Genre: Racing
Publisher: The Hit Squad
Year: 1989
System: Amstrad CPC
Crazy Cars is a vertically scrolling arcade racer that puts players behind the wheel of exotic supercars, racing across various American landscapes. The game was originally developed and published by French studio Titus Software, and later re-released in budget format by The Hit Squad.
The Amstrad CPC version showcases large, colourful sprites and an unusual vertical perspective, setting it apart from more common side-scrolling racers on the platform. Players must dodge oncoming traffic and negotiate tight corners, progressing through increasingly difficult levels.
The game was reviewed in Amstrad Action Issue 33 (June 1988), where it received a 59% score. The review praised the visuals and the technical ambition of the vertical scrolling, but felt that the gameplay was repetitive and lacked real excitement, with little to distinguish between the cars or stages.
Despite this, Crazy Cars became a modest success, spawning several sequels and appearing on multiple 8- and 16-bit platforms.
