Racing games have come on leaps and bounds. No longer are they monotonous, dull, and horrible to listen to. No, no matter the style, they are a fantastic form of entertainment. Whether it is a triple-A title or a simple indie game, they’ll keep you playing and will trigger your competitive edge. This is exactly what Super Woden GP tries to achieve. It captures some of the best elements of old-school racing and finishes off with some modern music, and excellent controls.
Developed by Vijuda and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a retro racing game. What’s more, its isometric viewpoint and pixelated graphics are representative of 90s gaming. Accordingly, I adored it from the off, and couldn’t wait to get stuck in. Thankfully, it was brilliant, mostly, and will be loved by veterans and newcomers to the genre.
Super Woden GP relies on its gameplay.
Unlike some racing games, Super Woden GP has no story. Consequently, this disappointed me slightly. It would have been great to have a love interest or an overarching rivalry throughout. Instead, it relies heavily on its gameplay to see it through. Now, this wasn’t a problem, as it does a fantastic job with its driving mechanics, track layout, and races.
The action revolves around 4 race modes. You have a single race, a competition that comprises several events, an endurance section, and finally, a rally option. Each choice is competitive, fun, and addictive. However, you must work towards the endurance and rally modes as they are locked behind a progression tree. Furthermore, there are additional restrictions due to each vehicle’s bhp or pp. Accordingly, certain events prevent larger engine vehicles from partaking and this ensures that the action remains balanced.
Stars, money, and oodles of cars.
Super Woden GP follows a simple process. Subsequently, there is no in-depth career mode. Instead, you work towards stars, bundles of cash, and mountains of cars. This basic approach was refreshing and gave the game a familiar arcade feel. Furthermore, the short, sharp races allow this to be enjoyed casually.
No matter which event you tackle, you’ll be awarded between 1 and 3 stars for the effort. If you finish 1st, you’ll be awarded 3 stars, 2nd, 2 stars, and 3rd is 1 star. These will then unlock further races as well as additional modes. On top of this, you’ll earn cash that is spent on an array of cars. There is a selection of styles available and they vary from road vehicles to rally cars. Moreover, you must purchase the right engine size for each race you tackle. Subsequently, you must be wise and not waste your money on unnecessary purchases.
Super Woden GP is brilliantly old-school.
Gameplay aside, I adored the visuals and the race design. The brilliantly old-school approach was captivating, stark, and beautifully pixelated. What’s more, the excellent mini-map, straightforward car design, and rudimentary weather fronts were wonderfully retro. On top of this, the isometric viewpoint was a great decision. Thanks to this excellent camera angle, you can easily observe every twist, turn, and opponent you are racing.
Alongside the fantastic visuals were some amazing tunes. I cherished every song as they added energy to this amazing title. Furthermore, they were accompanied by some shrill and uncomfortable sound effects. The roar of the engine, the screech of the tyres, and the crash of metal on metal were incredible.
Excellent controls.
Old-school racing titles had loose controls that were tough to handle. Luckily, Super Woden GP continues this tradition. As such, racing on a twisty and tight circuit is tough and unforgiving. What’s more, your opponents love to smash into you and this makes it harder still. However, with some practice, it is pleasurable and soon becomes second nature.
With no career mode or story, it does plateaux early on. Yet, this doesn’t mean that it’s boring. Instead, I enjoyed the repetitive action and its straightforward ways. Its rudimentary approach ensured that I focused on racing and nothing else. Alongside this, unlocking every race and earning every star is no mean feat. Accordingly, it’ll keep you playing if you want to do win every event.
Super Woden GP is a great retro experience.
Many games have tried to replicate the best retro racing titles. Yet, many of these miss the mark and fail miserably. Fortunately, Super Woden GP gets it spot on and is a fantastic retro experience. Consequently, if you want a trip down memory lane, you need to look no further. As such, I’m happy to recommend that you buy it here! Can you become the next big thing? Buy a car, pick a race, and go for gold.
