In Hot Rod Racer you take on the role of a reckless driver with the need for speed. Selecting from a car or a motorbike as your main mode of transport, you put the key in the ignition of your vehicle of choice and take to the track with the intention of speeding along until you run out of gas.
Hot Rod Racer seemingly aims to draw inspiration from retro arcade classics of yesteryear. You race for as long as you can, and the longer you last the higher the score. There's also a leaderboard system in place with Miiverse functionality attached to further fuel your competitive side; setting a new high score is the single allure of this title.
Across many generated tracks there are dangers to avoid and items to collect; you'll need to watch out for other racers, explosive barrels, water hazards, rocks and bushes. Make even the slightest of contact with these road blocks and your run will come to an end. There's also fuel to collect along the way to keep your high score hopes alive.
While this may sound intriguing to a number of speed demons out there, sadly the execution and overall production values of Hot Rod Racer are poor. As the images above and below demonstrate this is particulary basic visually - it's barely on par with a flash game in terms of the entertainment it offers.
Visually, minimal effort has been made. A handful of basic art and assets are on display; besides vehicular explosions there aren't any other notable animations. It's single frame artwork with a moving screen attempting to add life to the title. It would be hard to believe there were any stylised decisions behind the featured visuals.
The simple gameplay is ruthless. You hit a car, you explode. A motorbike makes contact with the rear end of your vehicle, you explode. You hit an explosive barrel, you explode. You hit a twig of a tree, you explode. You get the idea - you explode. This game will stop you from progressing at all costs. This is not to mention the cruel yet bad level design, where you are forced to veer off into a river to avoid a near death collision with an incoming car. It's moments like this that become more hilarious than frustrating. And then you suddenly realise your car can shoot bullets. It makes little to no sense, but adds to the amusement of the situation when you quickly adapt to gunning down everything blocking the road ahead.There is also a progression system including leveling and unlocks such as improved vehicle performance and Miiverse stamps, but this doesn't really enhance the overall enjoyment of the title.
The best part of Hot Rod Racer is the arcade music and sound. If there is one aspect of this game to get behind, it's the funky beats. The talented individual in charge of this part of the game has nailed it - you won't question why you're still playing the game because you're enjoying the music that much. All of the beats have a great nostalgic arcade feel to them, and are always spurring you on to have one more go.
Conclusion
If you're feeling daring, or perhaps enjoy breaking the law and driving on the wrong side of the road like a crazy person, Hot Rod Racer might just be the game for you. The music is so catchy that it makes the merciless nature of the title almost addictive. In all seriousness though, with such poor production values outside of the soundtrack, and archaic gameplay to boot, it's hard to recommend Hot Rod Racer to Wii U owners. For those of you fixated with speed, seek your thrills elsewhere.
Comments 22
Aw, darn it... I was expecting to be at least playable... x(
Who would even enjoy playing junk like this nowadays?! (Let alone pay money for the privilege!)
This sort of thing would have been FREEWARE on PC… 25 years ago.
Nintendo just lets anything on the Eshop......... You would think they care that the game doesn't even look finished.
A 3.....maybe but my sons have had a lot of fun with it. The art style isn't as creative as LaCisa's Last Stand crayon look, but the developer put a lot of post release effort into that game so I expect this game to receive some improvements as well. Honestly though it is an endless runner disguised as a car game.
It reminds me of Spy Hunter and with a few improvements (upgradable weapons during play, 2nd score for shmup type gameplay and maybe some boss cars at certain distance levels) would be an arcade game I would have pumped quarters into in the 80's
I agree the music is really good.....I thought the same for his other game too.
Hello,
I'm always listening to reviews and fans to see how I can improve my games. So any complaint, comment or question is taken seriously by me.
Yep, like ZaciSa before it, I do have plans for post release content! I have an idea for a co-op & VS mode for the game, we will see how that works out.
To answer the controls part, the game was designed with the d-pad in mind.
For leaderboards, I'll fix it so it remembers your last initials.
OK then.....strange review overall. I was curious to find out about levels/accomplishment information and if there is any sense of progression over time!?!
I've learned that the graphics are basic and the gameplay simple but we all knew that looking at the screen shots already.
If the game is nice and cheap I'll buy to try it but my expectations were never high enough to be disappointed with the negative things mentioned in the review. This is not meant to be anything other than cheap fun imo. It looks like it will meet my expectations in that sense, especially after the updates promised.
@ULTRA-64 Unlike ZaciSa, there is a sense of progression in this game. As you race and get higher scores, you start to unlock things. Like new Miiverse stamps, new vehicles, new upgrades (like faster bullets, more Fuel to last longer, more speed)
@Bloodix I have to say it bugs me that they don't take into account your a one man team. This is far better then anything rc has released in the last few years yet they are much tuffer on you. I just don't get it.
If I want to race around like an idiot, destroying stuff, while listening to cool tunes, I'll stick to GTA. You can even shoot & blow up stuff just like this "game".
And it comes with a little, one player game, to boot! I hear it's pretty good!
@Agent721 why are you comparing a triple aaa title made by a muti billion dolor company to a one man garage indie game?
If you liked the tunes that much, definitely check out Drop It: Block Paradise whenever that finally comes out, cuz I did a bunch more for that one. It will be downright FUNKY, yo.
@faint
It was a knee jerk reaction post because 1) I always enjoyed playing GTA just driving around aimlessly, listening to their great music selection, while causing havoc and 2) this game just looks...abysmal. I've seen free games on tablets that look better than this...why is this game even on the Wii U in the first place?
GTA is an unfair comparison in terms of costs and developers involved, but my point is...why would anyone buy this game? Surely, most gamers have a racing game already, or another game that has cars in it (GTA), that can be enjoyed already and does this much better.
This game just looks abysmal and in my opinion, should've never made it on a Wii U.
LOL is this a joke? hire a designer for heaven's sake
Whats wrong with you guys?
@Bloodix If this is your game, please don't make games anymore. We don't need your trash stinking up the eSHOP.
@ArcadeLove have you played crayon dimension? It's a great budget rts. He made it.
@Agent721 his game play well they just never look good. He's a coder who needs a designer. It doesn't bother me much seeing as how I still rock Atari games.
@faint Should be interesting to see how people react to Drop It: Block Paradise!, since that I actually have a great graphic designer for it (Actually, he replied in this thread! @Camjo-Z). He did the awesome music for this game too. I'm going all out for Drop It: Block Paradise!
I think that ZeNfa has better games in the budget range than RC. ZaciSa and Hot Rod at least have an acceptable amount of content/depth and good music, two things RC's games lack totally. Also ZeNfas games are more original. And that guy actually updates his games and makes them bigger and better.
The review scores are all over the place. If Splashy Duck and Spikey Walls can receive a 5/10, Hot Rod Racer is a 25/10.
@Bloodix I'll definitely pick it up
This makes me think of the type of games that @RCMADIAX goes for. Except it sounds like some effort went to this. I'll buy eventually. Sounds like a nice game to play when someone else is using the TV.
Addictive game with lots of replayability.
I also think the graphics suit the game well, and are polished.
Awesome unlockables for more replayability.
Soundtrack is 10/10, very catchy.
My only tidbit is a framerate lag every so often and the YOU CRASHED animation should be quicker.
Has fast Post to Miiverse in game, instead of the traditional open Miiverse then post.
Has leaderboards, which basically no other NWF game does. Worth the $2.99 for sure!!
Level design is fun and I don't understand the reviewer's gripes about the bad level design. Yes you need to veer off path to dodge cars and rocks, and yes you can shoot stuff. I think it's quite fun and hilarious, and that should be a plus instead of a gripe.
Probably THE MOST polished Nintendo Web Framework game out there apart from the Mario VS Donkey Kong NWF games.
I'd rate it 8.5/10. My favorite, and the only NWF game that I enjoy.
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