): Racing Platform(s): Nintendo 64 Release Date: NA: February 28, 1999 EU: September 4, 1999 AU: 1999 Developer(s): Paradigm Entertainment Publisher(s): Electronic Arts

Beetle Adventure Racing is a racing game developed by Paradigm Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts for the Nintendo 64. The game was released on February 28, 1999 in North America and September, 4 1999 in Europe.

Why It Rocks

1. Different from other racing games at the time, all the playable vehicles are Volkswagen New Beetles.
2. Great graphics even by Nintendo 64 standards.
3. A variety of Beetles to choose from including unlockable like the Alien Beetle and even a Police Beetle (A neat reference to the Need for Speed series).
4. 6 Tracks to race on from a country themed course to a Transylvania-esque course.
5. A unique multiplayer battle mode where the objective is to collect 6 different colored ladybugs and reach the exit to win.
6. In Australia, the game was released as HSV Adventure Racing and the New Beetle was replaced with the HSV Commodore (VT) which is way faster than the former, and more appropriate to be put in a Need for Speed game.
7. Memorable annoucer quotes done by David Kaye and Blu Mankuma, some include:
   • Groovy! (When you hit a daisy box)
   • All right! (When you hit a 10 point box)
   • Ooh that gotta hurt! (When you crash into an opponent)
   • Hot lava *cough*! (When you explode upon touching lava)
   • Winner! Winner! Winner! Way to go! You're the Champion (Upon winning the bonus circuit)

Bad Qualities

1. It has rubberbanding AI (Most noticeably starting from the pro circuit) Regardless if your driving the Beetle with the fastest speed, it becomes clear that even when you take the lead, the AI behind you will zoom past you at a speed faster than you.
2. Unlocking the Beetle Battle courses is a difficult task to do, with badly placed point crates.

Trivia

• The game was going to have a sequel but it never got released. Also, it was meant to be a Nintendo 64 entry for Need for Speed franchise.

Comments

Loading comments...