PS1 Hidden Gems: Racers

[@LeweMan]

Fun fact about MotorToonGP, Kazunori Yamauchi made it, who is he? The creator of Gran Turismo

[@Noire_.]

holy shit, it's hard to believe

[@l34052]

LeweMan That's a genuinely interesting fact I didn't know, respect for that one mate.

[@caboosexiv2110]

then motortoon gp is the predecessor to gran turismo

[@That_Handle]

LeweMan , If Polyphony only had retained Motortoon GP 's PS1 serial link as a GT gameplay option - a serial link cable, you and a friend with PS1 consoles equipped with serial I / O ports as well as copies of the game and 2 TVs for either 2 player full screen perspectives or 4 player - 2 players per splitscreen. ToCA 2: Touring Car Challenge and a number of Formula ( and CART? ) racers including Andretti Racing accomplished it as well.

[@shitpost-o-matic7469]

XD

[@AlphaOmegaSin]

That RC De Go! soundtrack is really really good from start to finish

[@MoviesNGames007uk]

Rally Cross, Re-volt, Ray Tracers, Demolition Racer, Hydro Thunder, Mille Miglia, Street Racer, TOCA World Touring Cars and Vanishing Point are a few gems I have played on the PS1

[@randybobandy9243]

MoviesNGames007uk TOCA holla holla!! I tore up plenty of tarmac on that game

[@nusknvp50]

can u please help me. I cant remember. There was a racing game where at some point u race against Jackei Chan. Do u know which one it was?

[@oooooooooooo2332]

MoviesNGames007uk omg I totally forgot about vanish point, awesome!

[@SilentS0lid]

Micro Maniacs was one of my favorite ''racing'' games on ps1 back in the day. I seriously need it in my life again! Never owned it myself.

[@bryanseitz6663]

Hot Wheels Turbo Racing... Great game

[@aaronclayton8958]

Bryan Seitz love that one. Had n64 version

[@k.morris231]

Racers that I played on the PSX were Walt Disney Magical Racing Tour, Gran Turismo and Destruction Derby.

[@rofler950]

That MotorToon game reminds me of Cel Damage on the Xbox and GameCube. It also has that cartoony stretching when you turn. It really gives the driving a unique feel.

[@IdRatherbeDeaddd]

been subbed to this guy since like...2010? maybe earlier, can't remember. and whenever i watch his videos all i see/hear is johnathan davis(korn vocalist) i don't even call him pete, i call him davis.. this needs to change. but, still.. another great video, still in my top five youtubers.

[@radioclash84]

Kasey Pettit wow never thought about that!! so true :)

[@KaotikKnight]

Kasey Pettit thank goodness I'm not the only one to think this.

[@cletusnifler3503]

Fun Fact: Kazuhiro Yamauchi the producer/mind behind the Gran Turismo games also created Motor Toon Grand Prix. Kaz said “I came up with the idea of making a game with a different appearance and we hid Gran Turismo within the game while maintaining the look of the video games that were popular at the time it had the title Motor Toon Grand Prix. From the outside it looked like a popular game from Nintendo which served as a shell but really we were making tests and trials inside the game which led to the development of Gran Turismo.”

[@taueto1]

Motor Toon GP looks absolutely perfect but with one quite big flaw- it hasn´t two player mode (except via link cable) and it is shame because in splitscreen it could be awesome.

[@Youngy365]

Muppet Racemania was one of my favourite racing games on the PS1. There was so many modes in that game, and loads of characters and tracks to unlock.

[@sgamer-xc1bd]

Kart racers really blew up during the late 90s, and there were still quite a lot of them made for PS2 during the early 2000s. I'd say that Muppet Racemania, Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour, Wacky Races, Chocobo Racing and Toy Story Racer are all better picks than the Smurfs. Oh and can't forget about micro machines, I think I suggested it back when you made the Running wild video :) Btw, you should cover the sequel on Xbox if you make a video about 6th console gen kart racers, it's pretty good.

[@PeteDorr]

90sgamer92Eng The only reason I put Smurf Racer in is because I think people just expect it to be total garbage when it's sorta decent. Certainly the weakest in the video though.

[@crimsonshadow1140]

So running wild is essentially a spiritual successor to Sonic R in some aspects

[@maximum9626]

My favorite Hidden Gems for PS1 are: Looney Tunes: Racing Toy Story Racer Micro Machines V3

[@mascarademermelada8746]

i love psx graphics

[@SupremoPete]

Some of my favourite racers on the PS1 were: Destruction Derby 2, Micro MachinesV3, V Rally and of course Gran Turismo

[@gordonm6108]

There was a racer on Ps1 called Mille Miglia, where you raced old 1930s type sports cars. I still contend to this day that it was just as good as Gran Turismo (and I just completed Gran Turismo for the first time in 24 years last night). Mille was awesome!

[@mysticmagnetism2618]

when i was young, i had this weird racing game where instead of using cars, you had characters in weird costumes. All i remember from it it the first cutscene where a grey humanoid is suspended, and then mechanical arms appear with a red spandex suit.

[@rm2kmidi]

Rally Cross was a pretty good off-road racer for the PS1. It was developed by SCEA and was well reviewed. What time I spent with it back in the day was pretty fun. Fun soundtrack, great tracks. Solid graphics and handling. It has multi-tap compatibility for up to 4 players.

[@garyskippracing]

RC deGo is a brilliant game. I was in love with it’s realism, ok it’s PS1 level realism, but the fact it didn’t have crazy courses or power ups and instead accurately depicted what RC Racing was like, really hooked me. This was the Gran Turismo of RC racing games! Not to mention, it was officially licensed by Kyosho and the ending movie has some great footage from the Kyosho World Championships. It was definitely a tough game, especially the later stages, as you mention. While the opening tracks are fun and relaxing, the later tracks and faster cars require 100% concentration to win. It could have been so easy to make this game a lame arcade game, but it really is every ounce a simulation. It had real depth with car tuning and upgrades, which become very necessary to progress. The end credits make the player feel like they’ve climbed Everest. Top title.

[@gamernaut8864]

Great video! I have all these titles as well, and thoroughly agree on their hidden powers! Especially Speed Punks, RC de Go, and Motor Toon Gran Prix! A special note about Motor Toon Gran Prix is that it supports the LINK-CONSOLE feature. Playing this title in link-mode with a friend on another system and TV is good times. There are also some awesome unlockable 2-player games mode once the championship is completed. One game is just like a 3-D version of BATTLESHIP, and the other is a knock-off of the old coin-op arcade tank-battle game BATTLE ZONE. Both these games have to be played in a 2-player LINK mode as I recall. Motor Toon is one of the best kart racers ever!

[@TheBrutal757Channel]

Here's some more: RC Racer Team Losi, Rush Hour, Peak Performance, Circuit Breakers, Micro Machines V3, Rollcage Stage 2, and N.Gen Racing.

[@canal_do_murad]

I think this is the first time I see anyone commenting on Running Wild, I played it a lot, it's quite fun. I love racing games of all kinds, and one of my hobbies is discovering some gems among so many obscure racing games, so much so that I post videos about these games on my channel daily.

[@ajmohawk2993]

The PlayStation 1 games sure had a huge array of unique and original games for its library, and I applaud it for being a part of my childhood. Thanks to videos like this, it’s nice to have others who love PS1 to seek out some overlooked, underrated, and obscure titles that deserve some recognition. Great video, man!

[@TheHeineHouse]

Fantastic video Pete, I wish we could have collaborated on a video like this, you know how I love my racers, especially on the PS1. I have easily 50 or so racers I can recommend for this console! I loved seeing your picks, every single one is right on the money!

[@seal3081]

HeineHouseEntertainment who says you can't collaborate for sequel to this video?

[@gwokymarla]

seal3081 I do

[@GVGames1986]

Yeah Speed Freaks was made toward the end of the Ps1 lifespan as a prime console (alongside the N64). The goal when developing it was clean colourful graphics even on multi-player. That is why the go-karts don't have chassis and the parts just float around. They achieved a very good result it was one of the best at the back end of the Ps1 era.

[@Mojo32]

Micro machines v3 and micro maniacs, circuit breakers, and RC de go were my favorite on the PS1 "back in the day." 😎

[@superbn0va]

Ray Tracers, Bugriders, Courier Crisis, Speedster, Hot wheels, Wreckin crew, Walt Disney world quest: magical racing tour, Midnight run

[@Slaughterbeck16]

I loved Grand Tour Racing as a kid.

[@GVGames1986]

Speed Punks was called Speed Freaks in the UK. I used to have it 99% complete and knew all the short cuts. Great game especially 4 player split screen!

[@RyumaXtheXKing]

Funny that you mention Rollcage. I think it is better known than the rest of the video. I mean, currently a kickstarter is running to fund a spritual successor to the series. A better pick would be a really similar game from the same developer called Firebugs, only released in PAL. Very similar in gameplay, just a little bit more colorful. I don't know if you knew, but the Racing Game Database, RGDB, makes finding new racers really easy. Check it out if you haven't already.

[@HyperFuze]

Yes yes all my yes. Motor Toon Grand Prix is one of my favorite ps1 games of all time. Thank you for including it.

[@HorrorReview]

I played scars as a kid and I've been trying to find out the name of that game for so long! Thanks man the video is awesome.

[@lerxsty]

great video man. im glad you talked about S.C.A.R.S my friend had it when we were kids and we played it alot.

[@andrewschroy6368]

This video actually made me want to get S.C.A.R.S. and Speed Punks for Christmas last year! And I already have RC de GO! and Motor Toon Grand Prix. Now, I need to get the remaining three... :D

[@St_Rizla]

Favourite thing about Speed Punks, or Speed Freaks as it was known here in Europe, is that it was made in Ireland.

[@GVGames1986]

Some off the top of my head (before watching); Rapid Racer (speedboats), S.C.A.R.S, Total Drivin, Roll Cage.

[@IrishladScark]

Speed Punks (Or Speed Freaks where I am from) is fantastic, I had it while I was younger and rebought it on ebay last year, It was common in Ireland as it was developed in Ireland, but I understand elsewhere, good memories on that one.

[@rshapiro6]

Two favorites of mine that you missed, Sled Storm and Micro Maniacs, an anthropomorphized version of micro machines.

[@RegularJohn53]

I used to play Rollcage all the time on PC when I was a kid. The original devs made GRIP which is available on modern systems, it's highly recommended!

[@Gunnerty85]

you missed micro machines v3!!!

[@PeteDorr]

tpurchase85 I need a copy :)

[@gabrielfalk2608]

My god, Motor Toon GP was one of my favorite games to play when I was young. Very nice to see that you brought him too the video.

[@DrKrasus]

rollcage and s.c.a.r.s both did amazingly well here in the UK so im aurprised to see them in a hudden gems video. never even heard of smurf racers though

[@altrogeruvah]

Great list, Pete. I am a huge fan of the "De GO!" series. ...granted they're more famous for their train simulator series, Densha De GO! which I have a soft spot for, I love everything they do. Also, Motor Toon Grand Prix is a great game, I loved it back in the day. Who would have thought that the very same team would eventually go and develop the Gran Turismo series? (the dozen of people that worked on the Motor Toon series went on to form Polyphony Digital)

[@tenderstems]

I have no frame of reference for what is considered a hidden gem, given the sheer number of games for the PS1, but I played Porsche Challenge and Micro Maniacs a ton!

[@saneless]

Nice to see you activating again, totally enjoy your videos. That said, I have haven't found any racer games that I like, as long as single players go.

[@jacobyne]

Muppet Race Mania (don't use Gonzo) Rally Cross 1 and 2 Racing simulation monaco grand prix (don't try if you're not a F1 fan) Ray Tracers (not that much of a racer) Ngen Racing Re-Volt 2 (if you can manage the twitchy controls)

[@kcat80]

great video! anyone who says ps1 couldn't compete with n64 in terms of fun kart racers is clearly wrong! there was a lot of fun games in that style for playstation. "street racer" was another, its a 2d style one which also had versions on 16bit systems.

[@this_connor_guy]

Oh, Running Wild! I forgot about that one! I remember playing the demo quite a bit. I also remember one winter, when my brother and I were kids, there was an ice storm and we slid down our driveway on our stomachs like the characters in this game, HAHA. Oh man, good times.

[@91josh]

YES! SPEED FREAKS! A game that gets no love from anyone I know but is so much fun to play, especially multiplayer. Plus the single player can be mega challenging, specifically trying to unlock the hidden characters.

[@BlaizeV]

That RC game looks amazing, never heard of it before

[@spongebelt]

Sled Storm is my favorite racing games on ps1. You should check that game out if you haven't!

[@travistaylor3186]

Excellent video, actually saw some games I’d never seen before

[@jakbu]

Michelin Rally Masters: Race of Champions was my fav.

[@claresaprama499]

You forgot N-GEN racing. It's the only game where you race with an Aircraft.

[@Dan-gh6sb]

Loving all your videos mate, you're one of the most knowledgable collectors on KZbin. Thanks!

[@macmartin86]

Colin McRae Rally 1 and 2.0 are very good too, maybe not too hidden, but pretty darn good.

[@Deathinflames]

Gran Turismo 2 was one of my favorite games on the PS1, although that's not at all of the mainstream path. Road Rash was amazing too.

[@TebbieBear]

Interesting list, two "hidden gem" racing games that I loved from the PS1 were RallyCross and RageRacer. I played both of those for hours while in college before Grand Turismo was released.

[@benni2312]

Rc De Go was my Favorite Game on ps1 (after gt2)

[@willou199]

so many good memories on speed punk, and this game has good controls, it just need a bit of practice to master the drifts. amazing graphics for its time also.

[@danielcameron7854]

I spent hours playing Speed Punks when I was younger :)

[@miragespl]

For Japanese racers I would recommend Racing Lagoon and Option Tuning Car Battle.

[@jonasgreis]

I love SCARS, Rollcage stage 2 and Speed Freaks (europa name) Good list, it could be nice if you make more videos with hidden gems. Figting game, Role playing games and so on

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

nascar Rumble, one of the best.

[@Gloop97]

Great video! IMO Looney Tunes Racing is one of the best kart racers on the PS1.

[@jorgealves8319]

SCARS has great graphics and the art style of Motor Toon reminds me of LBP Karting

[@MPK112233]

Streak on PS1 was really under appreciated. I had a lot of fun with that rental.

[@levelwithme8535]

Jeremy Mcgrath supercross 98 and Sled Storm are both solid.

[@DreamcasticChannel]

Love me some Speed Punks! Great video man! Some really fun looking racers there!

[@ViperRacing7]

Dead in the water and Porsche Challenge were two that could have been on there but hey like you said there's plenty that you missed because of the list being so huge ;)

[@videogameobsession]

MotorToon Grand Prix is an awesome game. Being developed by Polys AKA Polyphony definitely shows here. The controls are solid and the smooth shaded graphics were great at the time. People who wish to buy this should be aware that there are two games and only one was released in the US. MotorToon Grandprix in the USA is actually MotorToon Grand Prix 2 in Japan. So I recommend buying: Motortoon Grand Prix (Japan) www.videogameobsession.com/videogame/ps1/PSX-MotorToonGrandPrixJPN-vgo.jpg And MotorToon Grand Prix (USA) (Motortoon 2) www.videogameobsession.com/videogame/ps1/PSX-MotorToonGrandPrix-vgo.jpg In addition, MotorToon Grand Prix is also available to play on PSN (PS3) and looks great when upscaled to 1080p.

[@giggitygoo3000]

Demolition racer is another underrated racing game.

[@MMasterDE]

Motor Toon Grand Prix was by the same people as who made Gran Turismo. I believe they implemented one of the tracks in some of the Gran Turismo games. I think I got the second game.

[@smallboxoftruths1585]

I'm building my RetroPie and this helped me a lot!

[@gabejva6071]

Vehicular combat gems next! Vigilante 8 is pretty much perfection.

[@daftyofficial]

Does Looney Tunes Racing count as a hidden gem?

[@GamesWithTea]

i don't have much knowledge when it comes to the ps1 hence no recommendations..thanks for making this video

[@juant8631]

Also, I love how Universal tried to advertise Running Wild as something by the producers of Crash Bandicoot, even though they only have the same publisher. And, 3, 2, 1, DERP! (get the reference, get a cookie)

[@dansketch]

Disney extreme racing is another one, my wife and I have it and she absolutely loves it

[@icewind4848]

I know this is sort of a weird request Pete, but would you consider doing a video on some original XBOX hidden gems? I'm curious to know what you'd recommend. I recently finished Shenmue 2...

[@DanielBrown-nb9zz]

--YES I've been trying to remember the names of at least 2 of these games for a week!

[@kylegam3broz9]

Great list and video Pete!

[@lucidrebuilds6129]

Toy story rc racer was a great racing game also.

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

RC de Go reminds me of Motorstorm RC for PS3 and Vita, as well as the newly released VRC Pro for PC!

[@PeteDorr]

Cyberbrickmaster1986 I forgot all about that Motorstorm RC gamem I really want to play it!

[@soaked23]

More videos like this Pete and I may just donate to your Patreon!

[@paonessa6]

One of my favorites as a kid was Micro Maniacs. I'd play it all the time. There was also a Muppets one but I'm unsure of the title.

[@FalconPan]

Was surprised not to see Circuit Breakers on there. That's one of my favourites on the system :)

[@robertojaketti7370]

Thank you for introducing 'RC DE GO' to ne with ur video, cos i probably would not have known its existence. I found the game recently and bought it for quite cheap. Its really fun and looks great with smooth framerate, shame its not multiplayer but i guess its a bit of a technical limitation due to its camera perspective.

[@Bmann707]

Awesome video Pete :) gotta add these to my list to buy

[@rmgb-tv]

The announcer from RC De Go sounds like the one from Rock 'N' Roll Racing. Have you played Firebugs? It's lacking in challenge a bit, but still fun. Micro Maniacs was also a brilliant spin off from Micro Machines, with little characters running around instead of cars.

[@w1ntermode]

Firebugs is the sequel to Rollcage 2.

[@rmgb-tv]

+SqueekyBeanz Not really... it's by the same developer, but that doesn't make it a sequel.

[@w1ntermode]

Okay then. A 'Spiritual Successor'. I'll always consider it the third rollcage...

[@memeboooiiii]

love these types of racers

[@TerribleLizard]

Great. Video! Pete have you played, Tail of the Sun for PSX? It's a caveman simulator. Super weird, great music and atmosphere, very fun!

[@Hijynx87]

Oh wow, I forgot about Motor Toon Grand Prix, so good! I remember renting it with my buddy back in the day and playing it all night.

[@Evan2768]

thanks for the video pete, really enjoyed it

[@mr.razington7881]

Loved this list, played more than half of them :P As far as other obscure PS1 racers go, how about Grand Tour Racing? Good variety of tracks, fun arcade physics, and good sense of speed especially in the later tracks.

[@OwtDaftUK]

Tank Racer!!

[@PeteDorr]

OwtDaftUK Looks fun, thanks for the suggestion that will be on my wish list for the future!

[@Graveworm667]

Another great and informative video. I remember playing a lot of the first Rollcage when I was a kid and loving it. I didn't even know that a second game existed, I might have to pick it up in the future. :)

[@becomeanolive1]

Running Wild was really fun and I played with my brother and friends split screen 4 players for endless hours!

[@mwinn23]

Thanks great video, just bought RC De Go! for £4.99 as a result of this video, looks a great game :)