Crazy Cars

STORY / GAMEPLAY
Following in the style of Out Run, Crazy Cars gives you the chance to get behind the wheel of four different high performance sports cars: Mercedes SL, Porsche Carrera, Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari GTO. You have to drive as fast as you can to get from Florida to Malibu through six stages within a specific time limit. You start with the sports Mercedes racing against all those other cars you would rather be driving. Not only are the steep turns and the opponent fast cars to contend with but the road also has dips and bumps of varying heights. When you get onto those bumps your car jumps into the air losing traction and speed. Completing each track is not really difficult and it doesn't need too much practice. After completing the sixth course you step into the next car and race over the same courses but this time within a decreased time limit! Well, Crazy Cars doesn't really offer anything new to the genre, rather than the feature to drive different cars upon completing all stages!

GRAPHICS / SOUND
The game's graphics look fine on the MSX and it is very similar to the ZX Spectum version (with different palette). The car models are great and are some of the prettiest car models found in late 80s racing game back then! The movement of the track is obtained by horizontal bands that work well at low speeds, but at top speeds they simply flash from one shade to another. In contrast to the quite jerky movement, the road twists into turns pretty smoothly, especially. The sound on the MSX is fine, with some car engine throttles but an an introductory tune at the main menu is missing here.