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This 3D racing simulator was perhaps most famous for the version that graced the Commodore Amiga - but Micro Style (and legendary 3D developer Pete Cooke) managed to replicate it very well for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum - considering the difference in capabilities of the two machines.

Stunt Car Racer was released on the Sinclair Spectrum late in 1989 (almost 20 years ago - I feel old!) and proved that there was still plenty of life left in the old dog.

This game was set in the future and was supposed to have taken over from Formula 1 motor racing; future racing fans craved more excitement and in the 21st centure Stunt Car Racing is introduced. Each race track was a large structure much like an old time roller coaster. It's definately brown trousers time.

The aim of Stunt Car Racer was fairly simple; rise from the depths of racing division four to the top of racing division one. Each division has two tracks to overcome:

* Hump Back and Little Ramp in division four
* Big Ramp and Stepping Stones in division three
* Roller Coaster and High Jump in division two
* Draw Bridge and Ski Jump in division one

The game was viewed from the cockpit of your stunt car (a powerful front mounted V8 turbo-charged dragster looking beast capable of 300MPH - Jeremy Clarkson's wet dream) which gave a drivers eye view of the proceedings.

The game allowed you to view each track from different angles (so you could have an idea of what to expect) and also to practice driving the tracks as much as you liked. Once you had the hang of the car and track(s) it was time to race for real.

Your car was winched up into the air and dropped on the starting line of the track, your front tyres and suspension bouncing as you were put in place. Already the game gave you a sense of height - each track was elevated quite highly from the ground.

ZX Spectrum Games Stunt Car Racing In Game
Once you were off it was high banked corners, bumps and dips in the track, and huge jumps that would send you soaring through the air. Your car was a tough old boot, but should you abuse it too much, a crack would appear (at the top of the screen) and would work it's way from left to right as more damage was inflicted. If the 'crack' made it all the way across the screen then that was it; your car was buggered and you were out of the race.

If you flew off the track completely then a lot of damage would be incurred and you would have to wait (what seemed for ages) whilst you were winched back onto the track.

Micro Style really managed to get the 3D perspective right in Stunt Car Racer - the sense of height as you sped over a jump and sailed through the air was spot on - it had that right 'roller coaster' feeling to it.

With eleven other racers to compete against and crazy tracks which got progressively more difficult, Stunt Car Racer was a white knucke ride that got your adrenalin pumping!

On Release:
When Stunt Car Racer was released Spectrum gamers loved the 3D action and sense of speed the game gave you. The action was fast and intense, and throwing your car around steep bends and over huge jumps was brilliant fun. The only downside was the simplicity of the graphics, and next to the Stunt Car Racer Amiga version(Amiga Games our brother site) well there was no comparison. Still, when you were burning along at 300MPH you didn't really have time to take in the scenery!

The test of time:
Here in the land of ZX Spectrum Games we reckon if you ignore the simple graphics then Stunt Car Racer is still enjoyable. The sense of speed and 'grabbing some air' is still in there, and racing round the tracks is good for a laugh. Nice and simple, Stunt Car Racer still works.

Grab a pair of driving gloves and your old BMX helmet and load up Stunt Car Racer - fans of racing games will love it.

We recommend getting hold of the real Sinclair hardware but if not then download a ZX Spectrum emulator and download Stunt Car Racer for the ZX Spectrum. Alternatively you could try and play it online.

GENRE: 3D Racer
RELEASE DATE: December of 1989
RELEASED BY: Micro Style
DEVELOPER(S): Pete Cooke
PRICE: £9.99 on cassette, £14.99 on disk - UK

MicroStyle £9.99 cass, £14.99 disk

Formula 1 motor racing was a popular sport back in the late 20th Century, but people are clamouring for more excitement and thus in the 21st Century Stunt Car racing is introduced. And now the track is a large aerial structure rather like an old time roller coaster. Not for those of faint heart.

Choose single player or multiplayer option, practise one of the eight tracks then start the racing season. The aim of this 3D game is simple, rise from the bottom of division four to the top of division one. There are two tracks in each division, Hump Back and Little Ramp in four, Big Ramp and Stepping Stones in three, Roller Coaster and High Jump in two and finally Draw Bridge and Ski Jump in one.

Practise is advised, but when you feel confident enough to tackle a race your car is winched up to the starting line and the race is on. You are presented with a driver’s eye view of the course, so the track along with the huge V8 engine that powers your vehicle is visible through the windscreen. There are eleven other racers all as keen as you to win the title of top racer, and like you they will stop at nothing to win. Your car is a speedy little devil capable of over three hundred turbo charged MPH.

Don’t think you can race around without risk: watch the top of the screen — if you continually abuse the car large cracks appear. This is your damage meter, and if you prang the car too much it will be termed a wreck.

Win or lose, I enjoyed playing Stunt Car greatly — a hair raising Speccy game. The graphics are very sparse with the front of the car and the track the only features, but at over three hundred big ones you probably won’t have time to see much of a background. One slight niggle is that when you prang the car it takes so damn long for the winch to get you back onto the track. That said though, Stunt Car is a great way to get the old adrenalin pumping.

MARK - 89%
What's the sudden attraction of 3-D car games? This is the second I’ve had to review this month. You’ve got to admit that they’re pretty damn good fun though. Stunt Car Racer is not as varied as Hard Drivin’, but it’s still addictive and boasts amazing graphics. The only trouble with this game is that only having set courses to zoom along you feel quite restricted. Each course is made up of line graphics that all whizz by and twist and turn to give a great feeling of movement. The car takes some controlling to begin with, and you usually end up falling off the edge of the track. Before you start each course you get an overall view of it to see exactly what you’re up against which is a nice touch. Stunt Car Racer is a fun game which you can play for hours without getting fed up. Bring the nearest thing to being on a roller coaster onto your computer now.

NICK - 84%

RATING
A stomach churning ride: fun, playable and a great original idea.
Presentation 85%
Graphics 85%
Sound 74%
Playability 86%
Addictivity 85%
Overall 87%