Review - NeoSprint

Developer: Headless Chicken Games

Publisher: Atari

Available on: PC (Steam), PlayStation5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Review system: PlayStation 5

In the days of arcades and quarters, it was all about competition and bragging rights. It was getting a high score, defeating the final boss, or getting first place. It was a time of innovation and where the foundations of modern gaming would be placed and cemented to grow into what it is today. NeoSprint is a racing game that harkens back to a golden era in the world of video games and that is the isometric racing game.

NeoSprint takes this concept and has a sublime layer and polish to itself that it becomes an incredible racing game that gives arcade fans and racing enthusiasts what they want. In addition to being a fantastic single-player game with sharp visuals, it also features a track-building mode for the community to build and share tracks. NeoSprint is an excellent blend of the retro and the modern.

History in the remaking

NeoSprint is based on the Atari arcade games Sprint and Sprint 2. These were the earliest racing arcade games to ever be introduced. Sprint 2, in particular, was released in 1976. It was the first game to introduce the concept of an AI-controlled car driving itself along the track and figuring out the best way to drive that track. Racing games beforehand had AI-controlled cars race along a predetermined track. The Sprint games established a legacy to have the series see future arcade releases and console ports.

Atari has been releasing modern twists to classic games in the past few years. This includes Asteroids: Recharged and the recently released Lunar Lander: Beyond. I have yet to play one that fails in its ambitions to be a modern retro take on a classic and timeless game. Fortunately, NeoSprint continues that solid stretch.

Lights, Motors, Action

NeoSprint offers a multitude of game modes. In addition to single and multiplayer races, NeoSpritn offers Grand Prix, Obstacle Courses, Campaign Mode, Time Trial, and a Build Your Own Track mode. There is a diversity of gameplay modes that the player can partake in, making NeoSprint robust in content and playability. The same can be applied to cars and car choices. Muscle Cars, F1 cars, boxcars, there are several to choose from and each car has its own ebb and flow

The Campaign mode features several races and 8 racers to compete with, unlocking liveries along the way. Grand Prix is the top team of racing modes as players face multiple racers among several races. The aforementioned Time Trials, obstacle Course, and Build Your Own Track are self-explanatory, providing more racing twists and enjoyment.

A Whole New Ride

The big draw of NeoSprint is the specific racing and gameplay style. NeoSprint is an isometric racer. The game takes the viewpoint from above the track. This simplifies racing mechanics to speed, braking, turning, and drifting. As each car handles differently, the racing experience will change slightly. Some cars are faster than others. Other cards turn on a dime. There are power-ups on the tracks, but knowing your car matters.

Driving feels remarkably polished and sublime. There is a sensation of weight and momentum depending on the car. This makes driving fun, but pulling off a trick, such as drifting, even better. Drifting does take getting used to but the more a player does it, the better it gets. Another aspect is drafting, or driving behind a car. A glow around the car means the car is gaining acceleration to pass.

Twist and turn

Atari and Headless Chicken games successfully merged the modern and the retro with NeoSprint. The game is nearly identical to the arcades but with modern features. Among them are the camera angles. When playing from a fixed position, NeoSprint is beautiful. it feels like a wholesome synthwave racing miniature. However, a modern feature is to allow the camera to follow the car, bringing the game up close but helping players that want to see their cars up close for a further sensation of control.

NeoSprint is a far different and thrilling racing experience, especially in an age where most racers are realistic. There is a tremendous sensation of speed and competition in this perspective. Cars crash and wreck each other for first place. A solid drift or overtake makes the difference between victory and defeat. It's different from driving a Honda Civic on an open road and tuning out every part. Here, in NeoSprint, it's about speed and handling, and it makes for great fun.

A Few Missing Parts

NeoSprint has another crowning achievement with the Build Your Own Track mode. With this mode, players can create any kind of track and go all in on their imagination. Long tracks, short tracks, curvy tracks, the combinations, and opportunities go on and on. The ability to share these tracks online and download them makes NeoSprint nearly limitless content. I can imagine a competitive scene being formed from this particular mode.

Using the track editor took a little getting used to, at least for me. However, the more I issued it, the more I enjoyed it. I created some incredible combinations and found myself relishing the enjoyment of making something and sharing it out there. This isn't something I've seen since Modnation Racers. Perhaps the only real missed opportunity for NeSprint is the lack of online multiplayer. Multiplayer is local only, which is still a thrill but doesn't hold the excitement of facing 7 other strangers in an online match.

NeoSprint to the store

NeoSpritn is another great modern update of a classic from Atari. The visuals are spectacular, the gameplay is strong, and the Build Your Own Track leaves plenty of content for those with the creative itch. Its overall design feels close at heart to the originals and its modern updates feel great for the modern player. Atari is on a roll. Keep it up!

NEOSPRINT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

NeoSprint was reviewed on the PS5 thanks to a key provided by Uberstrategist.