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[Suerte]

EA's best game ever? Damn right. (probably seeing as it was developed by Paradigm though)

Features

Fully licensed Volkswagen Beetle "2.0" models, ranging from regular street types to lowriders and rally bugs.
Six huge tracks, taking more than four minutes to drive from one end to the other.
Animated roadside features, such as mills, waterfalls, and even a dragon.
Four-point suspension system.
Nine multiplayer tracks.
Specular highlighting and particle effects.
Two-player split-screen race mode.
Four-player battle mode.
Need for Speed style tachometer.

What made this game though was quite possibly the BEST course designs EVER in an arcade style racer...

Coventry Cave: This European looking stage lets you tear up the British countryside. Smash through haystacks and barns, drive past an old mill, giant waterfalls, mineshafts and even Stonehenge. Key points include a shortcut through a tunnel, a castle ruin and a glass window.

Mount Mayhem: Imagine this one like the snow level of every major platform game. A tall mountain covered with snow and fog and plenty of hazardous drops and icy caves. Some of the highpoints of this track involve a ski slope, a crystal cave and a UFO.

Inferno Isle: A dense jungle surrounded by a tall, electrical fence. If you've seen Spielberg's movie, you know what oversized lizard is being contained within. The designers also threw in a whole village, a seaside town and even an active volcano. Keep an eye out for a little hut in the burning village.

Sunset Sands: The dunes of this Egyptian inspired stage deliver some cool jumps. Crash into a pyramid and drive through its mysterious tunnels and caves. Use your rearview mirror to find some shortcuts you may otherwise miss.

Metro Madness: The game's largest level plays more like Blast Corps than a racing game. You can smash through several buildings y and drive through hallways inside. One of the highpoints of the track is a short race against a train.

Wicked Woods: Looks like you took a wrong turn somewhere in Transylvania. After a long scary drive through a dark forest, you jump right into the first "serious" haunted house in a racing game.

IGN sum it up pretty well:

It's hard to sum up Adventure Racing's tracks in only a few sentences as they are absolutely, positively the most detailed tracks in a racing game. To call the hundreds of routes through the stages "shortcuts" would be an injustice. You will literally find new areas in the stages every time you play. Sometimes you come upon them by chance. For example, you don't have enough speed to make the jump over a chasm; Instead of plunging to your death, you start to fall and smash right through a rock wall into a new cave you've never even seen.

The island level alone has two fully realized villages, a tropical jungle, and even a coastal region where a pirate ship is attacking a fortress. Not convinced? Wait till you drive through the haunted forest with its foreboding full moon looming in the cloudy sky. After you jump through the stained glass window of an old church and make your way into the dank caves of a fantasy mountain, you will see something like a giant red worm moving around on top of millions of gold doubloons. Had you taken a different route, you would have seen that this truck-sized worm is only the tail of a ferocious dragon guarding its hort.

To top it off it also has a surprisingly good four player mode where the objective is to find differently colored bug icons that are hidden throughout the levels. The catch, you need one of each color to win. The bigger catch, the icons are constantly changing color. The use of weapons also helped this to become one of the most surprisingly addictive 4 player modes (along with San Fran Rush 2049's deathmatch mode!)

Also, it was fookin' beautiful for its time, these screens don't really do it justice...

To see it in action, check out the movies on IGN's media page, in particular the "Pirates!" movie to really see how sexy BAR was for its time!

I'd say that I'd love to see a next generation version, but with EA behind it these days it'd probably become Ghetto Adventure Racing 2006 Edition and that would make me a sad panda Perhaps a port on the DS would be more forgiving...

 

[Tarazet]

Does this still hold up? I tried playing Excitebike 64, which was so well received back in the day, and it's unplayable now. After the greatness that is Moto GP, it felt like going back to Virtua Racing on the Genesis by comparison.

 

[Vark]

I concur.

I always felt EA had nothing to do with this game, or they were drunk and passed out in the corner when it sliped by them. It just reeks of not them.

One of my favorite N64 games by far.

 

[Raiden]

Oh hell yeah!


The biggest downpart was that you had to have a memory card, but i didnt care, the multiplayer was fun as hell as well, and as said before brilliant course design.

 

[Suerte]

Does this still hold up? I tried playing Excitebike 64, which was so well received back in the day, and it's unplayable now. After the greatness that is Moto GP, it felt like going back to Virtua Racing on the Genesis by comparison.

IMO it's still solid, to me it's the sort of gameplay that could never age, it's just too much fun. Then again, I'm probably quite bias towards it since it's one of my favourite games ever.

Also, it can look quite nice running on an emu, which is always a plus.

 

[Shaheed79]

N64 had so many sleeper hits this being one of them. I had some of the fastest times for Time Trial in N64 Magazine. How well did this game do is there any chance of a sequel? Something about driving a Beetle through a Hotel that makes you feel all warm inside.

 

[joeposh]

I don't know about "Best EA Game Ever" but it certianly is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated racing titles of all time. The course design is perfect and the fun factor is off the charts. It's honestly one of the most entertaining racing games I've ever played. I'd go so far as to say it's one of my favorite games of all time. It's a damn shame that this was the only game in the series.

 

[MrDaravon]

My fiance fucking LOVES this game. I played it once recently, and it was mildly entertaining, I could see how it gets the cult love. Probably pretty hit or miss though, I know a lot of people who really hate the game also.

 

[Suerte]

I know a lot of people who really hate the game also.

Do said people, y'know, have souls?

 

[methodman]

I remember when we bought this, and we were finding all these awesome shortcuts. There was a waterfall on that ice level, thinking you can go through it, i (while around 3 of my cousins) was like, "I FOUND ANOTHER ONE!" and i hit the wall. I ended up losing that one. :lol :lol

 

[MrDaravon]

Do said people, y'know, have souls?

Please, the game is by no means so good that hating it is not understandable, and possibly expected. It's fun, but does have any number of flaws and doesn't hold up that well today.

 

[Monk]

Please, the game is by no means so good that hating it is not understandable, and possibly expected. It's fun, but does have any number of flaws and doesn't hold up that well today.

What flaws?

 

[ikalugar]

Man I loved this game! It was a total shock to me that it was so good too, really it came out of no where and I just purchased it on a whim and suddenly my friends and I were all hooked on it.

 

[mosaic]

Hated it initially, then warmed up to it via multiplayer. We used to play this and Rush (or was it Rush 2? the one with the stunt mode) all the time when I worked in tech support.

Would love to see it on the DS... except with non-ruined controls and less popup.

 

[gigamex]

Was a surprisingly very good game. I remember the courses being mammoth in length. I would much rather play a descendant of this game than those need for speeds that keep getting worse and worse imo. I'm guessing it didn't sell well unfortunately which is why we never got sequels.

 

[Shawn128]

Good god I wish this game was getting a next gen treatment.

 

[Rocket Punch]

Hehe, I have this game and I've never played it longer than 5 minutes. I should give it a spin sometime.

 

[cs060mk2]

I agree its a good game.

But in reality its just a "kiddified" Need for speed 3 engine ported to the N64 with WV cars and unnatural power ups.

But it was a favorite game on my N64. And with Yoshis story its my most missed game from the N64 and yes I am 28 years old.

 

[ourumov]

I bought this game on the PAL launch. I was a racing games freak and I needed some crack...and well N64 and racing games weren't a very good couple.
I remember that by those dates I had already experienced a game called Gran Turismo which blowed me away, and that was just two months after trying another game that left me totally surprised and amazed called Colin Mc Rae...

So as you can see Beetle Adventure Racing had little to offer me in the simulation department. That's why I guess I enjoyed it so much. It was fun, the circuits were pretty imaginative and all in all beating the game until you unlocked the UFO car meant hours and hours of fun. Graphics wise I was also very surprised because it was smooth as hell and not choppy at all. ANd the music...well I forgot about it...I guess it wasn't anything memorable. But well, good game.

 

[BudokaiMR2]

Holy Damn! I remember playing this game! I rented it once, and it was so much damn fun. I played it with friends for hours and hours.

Wow...completely forgot about this game before I saw screens. Read the title of the thread and thought it was a joke

 

[Suerte]

*high fives all the BAR brothers!*

What happened to Paradigm by the way?

 

[impirius]

BAR's tracks remain some of the best ever. Tons of different shortcuts, distinctive locales... they're just plain fun to play.

 

[Flipmo23]

Please, the game is by no means so good that hating it is not understandable, and possibly expected. It's fun, but does have any number of flaws and doesn't hold up that well today.

I would also like to know what flaws one can find with this game, besides the fact that all the cars are Beetles, and that there's not many tracks, but since they're SO well thought out, I don't think it's an issue.

 

[eshwaaz]

*high fives all the BAR brothers!*

What happened to Paradigm by the way?

Sadly, they went on to make such forgettable games as Terminator 3: Dawn of Fate, Mission Impossible: Operation Surma, and Terminator 3: The Redemption.

BAR did have fantastic track design. When you found a shortcut, it was really presented as something special and exciting. Many other racing games have offered shortcuts, but they're rarely empasized as anything other than a different way to get through the course; no sense of thrill.

 

[Gek54]

No such thing as fun racing on the N64.

 

[Suerte]

No such thing as fun racing on the N64.

... another gaffer without a soul. Woe is you.

 

[mj1108]

This game was sooo much damn fun. You almost think that someone, somewhere accidently printed EA's name on the box. It's basically the opposite of a typical EA game.

 

[winter]

This game was awesome. I bought it without hearing anything about it because it was 20 bucks and absolutely loved it. The amount of alternate routes in the courses almost made it feel like an adventure game.

 

[Minotauro]

I LOVED this game. When it came out, I was working at Gamestop and I actually went to the trouble of preordering it. I could tell that it was going to be great just from screenshots of the various courses. The main draw for any racing game to me is track variety...something BAR has in spades.

Sadly, I don't think it holds up all that well today. I tried playing it on an emulator a few months back and although the course design is still fantastic, the framerate and the popup makes it a bit hard to swallow. Still, I have fond memories of playing it when it was still new.

 

[bjork]

This game was great. I really wish they'd make a new one, regardless of the car license. It would be Ford Pinto Adventure Racing and still be a blast.

 

[MattKeil]

BAR was truly great. Also had the best announcer ever.

"NICE WHEELS!"

 

[Error Macro]

Well, that did it.

I was mildy interested in this game off and on over the years since it came out. But after reading through this thread and all of the positive opinions of everone I had to obtain it, so I just bought a mint copy off of eBay. *thumbs up*

 

[Shaheed79]

Well, that did it.

I was mildy interested in this game off and on over the years since it came out. But after reading through this thread and all of the positive opinions of everone I had to obtain it, so I just bought a mint copy off of eBay. *thumbs up*

Make sure you play Metro Madness before you form a full opinion. That is my favorite City-scape level in a racing game.

 

[bridegur]

BAR is probably my #2 favorite racer ever next to Wave Race 64. I'd love to see a DS port, although they'd probably need to update or change the cars.

 

[Infernal Monkey]

I've never played the actual original. EA decided to re-release it in Australia shortly after it came out as HSV Adventure Racing. I guess they thought it might boost sales, too bad it didn't.

But yeah, awesome game.

 

[Suerte]

I've never played the actual original. EA decided to re-release it in Australia shortly after it came out as HSV Adventure Racing. I guess they thought it might boost sales, too bad it didn't.

But yeah, awesome game.

Haha, that's awesome, I never knew about that! Might track down a copy seeing as Aussie's come under PAL territory.

 

[WordAssassin]

Every fucking time I go into a video game store I look for this game. I kick myself on a regular basis for never buying it when it came out but it looks and sounds like so much fun. I hope that eventually, I will find my own copy.

 

[HyperZone<3]

Battle mode was awesome too. The total package. And that bouncy announcer was pretty dang cool. Something about the way he said "Hot lava!" diffused my frusteration over landing in the hazard.

 

[Sweedishrodeo]

one of my first N64 games. i used to play this shit in my sleep.

 

[Grug]

Best track design ever in a game.

So many alternate routes.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

I loved this game.

No such thing as fun racing on the N64.

Riiiiiiiiight. As long as it's not on Playstation - it can't possibly be any good right?

 

[jarrod]

No such thing as fun racing in Gran Turismo.

Fix'd!

 

[boyshine]

It's so good I bought it twice but yeah, fantastic fun, and definately among my all time favourite games.

 

[evilromero]

Does this still hold up? I tried playing Excitebike 64, which was so well received back in the day, and it's unplayable now. After the greatness that is Moto GP, it felt like going back to Virtua Racing on the Genesis by comparison.

Virtua Racing is easy to go back to. It lacks so much detail and runs at a smooth framerate that it's still enjoyable today. Oh, and BAR is fun. I love the T-Rex popping out of the woods.

 

[Tiger]

While I appreciated this game's smooth controls and amazing tracks design, something about it never quite hooked me for long. I also remember the difficulty being quite obnoxious in the later levels and that frustrated me enough that I just gave up without ever finshing the game.


In all honesty it's possible that because of the pure awe Waverace 64 left me in, no other 64 racer could ever compare in my eyes. :/

 

[CoolS]

I totally forgot i actually own this game ^^. Yeah it was a hell of fun, One of my davourite racing games, although i hated the fact you needed a memory card to save your games. I was really pissed back then.

Well I think I will play a few rounds tonight

 

[Raiden]

I totally remember going through this cave where you can jump, but with the slower cars never really got that far, untill you drove there again with a faster one and was able to make the jump=>satisfactory granted!

 

[Gek54]

I loved this game.




Riiiiiiiiight. As long as it's not on Playstation - it can't possibly be any good right?

Sorry, forgot about Wave Race64, great fun. But as far as racing on wheels or air on the 64, meh.

 

[Jonnyboy117]

Best racing game on N64, and one of the best of all time. I have played it recently, and I think it still holds up remarkably well. Not many racing games have tracks for which one lap takes four minutes to complete. And in three laps, you might not repeat more than the stretch of pavement across the finish line...there are that many shortcuts and alternate routes. Hell, there are shortcuts within shortcuts. There are even longcuts that you'd only want to take if you're looking for bonus boxes.

 

[Error Macro]

Okay, so I got BAR in the mail the other day, and I played it for the first time this morning... WOW! What a neat game. I'd say it actually holds up very well today. Everyone was right about it. The courses are very atmospheric, nicely designed, and have a ton of shortcuts. The graphics are pretty much some of the best the N64 ever outputted. The framerate is not quite 30fps, but at least it's consistent. I've only played it a little bit on the two courses you can initially race on, and I think I'll wait until I can get a Controller Pak before I play any more, so I can save my progress.