Moto Racer

Moto Racer is an arcade motorcycle racing game that came out in the late nineties and was immediately remembered for its speed. There are two different worlds here: road racing on sports bikes and motocross on dirt jumps. Switching between them is interesting because the control and feel are radically different - on the highway you need precision, and off-road you need courage. The tracks cover different parts of the world, and rivals behave aggressively: you have to overtake at risk, and a fall throws you far back. The speed is felt very sharply, especially on the straights, where the bike accelerates almost to its limit and any mistake in a turn ends in ejection. In addition to single races and championships, there is a mode for two on one computer, which made the game popular in its time. Short races, simple mechanics and excitement turned the evening into a long series of duels. The routes are especially worth noting: road routes pass through different countries, and motocross routes go along rocky slopes with jumps. Acceleration on straight lines is still impressive: speed is transmitted through camera vibration and engine noise. For arcade racing games at the time, this was a very high level of presentation. Different classes of motorcycles also differ: light bikes are more willing to turn, heavy bikes require earlier braking. Today the graphics look retro, but the pacing and responsive controls are still there. Moto Racer remains one of those arcade games that is a joy to return to for the pure joy of speed.