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Summary
NeoSprintmarks the return of Atari’sSprintarcade series that first launched in 1976. Published by Atari, the new entry was first conceptualized by the company’s long-time senior art director John Kauderer, and was developed by Headless Chicken Games, which has produced titles likeNickledeon All Star BrawlandCrisTales.This title manages to keep the spirit of its predecessors alive decades later while adding a host of modern improvements and creative customization options, though a few features could benefit from some time in the shop.
Most racing games fall into one of two categories: cartoony, item-filledracers likeMario Kart, or more realistic takes like theGrand Turismoseries, butNeoSprintfills a much lesser-seen subgenre: RC-style competition. With an isometric view and a much bigger focus on physics, the driving style ofNeoSprintis speedy and chaotic in a delightfully unique way compared to many other titles. There are some shortcomings, like a lack of online racing and what sometimes feels like a wall of unlocks required in order to take full advantage of some modes, but it still does the franchise proud.
Racing Through NeoSprint’s Main Campaign
A Bevy Of Tracks, Challengers, & Unlocks
NeoSprint’s story campaign is split across three sets of four cups, which take place across biomes themed after forests, deserts, and winter respectively. Each cup is three regular races and one challenge - a head-to-head competition with just one other driver. Players will need to rank within the top three competitors within three attempts in each one and first in the challenge, or they’ll have to restart the quartet of races. The 48 courses are largely varied and fun, though some do occasionally feel repetitive, and as players progress, they’ll also unlock new decals and track builder items.
Driving inNeoSprintflexes a different set of muscles than typical racers -losing control of the car is much more of a possibility because of the game’s physics, so balancing speed and braking is very important. Tight turns must be navigated carefully, steep slopes must be descended with great caution, and it’s not uncommon to wind up rolling the car several times after jumps or collisions. While this can occasionally feel frustrating, it makes experimenting with car handling specs feel like it carries more weight, and nailing hard navigation moves is always satisfying.
NeoSprint’s Other Modes
Track Building, Multiplayer Fun, & More
NeoSprint’s track designer allows for custom-made courses through a myriad of different track pieces, ramps, obstacles, which can then be shared online and downloaded by other players. It allows for a huge amount of creativity, allowing players to change things like the biome and time of day, add ornamental pieces like banners and stands of fans, and utilize aesthetic variations on different track pieces. Obstacles, steep ramps, and winding curves in particular are a fun way for players to attempt to take their driving to its absolute limit, almost feeling reminiscent of building ridiculous coasters inRollercoaster Tycoon.
The only drawback tothe designer is that it starts very sparse, requiring unlocks to really become viable. On one hand, this encourages players to continue in the campaign and challenges, but for more design-oriented players, it’s unfortunate there’s no purely creative mode available to fully take advantage of at the game’s start. Something similar is true for other modes - the tracks available for Free Race and Grand Prix are locked entirely behind the campaign, so if players are looking to immediately dive into multiplayer fun, they’ll have to do a fair amount of grinding first.
NeoSprint is sadly lacking in online multiplayer.
There are plenty of ways for players to flex their driving skills and customize their experience outside the main campaign. Free Race allows for single track racing of any unlocked in-game track or course downloaded online, and with Grand Prix custom sets of four courses can be made, drawing from downloaded, player-made, and in-game tracks. Both can be played locally with up to eight players, thoughNeoSprintis sadly lacking in online multiplayer, which is especially egregious for aracing game released in 2024. Players can also compete against themselves in time trials and obstacle courses, trying to reach personal bests, and the former will have an online leaderboard.
Final Thoughts & Review Score
3.5/5 - “Very Good” By Screen Rant’s Review Metric
Since the game was played for review before it was released, it wasn’t possible to try the online course sharing feature, but it’s something that holds a huge amount of potential.Games like theMario Makerfranchisehave managed to stay relevant for years after release because of the creative - and often absurd - contributions of its players, andit’s easy to foresee something similar happening withNeoSprint. The title lacking online multiplayer alongside this feels like a real missed opportunity, and that feature would’ve really pushed it over the edge in terms of overall longevity prospects.
The overall racing in the game has a unique feel to it, capturing the chaotic arcade fun of the originalSprintarcade games while also feeling like a true expansion of the gameplay presented in previous entries. Though it has its shortcomings, the quality of life features, extra modes, and opportunities to be creative that it offers make for a satisfying followup so many years later. Whether players are fans of the original entries or just fans of the genre looking to try out a new kind of skillset,NeoSprintoffers a special kind of racing experience.
Screen Rantwas provided with a Nintendo Switch code for the purpose of this review.
