Curve Digital has revealed a colourful, retro-inspired arcade racer going by the name of Hotshot Racing, which will be speeding onto Switch this spring. Remember Racing Apex? Well, it's had a fresh paint job, it seems.
From Lucky Mountain Games and Sumo Digital, Hotshot Racing boasts bright, polygonal visuals and boost-filled drift-style gameplay in a bid to channel classic arcade racers of times gone by. It also promises to achieve a "silky smooth 60 frames per second" on every platform - and yes, that includes Switch.
The game features eight drivers to choose from, each with their own personalities and cars, as well as 16 tracks and a number of game modes. You can play either alone or in multiplayer - both online and offline - including four-player local split-screen co-op.
There's also a traditional Grand Prix mode where you can race on multiple tracks to take gold in a championship, a Time Trial mode, a 'Cops and Robbers' mode where criminals must evade capture from the police, and a 'Drive or Explode' mode where players need to race to checkpoints to avoid exploding.
For players waiting to see what became of Racing Apex, it’s good to see it back in this new form, although from the trailer above it appears that weapons are less of a focus following the transition.
Liking what you see here? Let us know if you'll be keeping an eye out for this one with a comment below.
Comments 53
I don't know. I think it will be very difficult to find another "retro racing game" that could take the place in my heart gained by Horizon Chase Turbo. However, I'll keep an eye on this.
WANT! I’m still waiting for a modern take on San Francisco Rush or Beetle Adventure Racing though. This looks great however!
Looks like Daytona USA. I'm in! We need more arcade racing games.
Geez... when did Burnout become ‘retro’.
I feel old.
60FPS is easier to achieve when you've got less taxing graphics.
I'm not knocking it, that's what F-Zero X did!
But will it support controllers with analog triggers?
Loving the look of this, hopefully comparable to Horizon Chase Turbo
And 90's Arcade Racer still isn't out yet.
@Tedikuma I thought this WAS 90s Arcade Racer. It looks terrific, and I definitely have room in my heart for another one of these next to Horizon Chase and Virtua Racing.
@flojomojo Ha! By the time it does come out it will be old hat. I mean, I'll still play it, but...
Looks like Horizon Chase Turbo under another name and that's not a bad thing and this is coming from Sumo Digital the same team that brought us Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transform so I'm hype.
This looks sweet!
This is Racing Apex, a game that was originally announced years ago (2015 I think) but has been in development hell ever since. They probably changed the name to get away from the stigma of vapourware it has. I’m just happy it’s finally coming out, I’ve been looking forward to it since it was first revealed
@CooperFrank yes, I love that game. Horizon Chase is great. I'm grabbing Outrun maybe this weekend.
@RupeeClock
Worth doing (I think) in racing games. I’ve got Forza Horizon 4 on XB1X and while it looks amazing in 4K I always, always play it in 1080p60. In hindsight that smoothness is what made F-Zero X so stunning to play back in 1998.
@electrolite77
Absolutely, when you've got intense speeds, you've got to reflect that in the smoothest and highest frame rates possible.
I'm reminded of a 3DS eShop title called SpeedX, that appalling failed to convey its sense of speed through 30 FPS and its predictable and straight track design.
Looks like another escapee from Mobile Land. This group already has games to pick from on Switch.
My god - CodeMasters please! - anything new would be appreciated for the rest of us. New season of F1 is starting (🏎 hint) 🙄
@CooperFrank My thoughts exactly.
Looks okay but really don't think this is trumping my Asphalt 9 experience.
Yes yes yessssssssssssssssssssss, been following this game for a number of years now. it disappeared for a long time but i am so glad it is back and happening.
@bluedogrulez LOLZ
@flojomojo I assumed that game had long since been cancelled as nothing has been shown off in such a long time.
PLEASE have a physical edition
This looks well good. My hopes for this are stratospheric. It’s like they stole my dream game from my head. Booya 🙏🏻
Uhhhh.... this makes me think back to the golden times with the Screamer series. Glorious PC racing days. Seems like this could scratch that itch to have Screamer again in my life. (Bought in on GOG but it's not the same anymore - a Screamer Switch Port would be awesome)
Looks tempting probably will wait for reviews before buying
Man. I hope this turns out good. It looks awesome. Please be good.
I can’t wait for this game!
I’m not the biggest switch fan in the world, but releases like this make me wonder why I don’t love it more.
I hope this starts a trend of arcade racing game releases!
Local wireless multiplayer?
I don't know why, but I really like low poly racing games, I'm definitely putting this on my watch list, as I enjoyed Horizon Chase, but I felt the need to collect stuff while racing really detracted from the fun. This one looks to focus more on actual racing, as it should IMO.
EDIT: unrelated, but this game also reminded me that Cruis'n Blast should be released for Switch. It's so much fun in the few arcades I've seen it in.
Give me a level editor with this, og give me 4D Sports Racing!!
hot pursuit mode and split screen, at last, all I would want would be car damage and this would be a wonderful follow up to the PS2 era Need for Speed games I'd play with my dad. I mean it already seems to be, but a man can dream. I hope it's good
Looks great, loving the Virtua Racing look to it. A definite buy from me
Looks superb will be getting for sure x
I’ll definitely be getting this day one, but I’m not a fan of the new name, it makes it sound like a mobile game and I worry people might overlook it for that when trying to filter out the tsunami of mobile ports on the eshop.
This looks good! We'll see how the reviews and the price shape up.
Looks retro lovely.
Can't be worse then Speedway Racing.
....I hope.
Take my money 😍
It looks good and I'll probably Wish List it. Sumo Digital has a very good track record as well. That said, I really wish it didn't always fall to Indie developers to "bring back" the titles so many of us have been asking for via "inspired by" games. Sega in particular has a TON of awesome racers in their arcade catalog, but can't be bothered with anything other than Sonic (yeah, I know my posts keep bring this up, but by this point they've made me despise the character by constantly ignoring everything else).
@GammaPhonic True also don't forget that Mother 4 is now called Oddity so looking forward to that one as well.
@Tedikuma At this point I think they're waiting for V3 of the Switch, lol...
Oh baby! This oozes Sega style 90s racing all over!! I’m in baby!!
That looks cool, reminds me of Virtua Racing.
@CooperFrank yes I agree but it never hurts to have a couple good racing games.
Looks amazing, Sega, Namco really need to bring all the 90’s arcade racers back!! but this will have to do.
@SortingHat They make it official now, this is so Nintendo wouldn't come after them after working really hard on the game.
https://www.destructoid.com/long-awaited-mother-4-fan-game-transformed-into-oddity-576936.phtml
Seriously excited by this. LOVE the look and AT LAST we will have an online multiplayer racer after waiting for EVER. Yes, I'm looking at YOU, Dirt!
Day one for me, all the way. SUmo Digital's name is the icing on the cake
@AstralSoul64 More like Virtua Racing, not Daytona USA. Virtua Racing had the same no textures look to it.
Looks this one will be worthy.
Thought it was some kind of Horizon Chase clone but I'm glad it looks good.
"Out spring 2020"...I was expecting 2200
Please remember that Horizon Chase is not really a proper racing game. If you don't touch the control stick it will still steer at the corners. It's really more of a dodging/barging game. I'll be looking forward to this one.
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