There was a time when games were easy when that entertainment didn’t take up all of your free time; When a game was just a game, not so much an experience as a simple pastime that didn’t focus on open worlds, history, and advanced mechanics. Many of us surely remember the days when we went to the gambling halls, dropped a few coins and played: an intro picture, a music loop and we were off.
It was a time when character development was a luxury. We’re talking about the 80s and early 90s: a shoot ’em up here, a few karate kicks there, and a super pixel car going straight ahead. From time to time this routine would be interrupted by what seemed like the coolest adventure one had ever seen, like Dragon’s Lair. However, that was not what we were looking for. We wanted things that were simple, quick, and accessible, that would keep the coins long, not a game where “game over” appeared to us as we were taking our first steps through an unknown world. There was a time when we took our Game & Watch, hit the button and enjoyed those little pixels moving on a monochrome screen. I’m not saying earlier times were better, but in this era when Triple A titles keep gaining weight with 50 hours or more of play, that is sometimes missed.
I remember the first time I tried Super Sprint. I wasn’t someone to drool over from car games, but it seemed too fun to miss so I had to give it a try. It was a circuit from a bird’s eye view with small and fast cars, on which as a driver you did everything to make life bitter for your opponents. It was super difficult and always put an end to my patience, but I kept practicing, learned from my mistakes and reached an acceptable level after many long afternoons. Total Arcade Racing brings us the melancholy longing for frustration that Super Sprint, Micro Machines and American Speedway offered. The question is, is that enough in today’s gaming environment? Do these titles have a niche in the market or are they just for the nostalgic? It’s fun before you dive back into our complex hyper-realistic graphic stories.
What is definitely not missing in Total Arcade Racing are game modes and there are many options for single player or local multiplayer. What I tried, however, was basically the single player mode and most importantly the championship mode, a campaign mode that also reminded me the most of the old days. It’s what it sounds like: a multi-race, multi-track competition with prizes to be won. It may take a while even for those with steel nerves, but if you’re into even more bestial modes where anarchy reigns, you can also try knockout competitions. There are a total of nine different game modes: Arcade Race, Time Trial, Championship, Elimination, Endless Race, Demolition Derby, Survivor, Delivery and Car Hockey. Each of them is different, but with that basic premise, it is clear that there isn’t much leeway in what you can do. There is also a decent collection of cars to unlock and the little differences between them won’t put you off the track the first time you switch. Features vary, but overall the changes seem minimal.
The success of a racing game depends very much on the player’s ability to drive the car in question and there are no complaints about this. The car is supple, at least after getting used to it, because, like its predecessors, it is not easy to operate the vehicle from a top-down perspective. The further you advance in the game, the harder it becomes, as it should be, and it will no longer be just the opponents and the complicated layout who try by all means to end your dreams of victory; There will also be many kinds of obstacles that will make your life bitter on the asphalt.
Overall, Total Arcade Racing is a nice addition to the Nintendo Switch that offers that sense of simplicity and accessibility that I sometimes miss. On the other hand, in view of the relatively high price, the gaming fun is somewhat limited, especially in the single player mode, in which the joy of novelty does not last long. Personally, I would have liked an online mode. However, it is clear that it can be successful for the right audience and if you bring some coworkers together to play local multiplayer games, the game can create a podium spot.
