To whom does NeoSprint cater? A lousy reboot is unlikely to pique the interest of original fans. It’s also difficult to see how someone who grew up with polygonal racing could possibly enjoy single-screen racing.
NeoSprint
Platform:Â PC, also on PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox
Developer:Â Headless Chicken Games
Publisher:Â Atari
Release date:Â June 27th, 2024
Availability:Â Digital
Price: $24.99 via Steam, $22.49 launch discount price
Unfortunately, the Sprint franchise—a run of six racers released by Atari between 1976 and 1986—seems to have been forgotten by history. In order to outrun competitors on a range of tracks, each entry gave players a replica gearbox, gas pedal, and steering wheel. Eventually, the format would spark the creative minds of other programmers, inspiring the creation of games like Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off Road.
The games in the Sprint series and its offshoots were notable for their accurate simulation of driving. Yes, the unusual birds-eye view of the action was provided by the above perspective. Nevertheless, cleverly, hairpin curves necessitated that drivers cautiously accelerate their vehicles rather than charging through the entire race at full speed.
A Boresome Campaign
That’s largely maintained in Headless Chicken Games’ revival of the abandoned property. With the exception of the need for shifting, NeoSprint’s default input methods provide a decent replica of the original game, however I’m sure a committed player will be able to get their Thrustmaster wheels operating with it. After getting used to it for five minutes, I was swerving around most turns like a virtual Max Verstappen. One significant update to the game is the handbrake, which allows players to hug turns on a course. However, NeoSprint doesn’t feature any extreme drifting in line with the original material. It will be as though a DMV evaluator is in the passenger seat as you take turns.
When you play the campaign mode of the game, you’ll encounter a somewhat uninteresting series of races. You play against three CPU drivers in three bouts before facing off against one opponent in the final encounter. It’s likely that the developers intended for there to be a furious struggle between each cup. However, other from a few exchanges of dialogue between the competitors, the final showdowns are largely interchangeable. What’s even more disappointing is how easy it is. Every race is easily won, with the exception of the odd loss caused by flipping off a ramp or getting into an early jam against opponents.
Play, Produce Anonymously, and Distribute
Although the races themselves aren’t all that thrilling, the game’s editor tries to add some excitement by allowing you to access surrounding objects and course components. You can’t get too fancy with your ideas because tracks have to fit on a single screen. Thus, you will mostly be able to develop modifications for NeoSprint’s already-existing courses. The advantage is that you can share your plans and the course designer is rather simple to use (especially if you stay away from elevations). Strangely enough, though, there are no credits for the unique courses in the game.
Up to eight local competitors can compete in multiplayer events on NeoSprint. Since there is no internet play, gathering seven enthusiastic friends will definitely be a challenge. However, because the cars are small due to the single-screen perspective, the true struggle will be to see what’s happening. The developer’s workaround, which seems improvised, is to highlight your car with a button. Thankfully, soloists have the option to utilize a camera that tracks your automobile, a like Micro Machines. In essence, this is the only way that using NeoSprint on a portable PC such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally won’t strain your eyes.
Time trial modes and an obstacle course complete the package. Since the former just adds obstacles to campaign mode races and the latter extends clocking challenges that reuse tracks from the game’s cups, these seem like filler. Rather than actually increasing enjoyment, their inclusion seems more like a ploy to raise the game’s retail price. Much like the majority of NeoSprint, it’s only mildly entertaining. Finding a reason to play this when there are many better racers available is challenging, though.
NeoSprint was played on a PC using an evaluation code that the publisher sent.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 65%
Controls – 70%
Aesthetics – 50%
Content – 55%
Accessibility – 70%
Value – 50%
60%
DISAPPOINTING
Summary :With the exception of adding a track editor, NeoSprint stays quite true to its original material, in contrast to many of Atari’s recent reboots. Because of this, the single-screen racer may make you want for the luxury (and point-of-view) of a more contemporary racer or make you miss Micro Machines.