Hotshot Racing Review (PlayStation 4)

by Jim Smale · September 11, 2020

Hotshot Racing review

Hotshot Racing is a blisteringly fast arcade-style racing game fusing drift handling, razor-sharp retro visuals, and an incredible sense of speed to create an exhilarating driving experience.

Pros:

Awesome graphics.
4.54mb download size.
Platinum trophy.
Racing gameplay.
Four modes-Grand Prix, Single Race, Time Trial and Online.
Audio preset-SFX focus, environment focus, custom, default, and music focus.
Arcade game presentation.
Grand Prix-four cups-The tour/Pro circuit/Racing elite and hotshot.
Three difficulties-normal, hard, and expert.
8 characters who each have their own garage of cars with unique stats. You can personalize your character by buying or winning races.
Manual and automatic gear option.
Arcade racing with drift mechanic for building your turbo up.
Race replays.
Earn cash from racing and it depends on your position.
Can pan the camera around.
Five driving views including the in-car view.
Aggressive AI even on easy.
Your character will shout things out as you drive.
Car customisation options-palette, skin, bonnet, front bumper, rear bumper, wheels, side skirt, boot, spoiler, exhaust, hood blower, headlights, rear lights, steering wheel, dashboard, accessories, and Bobbleheads.
Unlock new options for your car by doing certain tasks and you can see what the task is.
Actions-you can drift to fill your boost or draft someone for an immediate boost.
Boost start.
Characters have an ending after finishing the Grand Prix.
Four race locations-Coast, desert, jungle, and mountain. Each has four tracks on them.
Online leaderboards and staff ghost times.
The single race has 3 game modes-arcade, cops n robbers, and drive or explode. Set difficulty and lap amount.
Online-quick race, ranked race, join a game (filters and browser), and host (private/friends/public).
Online multiplayer supports 2-8 players.
Online multiplayer allows bots to be added.

Hotshot Racing review

Cons:

Twitchy driving.
AI is very aggressive.
No tutorial race.
Only one control layout.
Only a couple of skins for characters.
Music is not a strong point.
Can’t save replays.

Hotshot Racing review

9/10
Graphics - 9/10
8/10
Sound - 8/10
9/10
Accessibility - 9/10
9/10
Length - 9/10
9/10
Fun Factor - 9/10

8.8/10

Summary

Hotshot Racing is a marriage of retro and modern, racing and skill, it brings all kinds of racers from the last few generations of games and makes a cohesive and addictive shooter. Pulling inspiration from games like Daytona USA, Outrun and Burnout, Hotshot Racing is a game that makes arcade racing fun again with a solid responsive drifting system, fun varied locations, and a presentation that you cannot help but smile at. Whilst I needed a few initial races to learn the drifting, it soon became second nature and the joy has never stopped. Overall I found Hotshot Racing to be one of the best modern retro games this generation.