Hotshot Racing Reviews
Hotshot Racing is a stylish, fast, fluid, arcade racing game that brought back memories of some classic titles. The sense of speed it delivers is satisfying and sliding around corners to build up my boost never got old. Some things need to be done about the rubberbanding AI and some more variety in the track layouts will be welcome. Fans of Daytona USA, Outrun, and similar games should have no doubts about giving Hotshot Racing some gas.
The quips from the racers, the announcer yelling “CHECKPOINT!” every time you cross over one, and even the music evoke the feeling of sitting down in a seat of an old racing cabinet, putting some quarters in, gripping the steering wheel, and mashing the gas pedal. Of course, the wheel and seat will be missing in most home racing experiences, Hotshot Racing is still plenty of fun without them. If you want to take a short trip back in time to the ’90s, this is one ride you won’t want to miss.
Once I got the hang of drifting, I really started enjoying Hotshot Racing, but it will not sustain me as a solo player for long. Its utility (for me) will be multiplayer shenanigans, which is just fine.
Both a very nice tribute to Virtua Racing and a good arcade racing game per-se, Hotshot Racing is a nice single-player experience and a surprising multiplayer package.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Hotshot Racing is a refreshing blast of retro-arcade racing action.
Retro racers definitely don't get much better than Hotshot Racing so if you have a fondness for racing in the '90s, you're sure to love it.
High on speed and low on polygons, Hotshot Racing is a fun, old-school ode to the golden era of early '90s 3D racers.
Hotshot Racing is an incredible nostalgia trip that I cannot recommend enough. Game Pass owners should note that the game is included in Microsoft’s service, so there is no excuse not to give it a try. This is the most fun I have had with a racing game in quite some time.
It’s been a while since we saw a proper ‘arcade racing game’. The intentional polygon graphics is the key reminiscent feature of this game. Despite the looks, the game can keep up a consistent 60FPS and provides a smooth racing experience. Since it’s strictly an arcade style racer, the most pointed out element would be the fun and enjoyment instead of competition. If you’ve played any of the 90s arcade racing games, you’ll feel right at home soon after playing the first lap of Hotshot Racing.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Hotshot Racing is a rare and precious work, that harkens to the spirit of 90s racing games without being bound by it. A great title for players of all ages and backgrounds, its modern and fresh driving system provides endless joy, challenge and enjoyment. And it has both local and online multiplayer!
Review in Italian | Read full review
I have to admit, I found Hotshot Racing to be quite enamoring. I don't have much nostalgia for the early days of 3D racing games, but I do appreciate a good arcade racer, and that's exactly what this is. Its cheery sound design and visuals are endlessly charming and the driving feels exactly as it should. If you feel the need to go back to the simpler days of racing games, this certainly fits the bill. This likely won't be the last time I take it for a lap around the track.
Hotshot Racing's retro-inspired high-adrenaline arcade racing is simply a joy to experience. The courses themselves are varied, colorful, charming, and full of personality, albeit slightly on the simplistic side in terms of the track designs. Yes, the AI rubber-banding is a relic of the past, but does help deliver tense racing moments. Cranking up the difficulty is similar to moving from 50cc to 150cc in Mario Kart; everything feels faster. The local and online multiplayer should give the game legs, especially considering how fun I found the additional game modes. Now excuse me, I need to live my life drifting through the jungle, avoiding dinosaurs, and trying not to explode.
Hotshot Racing is a great racing game and a beautiful tribute to the classics of the 90s. However, in addition to its gameplay being simple, the number of tracks is low and therefore it appears to be a small title, despite having a considerable number of modes for the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In short, Hotshot Racing is great. As someone who never really sticks with racing games for long, I can honestly see myself coming back to this one a lot. It’s just so much fun to pick up and play. Drifting is so satisfying and the different modes add some variation. With free content coming in the future and a rock hard trophy list, there is always more to strive for. In terms of over-the-top arcade gameplay, this is my favourite racer on PlayStation 4.
Beautiful looking, challenging racing game that recreates all the things you love about arcade racers. Great single and multiplayer experiences to be had here.
When it’s all put together, I had fun with Hotshot Racing, but I don’t see myself coming back to it anytime soon. It’s by no means a poorly designed title; far from it actually! If you’re yearning for a racing game that aims to replicate the arcade games of yore, you’re going to have a blast! Especially if you’ve got some friends to join in the fun! Though if you plan to go in solo, you’ll have to deal with overly aggressive AI and an obtrusive amount of rubber banding. If you were disappointed with Team Sonic Racing last year, Hotshot Racing is sure to restore your faith in Sumo Digital!
I’ve had so much fun with Hotshot Racing, it’s exactly the kind of racing game I’ve been looking to dip into and it offers enough to keep me coming back for more. Disregard at your peril.
While a fine arcade racer, Hotshot Racing's priorities were not quite where they needed to be. With bad AI, and a big need for new content, I wish the resources put into multiplayer were put in places that really needed them.
Without its atrocious AI Hotshot Racing is okay. With it, it's a racing game to avoid. Genre aficionados, especially those who lean towards the more arcade side of the scale, will manage to quench their thirst for a bunch of evenings, but it's unlikely this will stay with you for long.
I was surprised by how much I liked Hotshot Racing. It’s not normally my type of game but I had a lot of fun with it on the Nintendo Switch. I think that those that enjoy arcade racers should definitely check it out.