IFRAME:
   https://web.archive.org/web/20250519145255if_/https://www.googletagmana
   ger.com/ns.html?id=GTM-K338NM8

   Advertisement
   (BUTTON)
   Close advertisement
   United KingdomUnited States
   BBC TopGear BBC TopGear
   BBC TopGear
   Skip to main content
   BBC TopGear
   United KingdomUnited States
   Input your search term
   ____________________
   (BUTTON)
   Search
   (BUTTON)
   Clear
     * Reviews
     * (BUTTON) News
          + All news
          + USA news
     * Electric
     * Advice
     * Gaming
     * Watches
     * Hot Lists
     * (BUTTON) More
          + Retro
          + Big Reads
          + Videos
          + TV Show
          + Satire
          + Podcast
          + Subscribe to Top Gear Magazine
     * Hot Hatch

   (BUTTON) SEARCH
   Input your search term
   ____________________
   (BUTTON)
   Search
   (BUTTON)
   Clear
     * Home
     * Car news
     * Gaming
     * Remembering classic games: Stunts (1990)

   Gaming

Remembering classic games: Stunts (1990)

   Combine an impressive physics engine with a relaxed attitude towards
   copyright infringement and Stunts is the result
   Mike Channell
   Published: 08 Apr 2024
   (BUTTON)
   (BUTTON)
   (BUTTON)
   (BUTTON)
   (BUTTON)
   External link to
   Top Gear Magazine Subscription - 5 issues for -L-5
   Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
   Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures.
   Stunts

   Stunts is a game that could be generously described as "inspired by"
   classic arcade title Hard Drivin' and less generously described as
   "entirely robbed from it". In fact, Stunts probably had the most
   relaxed, early Nineties approach to copyright infringement of any game
   we've seen, given that it also contained an entire fleet of unlicensed
   Lamborghinis, Porsches and Audis.

   Stunts did, at least, improve on the formula, most notably with a
   flexible and easy to use track editor, which was where the game's real
   longevity lay. If you wanted to create a nauseating sequence of loops
   and jumps, where the challenge was less about winning the race and more
   about keeping your lunch down, that was your choice.
   Advertisement - Page continues below

   Races were a shootout against a single opponent, which you chose from a
   roster of such evocative automotive-related names as Skid Vicious and
   Helen Wheels. You also selected their car and the circuit, but what the
   game offered in customisation it lacked in structure. There was no
   championship mode, just a series of single races and fastest lap tables
   to climb.

   While the graphics might look simplistic today, Stunts actually
   featured a relatively impressive physics engine, simulating oversteer
   and understeer on a variety of surfaces. You could also resume a race
   from any point during its replay, in a precursor to the `flashback'
   system that is common in modern games like the Forza and F1 series.

You might like

   The secrets behind a Forza Horizon world map: Playground Games spills
   all

   New Apple CarPlay Ultra tested: hands-on with every new feature

   The 'king of engines': one last hurrah in the 8.0-litre, 1,578bhp
   Bugatti Bolide
   6

   Oblivion Remastered: five things to do in Bethesda's best game for
   years

   Most novel of all, though, was a copy protection system to prevent
   people pirating the game. To start a race you had to enter a missing
   word from a sentence in the manual. If you got it wrong, the game would
   let you drive for four seconds before it instantly destroyed the car,
   informing you that you had failed to disable the vehicle's security
   system. Wonder which Thatcham category that is...
   Advertisement - Page continues below

Top Gear
Newsletter

   Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular
   round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.

   Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
   Success
   Your Email*
   ____________________
   ____________________
   Gaming
   (BUTTON)
   View comments
   Advertisement

Featured

   20

   Top Gear's top 20 electric cars
   Advertisement

Featured

   20

   Top Gear's top 20 electric cars

More from Top Gear

     * Gaming
     * News

   Turn on JavaScript to see all related content.
   Loading
   See more on Gaming

Trending this week

     Opinion

Hit or miss: Renault 5 Turbo
    1. Gaming

The secrets behind a Forza Horizon world map: Playground Games spills all
    2. Formula One

Franz Hermann roars to Imola victory on F1 debut
    3. Used cars

Here are 10 sub--L-20k performance cars with over 400bhp we found this week
    4. Car Review

Skoda Kodiaq
    5. Tech

New Apple CarPlay Ultra tested: hands-on with every new feature

Subscribe to the Top Gear Newsletter

   Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular
   round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.

   Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
   Success
   Your Email*
   ____________________
   ____________________
   Country*
   [Please select your country__________________]

   By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers
   by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Your information will be used
   in accordance with our privacy policy.

   Sorry, something went wrong
   Please try again
   (BUTTON) Subscribe
   BBC TopGear
   magazine

Subscribe to BBC Top Gear Magazine

   find out more
   BBC TopGear
   Region: United Kingdom | United States
     * Contact Us
     * Privacy Policy
     * Cookies Policy
     * Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Info
     * Archive

     * External link to
       Site Terms
     * External link to
       Code of conduct
     * External link to
       Advertise with us
     * External link to
       Top Gear Magazine
     * External link to
       Site Map

   This website is made by BBC Studios Distribution.

   BBC Studios is a commercial company that is owned by the BBC (and just
   the BBC). No money from the licence fee was used to create this
   website. The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to
   help fund great new BBC programmes. BBC is a trademark of the British
   Broadcasting Corporation. Logos (c) 1996.
   External link to
   More about BBC Studios

Top Gear international sites :list of 13 items

     * External link to
       France
     * External link to
       Greece
     * External link to
       Hong Kong
     * External link to
       India
     * External link to
       Italy
     * External link to
       Japan
     * External link to
       Netherlands
     * External link to
       Philippines
     * External link to
       Serbia
     * External link to
       South Africa
     * External link to
       Spain
     * External link to
       Taiwan
     * External link to
       Middle East