Beetle Adventure Racing

The uniqueness of this game lies in the beautiful graphics and rampant, humorous action (San Francisco Rush). On a Tiki-themed island track, for instance, racers are startled by a roaring T-Rex (clearly a nod to Jurassic Park), and risk a molten demise as the road passes alongside rivers of realistically rendered lava. With unusually long tracks, vertigo-inducing jumps and falls, tons (and tons) of hidden areas and shortcuts, breakable obstacles, and well-placed power-ups, this is a game that just keeps getting better with each play.

Solo racers are pitted against seven other cars in a single race or championship mode, duel against one other computer car, or race against the clock. Multiplayer variations include head-to-head racing for up to four racers, and a Beetle Battle that could easily be its own game cartridge. In this Mario Kart-style mode, racers are armed with mines, rockets, magnets, and shield power-ups that impede the progress of fellow racers attempting to collect a variety of ladybug icons. Those looking for a long-lived gaming experience can't go wrong with this one. --Eric Twelker

Pros:
• Gorgeous graphics rival many arcade racing games
• Enormously fun driving action, long, well-designed tracks, many shortcuts and hidden areas
• Excellent car physics

Cons:
• No single-player Beetle Battle mode