Speed Punks is a racing game for the original PlayStation that released in 2000 in North America. This game had many interesting elements that boosted the PlayStation at the end of a lifespan filled with gaming advancements and achievements.
Some of the intriguing features that the game had was the vastly different and recognizable characters, memorable racetracks, and multiple power-ups that the player could utilize to sabotage their opponent. It helped continue a long legacy of racing video games while adding a fresh take with its colorful characters and their respective perks.
Each racer in the game had their own advantages and disadvantages when on the racetrack. In today’s racing games, this is a common feature. For example, Tempest was a wild, over-the-top character with high speed and heavy weight. On the other hand, there was a character named Monica who was as cool as a cucumber, feminine, and has a way with boys. Her speed is slow, but her collision recovery is spectacular. Their personalities seemed to match their strengths and weaknesses.
Every race track in Speed Punks had its own set of challenges, from tight turns to waters surrounding the course. Each of the tracks had their own mystery power-ups that the player could use against their opponent, including a homing attack.
This game helped cement the legacy of the original PlayStation. In this time period, racing games were growing and consoles were defining themselves. The PlayStation had made already made itself a name, beating out many other consoles. This game helped wrap up the era of the PS1 as many gamers moved on to the PlayStation 2 that same year.
As it helped to close the chapter to the original PlayStation, Speed Punks was, overall, a fun and thrilling game. From the vibrant characters to the unique tracks to the racing itself, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
For me, this was one of my all-time favorite childhood games. The characters caught my eye along with the vivid, bright themes throughout the game. It was one of my favorite racing games and helped introduce me to other games in a similar style, such as the Mario Kart series. Speed Punks is a game worth revisiting and appreciating for its time.
