Beetle Adventure Racing-Wait, why is this good?

On this week's edition of Under10Hours, we barrel through Beetle Adventure Racing, a racing game on the Nintendo 64. This was a weird addition to the library of racers for the system, but it's surprisingly still a decent game to play. It's very much a vision of its time.
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[@slackabro]

I know I'm late to this party, I just stumbled across it. I was the Art Director and track designer for this game. Watching the video and reading through the comments just brightened my day. It's 20 years since the game came out! It was It was a little cringe watching the video of the player hitting every wall and object on the track! Watching this also brought back great memories of making it!

[@milesbrown2261]

it was a great game honestly. Coventry Cove is so pretty and I really like Metro Madness too, crashing through all the windows and drifting around the tight city corners. Oh and the secret alien track and the ufo in mount mayhem.

[@KirikoLoverr]

You’re the track designer and art director??? No wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, that’s dope asf. Thank you for making these god tier tracks and designs

[@NixCM]

fantastic work!

[@Brett_S_420]

The track design is what made this easily the best racer on the 64. The shortcuts (& longcuts) brought it to another level of strategy when playing against a friend. I have only fond memories of playing this. Your work was much appreciated!

[@paulphoenix007]

@slackabro awesome work man

[@Phantomworks666]

I cannot be the only one who wakes up in the morning to fog and proceeds to say “it’s foooggggy” like the narrator in this game 😂

[@kalebcoleman-harrison1521]

Hot laaava

[@Justin-rv7oy]

Why is it so good? IMO, track design.

[@FernandoMartinez-rn8ty]

I’ve been playing this game during quarantine and I forgot how much fun it is especially with multiplayer.

[@Under10Hours]

That's something I regret not playing for the video! It's a blast either way, but a lot of people have mentioned that the battle mode was great.

[@DiabloBrano]

Dude yeah same!! This & Rush 2 franchise is a blast to play with others

[@insipid_ear9150]

This was, and still is one of my favorite games. The track designs were awesome, unlocking the alien bug was always my favorite car. Such an under-rated game in my opinion. Oh, you forgot the multi-player with racing and beetle battle! So much fun! Metro Madness was my favorite music from the game!

[@Under10Hours]

Totally underrated! I wish we'd get a followup!

[@MunksTT]

My brother and I played this game every day for years and we never had a memory pack so we only ever got as far as the Inferno level but that never stopped us from enjoying it so much! The music, the janky controls, the alien ship in the snowy cave… pure magic.

[@polaris911]

how could you NOT talk about the incredible multiplayer?

[@Under10Hours]

Didn't have anyone to play with for long enough :/

[@burger_shake1405]

@@Under10Hours I'll bring some soda's, Bagel Bites and Totino's Pizza Rolls and we'll tackle this multiplayer.

[@Under10Hours]

@@burger_shake1405 only if you let me bring the Dr. Pepper and Surge!

[@Butt--Head]

@@Under10Hours Mmmmmmm surge

[@Kilo-sz4ch]

I love how you put the music in the background throughout the video.

[@Under10Hours]

Thanks for watching!

[@princeLaharl2]

This was one of my favorite N64 game for the longest time. Literal decades later I played it again and it felt just like the first time. There are so many amazing secrets in this game.

[@MatthewMaranan]

My mom bought me this game on a whim….I loved it so much. Spent days playing it with my cousin and inventing our own wacky challenges in multiplayer. I even remember we would quote the Alien Beetle horn all the time “Equimentase” lol the things you do as a child. What a great game and even greater memories….wtf at that HSV Racing though….it looks wrong 😂

[@marximus4]

Apparently the alien horn says "We come in peace."

[@BlackJohnnyCage]

Only played this Game a handful of times as a kid but the game was so adventurous that I refused to forget it! Crashing into that phone booth impacted My life!😆 Nostalgic.

[@GodlikeIridium]

This game was so much fun! Especially unlocking the police beetle! 😂 And the hidden shortcuts etc. Just such a well made game.

[@micbr508]

Addressing HSV Adventure Racing, I believe it was a licensed tie-in with Holden's performance-oriented division, Holden Special Vehicles. Because Holden was one of Australia's big-four local production automakers at the time, beloved by many and considered iconic in Australian culture, perhaps it made sense to release a version that used a car that Australians would recognise and appreciate. However, adding confusion to the mix, it does appear that Beetle Adventure Racing made its way into Australia one way or another. I have a copy of Beetle Adventure Racing, marked NUS-NNSP-UKV (UK release), but with an Australian "G" rating sticker affixed to the box, and rented out by Video Ezy - a chain of Australian video rental stores similar to Blockbuster. It's possible they had some copies available as rental-only exclusives, but without knowing the full story, I can't be sure.

[@Under10Hours]

Wow that's wild. I had never heard of HSV before, but given how beloved they were, it would make sense to have a game. Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[@Colt45hatchback]

Both hsv and beetle adventure racing were side by side in kmart/target etc video game departments, $30 initially then 16, then 10 right before they stopped selling n64 stuff (melbourne australia) also, the vt holden commodore was the best selling car at the time, possibly still the best selling australian car, so i guess its justified somewhat. I got gran turismo instead at the time, but i got the rom for my everdrive yesterday. Good game and yes i use manual, who races a track with corners in an automatic? 🤣

[@abrahamicreligionsbowbefor3585]

yes, I live in AU and we got beetle adventure racing and HSV racing, same games apart from menu voice and models

[@fretbarley9301]

Hands down my favorite racing game growing up. The whole vibe of the game from the expansive tracks with their interactables to the groovy (albeit repetitive) soundtrack was immaculate. It was and still is a game that when people are flipping through my game collection question and can back up my high praise for it when I fire it up.

[@1darnright19]

Ahhh yesss good ol Beetle Adventure Racing. I have the game somewhere in storage. Now I just need an N64 that works. Glad to see people playing and reviewing this all the way into 2021. One thing I couldn’t help but notice is when you said that the cars were color locked based on the stats they were assigned. That is actually not correct. The color can be selected by pressing up or down. Whether it was by the joystick or d-pad, I can’t recall, but the colors of the cars could be changed. It actually says it right below the cars when selecting which car to race with. Although, I don’t think the color could be changed for the cop or alien beetle. I never got that far. Fun fact regarding that alien paint job. Some mad lad over on Forza Horizon 4 actually painted up one of the GRC beetles to look like the alien beetle from the game. Made me happy to see some fans of the game making an homage to one of the more hard won cars in the game. And lastly, the horns in B.A.R. may have little to no use except with the cop car, but the alien beetle actually had a unique horn of an electronic voice saying “we come in peace” whenever the horn button is pressed.

[@jarededwards9740]

I first rented this game from Blockbuster as a 9 year old. It created an obsession with Beetles. I now have a collection of over 500 ranging from the little pull-n-go keychains, to r/cs, and even the real ones...all because of this awesome game. Before this game, didn't care about the beetle. This is still my favorite video game of all time and I thought your review of it was awesome.

[@bcm8984]

Ya should’ve mentioned the multiplayer battle mode as well. The arenas were well built and fun. It’s nothing that will make it the best battle car game but it was a good edition and I have fond memories of it

[@Nat-jf2ge]

I had this game as a kid then I saw the HSV adventure racing games pop up in stores about a month later. It's strange they had both in Australia.

[@charlieretro]

I’m trying to find the HSV version at the moment.

[@superharuhifan]

​@@charlieretro hahaha i have 16 copies 😈

[@joelagrinsoni4016]

Man, as a kid , my cousins and I would play multiplayer for hours! This game Star Wars rogue squadron and ocarina of time is what got my cousin who was an avid PS1 player, bought the Nintendo 64 for this game and a few other titles are. My cousin Angel passed away in 2019, I do miss him a lot and I miss playing with him On this game, and this game is what brought some of the best memories on the 64😢 😢 RIP ANGEL

[@shaun8062]

Rest in peace Angel! Thanks for sharing your cool memories! A lot of us can relate and sometimes it's those types of memories that are truly important, meaningful, impactful, and really orchestrate a profound part of the human heart that is all too easily lost in the wind or dismissed by some. I certainly do not.

[@bobfromsoireegames4309]

This is a great game. I'm glad it's still getting love.

[@RaposaCadela]

Cool! I always hear people referencing this game, saying it's surprisingly good. It looks pretty neat! Interesting how we still see licensed games about a single car nowadays sometimes, like Yaris for the 360.

[@Under10Hours]

I totally forgot about Yaris! It's a pretty cool little game. I played it a lot when I was growing up, but sometimes it feels like a fever dream with a volcano exploding and all 😂

[@jackkrauser2361]

Bro this isn’t a “cash in game.” The team that developed it was hella talented and we’re using some of the most sophisticated graphics at the time. Look it up.

[@clubley2]

I'm sad my favourite shortcut wasn't shown. On the snowy level, the ramp on the bridge. If you aim a bit to the left and go off the bridge you go in a cave with a UFO inside.

[@porsche911sbs]

I hope Volkswagen comes out with another version of the Beetle someday

[@Under10Hours]

I'm sure they will. I can imagine that when the market is right and the nostalgia is back, they'll make another.

[@porsche911sbs]

@reid ob I would say it was commissioned by him, not invented. Hitler wasn't an engineer.

[@MrBTokenat420]

Gonna make that alien bug a reality someday

[@dillpicklexp5645]

I was 7 when this came out and I'm the dork who picked manual. This game was the best racing game of my childhood aside from nfs Porsche unleashed which is basically beetle adventure racing on steroids lol.

[@chrisrush3513]

This game was so much fun back in the day. I loved it, Tracks had so many secrets and shortcuts. Metro Madness was my favorite track.

[@astutemanx53]

i literaly would like that they remasterised the game or just put a Hd version

[@Under10Hours]

I would love that!

[@hazridge]

OH MY GOD I THINK I HAD THAT AUSTRALIAN HSV VERSION. Holden dealerships were giving out copies for free to people who came in to look at the new commodore which actually replaced the one that was featured in the game. I did not expect to see that in this video lmaaaoooo

[@davidstrawn9272]

Beetle adventure racing is mine, my twin brother Daniel's and my sister Leah's first Nintendo 64 game, we loved that despite that we're disappointed that it didn't feature Old Classic VW beetles (that's what I don't like about this game), still love it! Two tracks Inferno Isle and Wicked Woods have two scary animals that really scared the living daylights out of me such as the Dragons and the Sharpteeth (I know it's a dinosaur called a T-Rex as a reference to Jurassic park (I would love to see an artist of Deviantart who's a fan of Beetle Adventure Racing make a picture of VW beetles being chased by a T-Rex while racing like in Jurassic park before leaving the Dino park and enter the village), but I call T rexes and other carnivorus dinosaurs Sharpteeth as a reference to the Land Before Time)! So Groovy! I'm a huge fan of Punch-buggies! Please, Don't Punch Back!

[@ceroscentauri7045]

Found out about this recently and have been playing it. Surprisingly fun for a brand specific car game! Good overview by the way!

[@sanicsanic6890]

Fun Fact: This game was actually going to be "Need for Speed 64," even being developed by EA Canada, the developers of the PS1 ports of NFS 1-High Stakes, and the PC version of Porsche Unleashed

[@TheWickedSisters]

I didn't even know this game existed but I'm glad I do now 😂 it looks like a cute little game I'm not into a lot of racing games but I would probably try this one out 😊

[@Under10Hours]

It's definitely cute. It's got a lot of charm, and it's definitely a good racing game to start with! It's really chill.

[@jesusalberto3145]

I used to play this with my little brother all the time, haven't seen him in years.

[@dogey8831]

now we need Twingo Adventure Racing

[@taravati181]

I love this game it really took the term adventure and gave it meaning.

[@KogeyFox]

Hey I recognize that HSV adventure racing video! That video really gets around lmao. I still love how that's THE video that pops up if you type in HSV adventure racing.

[@Spudtron98]

The multiplayer battle mode was pretty okay. Had a selection of weapons that made it feel like you were duking it out with Bond's cars. And let me tell you, it's surprisingly nerve-wracking to see those missile trails screaming past you.

[@sydneyice]

It is quite possibly my favorite racing game still. Forza, good. Mario cart, neat. Beetle adventure racing??? My childhood

[@neoxnet]

It was basically Need for Speed 64, that’s why.

[@bgjck]

I had both Beetle Adventure Racing and Crus'n World for the N64 and they were both really fun

[@stevefitz2522]

Maybe I missed it but did you mention the movie nods placed in the tracks in this game, like the Goonies skull cave, the neverending story statues of judgement (or whatever they're called) etc etc...I always thought that was one of the games most endearing touches. There's more movie nods in it but I just can't think of them right now. Very entertaining video nonetheless, thanks bud.

[@jackkrauser2361]

It’s a “fun game” that’s supposed to be unique and special. It’s stuck in the 90’s for sure, def completely different from games today, but that’s what makes it great lol.

[@nogard0497]

The battle mode was also fun, and the Cheat boxes unlocked new tracks

[@nightfox380]

I begged my parents for a beetle when I was of legal driving age solely because of this game. Had the car for 10 years before I had to sell it. Was heartbroken. Sadly, if Volkswagen came out with another beetle, I would not go back. VW locks the diagnostics on their cars, forcing you to fork out more money at the dealership vs going to any automotive shop (unless you know specifically what's wrong with the car).

[@Under10Hours]

It's cool you got the beetle! But yeah my sister has one as well. It's been less than perfect unfortunately. And the cost to repair it is insane.

[@GameDadGrant]

I dug this game back in the day. Good stuff. I recently just re-bought it. Still as fun as it was back in 1999. Too bad EA didn't license the "Da Da Da" song that was used in the VW commercials.

[@fathersunglasses6085]

You never really get games now where they're specific to one car or manufacturer... Back in the late 90s we were treated to this as well as NFS Porsche 2000/Unleashed by EA on the PS1. Could you imagine a game now featuring only one car or manufacturer...

[@Under10Hours]

Yeah that's so true. And to be featured on one single car like this was is like a relic of the era! I feel like racing games became less popular over time, and all of the demand for individual company games boiled down into a few select cars from each being added to games in the mid-2000s. And now there's hardly any racing games at all outside of Gran Turismo, Forza and Grid.

[@Jayjay_07]

I randomly just remembered this game as it was my first N64 game. I have never played beyond the third or fourth track but I really loved it and I played the Beetle Collecting mode with my cousin for hours. The tracks are truly insane. I loved discovering the shortcuts

[@yamada1532]

Beetle adventure racing is the only game my sister ever loved but she was kinda strange and her first care was a beetle, think she was just kinda obsessed at some point. She didn't like cars or racing otherwise.

[@Penoatle]

Never owned but a frequent rental that was default if the game I wanted to rent was not in stock. I had no controller pak so if I wanted to beat the game, I had to do it in one sitting and/or leave the console on. Had so much fun every time this was rented.

[@Mup4iit]

Its simple really, HSV did the same thing as VW. It was to promote the Australian built Holden VT Commodore. HSV (HOLDEN SPECIAL VEHICLES) is the performance counter part of Holden. If you lived in Aus, Holden was more...much more common then shitty VW. So it would be no surprise to us that a game like this was created.

[@fromage5474]

I was born in 2003 way after the n64's time, despite that even when we had a gamecube the n64 had me coming back for more: waverace, mario 64 and of course beetle battle adventure racing. I really enjoyed watching this video really informative.

[@macinnisss]

Electronic Sharts, well done🤜🤛

[@patrick.bateman_VP]

Loved this game as a kid. I'll always remember it as Beetle Adventure Racing, although I think the Commodore is cooler than the Beetle.

[@brownyuio]

While I still have fond memories of playing this when I was little, what *always* brings me back to it is that soundtrack. Also, it truly deserves a remaster (no matter how unlikely that’s going to happen).

[@Under10Hours]

Now that the NEW new beetle is out of production, we can always hope that the next revision gets a tie in game just like this. And that will be the remaster we deserve haha

[@mgabrysSF]

01:45 - it was my (and a lot of my friends) favorite racing game. It was casual, high replay, and holy crap were the courses deep (even reversed). Grand Turismo? Nah - but as a 'fun' arcade racer - it was excellent - even better than the Cruisin World series (which we also owned - but BAR got far more play at parties).

[@minimme]

Always enjoyed this game - though the vdub 2.0 will always remind me of midtown madness!

[@Under10Hours]

I thought I was the only one who remembered that game! A personal favorite to play on my grandma's Gateway PC. I've been meaning to play it again.

[@samuelpierce2.088]

I know other folks here in the comments have been banging on about the track design in this game, and I can’t help but join them. To this very day, there are - as far as I’m aware of - no other racing games that have the same kind of track design Beetle Adventure Racing has; Both in aesthetics and technical design, but also in general polish. (Seriously, when was the last time we had a racing game where the tracks were a sprint track and a circuit track rolled into one, and had semi-dynamic elements that changed which routes you took to the finish during each lap?!)

[@myfingershurt3489]

I remember buying this game in middle school at WallyWorld for 20 bucks

[@00lexuses300]

Used to have a yellow 99 new beetle TDI Diesel. I LOVED it they are fun cars

[@henry199xx]

As soon as you showed footage of this game I thought to myself this reminds of NFS II SE which I had on PC my first r sign game then you said electronic arts and it all made sense hahaha

[@zef9151]

Fun fact this game WAS intended to be NFS on N64 before the agreement with VW. So you could say this game is NFS Beetle Unleashed lol

[@mauroghen9157]

Forgot to mention the music lmao, its so nice

[@GodlikeIridium]

This game was amazing! Unlocking the police car was the best :D

[@aaronvanzile3824]

Yesssss the police car where the horn was the siren and it made the other cars pull over 😂😂

[@GodlikeIridium]

​@@aaronvanzile3824so much fun 😅

[@WW_Collector_]

I just bought this game today in the original box I never played it before but it looks fun and had great reviews ether way it'll make a great addition to my game room

[@markbeddall1935]

What are you playing it on please?

[@SkoloT]

Banger of a game OST

[@N3XUSP0LARIS]

This IS the best racing game on N64 beside Mario Kart & Diddy Kong Racing. Its Definitely in my top 10. I played it just a month or so ago on my Steam Deck and beat it in a couple days, im just missing the cheats on Wicked Woods and i think 1 on Metro Madness. Would be cool to play the multiplayer of this online

[@watch_kitty]

It's funny how this was supposed to be a NFS game originally. Kinda wonder how that would've been like since it would've been a different game then what EA was making currently.

[@sannyfolkesson2226]

the HSV was a Holden sports vehicle, with you can view as a australian musclecar in term its a GM car with can be called a 4 door corvette, the name commodore is a old GM name used in europe in the 60s and 70s on luxery cars made by opel and later was used to make the Australian car hence it still retains the name.

[@sydneyice]

Amazing video. Love this game and thise video gave me so much joy

[@_SereneMango]

Hi, I love playing in manual. Must be out of habit from doing the same in Cruisn' World, a game I'd own back in the day. Idk if playin in manual has any advantage at all, but it feels nice pulling it off correctly.

[@GeorgeCen]

I dislike anything related to cars, racing or similar stuff, but this game was the first and the only one I liked in my entire life. Fun as heck. Unfortunately too short and seems will never be a remake. Hope someone can reverse and make a PC port some day.

[@b-cos]

EA did the same thing that they did with HSV Adventure racing with some game for Nissan back in the day too,

[@JCpNK]

I just bought this thanks to your review 👍

[@butterbagboy]

I put so many hours into this and the rush 2 stunt track

[@alexkilpatrick6308]

loved this game as a kid. the battle mode was alot of fun to.

[@xtlm]

I rented this once, everyone I knew like it. I found it to be fun as well, but also as just San Fransisco Rush clone (Big Air, many secret routes) done less good. I was a gigantic Rush fan as a kid.

[@nik228803]

The sountrack was amazing in that game

[@Spectre1406]

maybe the lack of cars does have a point, it needs the beetle rsi

[@Kilo-sz4ch]

9:20 -has been diagnosed with mesothelioma you may be entitled to financial compensation.

[@Under10Hours]

James Sokolov, is that you??? 😳

[@senorsnipey1595]

This game reminds me of Speed Devils

[@St.Reginaldo]

This was one of the best games growing up the game is way better than the real car

[@vashv1per]

This and diddy Kong racing were the first racing games I played

[@GSpot1998]

Yeah this game kicked ass

[@denozed6554]

Got a copy in a bundle games awesome tracks are long.

[@macgeek2004]

I have a Beetle. Yes, they can hit 120 no problem. ;P

[@Alexp37]

Lmao great use of memes! Good review and channel!

[@jamesbigworld]

I just found this game at store very good label was lil dirty on pins got it for 15$ lol

[@markwullenschneider195]

VW racing is way better than the Midway Rush games. reminds me of NFS Porsche unleashed. gauilty tracks with Sets cars.. Great review

[@jamesharbin8848]

And he obviously doesn't understand the commodore is a V8 powered beast of a car not whatever he jus said

[@wollf92]

"It's not gooing to be someones best racing game of all time" I disagree

[@bludclone]

looks like need for speed high stakes

[@razy7609]

You played any of the ford racing games?

[@NeedsMoDakka]

Hi, i choose manual in this game. good GOD is it a godsend to beat the AI on higher difficulties

[@BrokenG-String]

U didn't mention multiplayer much. Another one if its many strengths

[@DrewWutsit]

OMG i love this game to this day I wish I still had it, I might go buy it for my brother and just play on his n64 haha, you know what, im watching his dogs here soon, that's exactly what I'm gonna do! Thank you for reminding me of this perfect game!! When I go buy this im going to also buy the "Gex" games they were freaking great beyond their time as well! "At least the one im thinking of, maybe 2"

[@jamesharbin8848]

This guy has obviously never driven a Volkswagen beetle turbo

[@Early2000sPs2games]

Does steering wheel work on this game? This game is cheap in UK

[@Under10Hours]

When I was a kid I had an N64 racing wheel that worked, but I'm not sure if you're emulating the game if it's natively supported.

[@Early2000sPs2games]

@@Under10Hours well i don't know n64s are common in UK, what about the n64 hdmi clones?

[@Under10Hours]

I haven't seen any HDMI clones first hand so I'm not sure.

[@T-man2240]

Bro every time you review a game I think about picking it up. I don't have any retro game stores near me though. :(

[@Under10Hours]

Even thrillville 😂

[@Under10Hours]

I only have a small one near me unfortunately. Most of this is stuff I've just had since I was a kid

[@T-man2240]

Maybe not Thrillville lol. But the way you talk about every other game makes it sound like a cult classic! I just wish B&B's wasn't two hours away.

[@Under10Hours]

I've found for the really common stuff, ebay and Amazon have helped. But I prefer local if I can shop.

[@mrandrossguy9871]

You're kinda Doggin this a little to hard Honestly LoL It's A Fantastic racing game And a Pop Culture Icon I say ! I really don't understand why it wasn't remade or Ported to Current Consoles or Even 3DS !? I'm Also Disappointed that Another Beetle Game wasn't made Since the 3rd Generation Bug/2011 VW Beetle Turbo came out !??!? It should STILL BE MADE Honestly !

[@makeupyourmind4737]

But this literally is my favorite racing game. It's second maybe only to the current iteration of Mario Kart. But dude, this game gets fucking nauseating if you try to beat it in one sitting 🤣🤣🤣 Gahhh, now I kinda want to get amd hdmi converter for my N64 and stream this.