NeoSprint Nintendo Switch Review 7.5/10 "rev me up, buttercup" 🏎️ @HeadlessCG #GameDev #IndieGame

The newest release in the long-dormant Atari ‘Sprint’ series, this multiplayer (up to 8 players locally!) arcade racer is a welcome addition to the Switch catalogue for lovers of vintage, top-down racing.  

Sticking closely to its local multiplayer roots, NeoSprint features no online gaming component beyond the ability to download tracks created by other players, and whilst there may be some that lament the lack of online play, the fact that NeoSprint caters for up to eight players is a serious boon here, and perfect for gaming nights with friends. 

There are a lot of modes here, ranging from a full single player campaign through to free races, obstacle courses, multiplayer, and even course creation. All of which is boosted by the ability to unlock various livery, items and backgrounds to soup up your personal creations, which can then be uploaded online and shared. It’s also worth mentioning that there are several options to tweak the game to your preference here, from having a camera following the car – as opposed to a full, top-down view of the track – in single player, through to adjusting the handing, allowing you to decide whether you want big, ol’ heavy, swinging corners a-la 1999’s Driver, or a twitchier arcade experience.

Whilst the in-game audio and music are fun and breezy, with milky guitar bends and lightly energetic music being the order of the day to accompany you as you blaze around corners and try not to completely lose it on the jumps, the soundtrack does get a touch repetitive, which is exacerbated due to the shortness of a typical race, a few more tracks mixed it would have made a big difference here, as fun as the music initially is. 

Visually, the game has some crunchy pixels which do lose their details in the more complex, ‘zoomed-out’ tracks, but that isn’t really a problem as it kind of adds to the retro style. That said, I did feel like the collision detection was a touch ‘boxy’ in some instances and some car clashes lacked satisfaction because of it, although the over-the-top reactions your car takes to any jump was great stuff, and resulted in some wonderful moments of comical airtime. I did feel like the game struggled a tad when there was a lot going on, however, resulting in a touch of jerkiness that I’m sure will be patched out in future updates.

NeoSprint fits right in with Atari classics such as Badlands, Super Sprint etc. but it also calls to mind games such as Super Skidmarks, with its fun exterior actually covering up a game that requires skill and timing to master. Due to the accessibility options here, and the gentle ramping up of the difficulty in single player mode, it does welcome players of all skill levels with open arms. 

It’s a tough market at the moment, with a lot of great arcade racing games out there, but the heritage of the Sprint series means that this is definitely worth a look, and see if you can spot just how many Atari easter eggs are visible throughout the game. 

SUMMARY

A recommended game that, whilst clearly fantastic in multiplayer, also doesn’t shy away from having a heck of a lot to offer if you like to race on a more solitary basis. Definitely one that’ll be installed for those gaming nights!