Andretti Racing
Developer(s)High Score Productions
Stormfront Studios
Press Start Inc. (Saturn)
Publisher(s)EA Sports
Platform(s)PlayStation
Sega Saturn
Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation
  • NA: September 6, 1996[1]
  • EU: October 1996
Saturn
Windows
Genre(s)Racing game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Andretti Racing is a video game developed by American studios High Score Productions and Stormfront Studios and published by EA Sports for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996, and for Windows in 1997. The game's title refers to legendary racing drivers Mario Andretti and Michael Andretti.

Reception

The PC and Saturn versions received favorable reviews, while the PlayStation version received mixed reviews. Game Informer gave the PlayStation version a very favorable review, about two months before it was released Stateside.[13] In Japan, where the same PlayStation version was ported and published by Electronic Arts Victor on 28 March 1997, Famitsu gave it a score of 22 out of 40.[12]

Reviewing the PlayStation version in an early review, the two sports reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the accurate racing, four-player compatibility, animation, and controls.[10] Air Hendrix wrote in GamePro that the graphics are below-average for the PlayStation and the game lacks a good sense of speed, but the outstanding controls and "enjoyably deep, addictive gameplay that challenges far more than your twitch steering skills" outweigh these flaws.[25][a] A reviewer for Next Generation was more pleased with the graphics, commenting that "Andretti Racing doesn't match the richness and detail of Psygnosis's Formula 1, but it can be considered one of the better looking racing games in recent memory. A challenging computer AI, well-balanced control system, and two-player split-screen mode round out this deep title." He also praised it for having far more tracks and replay value than the arcade ports which were then the staple of console racing games.[21]

Johnny Ballgame of GamePro compared the graphics of the Saturn version unfavorably to both the PlayStation version and contemporary Saturn racer Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition, but found that the responsive controls, wide selection of tracks, numerous features, and realistic sounds made the game extremely fun to play. He concluded, "Saturn owners who are looking to buy one racing game this year, look no further."[26][b] Lee Nutter of Sega Saturn Magazine also found the large number of tracks and features impressive, but described the track designs as "dull and indistinguishable from one another." Additionally criticizing the weak sense of speed, occasional graphic glitches, lack of detail in the cars, and poor PAL conversion, he concluded that "Andretti Racing does remain very playable with the various options and huge amount of tracks providing a very lengthy challenge but it seems to be a victory for quantity over quality."[24] Electronic Gaming Monthly's sports reviewers found the graphics of the Saturn version to be unexceptional but solid, and highly praised the numerous options, licensing, responsive controls, and overall realism. Dean Hager went so far as to call it "the best true 32-bit racing simulation on the market."[11]

Next Generation said of the PC version, "If you're looking for strict realism, stick with the Papyrus line of racers. Otherwise, Andretti Racing is a well-designed, extremely fun racing game that skirts the line between arcade and sim."[20]

The same PC version was nominated for the "Best Sim Game" award at the CNET Gamecenter Awards for 1997, which went to Jane's Longbow 2.[27]

The game sold more than 200,000 copies.[28]

Notes

  1. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation version 3.5/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, 5/5 for control, and 4.5/5 for fun factor.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the Saturn version 3/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, and two 4.5/5 scores for control and fun factor.

References

  1. ^ "Electronic Arts - News Room, Electronic Arts Blasts Onto the 32-bit Track with Andretti Racing for the PlayStation". Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. ^ Computer and Video Games - Issue 184 (1997-03)(EMAP Images)(GB). March 1997.
  3. ^ "sega-saturn.com - software". 1 January 1997. Archived from the original on 1 January 1997. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Electronic Arts Ships Andretti Racing for the PC". 7 February 1998. Archived from the original on 7 February 1998. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  5. ^ Goble, Gordon (25 November 1997). "Andretti Racing (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  6. ^ Mahood, Andy (1996). "Andretti Racing (Saturn)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 19 August 2000. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  7. ^ Royal, Tim (1997). "Andretti Racing". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 18 April 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  8. ^ May, Scott A. (May 1998). "Wheel Life (Andretti Racing Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 166. Ziff Davis. p. 184. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  9. ^ Edge staff (October 1996). "Andretti Racing (PS)" (PDF). Edge. Future Publishing. p. 90. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b Mowatt, Todd; Perez, Dindo (October 1996). "Andretti Racing (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 87. Ziff Davis. p. 178.
  11. ^ a b Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (May 1997). "Andretti Racing (Saturn)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 94. Ziff Davis. p. 116.
  12. ^ a b "アンドレッティ・レーシング [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Jon; Storm, Jon (October 1996). "Andretti Racing (PS)". Game Informer. No. 42. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on 20 November 1997. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Andretti Racing - Saturn". Game Informer. No. 48. FuncoLand. April 1997. Archived from the original on 21 October 1997. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  15. ^ Cope, Jamie (October 1996). "Andretti Racing Review (PS)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  16. ^ Poole, Stephen (12 January 1998). "Andretti Racing Review (PC)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  17. ^ Gardner, Chris (1 December 1996). "Andretti Racing Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 20 January 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  18. ^ Rignall, Julian "Jaz" (21 November 1996). "Andretti Racing (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  19. ^ IGN staff (2 January 1998). "Andretti Racing Review (Saturn)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Andretti Racing (PC)". Next Generation. No. 39. Imagine Media. March 1998. p. 113. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Andretti Racing (PS)". Next Generation. No. 25. Imagine Media. January 1997. p. 170. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  22. ^ Smolka, Rob (March 1998). "Andretti Racing". PC Gamer. Vol. 5, no. 3. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on 16 November 1999. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  23. ^ Shoemaker, Richie (February 1998). "Andretti Racing". PC Zone. No. 60. Dennis Publishing. p. 92. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  24. ^ a b Nutter, Lee (March 1997). "Review: Andretti Racing". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 17. EMAP. pp. 72–73. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  25. ^ Air Hendrix (November 1996). "White-Knuckle Andretti Racing Screeches onto the PlayStation". GamePro. No. 98. IDG. p. 142. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  26. ^ Johnny Ballgame (February 1997). "Andretti Racing (Saturn)". GamePro. No. 101. IDG. p. 90. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  27. ^ Gamecenter staff (28 January 1998). "The Gamecenter Awards for 1997! (Sims)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  28. ^ Konrad, Rachel (18 October 1996). "Sponsors can play, too". Detroit Free Press. p. 1. Retrieved 16 June 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

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