Bang Bang Racing (2011) - Every PC F1 Game
2Bang Bang Racing by Digital Reality Software & Playbox/HandyGames, 2011.
I originally overlooked Bang Bang Racing, as I thought it was a top-down isometric-only title, which I'm not covering in my playlist. However, on closer inspection, it does have a "Follow" camera mode, that attempts to sit behind your car, so I can include it!
There are 4 categories of car in the game, of which these "Apex" ones are the highest level. Obviously based on F1 and IndyCar vehicles. there are a number of cars with a specialist feature (one is stronger, one accelerates better, one handles better, one has higher top speed, one has better nitro, etc). Most handle fairly similarly, though I prefer the ones with better handling and acceleration most. All cars have a nitro boost, but it's limited per lap. There's also a pitlane, should your car become too damaged, though it slows your pace going through it.
There are a number of skins that can be applied to all cars in the game, but you have to unlock them, and some of the unlock conditions are quite tricky (or hard to work out exactly what they are!).
Graphics in this game are good for 2011, comparing favourably to more modern titles like Circuit Superstars. Sound is rather loud, especially the revving at the start, where the same sound can be triggered multiple times, leading you to a headache!
Handling is a bit hard to pinpoint, as there's so much latency/swing on the follow camera that it's hard to work out where you're going sometimes! However it's often better than the isometric camera, where it's hard to work out where the corners are!
There are also barrels dotted around the track, which, if hit, can either leave water or oil slicks on the track, and some explode, damaging you a lot!
Tracks are all based on (though not exactly replicas of) real life F1 venues, with the game files themselves being called Bahrain, Monaco, Belgium, Japan, Long Beach, etc. All can be raced in reverse too, and some have shorter variants plus versions with shortcuts!
1. Race Start (Monza): 0:00 I believe this is the Belgium-themed environment. This gives an idea of how scrappy and chaotic race starts can be!
2. Spray Effects (Silverstone): 0:22 This it the Japan-themed track, it's quite nice to look at. No rain though!
3. Tunnel & View (Monaco): 0:37 The Monaco-themed track doubles down on hairpins! But no tunnel though (which is okay, as you wouldn't be able to see your car from above!
4. Wet Track (Spa-Francorchamps): 0:52 This is an Alps-based track, but the shape is like a mini Spa! So there's snowy tracks in the game, but no wet ones.
5. Pitstop (Interlagos): 1:09 This is the most damaged your car can become, with flames trailing behind it. A quick drive through the pitlane cures this though, and refills your nitro completely!
6. Huge Crash (Montreal): 1:22 Several crashes here, plus a collision with an exploding barrel sees me on fire! There's a cool effect where if you are on fire, or use a nitro, through an oil spill, it momentarily catches on fire!
This is part of the Every PC F1 Game playlist, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYDobL0b26uiiYP8KdN3AwQmsu7ilzpxL