This PC remake of the classic ZX Spectrum game, Tranz Am, was first released in 2008 by Retrospec. It is a reasonably faithful, “enhanced” conversion of the overhead racing game originally published by Ultimate Play the Game in 1983.
Tag Archives: roads
Elektra Glide, Atari 8-bit
Elektra Glide is a futuristic first-person racing game written by Adam Billyard and published by English Software in 1985. Well, you could call it a “racing” game, but you’re not actually racing against other cars – just a timer.
CrimeWave, Sega Saturn
Released as a Sega Saturn exclusive by Eidos Interactive in 1996, CrimeWave is a vehicular combat game where the player must chase down criminal cars and destroy them with a variety of weapons, within a set time limit.
E-Type, Archimedes
E-Type is an impressive Out Run-style racing game on the Acorn Archimedes where you drive out across various courses with the objective being: to cover as much distance as possible before the timer runs out. You can earn extra time by passing checkpoints and can play the game with either automatic or manual transmission.
Frogger, Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 conversion of the classic arcade game, Frogger, was programmed by Ed English and published by Parker Brothers in 1982.
Pepsiman, PlayStation
Now here’s a game that’ll make you laugh out loud… Pepsiman by Japanese developer Kindle Imagine Develop (aka KID). It was only ever released in Japan, although the game is entirely in English and features full motion video segments in English too.
Pepsiman was the Japanese Pepsi mascot who appeared in TV commercials for the famous soft drink manufacturer in the mid-to-late 1990s. He apparently became quite popular in Japan so naturally someone decided to make a video game based on him, and the resulting game is pretty funny. Pepsiman (the game) was apparently made on a low budget and sold for a low price when it came out, although I can’t find a reference to how much it sold for. If it was for the Japanese equivalent of less than ten pounds, then it was an okay purchase!
Out Run, Megadrive/Genesis
This 1991 Megadrive/Genesis conversion of the classic arcade race game, Out Run, was written by Sega’s AM2 development team – who made the original – and it is therefore very authentic and just as much fun as the arcade game.
Turbo Esprit, ZX Spectrum
Considered by those who know it as an early precursor to Grand Theft Auto, Mike Richardson‘s excellent Turbo Esprit is an action/driving game where the aim is to catch and arrest drugs smugglers by driving around a city and pinpointing them using a map. It was first published for the ZX Spectrum by Durell Software in 1986.
Road Rash 3, Megadrive/Genesis
The third Road Rash was released exclusively for the Sega Megadrive by Electronic Arts in 1995 and it carries on the fine tradition of “video game violence on a motorcycle for one or two players”.
Special Criminal Investigation, Arcade
Sometimes known simply as S.C.I. or Chase HQ 2: Special Criminal Investigation, this high octane driving sequel to Chase HQ is another fast-paced driving game with you playing a cop hot on the heels of some nasty criminals.
It was developed and manufactured by Taito and released into arcades in 1989, and – for my money – is one of the most exciting and heart-pumping 2D chase games ever made.
The King of Grabs 