If you’re looking for a game that delivers the most awesome retro to old-school arcade racing, then Hotshot Racing is going to be it. Today the launch date for Lucky Mountain Games and Sumo Nottingham’s drift-centric throwback has been confirmed – and it’ll not just be coming to Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC, but it’ll drop in on Xbox Game Pass too.
So, what’s what? Well, come September 10th 2020 you’ll discover Hotshot Racing rolling out to Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PC – and as our previous preview piece hinted at, if you’re looking to revive the arcade racing glory years, this is as good a bet as any.
Priced at £15.99 / €19.99 / $19.99 USD, the poly-powered racer has been developed by the racing game veterans at Lucky Mountain Games and Sumo Nottingham – they behind Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing Transformed one of the best kart racers of all time – to deliver an all-new driving experience which revives the classic arcade gameplay of the 1990s. And I don’t know about you, but this 40-something petrolhead is desperate for such a return.
Thrusting the genre into the modern era, Hotshot Racing comes complete with sharp retro visuals, sleek 60 frames per second gameplay on all platforms, multiple single-player championships, 8-player online game modes and 4-player local split-screen play. It could be said that it has the hottest of ingrediants in place to ensure that it delivers appeal to both veteran racers and those looking for a more casual pick-up and play experience.
“This game has been on a massive journey for the past decade from the initial concepts to Kickstarter pitch and now on the final stretch to launch,” said creative director Trevor Ley of Lucky Mountain Games. “We can’t wait to see all the in-game leaderboards light up with the fastest times from players and see multiplayer servers full to the rafters! We have plans for this game past launch as well, so it’ll be great to see what the world thinks of the game post-September 10th,” he added.
“As soon as we saw Hotshot Racing we absolutely fell in love with the concept, and working with Trevor on the game’s development has been a fruitful and joyous experience,” said Tom Turner studio production director at Sumo Nottingham. “Sumo Nottingham is known for producing some of the most beloved arcade racing experiences on the planet and we believe Hotshot Racing stands proudly side-by-side the best racing games we’ve developed.
Hotshot Racing full feature breakdown includes:
- GAME MODES – Time Trial and Grand Prix modes cater to those who like to compete in classic racing formats, while ‘Cops and Robbers’ and ‘Drive or Explode’ modes offer exhilarating new ways to play. Each mode is available in single-player, four-player split-screen and eight-player online, while Time Trial is single-player only. Single-player modes run at a blistering 60FPS to deliver one of the fastest depictions of racing possible. Smash lap records to rise-up the global online leaderboards or download ghost laps to match your racing lines against the very best.
- THE CIRCUITS – 16 racing circuits provide the twists, turns and straights conducive to searingly quick racing. Take in coastal, jungle, alpine and Las Vegas desert environments, with each course modelled with the most vivid colours and blue skies for miles.
- MEET THE HOTSHOTS – Keiko, Xing, Mike, Alexa, Aston, Toshiro, Marcus and Viktor – eight speed addicts that have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of being the greatest racing driver in the world.
- CATCH THE DRIFT – Drifting is crucial in Hotshot Racing. Boost charges as the player drifts, so maintaining it for as long as possible is vital to preserving maximum speed throughout a race.
- DRIVE OR EXPLODE – In this mode each car has a bomb attached to it. Drop below a certain speed and BOOM! The trigger speed gets faster and faster, forcing players to maintain impossibly high speeds.
- COPS AND ROBBERS – Robbers evade the cops. Cops catch the robbers, and in doing so convert them to the police side, leading to an exciting test of skill for the surviving criminals.
Our full review of Hotshot Racing will be in place closer to that September 10th 2020 launch on Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC. Make sure you keep an eye out for it. For now though, the launch date trailer will sort you out.
