Hard Drivin’
System: Genesis
Release Date: December 1990
Developer: Sterling Silver Software
Publisher: Tengen
Genre: Racing
You can’t get closer to the thrill of real racing without a fire-proof suit in Hard Drivin’! Hop onto the track in this revolutionary driving simulation with true 3D graphics. Choose on the fly whether you want to race the Speed Track or Stunt Track and then enjoy the blistering fast speed at an unbelievable 5 frames per second. Don’t try these stunts in a real car!
Turn your engine by pressing the Start Button. Stay straight if you want the Speed Track, or turn right if you want the Stunt Track. Don’t let the word speed fool you, because if you take the turns too fast, you’ll soar off the track. There are speed limit signs that you really need to follow if you want to stay on the road. There is a timer that you can extend by reaching the checkpoint or the finish. You’ll keep going until you run out of time.
The Stunt Track requires you to be precise with your driving. Right off the bat, if you go too fast down the ramp, you’ll crash! Then the bridge jump will get you to over rotate if you’re going too fast. Up next is from your favorite slot car track, a loop de loop! You have to avoid oncoming traffic and keep a proper speed to get through. There’s another overpass that requires proper speed. Then the final stunt is a banked curve that you can fly off of if you’re too fast.
If you finish a lap quicker than a minute forty, you qualify for a challenge against Phantom Photon! This ghost rider challenges you to the Stunt Track and beating him signifies your victory. You can’t crash into him, but any crashing you do will end the challenge immediately. You must also not leave the track for more than 10 seconds. It took me a few tries before I finally got through the challenge, but when I did, I left Photon in my dust. This creates a new time and a new ghost car to beat until you hit the power.
Then I just had fun hitting the cow in front of the barn and doing crashes. Really, crashing is the fun thing to do in Hard Drivin’. The semi-truck, in particular, will catch you out of nowhere, especially on the loop de loop. Try to get the silliest crashes for maximum enjoyment.
Graphics: 2.0
It’s the first fully polygonal game on the Genesis and doesn’t look awful, but the frame rate sure is.
Sound: 1.5
I love the opening theme and the crash theme is fun, but other than that, it’s pitchy tire noises and an underpowered engine. Moo.
Gameplay: 1.5
If we’re being honest, the car control is floaty and laggy, and really unfriendly.
Difficulty: 3.0
You can pick up the controls after a few laps and getting to Phantom Photon isn’t that onerous.
Fun Factor: 2.5
Despite its simplicity, it’s fun to pop this one in for some crashes before moving on to something else.
Overall Rating: 2.1
Hard Drivin’ earns a C. This isn’t a long play game, it’s a quick diversion, but it’s fun for what it is.